In Segment 1, State Director of AARP West Virginia Gaylene Miller talks about the organization’s legislative agenda for 2021. She says one of their biggest concerns this year is a bill that would limit the liability of nursing homes and businesses such as restaurants where someone may have contracted COVID-19.Miller says their main issue with the bill is that it would give nursing homes, assisted living and other residential care facilities a “blanket immunity for COVID-19.” She says the reason the bill poses a problem is the residents are in a “unique position” because the facilities are their homes and many of them are more vulnerable to the virus.She says they are also watching the state budget to make sure services for senior citizens stay fully funded.In Segment 2, State Senate Majority Whip, Senator Ryan Weld (R-Brooke) tells us more about the bill that could limit or eliminate the liability of COVID-19 for businesses.Weld, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says legislators across the country have been discussing whether an employer, business or even an individual could be sued because of something they did or did not do during the COVID-19 pandemic.He says one reason for the bill is to prevent people such as those who made and sold masks from being sued if someone still contracted the virus after purchasing one of the masks. It would also protect facilities where an outbreak occurred even though government guidelines were being followed.In Segment 3, charter schools and education savings accounts are once again a hot topic in the legislature. President of the West Virginia Education Association Dale Lee tells us why the organization is against that idea.Lee says charter schools go against the advancement of public education in West Virginia and would mean the state paid for the option to have private schooling. Lee says the last time charter schools were in the legislative discussion, 86% of the public said they didn’t want them. With Education Savings Accounts, Lee says the organization is concerned those funds would cause taxpayers to pay for private schools.Lee also discusses the bill concerning tighter restrictions on public employees’ worker strikes, which are already illegal in the Mountain State.In Segment 4, we sit down with one of our state legislature’s “rookies” Delegate Kayla Young (D-Kanawha), a first-time lawmaker, to talk about what she wants to see happen this legislative session.Young says one of the most important issues to her is dealing with unemployment, especially as many people, including Young herself, found themselves unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says she is working with the unemployment agency and her fellow lawmakers to see what can be done to help those who are now unemployed.She says she’s also working on policy for small businesses and energy. Young, a small business owner born and raised in Kanawha County, said she chose to run for public office hoping to make a difference in the state.

Inside West Virginia Politics

IWVP: COVID-19 and education bills, meeting a new, first-time legislator

In Segment 1, House of Delegates Majority Leader Amy Summers (R-Taylor County) joins us to talk about tax reform and the conversation of possibility eliminating the state income tax. She says if the tax were eliminated or phased out, it would bring more people to the Mountain State and put more money in the pockets of those who are already here.Summers also says the Education Savings Account, which would allow parents to set aside money for their child’s education, tax-free, and possibly send them to private school. The controversial topic has been brought up by the legislature before, but Summers says this time it’s the parents starting the conversation.In Segment 2, State Senate Minority Whip Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell) weighs in on the importance the legislature is placing on tax reform and how the state needs a plan to make up revenue lost for any repealed taxes. Woelfel says he thinks the legislature’s first order of business, however, should be financial relief in the pandemic, especially for the small businesses who have lost business and much of their revenue.The senator also discusses some previously controversial bills that have come up in previous sessions and failed and how those could resurface in the supermajority legislature. He says the minority party’s goal is to work with the Republicans to pass legislation that benefits West Virginians.In Segment 3, we look at the economics of the state’s political system with Professor John Deskins, Ph.D., director of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business and Economic Research.Deskins says due to the pandemic, the state suffered the biggest economic shock it has ever seen with 94,000 jobs, or 13% of jobs, lost over the course of two to three months. Since the state started reopening, about 57,000 of those lost jobs have now been added back. According to Deskins, a major way to help the state’s economy is to make West Virginia more attractive to potential businesses and entrepreneurship.In Segment 4, Education Savings Accounts have been a topic of discussion at the state legislature before, and a controversial one, however, legislation surrounding them has yet to pass. Jason Huffman, state director of the West Virginia Chapter of Americans for Prosperity, joins us to talk about why his organization wants them passed.The ESAs would allow parents to set aside money for their child’s education, tax-free. This would also give them the opportunity and funding to look into private schooling. Huffman says the ESAs would help ensure students have access to the education that’s right for them.The big argument that has made the ESAs so controversial in years past is will they pull funding away from the public school system and its students while helping fund private schools?

