Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 5h

As funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dry up under the ongoing federal shutdown, West Virginia’s largest food bank is bracing for a big challenge.

Ongoing shutdown casts doubt on federal food assistance program - WV MetroNews

The West Virginia Department of Human Services posted on social media this week that delays in issuing SNAP benefits for October should be expected, based on federal guidance.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 1d

The chief of the West Virginia Hospital Association expressed concern over potential Trump administration changes to temporary, non-immigrant visas intended to let U.S. employers hire foreign workers with specialty skills.

Hospital association chief warns that big fee proposal for global talent could worsen shortage - WV MetroNews

President Trump signed a proclamation late last month calling for a $100,000 annual fee on organizations for each individual working under an H-1B visa. The current fee is $215.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 1d

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has filed two liens on claims of unpaid taxes by Senator Jim Justice and his wife Cathy, adding up to more than $8 million.

IRS claims Senator Justice owes $8 million in back taxes - WV MetroNews

The liens were filed by the IRS Oct. 2 with the Greenbrier County Clerk.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 2d

In West Virginia, rallies took place in communities all across the state on Saturday, including the state capital in Charleston, university cities Morgantown and Huntington and smaller places like Keyser, Fayetteville, Romney and Wardensville.

At 'No Kings' rallies, West Virginians say they are not antifa militants, Hamas, haters or paid protesters - WV MetroNews

Participants said they were motivated by what they see as overreach by the Trump administration.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 3d

Former state Delegate Don Perdue has died at age 75, the state Democratic Party announced.

Former Delegate Don Perdue, chairman of House Health, dies at age 75 - WV MetroNews

Perdue, a Democrat from Wayne County, served in the House from 1999 to 2016.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 4d

Kanawha Circuit Judge Richard Lindsay denied a family’s religious exemptions claim to school vaccination requirements, with the judge concluding that the state has a compelling health interest in suppressing the spread of disease.

Another claim of religious exemptions to school vaccinations is denied, this time in Kanawha - WV MetroNews

The question before courts around the state is whether West Virginia's religious protections law passed in 2023 affects the compulsory school vaccination law.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 4d

The circuit judge overseeing a case in Raleigh County about religious exemptions to mandatory school vaccinations has filed a written order to certify a class action that would affect similar cases in other counties.

Raleigh County judge orders class action of current and future religious challenges to vaccine law - WV MetroNews

Judge Michael Froble's order says joining together the cases of all the people under similar situations is reasonable given the number of affected people and their statewide geographic distribution.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 5d

@heyspirits.bsky.social

any updates?

🙈

Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 5d

“Open the government, and we’ll begin to negotiate," Capito said. "That’s the message.”

Capito wants bill to open government and then negotiations on ACA subsidies - WV MetroNews

The U.S. Senate failed to advance a bill to extend government funding and end the shutdown for a 10th time.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 5d

Officials announced the Mountain State Plugging Fund, a public-private collaboration between the State of West Virginia and Diversified Energy to work toward the retirement of oil and gas wells.

Hundreds of 'orphaned' oil and gas wells to be capped under state, Diversified Energy partnership - WV MetroNews

West Virginia has more than 6,500 documented orphaned wells, with thousands more undocumented.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 6d

A family asserting deeply held beliefs to decline school vaccination requirements did not appear for a scheduled hearing in Kanawha Circuit Court today, leaving the judge who was already in a confusing situation in even more of an awkward spot.

Vaccine hearing is delayed, and judge starts thinking about how class action affects cases - WV MetroNews

The case in Kanawha County was filed on behalf of the family of an elementary school student, asking for a temporary injunction to allow the student to attend public school.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 6d

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said today that the State of West Virginia will continue paying to keep national parks open during a key tourism season as the federal shutdown continues.

Morrisey says state will continue paying to keep national parks open through Bridge Day and beyond - WV MetroNews

The extended agreement would keep the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and New River Gorge National River open right as leaf-peeping draws a steady flow of fall tourism.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 7d

Lawyers for Justice Holdings are asking a circuit judge to quickly halt a foreclosure sale of about 400 lots at the Resort at Glade Springs.

