Ch-ch-ch-changes Come July First All Around the Region
Ch-ch-ch-changes Come July First All Around the Region Save Email Print
Posted: 6:45 PM Jun 30, 2008
 Last Updated: 6:45 PM Jun 30, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Team/The Associated Press
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July 1st brings several changes to our region.

Here's the rundown:

1) You'll have to head outside to smoke at more locations in Kanawha County. The countywide smoking regulations will strengthen and that will force smoke free environments inside bars, new hotels and the dog track.

2) Food inspections will change in West Virgnia. Come July 1st, a health department can shut down your favorite (or least favorite) restaurant for three critical violations. June 30th and earlier, it took five critical violations to shut down.

3) On June 30th, Brickstreet is THE ONLY provider of worker's compensation in West Virginia. On July 1st, you will have your choice of 162 companies as the market officially goes private.

4) The food tax drops from 4% to 3% on groceries in West Virginia Tuesday. It's the third such decrease in the last few years.

5) In Kentucky, breast feeding mothers can get temporarily excused from jury duty.

6) New school board members take their seats. In Kanawha County, that includes Robin Rector who beat incumbent Barbara Welch in May.

7) Steve Gilmore becomes Ashland's superintendent of schools in Kentucky. He stepped down as mayor of Ashland officially Monday.

8) John Younce retires as Greenup County School Superintendent.

9) You might have read from another story here on WSAZ.com that TTA begins four new bus routes Tuesday. TTA starts in Lawrence County for the first time.

10) Health insurance costs go up for city employees in Huntington. Retirees still have time to negotiate new rates with the city.

11) Kentucky Homeplace, a state run low income health care program, closes its doors in Grayson. The state has allowed regional case workers to service clients Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week and then they will close the doors.

12) The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will have the authority to raise speed limits on some roads up to 70 mph.

13) Convicted sex offenders in Kentucky will be required to register their Internet identities with the state.

14) Cell phones will be off-limits to school bus drivers while they're driving students in Kentucky.

15) It will be illegal for flower shops in Kentucky to misrepresent in directories where their businesses are located.

16) Funeral directors must provide a military burial rights fact sheet for deceased veterans in Kentucky.

17) It becomes a felony for someone to participate in human trafficking in Kentucky.

18) Kentucky's minimum wage will increase from $5.15 to $5.85. By July 2009, the minimum wage will reach $7.25.

19) Family members of dead or disabled military veterans will have Kentucky education benefits available.

20) It will cost you more to visit the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston. Ticket prices go up 50 cents for adults and children.

Now, the ball is in your court. What changes in your neighborhood July 1st? Leave a comment and let us know.