IWVP: Tax reform and West Virginia’s economy

In Segment 1, President of the West Virginia State Senate and Lieutenant Governor Craig Blair (R-Berkeley) stops by ahead of the state’s legislative session.Blair talks about the possibility of phasing out the state’s income tax as part of the upcoming session. He says if the tax is eliminated, there is no defined timeline and it could still take several years to fully remove the tax. He says eliminating the tax would help bring people to the Mountain State rather than seeing them move to states that already have no income tax.The senate president also praises Governor Jim Justice’s decision to appoint his predecessor Mitch Carmichael to an economic development position in the governor’s office. He says he believes the decision was the best choice due to Carmichael’s background in broadband.In Segment 2, continuing to gear up for the legislative session, we hear from Senate Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin (D-Greenbrier County) on what the party is hoping to see come out of the session. He says they are looking for “real solutions for real problems.”One of those problems, Baldwin says, is healthcare as families and small businesses are “maxed out” amid the pandemic. He also says he hopes to continue fighting another issue West Virginia has been facing long before the COVID-19 pandemic – substance abuse. With crisis calls and overdoses both up, he says it’s important to continue the fight against the opioid crisis.Baldwin says he hopes to find a way to be transparent and hear from the people on the issues affecting them, especially as there will not be as much access to the Capitol amid COVID-19 precautions.In Segment 3, we continue our look ahead at the legislative session with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay). Hanshaw says one of the big changes coming to the West Virginia Capitol is the protocol to keep everyone safe during the pandemic.The galleries will be closed to the public as those areas are being reserved for remote seating for members and staff who choose not to wear a mask. Masks will be required to be on the floor of both the House and Senate.Hanshaw also weighs in on the state income tax, saying the House, Senate and the governor’s staff have been meeting for the past month to see if there is a path forward in eliminating the tax. Both Republicans and Democrats agree broadband in West Virginia needs fixing. Telework, telehealth and virtual learning have brought the issue with the Mountain State’s internet connectivity into the spotlight throughout the pandemic.In Segment 4, Minority Whip Delegate Sean Fluharty (D-Ohio County) talks about making the 23 Democrats’ voices heard in the 100-member House of Delegates among the Republican supermajority.Fluharty says it will be important for the Democrats to work with the majority party to move forward legislation that benefits working West Virginians, and to speak up if a piece of legislation could have negative impacts on the majority of people in the state.The minority whip also says he plans to continue his work with Republican Moore Capito in a bipartisan effort to get more high tech industries to West Virginia. The two have already formed a high tech caucus for the issue. Fluharty says the move will help diversify the state’s economy and bring more business to the Mountain State.

