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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Justice Davis Resigns as WV Lawmakers Take Hard Line on Impeachment

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Wednesday, August 15, 2018   

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – State Supreme Court Justice Robin Davis has resigned amid signs that the West Virginia Legislature is taking a hard line on impeachment of all the justices.

In her announcement, Davis criticized impeachment, saying it goes against the will of the majority who voted her into office. On Monday, the House approved charges against Davis and other justices, including that they broke a complex rule to overpay retired judges who filled in at state courts during emergencies.

On that, House Judiciary Committee chair John Shott, R-Bluefield, compared the justices' actions to an addict justifying dealing drugs.

"The closest place he could sell drugs to get enough money was a schoolyard next door, so he's been selling drugs to these schoolchildren," Shott said. "But, good lord, he has a good reason – because he was addicted through no fault of his own. All of these types of arguments are relevant."

Impeachment of the three remaining justices now moves to the Senate. Davis's resignation comes just in time for her seat to appear on the fall ballot.

Davis ran as a Democrat at a time before court races became nonpartisan and long has been a target of Republicans.

Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton, in minority leadership in the House, is convinced some of the impeachment charges are justified, but he said the court has the constitutional right to manage its own budget. He said he thinks spending charges, such as those brought against Davis, are not sufficient grounds for removing a justice from office.

"I believe that they have acted within their constitutional grounds on regards to the budget," he said. "Now certainly, I disagree with certain spending habits of all of them. But that does not rise to the level of impeachment. It just takes us down a slippery slope."

Justice Allen Loughry faces articles of impeachment unrelated to court spending. He also faces 23 federal criminal charges.

A livestream of events at the West Virginia Legislature is online at wvlegislature.gov/live.cfm.


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