Karen Kidd News
Ohio Valley Research Consortium formed by U.S. House Rep. McKinley
WASHINGTON – A research consortium focused on drug addiction and opioid abuse, cyber-security, health care, and job creation among area veterans was formed late last month, according to a press release.
Charleston's newest city councilman and daughter attend Trump inauguration
CHARLESTON – Newly seated Charleston City Councilman Charles R. "Rusty" Webb could be in only one place on Jan. 20.
McKinley named vice chairman of Energy & Commerce subcommittee on Environment
WASHINGTON – The state's 1st Congressional District representative, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee since 2011, has been selected to be vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment.
McKinley 'optimistic' of solution in miner retirement and health care impasse
WASHINGTON – A fellow congressional supporter of U.S. Rep. David McKinley's re-introduced House bill to protect pensions and health benefits of more than 120,000 retirees and their families says the legislation is picking up support and momentum.
McKinley praised for agreement after long coal ash fight
WASHINGTON – After seven tries at coal ash disposal legislation, the U.S. Representative from West Virginia's 1st Congressional District is being praised for an agreement between House and Senate Conference Committees announced earlier this month.
Meractus report: Health care in West Virginia has room for improvement
FAIRFAX, Va. – Although there is some not-so-bad news for West Virginia's health care ranking in a report recently released by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the predicted direction is predominantly up, according to one of the report's authors.
AG's office reports successful drug take-back participation
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office already is looking forward to the next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to build on the success of previous events.
WVU veterans law clinic to use $10K grant for statewide assistance
MORGANTOWN – A recent $10,000 grant award to the West Virginia University College of Law’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic will aid in its mission to serve the approximately 170,000 veterans in the state, the clinic's director said during a recent interview.
WVU professor tells U.S. Senate to stop 'War on Coal' talk
MORGANTOWN – A West Virginia University law professor hopes members of a U.S. Senate subcommittee who heard his testimony earlier this month will stop talking about the so-called "War on Coal" and concentrate instead on West Virginia's economic good.
West Virginia's certificate of need laws need repealed, expert says
CHARLESTON – An economics professor predicts that West Virginia would be better off without the almost 40-year-old certificate of need laws.
WVBA Award of Merit recipient offers advice for newer attorneys
CHARLESTON – The most recent recipient of the West Virginia Bar Association's Award of Merit has some advice for up-and-coming attorneys.
Utility modernization and improvement legislation working as expected, coal group president says
CHARLESTON – Legislation signed by the governor early last spring that allows utility companies to fast-track upgrade recovery costs to help keep coal miners employed is doing exactly what it was designed to do, a coal association official said during a recent interview.
Almost $1.2 million saved in AG's Charleston Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit partnership with feds
CHARLESTON – Almost $1.2 million in projected savings has been generated for the state and federal governments in the six months that a disability fraud unit has operated, a spokesman for West Virginia's attorney general said in a recent interview.
Information about scams tops list of topics for visitors to AG's mobile office
CHARLESTON – Scams top the list of topics bringing visitors to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's mobile office, which began operating last spring, a spokesman said.
Thousands getting assistance via WVflood.com website, ads run at no cost to state
CHARLESTON – The state senator from West Virginia's northeastern panhandle said he was a bit suspicious when first he saw the two WVFlood.com ads on the same page of the Journal in Martinsburg earlier this month.
Cybersecurity threats, opportunities for state's economy part of Aug. 18 forum in Fairmont
FAIRMONT – Web-based threats are real, and everyone is vulnerable but not everyone knows it, West Virginia's 1st District Republican congressman stated in a recent interview as he prepared to host a cybersecurity forum later this month.
'Report It WV' hotline isn't adding to taxpayer burden, state senator says
CHARLESTON – The newly launched "Report It WV" hotline, an option for state residents to report suspected government waste or fraud, doesn't create any additional costs, the state senator heading up the project said during a recent interview.
Attorney general gets high marks from tort advocacy group
CHARLESTON – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has earned a high grade for transparency, ending "pay-to-play" outside counsel and helping to remove the state from a "judicial hellhole" list, a tort watchdog advocate said during a recent interview.
Up-and-coming attorneys should maintain curiosity, says award-winning lawyer
HUNTINGTON – Fewer students are applying to law school but those who do apply tend to be the best prepared in decades, according to a recent recipient of a Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia award.
Adoption of standardized bar exam will allow out-of-state lawyers to practice in W.Va. more easily
CHARLESTON – The state's recent decision to adopt a standardized bar examination, nationally recognized and gaining acceptance, will help attorneys and law firms while cutting down on exam time and expenses, a Judiciary Board of Examiners administrator said during a recent interview.