Monday - May 25, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving West Virginia Newsletter for Friday May 01, 2026 ( 17 items )  

Attorney General Alan Wilson protects citizens from illegal racial discrimination and DEI quotas
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 30 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson protects citizens from illegal racial discrimination and DEI quotas * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a 20-state friend-of-the-court brief in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to protect citizens from racial discrimination in employment practices. The brief argues in favor of the State of Missouri, which is suing Star  more

Attorney General Rayfield Announces that Purdue/Sackler $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement Takes Effect
SALEM, Oregon, April 30 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Rayfield Announces that Purdue/Sackler $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement Takes Effect * Oregon to receive almost $66 Million, funds to be distributed over 15 years Attorney General Dan Rayfield today announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has become legally effective, capping nearly a decade of work by attorn  more

Baldwin Introduces Bill to Combat Wildlife Disease Outbreaks
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: * * * Baldwin Introduces Bill to Combat Wildlife Disease Outbreaks * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to prevent transmission of wildlife diseases like avian flu and chronic wasting disease between wildlife, livestock, and humans. The Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Prevention Act increases interagency coordination, facilitates inform  more

Barnard Seniors Research: Postnatal Mental Health and Charismatic Religion
NEW YORK, May 1 -- Barnard College issued the following news: * * * Barnard Seniors Research: Postnatal Mental Health and Charismatic Religion Almost all Barnard students complete an independent research project in their final year: the senior thesis. Two members of the Class of 2026 shared their projects with us. * For many Barnard alumnae, the senior thesis is the highlight of their college education: the moment when all of their tools, knowledge, and resources come together to produce in  more

Chairman Capito Asks Administrator Zeldin About Trump EPA Wins and Priorities
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Chairman Capito Asks Administrator Zeldin About Trump EPA Wins and Priorities * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing examining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed budget for fiscal year 2027. During the hearing, Chairman Capito asked EPA Administ  more

Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Examine Proposed EPA FY2027 Budget
WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Examine Proposed EPA FY2027 Budget * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing examining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed budget for fiscal year 2027. In her opening remarks, Chairman Capito addressed  more

Discovery Channel May Programming Highlights
NEW YORK, April 30 [Category: BizMedia] -- Warner Bros. Discovery, a media and entertainment company, posted the following news release: * * * Discovery Channel May Programming Highlights * Week of May 4, 2026 Friday, May 8 * "Deadliest Catch" New Season Debuts on Discovery Channel - 8pm ET/PT * With a new king crab population appearing far north, the fleet relocates 225 miles to St. George Island, facing colder weather and more extreme seas as they work to sustain their livelihoods  more

Fairmont State Celebrates Spring Commencement on May 9 - Will Hear Addresses From Dr. Christina Lavorata and Ronda Colanero
FAIRMONT, West Virginia, May 1 -- Fairmont State University issued the following news: * * * Fairmont State Celebrates Spring Commencement on May 9; Will Hear Addresses from Dr. Christina Lavorata and Ronda Colanero The Feaster Center will come alive with celebration and Falcon pride on Saturday, May 9, as Fairmont State University hosts its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies. "Commencement is one of the best days of the year at Fairmont State because it reminds us why we do this work," sa  more

Forest Resources Association Urges Labor Department to Rescind 2024 Independent Contractor Rule
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Forest Resources Association submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Employee or Independent Contractor Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The FRA, alongside nearly two dozen forestry-related associations, expressed strong support for the Department's proposal to rescind the 2024 Final Rule and reve  more

He wants to take forever out of forever chemicals
KONGENS LYNGBY, Denmark, April 30 -- The Technical University of Denmark posted the following news: * * * He wants to take forever out of forever chemicals * Pollution expert Anders Baun has never been afraid to change track and say no. That is why he is now taking on the huge group of "forever chemicals"-the chemicals called PFAS -which represent one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. Miriam Meister Anders Baun is trained to say no. Not because he wants to be contrary  more

IFA Endorses Congressional Candidates in 10 States Ahead of May Primary Elections
WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Business] -- The International Franchise Association issued the following news release: * * * IFA Endorses Congressional Candidates in 10 States Ahead of May Primary Elections * Awards bipartisan "Friend of Franchising" endorsements to congressional candidates in Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, West Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Oregon, and Pennsylvania for their support of local franchise businesses WASHINGTON - The International Franchise Assoc  more

Nicole Luciano Named Associate Director of API Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Energy] -- The American Petroleum Institute posted the following news release: * * * Nicole Luciano Named Associate Director of API Pennsylvania * HARRISBURG, PA -April 28, 2026 -Today, the American Petroleum Institute (API) appointed Nicole Luciano of Harrisburg as Associate Director of API Pennsylvania. Luciano brings over 10 years of public policy, advocacy, legislative and regulatory analysis, coalition building and utility industry experience and will sup  more

Over 800 New Generation Projects Seek To Connect Under PJM's Reformed Process
VALLEY FORGE, Pennsylvania, May 1 -- PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity, issued the following news release on April 29, 2026: * * * Over 800 New Generation Projects Seek To Connect Under PJM's Reformed Process First-ready, first-served Cycle ends backlog and offers a faster, more predictable path for resources to join the grid * PJM Interconnection today announced that 811 new generation projects, capable of gener  more

Utah-Led Coalition to Secure Final Approval in $700 Million Google Settlement Over App Store Monopoly
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 1 -- Utah Attorney General Derek Brown posted the following news on April 30, 2026: * * * Utah-Led Coalition to Secure Final Approval in $700 Million Google Settlement over App Store Monopoly Today, a federal court stated that it will approve a $700 million settlement in a Utah-led antitrust lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit challenged Google's control over Android app distribution and in-app payments. The approval of the settlement ends a five-year case and gives   more

W.Va. State Treasurer Pack Applauds 9-0 Supreme Court Ruling in Favor of Faith-Based Pregnancy Centers
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, May 1 -- West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack issued the following news release on April 30, 2026: * * * Treasurer Pack Applauds 9-0 Supreme Court Ruling in Favor of Faith-Based Pregnancy Centers State Treasurer Larry Pack today applauded the unanimous decision by the United States Supreme Court that stated New Jersey faith-based pregnancy centers have the right to challenge a state subpoena demanding donor records. The court argued that prevention of such a cha  more

Whip Emmer Touts More Than 500 Key Stakeholders Supporting the House-Passed Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, April 30 (Rep.) -- House Republican Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Whip Emmer Touts More Than 500 Key Stakeholders Supporting the House-Passed Farm Bill * House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) today announced that more than 500 key stakeholder groups came out in support of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, ahead of the bill's successful passage through the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 7567, or the Farm Bi  more

WVU legal expert finds judges cautiously adopting AI while guarding human authority
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia, April 30 -- West Virginia University posted the following news: * * * WVU legal expert finds judges cautiously adopting AI while guarding human authority * New research from West Virginia University shows that as generative artificial intelligence begins to show up in courtrooms across the country, judges aren't rushing to hand over the gavel. A white paper co-authored by Amy Cyphert, associate professor in the WVU College of Law, offers a closer look at how judg  more