In The News

Capito, Manchin and … optimism?Despite these tensions, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a key negotiator on permitting, yesterday expressed optimism that a deal could be reached.“What we need to do is look at H.R. 1 and see where we can find common ground,” Capito told The Climate 202. “That may be a rosy outlook, but I think there’s a desire for permitting reform on both sides.”Capito added that she had had a “good” conversation about permitting yesterday with House Natural Resources... Read More

Federal funding for the Coalfields Expressway was included in $18.9 million directed toward eight West Virginia highway projects. The awards include $1.5 million for the Coalfields Expressway for pavement of approximately a quarter-mile section. Another $5 million will go to the King Coal Highway for the Gilbert Creek Connector to connect the community of Gilbert, which has battled transportation connectivity and reliability issues for decades, according to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin,... Read More

Fire departments from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia responded to the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. At first, they didn’t have a lot of information to work with. Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, told the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that none of the first responders on the scene had access to an app that was created by the rail industry precisely for that kind of situation. The AskRail app... Read More

STAR CITY, W.Va. (WBOY) — On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced close to $19 million will be going towards eight West Virginia highway projects. One project that is receiving significant funding is the I-79 exit near Star City, which looks to reconfigure exit 155. “Moving West Virginia forward means investing in our roads and highways, and it’s exactly why I requested this funding for eight key projects across our state,” Senator... Read More

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito held her weekly briefing with a lot on the agenda. One big focus was on the recent Senate hearings related to the East Palestine train derailment. Capito emphasized her criticism in Norfolk Southern's response and emphasized the need for the company to make communication and safety improvements. NEWS9S Chloe Mesogitis asked Capito her thoughts on the proposed Rail Safety Act of 2023. CM: Going back to the Rail Safety Act,... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — A West Virginia lawmaker is calling on Mexico to do more to solve the drug problem in the U.S. and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) believes she got a cooperative response. There is no coincidence in the timing after two recent major drug busts in the Mountain State. One in Charleston and another in the Northern Panhandle. Last week, Sen. Capito and several of her Congressional colleagues met with the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López... Read More

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that West Virginia University (WVU) will be awarded $176,143 in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF).Specifically, the funding supports a project that aims to determine the social and structural predictors of delays in diagnosis of medical conditions with ambiguous symptoms.“WVU continues... Read More

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan consensus that Congress should act to toughen regulations on railroads emerged March 22 as senators heard fresh testimony on the fiery hazardous train derailment in February on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.Both Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Commerce Committee peppered Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw with questions about what enhanced safety measures he would support. At times they aggressively questioned the CEO of one of the nation’s largest railroads on what... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito asked witnesses in a hearing Wednesday about what kind of rail safety improvements are needed after last month’s fiery derailment in Ohio.Capito, R-West Virginia, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, asked why the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, was not considered by federal definition to be of a higher level of hazard than other trains.Officials at the scene made the decision to vent and burn five... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced nearly $19 million for eight key highway projects across West Virginia.Among them were two in the Northern Panhandle.The Weirton Frontier Crossing Project was given $1.5 million, while $730,000 will go to the first phase of a second Interchange at The Highlands on I-70. “Moving West Virginia forward means investing in our roads and highways, and it’s exactly why I requested this funding for eight key projects across... Read More

MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. (WVVA) - U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced $18.8 million for eight key West Virginia highway projects.Locally, the Coalfield Expressway will be receiving $1,500,000, and the King Coal Highway will be receiving $5,000,000.“Moving West Virginia forward means investing in our roads and highways, and it’s exactly why I requested this funding for eight key projects across our state,” Ranking Member Capito said. “Advancing these projects closer to completion... Read More

The Biden administration’s top environmental regulator was in the hot seat Wednesday as Republican senators, in a preview of spending battles to come, questioned his request for more money for the Environmental Protection Agency in the president’s budget.Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee pressed EPA Administrator Michael Regan during an appearance before the panel about why the agency needs $12.1 billion for 2024 — an increase of roughly $2 billion, or 20% — when... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WBOY) — West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R) highlighted several concerns during the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s questioning of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan over the agency’s proposed budget for FY 2024 on Wednesday.The budget totals $12.083 billion, marking a $1.9 billion or 19% increase over FY 2023, and calls for the agency to be able to hire just under 2,000 more employees.“Well, I think one of the issues... Read More

A bipartisan delegation that included Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., returned from a weekend trip to Mexico Monday after meeting face-to-face with Mexico President López Obrador.Capito has been an outspoken critic of how the southern border situation is being handled by the Biden administration and by Mexico.“As a neighbor and as the top destination for U.S. travelers, Mexico’s security and stability has major implications for our own safety and prosperity,” Capito said after the trip. “The... Read More

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority will be awarded $125,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). Specifically, the funding supports fair housing activities that educate the public and housing providers about equal opportunity in housing and compliance with the... Read More

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra’s budget blitz is beginning.The nation’s top federal health official is gearing up to defend President Biden’s fiscal 2024 budget in front of two key Senate committees today and other House panels next week. He’s likely to face criticism and tough questions from Republicans who have already hammered the administration over a recent Medicare Advantage proposal, its pandemic response and the fentanyl crisis.On the other side of the aisle,... Read More

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — A research project at West Virginia University was awarded $748,564Specifically, the funding will allow WVU to focus on a range of high-priority research needs, including deep space exploration, manufacturing in space, and advancements in technology and science that will also benefit humanity here on Earth, according to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who announced the funding on Monday.Sen. Joe Manchin also announced the funding which came from the National Aeronautics... Read More

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — A research project at West Virginia University was awarded $748,564Specifically, the funding will allow WVU to focus on a range of high-priority research needs, including deep space exploration, manufacturing in space, and advancements in technology and science that will also benefit humanity here on Earth, according to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who announced the funding on Monday.Sen. Joe Manchin also announced the funding which came from the National Aeronautics... Read More

ELKINS — The chief of the Elkins Police Department said officials are moving forward with the implementation of a street camera system that will utilize license plate reader technology in an effort to detect and prevent crime.“Today we did have all of our partners on site for the street camera project, with all the different entities that are helping out on that,” EPD Chief Travis Bennett told Elkins City Council during their most recent meeting.“Several representatives from the city are going... Read More

For those who like to believe the boilerplate arguments that Democrats are for protecting Social Security and Medicare while Republicans are for dismantling the key programs that provide a social safety net for millions of Americans, you might want to read up on proposed changes championed by the Biden administration.President Biden’s team has proposed two rules for the Medicare Advantage program. That is a health insurance option where a retiree receives benefits through a private... Read More