CHARLESTON — Change is always a necessary thing, though it’s rarely something that comes easy. In this case, I have the sad duty of saying goodbye and and the proud duty to introduce my successor.
I was hired by the Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia in April of 2009 to help mold a journalism and [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Out of all 50 states, West Virginia saw the largest improvement in its public employee pension funds, but a new report warns that the state has more to do to sure up its pension programs.
The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Washington, D.C. released [...]

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signs SB469, providing a funding mechanism for West Virginia’s $5 billion OPEB debt. (Photo/Steven Allen Adams)
By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill making West Virginia the first state to deal with its multi-billion dollar retiree health [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — A bill creating new standards for evaluating and mentoring teachers in West Virginia’s school systems is making its way through committees in the West Virginia Legislature
HB4236 and SB372 would expand a year-old pilot program requiring all 55 county school systems to evaluate their [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — A bill introduced nearly two weeks ago would close a loophole allowing retired state employees to return to work as contractors while still receiving pension check.
State Sen. Mike Green (D-Raleigh) introduced SB545 on Feb. 08. Green is the only sponsor for the bill, which would close [...]

CHARLESTON — Steven Allen Adams, the managing editor for West Virginia Watchdog for the last 2 1/2 years was recently chosen as one of The State Journal’s Generation Next: Forty Under 40.
Steven Allen Adams has made a name for himself by keeping a close eye on the political players of West Virginia.
As editor-in-chief of West [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin‘s substance abuse bill passed one committee today on the West Virginia Senate side, but still has two more committees to go through.
The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee passed SB437, Tomblin’s proposal that would create a regulatory framework in place to monitor [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — One scrap yard owner told lawmakers that their proposal to curb copper theft had good parts, but it also had bad sections.
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard this morning from Tony Coffman, owner of Coffman’s Metals in Birch River, W.Va. Senators are looking at SB528, which has [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — Teachers’ unions and other interest groups crammed into the office of the Senate Education Committee Chairman to hammer out language for a committee substitute to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s proposal for teacher evaluations and a mentoring program.
A Senate Education subcommittee chaired by state Sen. Richard Browning [...]

By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog
CHARLESTON — An aide to the Governor since his rise from Senate President and Acting Governor is taking on the responsibilities of another state agency.
Jacqueline Proctor, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin‘s Communications Director, will serve as the Deputy Commissioner of the state Division of Tourism under Commerce Secretary Keith [...]