Inside West Virginia Politics

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — On this episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, we discuss elements of economics and infrastructure in the Mountain State. In Segment One, our hosts Mark Curtis and Amanda Barren, sit down with State Auditor J.B. McCuskey and talk about how $6 billion from the Build Back Better plan would be used. State Treasurer Riley Moore calls in to talk to Mark Curtis in Segment Two about the 15 state coalition against the banking boycott of the fossil fuels industry and what that means. Amanda Barren talks to Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) about revenue in West Virginia and what he calls the “rocketship ride,” WV is currently on when it comes to general funds and surpluses. Segment Four is a, “switch from politics to fun stuff,” as Mark Curtis calls it. He talks to Joe Stevens of the West Virginia Ski Area Association and how the skiing industry is good economically for West Virginia.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — This week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics welcomes a new co-host to the program. 13 News’ very own Evening Anchor, Amanda Barren. In Segment One, we are joined by Dr. Sherri Young of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department to talk about COVID-19 and safety tips on Thanksgiving and travel. We are joined by Gary Zuckett, executive director of the West Virginia Citizen Action Group in Segment Two to discuss Build Back Better and how it can influence West Virginia. Segment Three has our co-hosts joined by Charlotte Lane, chairwoman of the Public Service Commission to talk about Suddenlink and the complaints against them and the idea of building a call center in West Virginia. Our program ends today with a retrospective look at Amanda Barren’s career and what has led up to her joining the 13 News crew.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, we discuss what our host, Mark Curtis, calls, “the biggest piece of legislation in the land,” the infrastructure bill which passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 19, 2021. We also talk about the January 6 commission and the turmoil it is causing. In Segment One, we are joined by Representative Alex Mooney (R-WV) to discuss his objection to the infrastructure bill and the January 6 commission. Representative David McKinley (R-WV) joins us in Segment Two to talk about his thoughts on the infrastructure bill and his support for the January 6 commission. In Segment Three, State Senator Richard Lindsay (D) from Kanawha County talks about the Build Back Better plan and what it means for West Virginia. In Segment Four, we talk to Delegate Evan Worrell (R) from Cabell County to talk about his effort to launch a West Virginia Republican Labor Caucus, which is to be used to support labor organizations and apprenticeships in the Mo

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, we’re dedicating our show to our U.S. military and veterans in honor of the recent Veterans Day holiday. In Segment 1, we’re joined by Capt. James McCormick, (ret.), National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart who is sharing his message to elected officials to make sure they honor their commitments to veterans and their families. McCormick says he met with President Joe Biden on Veterans Day to discuss this topic. Brig. Gen. Bill Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, joins us for Segment 2 to talk about the importance of Veterans Day and showing support for veterans across the country. Crane stays with us in Segment 3 to discuss the opportunities available to those considering joining the National Guard. For Segment 4, we’re joined by a special guest, 2LT. Allie Curtis, U.S. Army. She is the daughter of our very own host and Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis. In this father-daughter i

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) joins us in Segment One to discuss the infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better plan. In Segment Two, we hear from Kat Stoll with West Virginians for Affordable Health Care on why the organization believes dental care is needed as a part of Medicare Eric Berger of the Oral Health Coalition joins us in Segment Three to talk more about Medicare expansion and how it will be paid for under the Build Back Better Plan. In Segment Four, we hear from a group opposing the Build Back Better Plan with Jason Huffman from West Virginians for Prosperity stopping by the show to talk more about why they think the bill “is a bad idea” for the Mountain State.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – This week on Inside West Virginia Politics, Dr. Sherri Young, public health officer for the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, joins our host Mark Curtis in Segment 1 to talk about FDA approval of a lower-dose COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 and the anticipated CDC approval. In Segment 2 and Segment 3, Jim Kaufman, president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association stops by to continue the discussion on the impact COVID-19 has had on the Mountain State and the recent COVID-19 surge’s impact on the state’s hospitals. In our final segment, we take a break from the more serious topics to talk sports with Jim Workman, publisher of “Wally’s and Wimpy’s Sports Digest,” a publication that has been popular in the Mountain State for 33 years.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) stops by in Segment One to talk about the biggest political story happening right now in the state – redistricting. In Segment Two, we continue the redistricting conversation with House Minority Leader Doug Skaff (D-Kanawha) to hear the opposing side of the debate.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin discusses her request for a special session of the West Virginia Legislature and Governor Jim Justice’s reaction. She also talks about what the city has been doing with federal funding and how events returning to Charleston have affected the city’s economy. We hear more about the money of politics from State Treasurer Riley Moore and Seth Distefano, Policy Outreach Director for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, stops by to talk about the child tax credit and the Build Back Better bill.

