WVCBP in the News

March 18, 2024 by Kelly Allen
‘Youth Apprenticeship Program’ Bill Raises Child Labor Concerns for Advocates

West Virginia Watch, News from the States - A bill that would create a work apprenticeship program for 11th and 12th graders in West Virginia has raised concerns it may also expose them to hazardous working environments, including roofing operations. Read the full article. House Bill 5162 would direct the state Department of Education to create a…

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March 17, 2024 by WVCBP
Students Attend Black Policy Day

Martinsburg Journal-News - On Feb. 7, hundreds of people, including 300 students, gathered for Black Policy Day at the state Capitol, in Charleston to advocate for and educate state lawmakers about communities of color. Thirty of these students represented high schools throughout Berkeley and Jefferson counties. The students were granted the opportunity to meet as…

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March 12, 2024 by Kelly Allen
Critics: Changes in WV Unemployment Benefits will Harm Families Amid Inflation

Public News Service - Critics say a bill passed by West Virginia lawmakers increases the bureaucratic red tape folks who rely on unemployment benefits have to navigate and could financially hurt families already struggling with the high cost of living and ongoing inflation. Read the full article. Kelly Allen, executive director with the West Virginia…

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March 9, 2024 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia Legislature Completes Action on Unemployment Bill

West Virginia Watch, News from the States - With hours to spare on the last night of the West Virginia Legislature’s 60-day session, the House of Delegates approved an amended version of a Senate bill that changes the structure of the state’s unemployment benefit program.  Read the full article. Delegates passed Senate Bill 841 with a…

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March 8, 2024 by Kelly Allen
Potential $465M Federal Clawback Raises Concerns About West Virginia Schools

Associated Press, Cumberland Times-News - West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice’s administration has been characterized by flat budgets and record surpluses that helped cut the state’s income tax last year. Read the full article. Now, the state could face collateral damage: a possible $465 million clawback of pandemic aid by the U.S. Department of Education. It has…

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March 7, 2024 by WVCBP
A Last-minute Bill to Cut Unemployment Benefits has Lawmakers Confused. They’re Rushing it Through Anyway

Mountain State Spotlight, Times West Virginian, Fayette Tribune - As the House Finance Committee began discussing a quickly-drafted unemployment bill on Monday, it quickly became apparent that lawmakers were going to have lots of questions. Within minutes, the committee hit its first roadblock: How much are unemployment benefits?  Read the full article. Questions continued over the course…

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March 6, 2024 by Sara Whitaker
Senate Quietly Resurrects Bill that Would Prevent Judges from Releasing Defendants Charged with a Felony Without Bail

Mountain State Spotlight, Beckley Register-Herald - Senators are trying to breathe new life into a bill that critics say would lead to more people sitting in jail awaiting trial after a House Committee overwhelmingly rejected the legislation last week.  Read the full article. SB 725 would’ve stripped magistrates — who generally see someone first after they…

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March 6, 2024 by WVCBP
People with Disabilities Over-represented in Justice System

Public News Service - Nationwide, people with disabilities are overrepresented both as victims of crime and those who are accused of crimes, and advocates believe the justice system could do much more to improve accessibility. Read the full article. The system is not always fair to people with autism, cognitive disabilities and learning disorders, and…

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