Public News Service

More people are traveling farther and across multiple state lines to access abortion care, according to data from the Guttmatcher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

WV voters worried about abortion care, reproductive health access

New polling found an overwhelming majority, 85% of Americans believe abortion access should be allowed in some situations. Two years ago in the …

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va (far left), and other lawmakers join President Joe Biden as he signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law on Aug. 16, 2022. (Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm/Wikimedia Commons)

Super PAC spending in WV Senate race ramps up as Manchin bows out

By Harshawn Ratanpal for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Serv…

ERIC has operated as a nonprofit membership organization created by state election officials to help improve the accuracy of state voter rolls since 2012, according to its website. (Adobe Stock)

Former Secretary of State Calls WV Leaving ERIC 'Shortsighted'

Critics say West Virginia is taking a step backward by dropping out of the Electronic Registration Information Center system known as ERIC. Run by …

As more West Virginia families are affected by the criminal justice system, the number of advocates for pushing for change has increased. (Ashley Omps)

Reentry Poses Challenges for West Virginians' Life After Prison

West Virginians released from prison are not allowed to vote until their parole or probation period is over and their sentence is complete. Since …

Bipartisan candidates in the Mountain State have joined forces to tackle the region's most pressing issues, including the overdose crisis, broadband access and cannabis decriminalization. (Adobe Stock)

On Heels of Midterms, a Populist Surge in West Virginia

Local candidates that signed onto a no-corporate-money pledge made midterm election gains in Charleston. Katie Lauer, co-chair of West Virginia …

Grupos de WV advierten que amenazas debilitan el poder de los votantes

El riesgo de intimidación de votantes y violencia política ha aumentado desde 2020, según una investigación del Centro Brennan …

Two in five U.S. voters say they are worried about threats of violence or voter intimidation at polling stations during the midterm election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. (Adobe Stock)

WV Groups Warn Election Scare Tactics, Threats Weaken Voter Power

The risk of voter intimidation and political violence has increased since 2020, according to research from the Brennan Center for Justice. Two in …

Nine bipartisan candidates running for local office in Charleston have joined forces to tackle the region's most pressing issues, including the overdose crisis, broadband access and cannabis decriminalization. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan Candidates in WV Capital Join Forces to Combat Drug Crisis

A bipartisan group of candidates running for city council in Charleston say the city needs to tackle the region's drug crisis by decriminalizing canna…

The West Virginia Flood Tool is designed to provide floodplain managers, insurance agents, developers, real estate agents, local planners and citizens with an effective means by which to make informed decisions about the degree of flood risk for a specific area or property. (Adobe Stock)

WV Has 'One Chance' To Improve Flood Preparedness

The mayor of Huntington, where more than 200 homes were recently damaged by severe flooding, said now is the state's "one chance" to prevent other …

Many states have expanded voting access to people with felony convictions, but it's estimated that more than 5 million Americans remain disenfranchised, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Bill Would Restore Rights for West Virginians on Probation, Parole

West Virginians with past felonies who are on probation and parole currently are barred from voting, but new legislation aims to change that…

In a Nov. 2021 poll by Navigator Research, 67% of voters said they believe federal voting rights legislation is necessary. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginians Call for Expanded Voting Access Ahead of Midterms

At a candlelit vigil in Charleston last night commemorating the one-year anniversary of the riot at the U.S. Capitol, attendees asked West Virginia's …

Political canvassing across the country dropped dramatically during the 2020 election due to concerns over COVID-19 transmission via in-person door-knocking. (Adobe Stock)

WV Canvassers Brace for More Challenges as Pandemic Continues

LEWISBURG, W. Va. -- Political canvassers and organizers in the state are expecting they will continue to struggle with challenges to traditional …

The West Virginia Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting held its seventh public hearing at the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office meeting room in Martinsburg, Aug. 17. (WV Legislature)

WV Legislature Holds Sept. Public Hearings on Redistricting

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginians have two more chances to speak up in-person on the redistricting process at public hearings coming up this month …

A 2021 Gallup poll found small business is the most trusted institution in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Some WV Small Businesses Express Support for Voting Rights

PARSONS, W.Va. -- Some West Virginia small business owners are turning their focus to voting rights. They hope to increase community engagement on …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

WV Groups: Corporate Taxes Should Fund American Jobs, Families Plan

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Former West Virginia Lt. Gov. Jeff Kessler and the Huntington-based Service Employees International Union Local 1199 are among …

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks at a breakfast discussion in 2017. <br />(Flickr/Third Way Think Tank/license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)