IWVP: What to expect in West Virginia’s upcoming legislative session

In Segment 1, Autumn Long, West Virginia Program Director for Solar United Neighbors discusses the potential benefits of bringing solar energy to West Virginia. The national nonprofit, also known as SUN, is an advocate for solar energy.Long says bringing solar energy to the Mountain State would help diversify the state’s energy economy and maintain West Virginia’s relevance as an energy-producing state. She says West Virginia has an opportunity to be part of a changing energy economy where renewable resources are coming to the forefront as a generation source for clean sustainable energy production.She says for businesses, such as Dickenson Saltworks in Malden, which switched to solar energy in 2020, going solar can be a return on investment that saves money in the long run.In Segment 2, we hear from the State Director of the Sierra Club for West Virginia Karan Ireland. She says having a new federal administration that wants to move more toward renewable energy provides a huge opportunity in regard to climate change, reclamation in West Virginia and West Virginia jobs.Ireland says wind operators and solar jobs have been the fastest-growing job sectors in the United States for a couple of years and bringing those industries to the Mountain State would create more jobs, including for coal miners who have lost work.West Virginia Program Director for Solar United Neighbors Autumn Davis also returns to talk about the importance of policy to set the tone to make solar energy work in West Virginia. She says SUN hopes to see more pro-solar energy legislation bills passed in the Mountain State.In Segment 3, former West Virginia State Treasurer John Perdue looks back at some of the highlights of his six terms in office, including the Smart 529 College Savings Program, which helps parents and guardians save for their children’s education.He says as part of the program, they also started the 529 Walk to benefit foster children in the Mountain State by raising money for scholarships. According to Perdue, only about 2% of the state’s foster children get the opportunity to go on to higher education.Perdue says one major issue he was focusing on when his last term ended is bringing broadband to West Virginia. He says he hopes to see the work continue because providing broadband across the state is critical to the Mountain State’s future. The problem with little to no access in more rural areas has been further highlighted by the ongoing pandemic as people need more internet access for virtual learning, telework and telehealth.In Segment 4, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Mike Stuart talks about providing justice to victims of crimes, including for West Virginia’s veterans, such as in his recent prosecution of Dr. Jonathan Yates, a former doctor at the Beckley VA Medical Center who was accused of sexually molesting U.S. Military Veterans at the facility.He says his main goal as a prosecutor is bringing justice to the victims of crimes, including the victims of another tough case involving, the suspicious deaths of multiple veterans at the VA Medical Center in Clarksburg. While the northern district is handling the prosecution of Reta Mays, a former employee at the center who is set to be sentenced later this month, Stuart’s office is handling the civil lawsuits filed by the victims’ families.Stuart has also been heavily involved in trying to crack down on the opioid epidemic in the state, taking part in operations such as Project Parkersburg, the largest meth takedown in the history of both West Virginia and Ohio. He also helped prosecute in Operation Saigon Sunset, which took down a large network of drug dealers in the state.

IWVP: Solar energy and jobs, saving for higher education and justice for crime victims

In Segment 1, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice talks about being sworn into a second term in office and how the Mountain State leads the nation in distributing and administering COVID-19 vaccines.The governor shares the importance of bringing more COVID-19 vaccines to the Mountain State and how quickly the state has been putting its current supply into the arms of the people, especially the elderly. He also talks about bringing students back to the classroom while keeping both the kids and the teachers safe. Justice says it was important to return to in-person learning to help students struggling with online learning and potential problems at home.In Segment 2, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice returns to talk about broadband and the income tax.Justice says a major goal of his second term is to “blanket the state” in broadband, especially after the pandemic has shown the need for better, more reliable access to broadband in the state through online learning, telehealth and telework.The governor says the possibility of eliminating the income tax in the state is a big undertaking, especially with the tax being 43% of the total revenue of the state. He says the idea has had a lot of appeal to many West Virginians, and making it happen will need to be an “all in type of approach” to see if there is a way to move forward with the endeavor. Justice also shares plans for the “Roads to Prosperity” project and making the state’s roads safer for drivers.Justice and our host Mark Curtis also take a moment to honor the memory of Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance, Dennis Davis, who died Jan. 19. Mark asks West Virginians to remember Davis’s legacy by buying a plant or flowers and placing them on a veteran’s grave at the state cemetery for veterans because Davis himself worked hard to keep the veterans’ cemeteries beautiful.In Segment 3, Bill Raney, who recently retired from being president of the West Virginia Coal Association, joins us to talk about the importance of the coal industry in the Mountain State and sending West Virginia coal to other industries.The WV Coal Association works to represent the coal-producing part of the industry, including coal miners. The group’s objective is to make sure coal mines keep running and make the job more economical for coal miners.In the 28 years Raney was part of the association, he says many changes have come to make coal-mining more efficient and safe. He says the organization plans to work to raise awareness of the importance of coal to the state and the country.In Segment 4, Former president of the West Virginia Coal Association Bill Raney is back, and we’re also joined by another special guest, Raney’s successor to the position, Chris Hamilton.Raney says Hamilton and the rest of the Association are more than prepared to represent the industry amid transitions in federal politics. Hamilton talks about the hopes of getting the business inventory tax repealed, a big objective for both the WV Coal Association and the Business Industry Council, for which Hamilton also serves as president. The largest question before moving forward is how to replace the money.

