December 2, 2020

State tax collections continue to top projections in November

State tax collections in November continued to top expectations as federal pandemic stimulus funding continues to churn the state economy.

For November, the state collected a total of $342.49 million in tax revenue, about $20.05 million, or 6%, above estimates for the month, according to data from the state auditor and Senate Finance Committee.

It was also up about $19.6 million over November 2019 collections.

Personal income tax collections of $149.83 million led the way, coming in $14.8 million ahead of estimates.

Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/state-tax-collections-continue-to-top-projections-in-november/article_8a09db4a-e318-5a61-926d-25e5032d1649.html

December 2, 2020

West Virginia To Again Suspend Elective Medical Procedures As Virus Cases, Hospitalizations Spike

Gov. Jim Justice says he is aiming to suspend elective medical procedures that do not require an overnight stay. That decision comes in response to the increased spread of the coronavirus and record high numbers for hospitalizations related to the pandemic.

In a Monday virtual news briefing, Justice said 597 West Virginians are currently hospitalized due to the coronavirus. Of those cases, 162 are in ICU units and 76 are on ventilators — the latter of which is also a record.

“This is coming at the state of West Virginia in waves from every different direction,” Justice said. “Now, what I'm trying to do with all in me is not shut stuff down. I am trying with all in me to keep people safe and alive.”

As of Monday, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reported 735 total deaths from the coronavirus — 40 of which were reported since the governor’s last briefing, which was held the day before Thanksgiving.

Read more: https://www.wvpublic.org/government/2020-11-30/west-virginia-to-again-suspend-elective-medical-procedures-as-virus-cases-hospitalizations-spike

December 2, 2020

First Attempt At Charter School Fails in West Virginia, A Year After Law Passed

On Monday, two county school boards struck down the state’s first application to establish a public charter school. The proposed program, dubbed West Virginia Academy, would have been located in Morgantown and served Mongonalia and Preston counties, focusing on academic achievement across K-12 classrooms, including an International Baccalaureate curriculum.

School boards in Monongalia and Preston counties, however, unanimously rejected the charter proposal, saying the application did not meet 7 out of the 10 evaluation criteria required in the proposal process.

Board members pointed to a lack of demand and support from local families based on a social media survey West Virginia Academy conducted that found less than 1 percent of families in the two counties supported establishing a charter school. They also said the goal and vision for the proposed charter is a mission already being met by traditional public schools in the area. Board members said West Virginia Academy provided an unclear outline of operations, governance, a financial model, and how specifically curriculum would be taught, among other concerns. They pointed to a lack of wraparound services identified for students and no clear explanation of what digital devices, such as iPads or Chromebooks, would be available to students.

Overall, board members turned the proposal down due to a lack of clear, detailed strategies and timelines of how the school would be run and how funding would be distributed.

Read more: https://www.wvpublic.org/section/education/2020-12-01/first-attempt-at-charter-school-fails-in-west-virginia-a-year-after-law-passed

December 2, 2020

Gov. Greg Abbott endorses Drew Springer over Shelley Luther in Texas Senate special election runoff

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune


Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday endorsed state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, in his bid to join the Texas Senate, charging into a heated intraparty battle where Abbott's response to the coronavirus pandemic has become a central issue.

Springer is in a Dec. 19 special election runoff against Shelley Luther, the Dallas salon owner who was jailed earlier this year over her refusal to close her business due to coronavirus restrictions. They are competing to replace fellow Republican Pat Fallon, who is vacating the solidly red seat in mostly rural North Texas after winning a congressional campaign.

Luther has been an outspoken critic of Abbott's pandemic management, calling him a "tyrant governor" for the business shutdowns he put in place to slow the spread of the virus.

In a half-minute video backing Springer, Abbott called Springer a "proven conservative," touted his legislative record and noted he is "the only candidate in this race endorsed by the NRA," the National Rifle Association. Springer said he was "honored" to have Abbott's support.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/01/texas-greg-abbott-drew-springer-shelley-luther/

December 2, 2020

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Even Bill Barr Can't Support Trump's Election Ruse

December 2, 2020

After AG Bill Barr says no evidence of widespread fraud in 2020 election, 9 Texas Republicans decry

After AG Bill Barr says no evidence of widespread fraud in 2020 election, 9 Texas Republicans decry "shocking lack of action" on allegations

by Abby Livingston, Texas Tribune


On the same day that U.S. Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department had found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, nine Texas Republicans in Congress signed a letter chastising Barr for a "shocking lack of action" in response to unproven allegations that fraud occurred.

"We appreciate an Attorney General who reveres the Constitution, who understands the rule of law and is able to skillfully and forcefully convey these ideals. What the American people need in this moment, however, is bold and courageous action," they wrote.

