In The News

Local and state officials as well as community members were able to get their first look inside a much-discussed and anticipated new business which the city of Beckley hopes will serves as an anchor for downtown development.Although not officially open for business, Fruits of Labor nonetheless held a breaking of bread ceremony during a dedication of the new business on Monday morning.Tammy Jordan, Fruits of Labor president, said the addition of the Beckley location in the former... Read More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Federal lawmakers are closer to sending a measure including various water projects to President Joe Biden’s desk following a recent U.S. Senate vote.   Senators overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act last Thursday. The legislation authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lead work related to water resources, environment protection, navigation and construction. Ninety-three senators supported the bill; Indiana Republican... Read More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Construction of a new broadband internet project involving Appalachian Power has begun, in which the effort focuses on expanding services to more than 13,000 homes and businesses in Logan and Mingo counties.The $61.3 million effort will involve the installation of more than 400 miles of fiber optic cable. According to previous comments from the utility company, 60% of unserved residents and 90% of unserved businesses would have access to new services once workers... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WBOY) — A turn of events happened on taxes and climate change this week between Sen. Joe Manchin (D, WV) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY).   While recovering from COVID-19, Manchin came to an agreement on Wednesday to back a new plan in the Senate.   He told reporters Thursday morning that “this is not about being a Democrat, this is not about being a Republican. I didn’t do anything to help either side because I know... Read More

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said the Inflation Reduction Act now supported by Sen. Joe Manchin is “inexplicable to me” at a time of high inflation.   Capito held a virtual press briefing from her Washington office Thursday and said the last thing that should happen now is to “flood more federal dollars into the system.”   The $739 billion act has money earmarked for debt reduction, energy production (including renewables), the IRS, prescription drug... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC (WTRF) – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin is on board now, two weeks after walking away from a climate deal.He is now in favor of a compromise called the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.It contains $370 billion in clean energy tax incentives, and $7500 in tax credits for Americans who buy electric cars.The legislation would allow Medicare to negotiate the price of some prescriptions.And it would cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors at $2,000 a year.The costs would be offset by a... Read More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., says there is no reason to be surprised about new legislation addressing energy, health care and deficit reduction.   While Manchin has shown resistance to domestic policy packages over the last year, West Virginia’s senior senator has also maintained contact with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., about getting a measure through the chamber. The discussions led to Wednesday’s announcement of the... Read More

WASHINGTON (WV News) — Sen. Joe Manchin elaborated Thursday morning on details of a bill aiming to tackle inflation, climate change, healthcare and more, although his fellow West Virginia senator, Shelley Moore Capito, is not as supportive of the measures. Called the Inflation Reduction Act, Manchin said the $739 billion bill backed by fellow Democrat President Joe Biden would invest $300 billion into reducing the national deficit, increase taxes and tax enforcement on on the... Read More

WEST VIRGINIA (WOAY) – In Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s press conference Thursday, she addressed Senator Manchin’s Inflation Reduction Act in another way, saying its aim will only lead to “spending more and taxing more.”She referred to the GDP’s current negative growth rate and the most recent announcement about the U.S economy’s newfound recession.Capito fears that Manchin’s bill would cause even more of that inflation and fuel the... Read More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation are urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to support the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.The letter — led by Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., and signed by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., as well as Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va. — also asks the commission to approve a request for a four-year extension related to the project.“The United States is a... Read More

WASHINGTON — West Virginia’s congressional delegation is supporting the nomination of the state’s conronavirus adviser to the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality.   “As members of West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation, we write in strong support of Dr. Clay Marsh’s nomination to the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality,” a letter from Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito and Reps. David... Read More

MORGANTOWN – West Virginia’s full Congressional delegation has put its endorsement behind the nomination of WU’s Dr. Clay Marsh to serve on the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality (NACHRQ).   Marsh is WVU’s chancellor and executive dean for Health Sciences and serves as Gov. Jim Justice’s COVID-19 czar.   NACHRQ is a 21-member panel, the D.C. delegation said, with appointed members serving three-year terms. It provides varied... Read More

WASHINGTON (WV News) — West Virginia's congressional delegation jointly issued a letter to offer support for the nomination of West Virginia University's Dr. Clay Marsh to serve on a federal health care advisory council.   The National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality is a 21-member panel that advises the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. According to its website, AHRQ is the lead federal agency charged with improving the safety and quality of health... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., sat down across the table Friday from representatives of a new Fayette County business, one with international roots.   Capito met with company leadership and toured the facilities at Gainwell Engineering, an India-based mining equipment company with its U.S. headquarters for sales and repairs in Hico. Gainwell officials and local dignitaries cut the ribbon for the Fayette location on June 16.   During her July 15 visit, Capito talked... Read More

CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s two U.S. senators expressed their displeasure at another increase in inflation rates as one of them continues to revive parts of President Joe Biden’s failed social spending bill in a way that can both fund Democratic wish list items and fight inflation.   According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose from 8.6 percent in May to 9.1 percent in June — the highest rate of inflation since November 1981. The... Read More

Step, by step, U.S. Marines carried the flag draped casket of Hershel “Woody” Williams up the eastern front of the U.S. Capitol. For the next few hours, Williams, who was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, lay in honor in the Capitol rotunda.   Williams died on June 29 in Huntington at age 98. Very few Americans have been honored in such a fashion, and he is the first West Virginian.   Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy... Read More

Woody Williams, the beloved Medal of Honor recipient from West Virginia, will lie in honor today at the U.S. Capitol.   His family will be in attendance as Williams is honored in a ceremony by senators, representatives and high-ranking U.S. military personnel. Williams will be the first West Virginian to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol.   Williams was 98 when he died June 29. At the time of his death, Williams was the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress gave its ultimate final salute Thursday to Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, a 5-foot-6 “force of nature’” in the battle of Iwo Jima and the last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II.   Seventy-seven years after his wartime heroism, Williams, who died last month at 98, lay in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, a tribute reserved for the nation’s most distinguished private citizens. Only six others have received... Read More

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said the new inflation numbers released Wednesday were “discouraging” and create “pessimism.”   “These were huge inflation numbers today,” she said of the 9.1 percent rise, the highest since 1981. “It is very discouraging to a lot of people and a lot of West Virginians.”   Capito said during a virtual press briefing Wednesday afternoon she remembers inflation during the early 1980s when wages did not go... Read More

CHARLESTON – West Virginia's two U.S. senators expressed their displeasure at another increase in inflation rates as one of them continues to revive parts of President Joe Biden's failed social spending bill in a way that can both fund Democratic wish list items and fight inflation.   According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose from 8.6% in May to 9.1% in June – the highest rate of inflation since November 1981. The 9.1% CPI was driven by... Read More