Justice Holdings asks for quick consideration to halt foreclosure sale of Glade Springs lots - WV MetroNews

Justice Holdings is a company owned by the family of Senator Jim Justice, R-W.Va.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 7d

A hearing in yet another court case over religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements has been set for 10 a.m. Wednesday in Kanawha Circuit Court.

At an awkward moment, hearing over religious exemptions is up ahead in Kanawha County - WV MetroNews

This is awkwardly timed because a circuit judge in Raleigh County last week announced his intent to certify a class of families with similar claims.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 8d

Homeschool families reported delays in orders, often waiting over 10 days, raising concerns their children can't start lessons without needed materials, according to MetroNews documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request.

Homeschool families vented that Hope Scholarship purchasing system made lessons start late - WV MetroNews

Treasurer Larry Pack, in an interview, acknowledged ongoing concerns of families but said constant effort is being applied to improve the purchasing system.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 9d

“The Department does not require any extrinsic evidence that the belief system is reasonable, logical, comprehensible, or part of a traditional orthodox religion."

State health agency could have sought more detail for religious exemptions but did not - WV MetroNews

'The Department does not require any extrinsic evidence that the belief system is reasonable, logical, comprehensible, or part of a traditional orthodox religion.'

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 9d

West Virginia needs to carefully balance implementation of work requirements for Medicaid with costs to the state and proceed with caution to be certain that people who are eligible for benefits aren’t knocked off the roles unnecessarily, a state legislative leader said.

Lawmakers watch West Virginia's implementation of work requirements for Medicaid - WV MetroNews

One of the new provisions is “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. The requirement calls for…

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 9d

clip plz

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 11d

should I be saying “Gift Monday” or, as in the pod, “Monday Gift?”

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 11d

Several hundred lots owned by Justice Holdings are up for foreclosure sale, according to a legal notice in this morning’s Beckley Register-Herald.

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Hundreds of Justice lots at Glade Springs are up for foreclosure sale - WV MetroNews

Justice Holdings is company owned by the family of Senator Jim Justice, R-W.Va.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 12d

A multi-day, high-profile hearing over religious exemptions to West Virginia’s school vaccination laws ended on a cliffhanger.

Religious exemptions case wraps up with cliffhanger on judge's final ruling - WV MetroNews

Everyone involved believes the case will be reviewed by the state Supreme Court in the longer term.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 12d

A Raleigh County circuit judge presiding over a high-profile case about whether West Virginia’s religious freedoms law affects the school vaccination requirements in state code made three key rulings Wednesday at the start of a full day of courtroom activity.

Judge in case about religious exemptions to school vaccinations makes three rulings with big effects - WV MetroNews

Everyone involved in the case believes it's establishing a record for review by the state Supreme Court.

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Reposted by Brad McElhinny

Amanda Carpenter @amandacarpenter.bsky.social · 13d

Trump vowed Chicago would learn why the Defense Dept is now "called the Dept of WAR" and depicted himself as the amoral war monger Lt. Col. Kilgore.

The ‘Chipocalypse’ is now.

Troops are in the streets. ICE is using helicopters to raid buildings.

From me www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/federalism...

The ‘Chipocalypse’ is now

A training ground for the military?

www.ifyoucankeepit.org

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 13d

A dozen people have applied for consideration to the state Supreme Court position that opened after the death of Justice Tim Armstead.

A dozen apply to fill Supreme Court vacancy that resulted from Armstead's death - WV MetroNews

The appointee serves until the next general election, at which point they can run to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.

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Brad McElhinny @bradmcelhinny.bsky.social · 14d

A representative of the Governor’s Office described to lawmakers the urgency of meeting a Nov. 5 deadline for a five-year funding application valued at about $100 million a year to support rural healthcare.

West Virginia is already up on deadline to apply for millions of dollars in rural health support - WV MetroNews

This is through The Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' to distribute $50 billion over five years across all 50 states to strengthen rural health care.

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