U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud, a Victoria Republican, was the top signature on the letter, which he posted to Twitter late Tuesday afternoon. Eight other Texans were among the dozens of Republicans who signed on: U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington of Lubbock, Brian Babin of Woodville, Mike Conaway of Midland, Dan Crenshaw of Houston, Bill Flores of Bryan, Louie Gohmert of Tyler, Lance Gooden of Terrell and Randy Weber of Friendswood.

They released the letter hours after Barr publicly stated there were no indications the election would be overturned, saying that the Justice Department has followed up on specific complaints.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/01/texans-election-fraud-allegations/

December 2, 2020

Salesforce to buy work chat service Slack for $27.7 billion

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Business software pioneer Salesforce.com is buying work-chatting service Slack for $27.7 billion in a deal aimed at giving the two companies a better shot at competing against longtime industry powerhouse Microsoft.

The acquisition announced Tuesday is by far the largest in the 21-year history of Salesforce. The San Francisco company was one of the first to begin selling software as a subscription service that could be used on any internet-connected device instead of the more cumbersome process of installing the programs on individual computers.

Salesforce’s flamboyant founder and CEO Marc Benioff hailed the “cloud computing” concept as the wave of the future to much derision initially.

But software as a service has become an industry standard that has turned into a gold mine for longtime software makers. Microsoft for one has developed its own thriving online suite of services, known as Office 365, which includes a Teams chatting service that includes many of the same features as Slack’s 6-year-old application.

Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/newsfeed/us/salesforce-to-buy-work-chat-service-slack-for-27-7-billion/article_30f71b20-1705-58b9-8475-ffd4e9b04b33.html

December 2, 2020

Homecoming dance or wedding vow renewal? North Central West Virginia event causes COVID-19 concerns

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WV News) — At least one positive COVID-19 case has been linked to an alleged “homecoming dance” in Bridgeport that drew over 100 people despite an executive order issued by the governor limiting social gatherings to 25 people, according to representatives of Harrison County Schools and public health officials in multiple counties.

According to Shawn Thorn, threat preparedness coordinator and public information officer for the Grafton-Taylor County Health Department, a Bridgeport parent called the health department on multiple occasions in the weeks preceding the event seeking clearance to hold a homecoming event at the 4T Arena.

Although 4T Arena has a Bridgeport address, the venue is located just across the county line in Taylor County.

The department repeatedly advised against the gathering, Thorn said, and had spoken to both the parent and 4T Arena about the event.

Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/homecoming-dance-or-wedding-vow-renewal-north-central-west-virginia-event-causes-covid-19-concerns/article_98d73e28-4a49-56ca-aa23-4f532c571295.html

December 2, 2020

After Democrats fared poorly in Miami-Dade a former mayor wants top state party job

TALLAHASSEE – After a campaign in which President-elect Joe Biden joined a roster of Florida Democrats who fared poorly with Hispanic voters, a Cuban-American former Miami mayor announced Tuesday that he is running for chair of the state Democratic Party.

Manny Diaz, the city’s major from 2001 to 2009, is looking to succeed current Florida Democratic Party chair Terrie Rizzo, who hasn’t yet said whether she’ll seek another term. Rizzo, of Palm Beach County, took over in December 2017.

“I’ve had the opportunity to listen and talk with Democrats throughout Florida about the work we can do together to build a professional, grassroots infrastructure and grow our coalition to build an FDP that can earn the trust of Florida voters,” said Diaz, 66.

Biden defeated President Trump by almost 6.3 million votes nationwide. But Florida was different, clearly siding with the Republican, who tripled his victory margin from 2016 in the state.

Read more: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/12/01/democratic-setbacks-miami-dade-may-lead-party-change/6471158002/

December 2, 2020

Florida surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases

Florida became the third state to exceed 1 million cases on Tuesday and continued to get closer to a coronavirus death toll of 20,000.

But Gov. Ron DeSantis remained steadfast in his opposition to a statewide mandatory mask order or any return to lockdowns of businesses, including bars and restaurants.

“Yes, we are seeing increases, but other states are seeing even more,” DeSantis said Monday during a news conference in Kissimmee with Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. It was his first live news conference in a month.

DeSantis reiterated his opposition to mask mandates and lockdowns on CNN Tuesday morning, the same day it was reported that Florida added 8,847 new cases Monday for a total of 1,008,166, making it the third state to exceed 1 million cases, after California and Texas. Its death toll among residents increased by 82, bringing that total to 18,679.

Read more: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2020/12/01/florida-coronavirus-1-million-cases-covid-19-pandemic/6462304002/