Manchin’s Stance on Voting Bill Called Betrayal to WV Black Voters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Black West Virginians are voicing disappointment and anger over Sen. Joe Manchin's - D-W.Va. - staunch opposition to the For the …

WV Groups Call on Manchin to Support 'For the People Act'

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A coalition of pro-democracy groups in West Virginia is urging U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito to support the …

After events such as the pro-Trump riot at the U.S. Capitol, civil-rights groups are pushing to pass the For the People Act, claiming it is needed to

WV Groups Push Congress to Pass "Democracy Rescue" Bill

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As Donald Trump departs the presidency today, a coalition of West Virginia civil-rights groups wants Congress to pass a bill …

The West Virginia NAACP is leading a charge to remove and disbar Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for joining the state in a lawsuit that attempted to disenfranchise voters. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Calls to Expel WV Attorney General Over 2020 Election Lawsuit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With House Democrats moving forward on impeaching President Donald Trump, a coalition of West Virginia lawmakers and civil-…

A West Virginia state delegate is facing sanctions for participating with pro-Trump groups storming the U.S. Capitol. (Wikimedia Commons)

Thousands Call for Removal of WV Lawmaker for Joining U.S. Capitol Riot

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia social-justice groups are decrying a state delegate's participation in the shocking assault on the U.S. Capitol …

Quarantined West Virginians or those who have the coronavirus can call county clerks to find a designated polling place on Election Day to cast a ballot in person. (Adobe stock)

WV Official: Voters Protected from Intimidation Tactics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With fears of voter intimidation at the polls on Election Day running high, West Virginians can rest easy, as state officials …

Members of a West Virginia NOW group rally in Charleston, saying the Senate should have waited until after the election to push through a Supreme Court nominee. (Kanawha Valley NOW Facebook page)

WV Groups Protest SCOTUS Nominee, Urge Senate to Refocus on COVID Relief

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On the day of the confirmation vote of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, a coalition of West Virginia groups protested in …

The West Virginia Council of Churches is pushing for political debates to be more harmonious and compassionate than they have the past few years. (Adobe stock)

WV Church Group Pushes for Civility in Presidential Debate

CHARLESTON, W.V. -- With fireworks expected at the second presidential debate tonight, a West Virginia religious group is calling for a return to …

Almost 60,000 high school students in West Virginia have registered to vote in their first general election in November. (Adobe stock)

WV Official: In-Person Voting Will Be Safe

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Today is National Voter Registration Day, and with a historic presidential election just weeks away, folks are being urged to …

Voters in West Virginia must now go online to request an application for an absentee ballot. Critics of the system say it's tougher for older voters and those without internet access. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU: Online Absentee-Ballot Process an Obstacle for WV Voters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The ACLU is calling on West Virginia's secretary of state to automatically mail absentee voter applications, as was done for the …

West Virginia advocates for families say the state could lose millions of dollars in program funding if the deadline for the U.S. census count is not extended. (Adobe stock)

West Virginians to Bear Brunt if Census Count Deadline Isn’t Extended

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- With the Trump administration cutting the U.S. census count short by a month, advocates for families say West Virginians will …

Around 35% of registered voters cast their ballot in West Virginia's June 2020 primary.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Changes to Mail-In Voting Process May Confuse Residents, Advocacy Groups Say

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last week, state officials announced that West Virginians who want to vote by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic will have …

A new Public Library Association survey shows 76% of libraries have extended their online renewal policies during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

WV Libraries Innovate to Support Patrons in Pandemic

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- Even though libraries across the nation are closed and many will face budget cuts as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, branches …

Members of Appalachians Against Pipelines protest against the Mountain View Pipeline in West Virginia in 2018. (Appalachians Against Pipelines/Facebook)

WV Bill Would Criminalize Peaceful Environmental Protests

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Environmental groups spoke out this week against a West Virginia House of Delegates bill that would make peaceful protests …

West Virginians' reactions to Sen. Joe Manchin's vote this week to impeach President Donald Trump have ranged from angry to supportive. (Wikimedia)

Manchin’s Vote to Impeach Trump Prompts Intense Responses

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As President Trump takes a victory lap over his impeachment acquittal this week, the nation is reacting strongly to guilty votes …

The experimental West Virginia blockchain voting process includes a series of steps aimed to ensure proper voter identification. (SOS Office/Voatz)

WV Internet Voting Experiment Criticized

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Security experts are critical of a West Virginia experiment in Internet voting for military and overseas citizens. Last …

The Monopoly Man has appeared at congressional hearings including one on Google's market dominance. (Ian Madrigal/Youtube)

