News from the South - West Virginia News Feed
WVU would have to operate ‘center for civics’ overseen by political appointee, bill says
WVU would have to operate ‘center for civics’ overseen by political appointee, bill says
by Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
March 24, 2025
West Virginia University would be required to operate a civics learning center focused on teaching constitutional studies and “great debates of Western civilization” overseen by a governor’s appointee, according to a bill approved by the House of Delegates.
It would be called the Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship.
“There can be pressure from such institutions on how to teach certain subjects,” said House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan, R-Hanock, on Friday as the House debated the bill. “Academic freedom to these professors to teach how they want to to teach is very attractive today.”
The unfunded mandate comes in the wake of WVU’s budget crunch that resulted in axing 28 academic majors and hundreds of jobs, including faculty members. The university also recently shuttered its Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion following Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s ban on state funds for entities using the diversity initiatives.
The measure, House Bill 3297, drew concerns from House Democrats, who voiced concerns about the governor having the final say on who would oversee the center.
“I’m not big on government mandates and big government. You can check my voting record on that,” said Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio. “This is setting up some cush position for the governor to appoint somebody. This is a beautiful handout for a bureaucrat.”
Del. John Williams D-Monongalia, said the university already offers dozens of courses across multiple majors that could accomplish the bill’s goals regarding course offerings.
“By and large, my experience at this university, and I think the experience of other people, is one in which political science [and] philosophy professors don’t tip their hand. It’s hard to tell where they are politically as it should be because they’re challenging our students,” said Williams, who graduated from WVU.
“I don’t like that we’re meddling, particularly with the political science department, where there are renowned, locally famous teachers … and now, we’re going to come in and mess with their major and how they teach their students,” he said.
The bill doesn’t come with funding to pay the center’s director or any faculty members hired to teach its programs. The center’s director could hire tenure-track faculty, which is different from the university’s current faculty hiring process.
Del. Chris Phillips, R-Babour, told lawmakers during bill debate, “I’ve been told the university supports this.”
WVU Communications Director April Kaull told West Virginia Watch that the university does not have an official position on the legislation.
“We believe civics education and statesmanship are important values to our state and nation. Many of our existing programs, especially in the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, focus on these areas,” Kaull said. “We have shared our concerns about the funding needed to operate this center and how its ability to offer degrees and award tenure would conform to our accreditation standards and policies.”
While McGeehan said that funding could be allocated later, Williams worried about who might want to fund the school if the state doesn’t. “Who will want to pay to have a say in how we educate the next generation?” he asked.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The legislation was modeled after legislation in several other states, according to McGeehan.
“It’s designed to attract very talented professors with a very narrow focus, mainly in the humanities,” he said. “Then, to attract STEM students into taking some kind of minor or at least have a background in some of these subject areas that they otherwise wouldn’t take.”
McGeehan was recently involved in a controversial move by the West Virginia Water Development Authority to give $5 million to an Ohio-based Catholic-affiliated career and vocational college to create a right-wing think tank. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reported that McGeehan helped the College of St. Joseph the Worker with their application for WDA funds.
The WDA made the decision without a required recommendation from one of three state officials.
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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
The post WVU would have to operate ‘center for civics’ overseen by political appointee, bill says appeared first on westvirginiawatch.com
News from the South - West Virginia News Feed
Ohio neighborhood fears landslide as retaining wall slips
SUMMARY: In Portsmouth, Ohio, a retaining wall has been slipping for about five years, causing fear among residents like the Yuri family who moved in just before the slip began. Despite support beams installed two years ago, cracks in the wall allow water to gush through, flooding parts of the road and raising concerns about a potential catastrophic landslide. Local councilman Shawn Dun highlights questions about the wall’s stability and estimates repair costs near $2 million, with the city seeking grants to fund the work. Residents anxiously await repairs, hoping the problem will be resolved soon to prevent disaster.
A cloud of concern hovers over one Portsmouth neighborhood. Those living along Richardson Road wonder how much longer a retaining wall will hold and keep a hillside from sliding that would damage their property. The support wall began slipping 5 years ago. A couple years later, support beams were put in place for a problem that those living along the street say is a ticking time bomb.
FULL STORY: https://wchstv.com/news/local/a-ticking-time-bomb-has-a-portsmouth-neighborhood-living-in-fear
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News from the South - West Virginia News Feed
Christian's Latest Forecast: More Dry Days; Rain Potential Late Next Week
SUMMARY: Storm Watch meteorologist Christian Boler reports mild, mostly dry weather continuing through the weekend with temperatures around 80°F and partly cloudy skies. A high-pressure system will maintain these warm, dry conditions into early next week. Some unorganized tropical rainstorms may bring isolated showers from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, followed by a dry midweek. Saturday promises significant rainfall, helping to relieve recent dry and minor drought conditions affecting vegetation. Temperatures have shifted from below to above average this week but will dip below average later in the month. Overall, expect more dry days with rain potential late next week, improving moisture levels regionally.
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News from the South - West Virginia News Feed
Road-widening project gets completion date, property issues remain unclear
SUMMARY: The Cross Lanes road-widening project, expanding Route 622 from Golf Mountain Road to Route 62 near Andrew Jackson Middle School, has resumed after a ten-month pause. Originally set for completion in June 2025, the new completion date is February 2027 due to delays caused by utility pole relocations. Construction is causing traffic congestion, especially around the Kroger turning light, which is being studied for timing adjustments. Despite frustrations, officials emphasize the long-term benefits. Property issues, including damage claims and easements, remain unresolved. Kanawha County lawmakers continue to provide updates as the project progresses.
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