In the News

The last five years have been the five warmest years for the planet in the modern era, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The years since 2001 have given us 18 of the 19 hottest years on record. These are eye-popping numbers. The same day that joint NASA-NOAA report came out, something important happened on Capitol Hill that you almost certainly missed: Cong... Read more »

When Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area in August 2017, the devastation was unimaginable. The storm not only impacted an untold number of homes and businesses, it also exposed a weakness in America’s petrochemical industry. When the storm hit, 17 ethylene crackers, representing 60% of the production capacity in America, went off line. These facilities provide the feedstock for the plastics and chemical industries, and shortages and spikes in prices impacted manufacturers coast to coast. Gradually, the crackers returned to production after several weeks, but not before this major disruption to America’s economy. Read more »

A federal report issued this week cites the economic potential from additional ethane hubs in the United States. Natural gas processing capacity has expanded more than 10-fold from 2010 to 2016 in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia where the boom in crude oil and natural gas production from shale formations across the U.S. and in the Marcellus and Utica shales “has transformed global energy markets and may present opportunities for industry to establish additional hubs,” according to Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States, a report to Congress by the U.S. Department of Energy. Read more »

Congressman David McKinley held a roundtable discussion with Monongalia County law enforcement agencies on Monday. Read more »

Members of the American Federation of Government Employees union from as far away as Florida rallied Friday in Bruceton Mills to bring awareness to what they say have become dangerously low staffing levels at the federal prison in Hazelton and other penitentiaries nationwide. The Hazelton complex has been in the national spotlight since the Oct. 30 murder of convicted mobster James “Whitey” Bulger within hours of his transfer to the maximum-security portion of the facility. U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., joined the employees gathered at the Interstate 68/W.Va. 26 interchange to show his support and explain his ongoing effort to get more staffing at the prison. Read more »

The United Mine Workers of America held an inauguration of officers Thursday in Morgantown. Read more »

Congressman David McKinley held a roundtable discussion Thursday afternoon with nurses from Ruby Memorial Hospital. McKinley said he wants to hear about problems nurses may face, including shortages and retention, and how he can help make changes. Read more »

Late Wednesday afternoon, President Trump signed a bill into effect that will provide help in the battle against opioids in West Virginia. It was a big victory for the state, but specifically for one local congressman. Read more »

As opioids continue to ravage our state, the country seems to get one step closer finding a solution to this devastating crisis. President Trump signed a 600 page bill to fight the opioid crisis into law on Wednesday. The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (or H.R. 6) will provide $8 billion this year to battle the addiction epidemic. Read more »

U.S. Congressman David McKinley feels West Virginia is in a good position to capitalize on industrial growth following actions by the Trump administration, including lower taxes and an emphasis on brownfield development. McKinley, R-Wheeling, was in Weirton Monday, meeting with local businesses and medical professionals. Read more »