IWVP: Vaccines and broadband; talking coal and the business inventory tax

In Segment 1, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) discusses the second impeachment of then-President Donald Trump. He says while he does agree Trump’s actions leading up to riots at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 are impeachable, but that it is the wrong timing and that he felt the focus should first be on the transition of power to the new administration.He says it is also important to first remove doubts that Joe Biden won the election and to prove to Americans the election was fair and secure.Manchin also clarifies his thoughts on future stimulus checks are not against stimulus checks, but that the checks should be targeted to those who need help the most.In Segment 2, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) returns to talk about rebuilding the government after several secretaries resigned following riots at the U.S. Capitol. He also says a top priority needs to be getting vaccinations for COVID-19 in people’s arms.“We’ve got to do everything we can to get people a mind set of ‘I’m safe’,” Mancin said.He also talks about the future of coal in West Virginia and how the U.S. needs to be energy independent, using technology to make that energy as clean and efficient as possible in a bipartisan way.Manchin, our host Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis and guest host 13 News Anchor Lily Bradley also take a moment to remember Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager following a Jan. 15 memorial service for the West Virginia native and American Hero.In Segment 3, Dale Lee, head of the West Virginia Education Associations talks about the West Virginia Board of Education’s decision to return to in-person learning.He says the union should have been more involved in the decisions because the WVEA is member-driven and shares the concerns they have about returning to the classroom before vaccines are more widely available. Lee says he isn’t entirely against a complete return to the classroom, but believes now is not the time and the numbers for it to be a safe environment.In Segment 4, West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch boils down the WV Board of Education’s decision to return to in-person learning. He says the decision came after four hours of debate and open dialogue.He says parents will still have the option to keep their students in virtual school if they choose, but they also wanted parents to have the option for in-person learning following national and state level health officials’ advice that it is safe with a mitigation strategy.Burch says its important to have in-person learning available to students to make sure they have resources they may not have access to in virtual school.

IWVP: Vaccines, energy and education; a senator speaks on Trump’s impeachment

In Segment 1, Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Evan Jenkins discusses the plans for what they’re calling the New Court. He says they hope to continue moving forward from the “problems of the past,” and continue the work of the past two years to bring back the public’s trust and confidence through accountability and transparency from the Court.He says even amid the pandemic, the court was never able to fully close, providing access to those in emergency situations. Jenkins says learning to use technology to provide new means of accessing the court can also be used in the future.In Segment 2, we switch gears from politics to pandemic. Reverend Matthew Watts of Grace Baptist Church talks about the importance of getting the vaccine out to minority groups in the state.Watts has been an advocate for providing COVID-19 testing to minority communities throughout the pandemic, as studies have shown minorities are two to three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than the rest of the population. He commended the Kanawha County Commission and Kanawha-Charleston Health Department for making those testing events happen.He says those statistics also make getting the vaccine available to minority communities important to protect the community.In Segment 3, Charlie Burd, the executive director of the new Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia stops by to talk about the organization. The association is a merger of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association and the Independent Oil and Gas Association.Burd says the two organization’s dividing lines started merging and it was time to start tracking the same issues. He says the merger makes the organization stronger and gives them more of an opportunity to advocate for issues such as public policy, environmental safety, drilling and production, and taxes.In Segment 4, Seth DiStefano with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy talks about the COVID-19 aid package. The recent package included funding for aid to child nutrition and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.DiStefano says in West Virginia, that funding will amount to about $100 extra dollars in federal food assistance per month per family. He says he believes its important for state lawmakers heading into the legislative session to keep these needs in mind and remember many families in the Mountain State were struggling with high rates of poverty and joblessness before the pandemic began.

