Our inaugural WV Weakly Weekend Roundup

What's up with that rooster in the Senate Gallery?

“Not sure what exactly is happening here, but this might be the funniest photo from Session. Taken on the last night in the Senate Gallery” ~ Legislative photographer Perry Bennett on X, the former Twitter. Photo taken by Will Price.

The picture of “Foghorn Leghorn” in the Senate Gallery on the Final Night of the regular legislative session fell into the WV Weakly’s lap as if by providence. After all, today marks our inaugural roundup of news and events around West Virginia. And frankly, it fits with our goofy vibe.

Just what IS going on here?

Why is a rooster in the Senate gallery?

Is our friend being escorted out after doing something … inappropriate?

For God’s sakes-a-livin’, did it cock-a-doodle-do too much?

If you have an inkling, clue us in.

If not?

Amuse us with a funny caption and maybe we’ll share it with Weakly readers next week.

Yes, you are now a Weakly reader — a West Virginia Weakly reader, as opposed to the Weekly Reader you may remember from grade school. And although we’re not necessarily here to encourage reading in a general sense, we are here to help bring more attention to what’s WORTH reading about West Virginia— to help you stay informed about what’s happening in and around the state and more aware of the forces are shaping it, for good or ill.

You might be asking, “if you’re all about reading that’s worth-my-while, why — and how — did you manage to misspell “weakly?”

Good question.

The misspelling is a call back to the old humor newspaper The West Virginia Hillbilly. The paper billed itself as “a weakly publication” on its masthead. We view it as a signal of what we’re aiming for — namely to inject a little humor to make the bitter pills go down easier.

It’s been a week since the West Virginia Legislature wrapped up this year’s regular session and the reviews from the state media glitterati thought leaders are in:

• OPINION: The worst legislative session in history … so far. ~ Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette-Mail

• OPINION: Confessions of a former legislature fanboy ~ Hoppy Kercheval, WVMetroNews

• OPINION: Reporter’s notebook: Thoughts on the 2024 legislative session ~ Steven Allen Adams, Ogden Newspapers

• OPINION: West Virginia’s GOP supermajority somehow couldn’t get much accomplished during session ~ Leann Ray, West Virginia Watch

Gov. Jim Justice has so far signed more than 70 of the 279 bills passed by the Legislature. But on Friday, Justice caused a bit of a stir by giving the thumbs down on HB 5014, a $2 million supplemental appropriation to West Virginia University for neuroscience research.

• Justice vetoes Rockefeller Institute funding that would have supported neuroscience research ~ Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch

The governor is being encouraged to reject other measures lawmakers sent to his desk — and a special session seems likely.

• Gov. Justice signs budget, vows to bring back lawmakers for fixes ~ John Raby, The Associated Press

• Justice says he hasn’t decided about bill loosening some school vaccination requirements. ~ Brad McElhinny, WVMetroNews

• Teacher union leader urges governor to veto school vaccine bill ~ Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch

• West Virginia Public Broadcasting supporters are still concerned about bill weakening EBA ~ Steven Allen Adams, Ogden Newspapers

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Other news from the state Capitol and elsewhere around West Virginia.

From the dairy section of the WV Weakly: the successful push to legalize the sale of raw milk was not just a quirky West Virginia thing — How raw milk went from a whole foods staple to a conservative signal ~ Marc Novikoff, Politico

Department of Education not expecting to clawback $465 million from West Virginia ~ Mike Tony, Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) will appear on CNN’s Inside Politics tomorrow morning amid speculation about his future — Schumer discusses ‘long-shot scenario’ with Manchin: Last-ditch Senate run in West Virginia ~ Manu Raju, CNN

Manchin on independent run for U.S. Senate: ‘That’s not where I’m going’ ~ Brad McElhinny, WVMetroNews

A long, drawn out dispute among members of the Jefferson County Commission seems to be coming to a head. Two county commissioners are now each facing 42 criminal counts linked to their alleged failure or refusal to perform their duties. ~ Toni Milbourne, The Journal

• Commissioner Tricia Jackson is a Republican candidate for state Auditor. She responded to the allegations against her in this Facebook post, likening herself to former President Trump and vowing to remain in the race for state auditor.

New exempted site found for Wheeling’s homeless ~ Derek Redd, The Wheeling Intelligencer

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Looking for something to do this weekend?

• The state high school boys basketball tournament wraps up this weekend. All four title games are being played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. ~ Greg Carey, WVMetroNews

• You could go play Mothman blacklight mini-golf in Point Pleasant ~ Bradley Rice, WCHS-TV

• For gamers — West Virginia’s Mothman gets its own card in Magic: The Gathering ~ Sam Gorski, WBOY-TV

• Here's a list: 44 free Spring Nature Fling events blossoming across Southern WV ~ Rick Steelhammer, Charleston Gazette-Mail

• Finally, tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. Where else would you celebrate Irish heritage in West Virginia than in the small Lewis County town of Ireland. We found a full schedule of events on the Irish Spring Festival’s Facebook Page.

CORRECTION: The original text of this post made an incorrect “Sound of Music” reference. “A spoonful of honey” should have been attributed to “Mary Poppins.”