In The News

On Thursday, the Mountain Valley Pipeline received a little good news to mix with recent legal hurdles: The U.S. Forest Service approved the pipeline to pass through Jefferson National Forest along the West Virginia-Virginia border from Monroe County to Giles County. The Forest Service decision impacts about 3.5 miles of the 303-mile project, which is said to be 94% complete. The 42-inch pipeline is needed, proponents say, to transfer natural gas from the rich, fertile Marcellus and Utica Shale... Read More

WASHINGTON—Republicans don’t control the Senate. But on some days, they have controlled the Senate’s agenda on issues including crime and the environment.  While Democrats run the Senate floor on account of their 51-49 majority, Republicans are using various tools to force votes on issues dear to the GOP, over the opposition of Senate Democratic leaders and President Biden. They have employed the Congressional Review Act and other provisions of federal law to target rules... Read More

Clean drinking water and responsible disposal of wastewater are two primary characteristics of a safe community. West Virginia has 596 separate water and sewer utility systems, and, according to the state Public Service Commission, “Over time, some have fallen into disrepair and struggle to provide customers with safe, adequate and affordable service.” The American Society of Civil Engineers 2021 Infrastructure Report Card gave the state a “D” grade on water. “Some... Read More

It’s fair to say that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is anticipating some feedback in its battle against greenhouse gas emissions. Following a controversial White House announcement earlier this week regarding proposed greenhouse gas emission standards on heavy-duty trucks, the EPA is planning a virtual public hearing that could last up to three days. In a notice that is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register on Monday, April 17, the EPA announced it will have a public... Read More

A federal court in North Dakota has issued a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its final rule redefining Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The final rule has been the source of opposition by West Virginia leaders, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who, along with Virginia AG Jason Miyares, led a coalition of 24 states in a lawsuit to vacate the... Read More

For the third time, the U.S. Forest Service has given a green light for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to cross the Jefferson National Forest near the border between West Virginia and Virginia. It’s a critical link for the 300-mile pipeline, which is a priority for state leaders but is opposed by environmental groups. Its opponents have been successful in stalling the pipeline. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court voided the West Virginia Department of Environmental... Read More

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)– United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and other senators sent out a letter to the FCC calling for the rollout of Next Generation Television standard to support local broadcasting. According to Capito, the new standard will help broadcasters provide quality news and improved emergency alert systems. A bipartisan group of 28 senators signed this letter, and was led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Todd Young (R-Ind). The other senators that helped... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to bolster the care of and information-sharing for missing and runaway foster youth. “We must do all we can to protect our most vulnerable children and keep them safe,” Sen. Capito said on April 12. “This legislation is a step in the right direction in achieving that goal.” Sen. Capito on March 30 signed on as one of three original cosponsors, along with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), of the... Read More

A federal court in North Dakota has issued a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its final rule redefining Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The final rule has been the source of opposition by West Virginia leaders, including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who, along with Virginia AG Jason Miyares led a coalition of 24 states in a lawsuit to vacate the rule. Morrisey... Read More

WEIRTON, W.Va. (WTRF) Another step in the right direction for economic development in Weirton. The Industrial Access Road project for the Frontier Crossing development received $1.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending thanks to Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin.And with that money, Phase 1 of the road is completely funded. Phase 1 will also play a key part in Form Energy’s planned iron-air battery manufacturing facility that was recently announced. Frontier Group... Read More

GRANTSVILLE — Ground will be broken Saturday afternoon on an $8.4 million effort to renovate the former Calhoun County High School into a community center serving multiple counties in the region. The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at the school building. According to a release from the 1982 Foundation, which is leading the project, the center will focus on child care and development, entrepreneurial support and business development and addiction recovery. “None of these... Read More

ELKINS — Both local and national leaders are remembering Willard Herron, a longtime Randolph County businessman and governmental official who passed away this week at age 94. “In public service, you meet a lot of good people and sometimes you meet great ones,” U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said of Herron. “Willard was a dedicated community leader, father and husband, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such a supportive friend. “Willard was... Read More

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is among several senators to introduce legislation that would create greater opportunities for small businesses in underserved states. Specifically, the bill, the FAST Fix Act, S. 1003, would allow these small businesses to gain access to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding awards. The SBIR and STTR programs are competitive grant programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA)... Read More

GRANTSVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – In one of Central West Virginia’s economically distressed counties, a Phoenix is rising. On April 15, 2023, Calhoun County and The 1982 Foundation will celebrate the groundbreaking of an $8.4 million mixed-use community center and pool, which are expected to serve seven counties directly, and likely more. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice celebrated the project, noting nostalgically,... Read More

In what some are calling its most drastic cut in emissions to date, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new rules for automakers to meet to reduce the emissions of new vehicles through 2032. The goal, as even President Joe Biden himself has said, is to get more people into electric vehicles and further decarbonize the transportation sector. As is usual when the EPA sets new, tighter standards, there already is a chorus of critics slamming various aspects of the... Read More

The interagency effort to stop drug distributors from sending opioids through the mail has too many loopholes and requires additional enforcement tools, according to a bipartisan pair of senators pushing new legislation.  The Synthetics Trafficking & Overdose Prevention (STOP) 2.0 Act would build on a measure President Trump signed into law in 2018 to require foreign countries to provide "advanced electronic data" on all international packages before they reached the... Read More

A federal judge has blocked a rule that took effect last month that expanded the definition of waters and wetlands drawing federal protection, responding to a West Virginia-led court challenge. Wednesday’s ruling blocks the Biden administration rule in West Virginia and 23 other Republican-led states that challenged the rule with support from farmer, home builder and mining trade groups. The ruling in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota builds on a separate court... Read More

MORGANTOWN — In March, the state Legislature passed a bill (HB 2008) to prohibit sanctuary cities from springing up across the state. Now, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has joined with other Senate Republicans to reintroduce a similar bill at the federal level. It’s called the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. It would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and would pull taxpayer-funded grants to sanctuary cities. Capito said, “Our country... Read More

President Joe Biden’s climate agenda is finally showing some teeth. After more than a year of offering incentives for industries to invest in clean energy, the Biden administration on Wednesday announced what it called the most ambitious auto pollution rules in history, with the aim of accelerating automakers’ shift to electric vehicles. The standards could result in battery-powered cars and trucks making up two-thirds of new light-vehicle sales by 2032, the Environmental Protection... Read More

CHARLESTON — A coalition of natural gas and clean energy companies have taken the next steps in their plan to secure federal backing for a hydrogen hub project. Members of the West Virginia Hydrogen Hub Coalition including U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, Shelley Moore Capito and Gov. Jim Justice announced Tuesday that the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations for the regional clean hydrogen... Read More