IWVP: Court transparancy, vaccines and advocating for energy, feeding families

On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, reporters from around the state join our host and Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis for an annual “free for all” to discuss the top stories of 2020.Reporters weighing in include Brad McElhinny of WV Metro News, Joe Stevens of WMOV Radio, WOWK 13 News Morning Anchor Lily Bradley and Steven Allen Adams of Ogden Newspapers.In Segment 1, we discuss the biggest story of the year – the COVID-19 pandemic. Our guests discuss how West Virginia has handled the crisis in comparison to other states, highlighting how West Virginia took precautions early before the virus reached the state and how health officials made it easier for West Virginians to get tested for COVID-19.We also take a moment to remember two tragedies in the Mountain State. First, the murders of seven veterans at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg. An unlicensed “nursing aid,” Reta Mays pleaded guilty to those murders and will be sentenced in February. We also remember 28-year-old Charleston Police Department Patrolman Cassie Johnson, who was shot in the line of duty Dec. 1. She died two days later on Dec. 3 and as a final heroic act, donated her organs to continue saving the lives of others.In Segment 2, we switch from pandemic to politics. One of the biggest election headlines in the Mountain State came in the June Primary Election when incumbent and Senate President Mitch Carmichael was defeated by Amy Grady, who went on to win the Nov. 3 race.We also talk about policy in the state, especially surrounding elections and early voting, which became a hot topic as states worked to make voting as safe and accessible as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.The pandemic also highlighted the Mountain State’s crucial need for better broadband. With schools moving to virtual learning as well as telehealth and telework, the pandemic showed how many of the state’s rural areas do not have reliable access to broadband to connect.In Segment 3, we discuss politics and what the upcoming legislative session will look like between the pandemic and the Republican supermajority.One question on the session is what will it look like? With the pandemic still ongoing and cases on the rise, the public has only been able to enter the building for specific businesses, questions arise as to how the public’s right to observe the sessions and have a voice in the building will work out, especially if legislators are moved to the gallery for social distancing. Plans for keeping the sessions safe have not yet been finalized.In Segment 4, the topic turns to the state’s continued economic struggles, made more difficult by closures and unemployment caused by the pandemic. Some major economic stories from the Mountain State include the closure of the Mylan plant in the Morgantown area. The loss of the Minor League Team West Virginia Power in downtown Charleston.In good economic news of 2020, West Virginia was chosen as the new site for the Virgin Hyperloop Certification Center. Construction on the site is expected to begin this year.Lily also reflects on Medal of Honor Recipient Woody Williams, who turned 97 in 2020, and getting to travel with him to Norfolk, Virginia before shutdowns began as the USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams was converted to the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams.Mark also remembers another pre-pandemic moment – the fifth day of the 2020 legislative session and the standing ovation Delegate Sean Hornbuckle received when he announced he had missed the first four days because he had been in the hospital donating a life-saving kidney to his sister. 

