CHARLESTON – Tonight, the 2012 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature officially kicked off with the Governor’s annual State of the State Address to a joint session at the State Capitol.

In his address, Gov. Tomblin provided a broad outline of where we are as a state and  where he intends to lead us this year. Tax reform, fiscal responsibility, investment in education and energy are the centerpieces of his agenda.

We share that agenda. As Gov. Tomblin said, “This is not Washington D.C., where partisan bickering has subverted the legislative process. This is West Virginia, where the Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, come together, resolve differences, and take decisive action.”

West Virginia University’s engineering and mineral resources school will be named the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in honor of businessman, philanthropist and alumnus Ben Statler, WVU President Jim Clements and other officials announced Thursday (Jan. 12).

Statler and his wife, Jo, both natives of Monongalia County, today pledged $34 million to the College – the largest single gift commitment ever to the University and to a college – at a special ceremony at Erickson Alumni Center; $11 million of the donation will qualify for a match from the state Research Trust Fund, making the total value of the naming gift $45 million. A portion of today’s pledge comes from a previously announced commitment.

FOLA, W.Va. -- Flying at about 1,000 feet above the hills of Clay County, a trio of West Virginia Air National Guard C-130s approached a 360-acre drop zone on an expanse of a reclaimed surface mine, opened their cargo ramps, and reduced their air speed to 150 miles per hour.

Charleston Gazette

Drug testing for miners to be mandatory

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin promised Wednesday night to seek more state mine safety improvements, but his list of proposals fell short of what independent investigators have said is needed to truly reform West Virginia's mining operations.

In a State of the State address that repeated Tomblin's strong allegiance to the coal industry, the governor also outlined his legislative response to investigative findings concerning the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster.

In a 2-1 decision, a U.S. District Court this week struck down the state’s congressional redistricting plan. The federal panel found that West Virginia's congressional redistricting plan didn't create sufficient equal districts and was therefore unconstitutional. The ruling gave state lawmakers until January 17 to redraw the districts or they would do it for the state.

In response, state officials indicate they will file an appeal of the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court or request a judge's stay that would allow the Legislature more time to come up with a court-approved plan.