On this week’s episode of Inside West Virginia Politics, host Mark Curtis and guests discuss various topics including education and healthcare and current issues such as the American Electric Power (AEP) price increase intended to support three coal power plants in the Mountain State.Guests on the shows this week include Erin Anderson, West Virginia Teacher of the Year 2021 and 5th-grade teacher at Tennerton Elementary School in Upshur County, Brian Casto, West Virginia Teacher of the Year 2022, 8th grade West Virginia Studies teacher at Milton Middle School in Cabell County, Dr. Dino Beckett, CEO and Physician at Williamson Health and Wellness Center and Gaylene Miller, State Director of AARP of West Virginia.

On this week’s episode on Inside West Virginia Politics, host Mark Curtis and guests discuss a variety of topics important to the Mountain State, including the possibility of extending three West Virginia coal-fired power plants until 2040, National Recovery Month, and the support of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.Guests on this week’s episode include Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association, Karan Ireland from the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Chelsea Carter, Director of Services at Brighter Futures, which is affiliated with Boone Memorial Hospital, and Gary Zuckett, Executive Director of West Virginia Citizen Action.

In our first two segments, Attorney Mike Kelly, a former family court judge for Kanawha County for 15 years who has now returned to private practice, stops by to discuss his new book “Marrow Bone,” which delves into the politics of the Mountain State.Kelly says he wrote the book because since he first began practicing law in Mingo County, he has been fascinated by West Virginia politics and how unique and personal the state’s politics are in comparison to other counties. In the book, he uses a blend of both fact and fiction to create a narrative describing how the state’s politics work.The attorney says the plot of the book follows two fictional wealthy, politically connected families in West Virginia who he says are basically the “power brokers,” or the people behind the politicians and candidates, of the state’s politics.Kelly says while many of the characters and specific situations are fictional, they are based on real people and events that tie into the state’s politics, such as murder cases creating mor

New COVID-19 treatment available in Kanawha CountyIn Segment 1, Dr. Sherri Young, DO, FAAFO, is the Health Officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. She’s discussing the latest on COVID-19 in West Virginia, including the health department offering a new treatment for the virus.KCHD is offering monoclonal antibody clinics in addition to their free COVID-19 vaccination and testing clinic. Monoclonal antibodies or mAb are made in a laboratory to fight a particular infection, and in this case, the virus that causes COVID-19. These antibodies are then directly administered through therapy to COVID-positive patients with an infusion or shot.Young says this treatment is available with a doctor’s recommendation. “There’s an increased demand for testing right now because people are positive, they’re symptomatic, people need a negative test to go back to school or work. We’re still vaccinating, and I hope we are capturing more and more people getting that first and second dose. It’s essential that we keep th

COVID-19 continues to spread like a wildfire in West VirginiaIn Segment 1, Dr. Clay Marsh, the COVID-19 Czar in West Virginia, talks about the spike in coronavirus cases due to the impact of the Delta variant. Marsh says the Delta variant has caused this large spike as it can spread very quickly and that this strain of the virus is over 1,000 more spreadable than with the initial COVID-19 outbreak.West Virginia has broken two COVID-19 records within the last week. According to state health data, Thursday, Sept. 9th, the total of confirmed cases was a record 1,738, only to be broken by Saturday, Sept. 11th’s total of 1,821.The previous one-day high of more than 1,700 was set on Dec. 31.To find where you can get vaccinated, visit the Department of Health and Human Resources website. Visit their official website to register for the ‘Do it for Babydog: Save a life, Change your life’ Vaccine Sweepstakes.WV Senator describes experience on 9/11In Segment 2, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was the only membe

Rich Trumka and the 100th anniversary of Battle of Blair MountainIn Segment 1, Cecil Roberts, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President, discusses the passing of Rich Trumka, former President of the AFL-CIO. An outspoken advocate for social and economic justice, Trumka was the nation’s most straightforward voice on the critical need to ensure that all workers have a good job and the power to determine their wages and working conditions.Roberts also talks about the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in United States history and the largest armed uprising since the American Civil War. According to Roberts, this attack was the first time that an airstrike was called within the continental borders of the United States. The attack was called by the coal companies, which dropped bombs on the marchers.‘Give them a future’: Should get first dibs on solar and wind energy jobs?In Segment 2, Cecil Roberts, UMWA president, said that as mining jobs decrease and solar an