IWVP: Recounting the top stories of 2020

In Segment 1, Bishop Michie Klusmeyer of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia talks about having hope in the Christmas season and how important holding on to hope has been throughout the pandemic.Klusmeyer says while churches are going virtual, it’s a time when people are more connected with people from across the world joining local churches on live-streamed services and yet more isolated. He says this Christmas and Advent season is a time to be quiet and listen to the voice of God for comfort.In Segment 2, Joe Stevens with the West Virginia Ski Area Association says wintery weather on the slopes is a-go for ski season. While the ski resorts will be open, safety precautions will be in place to protect guests and employees from COVID-19. Stevens says he has one piece of advice for skiers – “Mask up.”Face coverings will be required in lift lines, on the lifts and other areas. People can go to goskiwv.com for a full list of guidelines at the ski resorts. Stevens says in a normal year, the industry brings in $250 million and 5,000 jobs.In Segment 3, we switch gears to politics with West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson) to discuss the supermajority in both the House of Delegates and the State Senate.While Carmichael himself was voted out in the primary election in June, he attributes the Republican party’s overall success in the Mountain State’s general election to the legislature’s focus on issues West Virginians care about. He says he believes it’s important for the legislature to work toward making the best decisions for the state.In Segment 4, West Virginia Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson) returns to talk about working in public office and what it’s like to make changes to better the state’s future.He also talks about the discussions around phasing out the state income tax, saying the State Senate has led many of those conversations. Charmichael says it needs to be addressed because economists across the country have said it’s the “number one job-killing tax in our state.”

IWVP: Christmas hope, ski season and changes in state legislature

In Segment 1, Chief Political Reporter and host Mark Curtis talks COVID-19 response in an exclusive interview with White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx during her visit to the Mountain State earlier in the week just as vaccines started arriving in West Virginia.She said the rising COVID-19 numbers in the state prompted her visit.“Well, that’s why we wanted to come because obviously, you can see West Virginia right now, rising test positivity, rising cases, rising hospitalizations, rising fatalities. Now is the moment every West Virginian really needs to take care,” Dr. Birx said.She also said she is excited to see the long-awaited vaccine finally begin to roll out as the first doses are given to those who need it most. In Segment 2, we continue our exclusive interview with White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx during her visit to West Virginia.In the past weeks, the Mountain State has seen a spike in its coronavirus numbers. Dr. Birx says a lot of this came from before Thanksgiving, and the holiday is accelerating this increase.She also urges people to keep their masks on even around friends and family, as many people move gatherings indoors as the weather grows colder. She says if people do choose to gather with close family and friends this holiday season, follow the CDC guidelines to keep each other safe and prevent further spread of the virus. In Segment 3, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and her husband Charlie Capito talk about a first for the Congressional Club in Washington this coming year. For the first time in the club’s history, it will have a male president, Charlie Capito.The Congressional Club first began in 1908 as a club for the spouses of members of Congress. In the early days of the club, it served primarily as a women’s social group, as all Congress members at the time were men. Charlie Capito says his first invitation for the Republican Spouses’ Club, 20 years ago when his wife made history as West Virginia’s first female elected to the House of Representatives, came in a pink correspondence.The couple says having a supportive family is important for those making the tough decisions on Capitol Hill. In Segment 4, we continue our conversation with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and her husband Charlie Capito, this time talking about policy and politics.Senator Capito tells us she believes important components of a COVID-19 aid package include help for small businesses, schools and hospitals; providing for continued testing and rolling out vaccine distribution; and aiding those receiving unemployment due to the pandemic. She says a major part of making sure the vaccine can be sent out to states quickly, is making sure the funding is there for production.Charlie Capito, a member of the West Virginia University Board of Governors and the Charleston Area Medical Center Board of Directors, talks about the university’s and hospital’s responses to the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the curveballs they’ve been thrown.