Funny, Pointed Protest Growing at Congressional Hearings

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Protesting in Congress has a new face, and you could say people aren’t masking their feelings any longer. A swamp …

Robert M. Pennoyer, now and at age 19, on the U.S.S. Pensacola at Iwo Jima in 1944 (Courtesy: Robert M. Pennoyer)

WWII Veteran: Ignorance, Indifference Greatest Threats to America

NEW YORK – Seventy-four years after he saw the flag raised on Iwo Jima, a World War II veteran has an Independence Day message for America: The …

Thousands of stream miles and wetlands could lose Clean Water Act protections under an EPA proposal to change the Waters of the United States rule. (Samuel Taylor for Birth Place of Rivers)

Comment Period Closing on Clean Water Act Rollback

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today is the deadline for public comment on a plan to reduce the reach of the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Protect …

According to Imaam Nasir Abdussalam, the Islamic Association of West Virginia has more than 350 families in the congregation, many who work the medical profession. (Dan Heyman)

West Virginia’s Muslims Want Folks to Know Who They Really Are

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Islam has been in the news lately, in part because of attacks on the religion at the state Capitol. West Virginia's Muslim …

Routine updates to water-pollution standards are proving controversial in the West Virginia Legislature, with objections coming from some manufacturers. (Homestage/Pixabay)

One Charleston Manufacturer Pressing for Delay of Water Rules

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Under pressure from a specific Charleston manufacturer, a state Senate committee has moved to delay updating human health …

Since Citizens United nine years ago, watchdogs say there has been an

Nine Years Later, Watchdogs Watch for Reforms to Citizens United

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Critics of the Citizens United court decision say it's resulted in an explosion of dark money in the political system…

Five years after the Elk River chemical spill prompted public protests, a West Virginia legislative committee has stalled a major update of health and safety related water-pollution rules. (Dan Heyman)

WV Lawmakers Stall Toxic Water-Pollution Update at Industry Request

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — At industry request, a legislative rule-making committee has stalled new limits to nearly 100 toxic water pollutants…

The D.C. based Republican State Leadership Committee, Judicial Fairness Initiative, is spending in WV state and local judicial races, but all of its money comes from one huge donation made in Washington. (WV Secretary of State)

Out-of-State and Sometimes Secret Money Moving Into Local WV Judicial Races

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Big Republican money - much of it from out of state or unknown donors - is going into nonpartisan West Virginia judicial …

In the last West Virginia legislative election, some races were decided by as few as 13 votes. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

Every Vote Really Does Matter

CHARLESTON, W.V. — In the last two elections, West Virginia has had one of the lowest turnout rates in the country. Many West Virginians have …

Under an FCC proposal, local municipalities could struggle to fund media that broadcasts government meetings. (Claude_Star/Pixabay)

FCC Might Defund Public-Access TV, Help Cable Companies

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission could cripple funding for local community media outlets…

West Virginia generally has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout in the country. (Pixabay)

New WV Voters Pulled Between Feeling Alienated and Desiring Change

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — New and newly motivated voters may have a huge impact in West Virginia this year — if they turn out. The Secretary …

Studies say right-to-work laws don't create jobs and tend to suppress wages. Union workers like pipefitter James Robinette say they can see that on the ground. (Dan Heyman)

WV Unions Push Back on GOP Economic Arguments

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – West Virginia Republicans are running for election on what they describe as the "great" economy. State unions call that …

West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Robin Davis has resigned, and the decision about whether to impeach the remaining justices is in the hands of the state Senate. (Dan Heyman)

Justice Davis Resigns as WV Lawmakers Take Hard Line on Impeachment

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

After three investigations and a month of hearings before a House committee, articles of impeachment for all the justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court now go to the House of Delegates. (Dan Heyman)

WV Impeachment Enters a More Partisan Stage

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Articles of impeachment for every member of the West Virginia Supreme Court are now before the full House of Delegates…

Anonymous or so-called dark money plays an increasing role in funding the elections that decide what happens under the Capitol dome in Charleston. (W. Va. Legislature)

Watchdogs: WV "Dark Money" Group Breaks Election Spending Laws

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A nonprofit political group in West Virginia has broken Internal Revenue Service campaign finance laws, according to …

One reason cited for the high cost of the West Virginia Supreme Court office renovations is the age and historic nature of the Capitol building. (Wikipedia)

WV Lawmakers Get Some Answers on State Supreme Court Budget

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Former Administrative Director of the Courts of West Virginia Steve Canterbury testified before the state's House …

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WV: Civic Engagement & Voting