A bill passed by the West Virginia Senate, Senate Bill 171, has sparked fears of loss of local safeguards against environmental health concerns, especially in Hardy County. The bill would prohibit county commissions from passing ordinances or rules stricter than state law regarding agricultural operations.
Approved by the West Virginia state Senate on Jan. 12, 2024, without opposition, just two days into the 2024 regular legislative session, Senate Bill 171 would bar county commissions from adopting any ordinance, rule, license requirement or other authorization stricter than state law, rule or regulation regarding agricultural operations.
Eight-year-old Rosie Factora-Borchers' grandparents moved from the Philippines to Ohio six decades ago — she wants immigrant migration stories told in social studies classes.