IWVP: Coronavirus, vaccination, and an exclusive interview with Dr. Birx

In Segment 1, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, Maj. Gen. James Hoyer talks about vaccine distribution in the Mountain State. He says there will be five hubs where the vaccine will be brought into the state and roughly 525 providers who have already signed up to assist with distributing the vaccine.The first phase of distribution is to stabilize the healthcare system to allow workers to continue providing healthcare and to protect the most vulnerable in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.Hoyer also shares his thoughts on the passing of West Virginia legend Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager (Ret.), saying he hopes people will remember him not only as the man to break the sound bearer, but also an American Hero who bravely fought for our country, flying combat missions in both World War II and Vietnam and trained 26 of the nation’s first astronauts. In Segment 2, West Virginia’s Public Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad says the state is starting to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, partially from Thanksgiving holiday travel, but not all of that data is in yet, and numbers could continue to increase. She also says a significant number of people with COVID-19 aren’t answering their phones for contact tracing, urging people to pick up the phone because identifying those contacts is important to prevent further spread of the virus. She says the number will usually be from your local health department. In Segment 3, Delegate Daniel Linville (R – Cabell County), vice-chair of the House Committee on Technology and Infrastructure, talks about an issue with a bipartisan agreement – the lack of broadband in rural West Virginia needs to be fixed. He says the state has put together a more accurate map to tailor resources to fund ways to expand and enhance broadband in the state. Previous maps have shown broadband in areas where there is none.He says broadband has become an important part of 21st-century technology, and the digital divide has been highlighted amid the need for telehealth, telework and online learning during the pandemic. In Segment 4, the new Minority Leader for the West Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Doug Skaff (D-Kanawha County) talks about working to make the minority party’s voice heard in a super majority in state legislature.Skaff says he remembers what it was like working with the minority party and building relationships across the aisle when Democrats were a majority when he first joined the legislature in 2009, and hopes the House of Delegates can work together across party lines to meet common goals for the state.He says he feels the legislature is on a united front in what it will take to help the state and small businesses through the pandemic.

IWVP: Vaccines and contact tracing, broadband and a supermajority

On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, Charleston and the Mountain State grieve their fallen hero, Charleston Police Department Patrolman Cassie Johnson, who was shot in the line of duty Dec. 1. Also in this episode, a congressman gives an update on the battle for a new stimulus package in Washington D.C. and AARP explains what they would like to see happen in Congress, especially in regards to transparency about COVID-19 in nursing homes. In Segment 1, Congressman Alex Mooney (R-WV) shares his heartfelt thoughts regarding the tragedy of Charleston Police Department Patrolman Cassie Johnson’s death after she was shot in the line of duty Dec. 1. He says in this time of grief for the city, it is important to look for ways to honor her legacy. Mooney also gives an update on the stalemate battle of getting a stimulus package passed to provide aid to those impacted by shutdowns and layoffs caused by the pandemic. In Segment 2, Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin shares her grief and fond memories as the city mourns their Sister in Blue, CPD Patrolman Cassie Johnson. The mayor says Johnson was one of nine women on the Charleston Police Department and her legacy will impact generations of women. “The legacy and the gifts that she gave are going to impact and influence women for generations to come,” Goodwin said. In January 2019, Johnson became the first police officer Goodwin swore into office. Johnson’s final heroic act was selfless giving and continuing to save lives as an organ donor. In Segment 3, we take a look at U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-WV) speech on the Floor of the U.S. Senate honoring CPD Patrolman Cassie Johnson, Thursday, Dec. 3. “She loved her community, and her community loved her back,” Capito said. Capito said becoming a police officer was a dream come true for Johnson, and thanked her for protecting a community they both love. In Segment 4, Jane Marks, president of AARP West Virginia, begins by sharing her condolences for CPD Patrolman Cassie Johnson’s loved ones. She says they feel the impact of the tragedy because, the AARP works closely with police to prevent frauds and scams, but they are also grieving as members of the community Johnson bravely served. Marks also talks about what the organization wants to see in Congress this year, such as transparency about COVID-19 in nursing homes. Marks says while the Mountain State has done well in reporting this information and making it available to the public, not all states have provided this information. She also says they want to make sure families have access to virtual visitation with residents to prevent social isolation and because residents want to see their loved ones.

