Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia will attend and speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee. The exact timing of his speech and his role at the convention are unknown. Justice's appearance was confirmed by the campaign for former President Donald Trump, who listed him as a speaker. Justice, who is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat in West Virginia, will join over 50 other GOP officials and candidates at the convention. Babydog, the Justice family's English bulldog, will accompany him on stage. Justice's pet has become a popular addition to his public appearances. The Governor's Office has not provided any additional details about his visit to the RNC [ad2d144f].
In addition to his upcoming appearance at the RNC, Governor Justice has been busy signing bills into law and making important decisions for the state. He recently signed Senate Bill 1007, allocating over $80 million to support college students and higher education institutions in West Virginia. The bill aims to address issues arising from the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) rollout and increase funding for college students. The allocated funds will strengthen West Virginia's financial aid programs and provide stability and support for students and institutions [62eddc6e] [38c61695].
Furthermore, West Virginia State University (WVSU) is set to receive funding for a new state agriculture lab. Governor Jim Justice signed a bill that will move the state Agriculture Department lab to WVSU and provide $50 million for the construction of a new lab. This move is significant for WVSU, as it is the only land-grant school in the country without a School of Agriculture. The funding will allow WVSU students to work with the state Department of Agriculture in the new lab and receive training there [32961c75].
Meanwhile, West Virginia University (WVU) is undergoing changes known as the 'Academic Transformation.' As part of this transformation, five academic majors will be discontinued at WVU's extension campuses in Beckley and Keyser. The Board of Governors has voted to terminate bachelor's degrees in Chemistry, Mathematics, and Aviation Management at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley. Additionally, two degrees — Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources and Wood Science and Technology — will be discontinued at WVU Potomac State College in Keyser. These changes come as the university has closed a projected structural budget shortfall and increased its cash on hand over the last year. The board is also continuing its search for the next WVU president, as current President E. Gordon Gee will step down in 2025. Potomac State College is also searching for a new president after former university president Chris Gilmer resigned in January. The goal is to have a new president in place at Potomac State by January [9ad5afe7].
Governor Justice's decision to veto a bill that would have loosened the state's strict school vaccination policies has received criticism. An editorial from Coal Valley News argues that Governor Justice made the wrong call in vetoing the bill, which would have expanded exemptions for childhood vaccinations against communicable diseases for religious reasons. However, the editorial also acknowledges that Governor Justice made the right decision in vetoing a bill that would have allowed the expansion of utility-scale solar power in the state [952c3a01].
Governor Justice still has until March 27 to act on 190 more bills that are heading to his desk or already pending his action [85d74972].