In The News

Bluefield is one of three cities in the country chosen to be part of a national pilot program that will upgrade road infrastructure in long-neglected neighborhoods inside those cities.U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced earlier this week that Bluefield will be part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, with $185 million grant awards going to 45 communities.This is a “first-of-its-kind initiative to reconnect communities that are cut off from opportunity and burdened... Read More

Rebel Senate Democrats are causing a political headache for President Biden ahead of 2024 by bucking their party and backing Republicans on contentious initiatives, including two in just the past week.Two Democratic senators joined 48 Republicans on Wednesday to nullify the White House’s new 401(k) rule that allows retirement fund managers to consider the environment and social justice politics when weighing investments.The rule “is just another example of how our administration prioritizes a... Read More

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) – $950,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending will be going towards technology upgrades at the Elkins Police Department (EPD).According to a EPD release, one planned implementation of the funds includes a street camera system that will be able to read license plates.“Systems such as these have proven to be very effective at assisting law enforcement agencies in preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activity. This system will also provide valuable assistance... Read More

Friday marks one month since the East Palestine train derailment, and next week Norfolk Southern's CEO will testify in front of the Senate.Alan Shaw will testify in front of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday. That happens to be the same committee for which Shelley Moore Capito is a ranking member on.Capito said the committee will have many questions for Shaw."What did you do right away?” Capito asked. “Did the community know what was being carried? Have you been... Read More

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) —United States Senator Shelly Moore Capito paid a visit to the Northern Panhandle Friday.The senator, who is originally from Marshall County, met with owners of Grow Ohio Valley at the Cliff House in Wheeling. She said she is impressed with progress being made in the city, including the Streetscape Project.Friday also marked the one month anniversary of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Capito says she is following the situation there closely and has concerns... Read More

PRINCETON — Those in attendance at the last Princeton City Council meeting received an update on plans for the future community center during a public hearing.Princeton Economic Development Authority Director Sam Lusk opened the hearing by saying that U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin arranged for $2.2 million in American Recovery Act funding for the 30,000-square-foot center, leaving the city to apply to the USDA Rural Development Authority for further federal... Read More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — “Disappointing” is the way those in the travel industry are describing a move by Spirit Airlines to cut service at West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston.“I think it’s problematic,” National Travel CEO Ted Lawson told MetroNews following an announcement from the airport Thursday morning.Spirit is eliminating flights from CRW to Myrtle Beach and Orlando beginning on May 4.Lawson said Myrtle Beach, in particular, is a place where a lot of West Virginians like... Read More

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, announced $8,956,269 in federal funding to the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. The funding, which is through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will be used to reimburse costs accrued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic related to testing and prevention. “West Virginia was quick to provide resources that kept... Read More

WASHINGTON (WV News) — Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is in full support of the tax reform package that’s poised to pass the West Virginia Legislature.House Bill 2526, the strike-and-insert bill that unanimously passed the Senate on Saturday, is currently before the House of Delegates for its members to confer with changes.“The governor’s office and the lawmakers, they have studied this very deeply,” Capito said Thursday during her weekly media briefing. “I think that the compromise the... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, will get to ask questions about last month’s Ohio train derailment in a hearing next week.Capito is the senior Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. On March 9, the committee will hear from witnesses about the East Palestine derailment and chemical release. Among those scheduled to testify is Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.Capito said she’s not had a chance to look at a bipartisan rail safety bill sponsored by senators from Ohio... Read More

Engineers have issued a new definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS), which becomes effective on March 20. The regulated community is watching this new definition of WOTUS because it will determine federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act.For example, projects involving oil or natural gas development or pipeline construction require federal permitting for impacts from crossing, or otherwise disturbing, WOTUS. Generally speaking, the more impacts to such federally regulated... Read More

The West Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday approved legislation that would target shareholder votes on behalf of a state retirement benefit asset management board that factor in environmental and social principles, dismissing that board’s warnings the bill could cost the state millions.House Bill 2862 would designate “environmental, social and corporate governance” as factors that aren’t to be considered in shareholder votes cast by the state Investment Management Board or fund managers... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) will receive $1 million under the federal Airport Terminal Program (ATP) for airport terminal upgrades.On Feb. 27, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that 104 projects at 99 airports would receive a share of nearly $1 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Fiscal Year 2023.Among those airport projects, CRW will receive $1 million under... Read More

Senate Republicans are trying to put the squeeze on Democrats ahead of an expected vote on legislation next week that would undo parts of a District of Columbia crime bill.The bill would eliminate most mandatory sentences, lower penalties for a number of violent offenses, including carjackings and robberies, and expand the requirement for jury trials in most misdemeanor cases.The legislation was unanimously approved by the D.C. City Council, which then overrode a veto by Washington, D.C.,... Read More

PHILADELPHIA (WVDN) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $36.2 million to West Virginia from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that communities can use to upgrade essential water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies.Nearly half of the funding, which comes through this year’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans helping underserved... Read More

ELLENBORO, W.Va. (WBOY) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding West Virginia $36.2 million for water and sewer upgrades, including new equipment for one local town.According to a release from the Biden-Harris Administration, the town of Ellenboro in Ritchie County will receive $1.5 million to “addresses aging infrastructure” as well as install a new ultraviolet disinfection system and covered sludge press.The press, also called a filter press, will separate liquid from solid... Read More

BUFFALO, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), visited the Toyota West Virginia manufacturing plant in Buffalo, W.Va., last Wednesday, where she received an update on Toyota’s renewable energy capabilities, overall operations, and the plant’s 4T High School Work Program.“Toyota has been a force in West Virginia, and operations in Buffalo are a source of pride for this community and our entire state. I value the close relationship that we have maintained with leaders at Toyota over... Read More

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.),Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, today announced $9,352,225 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support vision research, maternal and child health services, increased allergy, immunology, and transplantation research, and Head Start programs in West Virginia.“I am glad to see HHS invest in these programs... Read More

Republicans on Capitol Hill have spent two weeks torching the Biden administration for what they call a slow response to the Ohio rail disaster — but on Tuesday, some GOP lawmakers urged their colleagues not to rush out laws putting new strictures on freight rail.That means Democrats may face trouble getting a divided Congress to adopt the rail safety proposals that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent to Capitol Hill last week, including tougher braking requirements. And while a handful... Read More