IWVP: Grieving fallen hero Ptlm Johnson, COVID-19 in nursing homes and a stimulus update

On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, our guests join host Mark Curtis to talk about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the anticipated vaccines awaiting approval from the FDA and the need in West Virginia for a second stimulus package.In Segment 1, West Virginia National Guard Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, an integral part of the governor’s COVID-19 response team, talks about retiring from his position as Adjutant General, West Virginia Joint Forces Headquarters-West Virginia to becoming a senior associate vice president at WVU. He says he wants to continue helping the Mountain State through the pandemic in COVID-19 response and vaccine distribution as well as other projects across the state.In Segment 2, West Virginia COVID-19 Czar Dr. Clay Marsh talks about why COVID-19 numbers are on an uptick in the Mountain State and across the country. Marsh says one factor is health officials believe people are beginning to let their guards down around family and friends as a large number of recent cases are through community spread. Marsh says this holiday season is best to keep just with those in your household or through Zoom, Skype or other virtual platforms, saying “Wish others well, but don’t wish them well in person.” The COVD-19 Czar also talks about COVID-19 aid packages and why support from the federal government is important in offering free testing, providing contact tracing and soon-to-be vaccine distribution.In Segment 3, Seth DiStefano with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy talks about the necessity of another CARES Act package. He says many of the provisions in the first package, such as the $600 per week boost to unemployment benefits were essential to keeping West Virginians afloat and keeping the state’s economy from crashing. However, DiStefano says much of those provisions have already run out or will soon run out.In Segment 4, we switch gears from pandemic to politics with former West Virginia Delegate Dr. Chris Stansbury to talk about Republican Party’s numerous wins in the state legislature during the 2020 General Election. Dr. Stansbury analyzes why he thinks the party had such a large success in the election, saying the party’s views are more in line with West Virginians’ values.Stansbury also gives a preview of the upcoming legislative session. He says some issues include more dollars for the state’s roads – a point of contention for many West Virginians, possible raises for state employees, and making healthcare more accessible and affordable.

Inside WV Politics: Vaccines, stimulus packages and upcoming legislative session

On this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics, we discuss why everyone should be careful over Thanksgiving, we learn more about WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital, and find out how some are working to help those impacted economically by the pandemic. In segment one, Dr. Sherri Young, chief health officer with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, explains why everyone should take caution with their Thanksgiving plans this year, the concern medical officials have over people crossing into West Virginia’s borders from surrounding states, and how residents can get more information on testing. In segment two, West Virginia President Gordon Gee gives an update on the West Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital, what the facility can provide for the area, and what it can provide for the area economically. In segment three, we learn more about this year’s Miracle Network Champion Child, how the medical team at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital has helped him, and we meet the woman recently named the hospital’s nurse of the year. In segment four, Charlotte Lane, chairwoman of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, explains why the commission decided to help those who could not pay their utility bills due to the pandemic, why she would like to see the state and federal government provide more help to those who cannot pay their bills, and why solar energy is so important for the Mountain State.

IWVP: Preparing for the holidays and boosting healthcare in the Mountain State

On this week’s Inside West Virginia Politics, we get to meet this year’s Miracle Network Champion Child, delve into West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine’s Go D.O. program, and get an update on the state’s Jobs and Hope program. In segment one, Amy Bush Marone, COO of WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital gives an update on the new facility’s construction, explains the benefits of partnering with Children’s Miracle Network, and introduces us to this year’s Miracle Network Champion Child. In segment two, Dr. Joel Thierstein, president of West Virginia Wesleyan College explains how their new Go D.O. program will work, how high schools students can begin the process of getting into the program, and how the program can help to attract people to move to the Mountain State. In segment three, Dr. James Nemitz, president of West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, continues the discussion of Go D.O. and their partnership with West Virginia Wesleyan College, how helping young students make their way to medical school is a “win-win” for everyone, and how the program will help the Mountain State’s medically underserved. In segment four, Del. Mike Pushkin (d) Kanawha explains why he believes everyone in the West Virginia government should work together to better the lives of West Virginians, gives an update on the Jobs and Hope Program, and why he cautions state Republicans, who now hold a supermajority.

IWVP: The future of medicine and the West Virginia state government

Inside West Virginia Politics is a weekly show hosted by Mark Curtis that discusses local, regional, and national issues and how they impact the Mountain State.

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Inside West Virginia Politics

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