In Segment 1, Recently retired Judge Will Thompson from Boone County discusses his nomination for US Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. While he cannot disclose anything about the confirmation process, he shares stories from his years on the bench and talks about being one of the pioneers of drug courts and expungements.In Segment 2, Mark Curtis and recently-retired Judge Will Thompson from Boone County talk about Chelsea Carter, who was addicted to drugs as a teenager. She got arrested and sent to jail but has since turned her life around for the better. She later got clean, got her bachelor’s and master’s degree in counseling, and is now the head of Better Futures at Boone Memorial Hospital. In Segment 3, Delegate Kayla Young (D) of Kanawha County and Delegate Joshua Higginbotham (R) of Putnam County have announced their new bipartisan legislative podcast. They have partnered with Mountaineer Media. Their show will be called Two sides of the same Mountain. “We felt it was best that Republi

A new recovery center to help with opioid addictionIn Segment 1, Rep. Carol Miller, Congresswoman from WV’s 3rd District, discusses West Virginia’s opioid problem. Earlier this week, Miller toured the New Lotus Recovery Facility in Boone County. She says there may be more clinics to open in West Virginia.“Recovery is such an important part of getting over addiction, period,” said Miller. “Because you have rehab and recovery. The tough physical part of rehab, then you have to go into the multilayer part of recovery, which goes with you.”Miller also discusses babies born addicted to drugs, how schools react to those children affected years later, and how that affects communities.West Virginia power plants can continue to operateIn Segment 2, Chris Hamilton, President of the WV Coal Association, talks about the major ruling last week by the West Virginia Public Service Commission that essentially allows three power plants to continue operation in the Mountain State.Hamilton says the Mountaineer, the Mitchel and

The Shawnee Sports Complex estimated to bring more than $100M after first 4 yearsIn Segment 1, Ben Salango (D), Kanawha County Commissioner, discusses his contributions around the county, including his involvement in the Shawnee Sports Complex. Salango says the sports complex will bring in more than $100 million in its first four years — money he says is going back to employees, businesses and workers throughout the valley, not just the county.Salango has also announced his candidacy for the Kanawha County Commission in 2022.Revamping COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts in West VirginiaIn Segment 2, Dr. Sherri Young from the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department discusses ramping up COVID-19 testing and vaccinations as the latest COVID-19 spike spreads statewide in West Virginia. She discusses the Delta variant and the concerns with the spread as the first day of school is on Monday, Aug. 9. The Delta variant can spread quickly, is more aggressive and affect kids more.The importance of Paid Family and Med

West Virginia sees steady rate of unemployment decreaseIn Segment 1, Steve Roberts, The President of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, recently had an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette-Mail titled “WV coming out of economic slumber.” Robert discusses how West Virginia is seeing some good signs such as an unemployment rate below the national average, steadily-increasing workforce participation and an economy that is improving faster than the national average. Despite these positive signs, many companies are still looking for workers and are even offering sign-up incentives to attract people to sign up. Roberts says this may be because there are not enough workers for those jobs.  Live on the Levee boosts tourism in Charleston In Segment 2, Jim Strawn, the MC for “Live on the Levee” discusses how successful the live music events and vendors are this summer.Strawn says the event brings in business for Charleston and small business owners in the area. Some attendees travel a good distance to enjoy their time a

In Segment 1, West Virginia COVID-19 Czar, Dr. Clay Marsh to discuss the state of the virus in the Mountain State. As of Thursday, July 22, the state saw a 60% increase in Delta variant cases, going from 22 to 35 cases overnight, and active virus cases continue to climb.Marsh says this increase is “probably just the beginning” of the Delta variant’s impact on the state. He also believes the overall increase in cases is due to people becoming more “lax” on wearing masks and social distancing, although the state’s mask mandate was lifted just over one month ago on June 20, West Virginia Day. He says this is due, in part, to the number of West Virginians still unvaccinated against the virus. As of Monday, July 26, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reported that 67.7% of the state’s eligible population has begun the vaccination process and 56.2% of those eligible for the vaccine are fully vaccinated.Marsh also encouraged people, even those who are vaccinated, to continue wearing masks in

What is the Hope Scholarship? In Segment 1, West Virginia’s Treasurer Riley Moore discusses the Hope Scholarship. According to Moore, the Hope Scholarship Program is an education savings account that allows parents to receive $4,600 per-pupil state funding already set aside for their children’s education onto an electronic, parent-controlled fund for educational expenses. Those expenses can include private school tuition, tutoring, credentialing, therapies, transportation and more. This program can also allow parents to take students out of traditional schooling and use that money to help home-school them. For years, the teachers’ unions in the state effectively fought and defeated bills for the program. They worry that it’s diverting public money from the public education system and will only hurt the public schools’ system by taking money away and putting it in the private school system. Moore says this money is from state funding, not federal funding. Teachers will not lose federal money in schools.“The [s