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Posted by: Alicia on Jul 3, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Min. wage in West Virginia has raised to 7.25/an hour. as of 7/1/2008
Posted by: Dee on Jul 2, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I thought the minimum wage went from $5.85 to $6.55 on July 1, 2008 (Federal Minimum Wage) not $5.15 to $5.85 as reported on Changes Come July First All Around the Region.
Posted by: Bev on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:11 PM
#15 is the one that threw me,lol. Is that a really big problem in KY?
Posted by: Valorie Adkins on Jul 1, 2008 at 01:19 PM
That's funny - in the morning news, it was reported that WV's minimum wage was going up to $7.25 and Kentucky's was going up to $6.55. Now this article reports that Kentucky's is going up to $5.85 and won't be $7.25 until next year, and there is no mention of West Virginia's minimum wage! What's up with that?
Posted by: bob on Jul 1, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I heard West Virginia minimum wage increases is effective today, my employer says that it doesn't affect me.
Posted by: bertha on Jul 1, 2008 at 10:36 AM
The minimum wage in Ky. is now $5.85 and will increase July 24th to $6.55. Unfortunately, it is a too little too late. Gas prices will take all of that, and then some!!!!!
Posted by: waynecountygirl on Jul 1, 2008 at 10:29 AM
I know longer try to predict or plan how my life will change. Gasoline prices, from which we hae no control, and thus groceries and everything else we buy, control my life and its changes. We no longer have the ability to plan. We are controlled by gasoline
Posted by: Daisy Mae on Jul 1, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Because flower shops hide from potential customers?
Posted by: anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:59 AM
on the top of the hour news, Melanie reported an error on the minimum wage increase, she stated it was going to 6.55/hr in KY and 7.25/hr on WV....it's 6.55 in both states.
Posted by: Lisa on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Lower food tax will not help much when the utility companies are raising their rates. and gas prices are high. So it does not mean a thing. I am still suffering financially and struggling to make ends meet.
Posted by: Amy on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:32 AM
What about the AEP rate increase? I believe that will affect more people than flower shops misrepresenting themselves.
Posted by: samm on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:24 AM
wow I didnt know WV still charged any taxes on groceries. Guess KY is ahead of them there, we dont pay any taxes on groceries. Out of the 20 changes mentioned I only see a very few that will actually help people. Looks like in a lot of ways we are sliding backwards instead of going foward. Like gas prices its only gonna get worse!
Posted by: Wv Hillbilly on Jul 1, 2008 at 01:17 AM
Good Job on d taxes but the prices on everything r skyrocketing,and it is ALL blamed on gas prices,which makes sense but companies r using it as an excuse 2 hike it all,we r "helping" Iraq so y dont they help us? we took the country and 2 d victor go d spoils America should b d cheapest place n d world 4 gas BUT thats what we get 4 putting an oil man n d white house 4 2 terms,the biggest change I'll be making is my everyday routine of the 3 S's I think I'll try showering second. LOL my fellow posters and WSAZ and Happy 4th.
Posted by: Janet on Jul 1, 2008 at 12:47 AM
See number (17). So human trafficking WASN'T a felony before?? Wow something is wrong with that.
Posted by: Ty on Jun 30, 2008 at 11:56 PM
... and I still won't be able to afford gasoline. Maybe I can take some of the big money I will save on groceries and put an extra half gallon of gas in my car a week! Priorities?
Posted by: janette on Jun 30, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Beginning with the June Water, Sewer, Trash. Etc. bill there was an average $5-8.00 per month increase.
Posted by: Mike Hawk on Jun 30, 2008 at 10:56 PM
yea, what's the deal with the flower shops? that's a pretty random thing to include in this deal.
Posted by: Rose on Jun 30, 2008 at 09:11 PM
"It will be illegal for flower shops in Kentucky to misrepresent in directories where their businesses are located." Has this been a problem?
Posted by: Tri-StatePainting on Jun 30, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Worker's compensation going private will help my company along with, i'm sure, many other contractors in WV.
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4
  • Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
  • Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
  • Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
  • Posted By: stephen: Why the heavy emphasis ont he damage to property and life Israel is doing . Where was the media uproar for years that Hamas was rocketing Israel irespective of innocent israelis.. Hamas is actualykilling their own citizens by firing rockets from UN schools and residents. Why does UN allow Hamas to use facilities for attacking Israel, then complain when Israel responds to protect their territory and citizens. Israel targets military targets, respons to from whence rockets or gun fire comes. What would we fire at if Huntington was attacked?Why does the media not put bla,e where balame belongs, and give moral support to the aggreived.What would America do if attacked? to whom would we listen? Russia, Saudi Arabia,Iran?.Media get REAL! Who has given Hamas and the Palestinians millions with which they could buy weapons---American taxpayers money!
  • Posted By: Robert: Although I feel for the employees that lost their positions at Cabell Huntington Hospital, at least more nurses were hired. I recently had a relative in the cardiac unit at Kings Daughters, in Ashland, and I was told that the nursing staff had been cut back and that no overtime was being given. This seems to be a drastic cut in patient care for a facility that spends thousands advertising that they are in the top 5% of cardiac hospitals in the country. I would be willing to wager that the Cleveland Clinic has not cut hours of those giving patient care.
  • Posted By: Boyd: If the state's budget is doing so well, why don't we use some of this money to help towns and cities in the state who are in trouble with their budget, or will this just become another pay raise for politicians?
  • Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
  • Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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