[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6160160,"mediaKeyId","5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597","parentId",5451030,"title","Human Rights Commission chair urges hospitals to restore domestic-violence screening practices","audioSeconds",394,"startMs",1059000,"endMs",1453000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597&start=1059&end=1453","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597/thumbnail_1059000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6160160/Morgantown/Monongalia-County/West-Virginia/Human-Rights-Commission-chair-urges-hospitals-to-restore-domestic-violence-screening-practices","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160160-4a95ceabad569d2fc12c690990233728/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145413&Signature=dX61leTDc6QSmMHgkj0GgTfnfwwNv8QmjeG-D9Pl7W9Mpv5CL0-f57i2AHe779VEeaEcGvXFIls9yHAmCpYuxKGRs3w4hbf2djFVWtAY-Zw1TSkC8nTzIHmw6cnBw3UkPZhbJ0Db5xBZ-znAhx7RPaEJP9q3HQXQv8wuINtE-t8CyX4YUDR9M0NHMeKg5BvxgW1QKlpAb9J~C8xse0u31H31rTlpdpXPZ2H61gt9BeYpluEGnop5tLrGllUmFcGxvXn9Ocm0~ZSsO39yWGYY8~Awni4KfPPXdy6bQKOvp9mzayyvapAqWleeOSplOYHvboyhGqz5cINMd2BT5vJHpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Morgantown, WV","date","2025-07-23T11:59:59.33Z","article","Annie Frohnen York, interim chair of the Morgantown Human Rights Commission, told City Council on July 22 that she believes hospital emergency departments have stopped asking standard domestic-violence screening questions and instead use less specific wording that, in her view, fails to identify victims.

York, speaking during public comment, said federal law requires hospital screening for domestic violence and that hospitals receiving certification and funding must have written policies and procedures. She said emergency departments previously used more direct screening methods and supported discreet reporting mechanisms; she criticized current practice and recounted a recent personal visit when triage staff did not ask screening questions despite her asking after four hours in the emergency room.

“I asked the nurse after being there for four hours, ‘do you screen for domestic violence anymore?’” York said. “Of course we do. They ask those questions in triage. I went through triage, and they did not ask me any questions.” York urged council to consider ways to prompt hospitals to follow federal screening guidance and their accreditation requirements.

Councilors had no substantive action on the comment at the meeting; York said she understands some parts of the issue fall outside the council’s authority but asked whether the city could at least prompt hospital compliance through outreach or public pressure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Morgantown City Council - July 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An interim chair of the Morgantown Human Rights Commission told council she believes emergency rooms have changed domestic-violence screening to weaker language and described a personal experience she said showed screening is not happening reliably.","taxTitle","Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia","taxId",2635,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6160165,"Resident urges council to revise ordinance moving municipal elections to county ballot",396,1331000,1727000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597&start=1331&end=1727","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597/thumbnail_1331000.jpg","/articles/6160165/Morgantown/Monongalia-County/West-Virginia/Resident-urges-council-to-revise-ordinance-moving-municipal-elections-to-county-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160165-a10f0423cc48736a229b23fa7d159120/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145413&Signature=hJzFElH9g2C1fSzJ30wk-nt1VAEAdwMeVBukgMdxO6OuZ4USKx47KGPnkkYW72tlRmXBLblpo2z7hV5S8AtGDju03JL4M8dmCZCvtPKy-DUMcUsAQbMpwJHpyNno0m660yshMgZcLYBsx~K~fBnVFT5c57zIh1oTmp18-sL8oKCvQl43SQ2wkQVPej8dyzyKTFjraX9Vvk1SR0YzqDXdKRqi31fMfZwB~CUoOsju5HIm1mAaFRphE0AnCw6YLm1lz~scc6l8OT9JzhC4Xv8V3kqH5NQ-5uKSGwCLdHjcADN6wvvpiGMnLfv7I1DsJXQx2ZzVxcBzDKjt~alheYIc0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Morgantown resident urged council on July 22 to revisit language in a municipal election ordinance and delay its start date so the city can align the change with upcoming census and redistricting work.

Caller California Carlson of the Fifth Ward told council that moving municipal elections onto the county ballot takes local control from municipalities and could reduce attention to municipal races. Carlson recommended the ordinance start in 2032 rather than 2030 to allow the city to incorporate the 2030 U.S. census and the 2031 legislative redistricting process into ward boundary planning.

Carlson asked council to clarify administrative questions in the ordinance, including whether candidate filing and nomination petitions would remain the responsibility of the city clerk or transfer to the county clerk, and whether campaign finance reports would still be filed with the city clerk. Carlson also said the fiscal memo accompanying the ordinance stated the county clerk described pro-rata costs as negligible, but he highlighted the per-voter cost implications for municipalities with different voter rolls and warned of additional campaign costs for candidates on larger county ballots.

The ordinance was not on the council’s agenda for the July 22 meeting; Carlson made his remarks during the public comment period. Councilors acknowledged receipt of his email and comment; no formal action was taken during the meeting.","A local resident asked council to reconsider the proposed municipal election ordinance timing and to clarify administrative responsibilities and costs if the city moves to use county ballots for municipal elections.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6160170,"Council accepts $9.5 million FAA grant for runway extension via consent agenda",0,3485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597&start=3485&end=3485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597/thumbnail_3485000.jpg","/articles/6160170/Morgantown/Monongalia-County/West-Virginia/Council-accepts-95-million-FAA-grant-for-runway-extension-via-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160170-076f79bec63f42ebdac6594c9e7a7c7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145413&Signature=iasqAC-ZXb5XI-BiYwZ1Jh0qeTdTy680eHEDxXPquYgmLKjib7Ao6BfXPiyA30SsCuBGaOv8kZwPoA2fSD1PljV5CUaC4n1JBmjUHX-XBUPoTiuJHzxXROjwTCoDSV8NKg8yDLe-XCbURRs~JHUC85IUaSZQ1O-VefFWfsBh~CRwmb3EhYuj7xHx8kSIe59C2Abl4R0WdC1MJuUQM2wR5wdbsDfCw3FFvv0JzcABrHtQK05wC2ZD~qRphKZjRKBcijzmLYoV0DfGW3h7q6W4fJtyaF6JIVh0IzH1aqw9YxsYT7E07aKhNsHVLwouaXZrL6ELeu62wkyCOwr3RSOFFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Morgantown City Council approved its consent agenda on July 22, which included acceptance of a Federal Aviation Administration grant to support a runway extension at the Morgantown Municipal Airport.

City Manager Jamie Miller told council the most significant item in the night’s consent agenda was acceptance of a $9,500,000 FAA grant for the runway extension project and congratulated airport staff for securing the award. “That is our biggest news of the night related to the airport,” Miller said.

The consent agenda was approved by roll call with six yes votes and no opposition. The consent package also included other grant applications and intergovernmental agreements; the airport grant was specifically identified by staff during the city manager’s report.

Council did not discuss the grant in detail during the meeting; the grant acceptance was part of the omnibus consent vote approved earlier that evening. Staff said they will assist the grant writer with required grant administration tasks and follow-up reporting.","As part of a consent agenda approved 6-0, the City of Morgantown accepted a Federal Aviation Administration grant to support a runway extension project at the municipal airport. Council approved the consent agenda by roll call.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6160175,"Morgantown council approves budget revision, authorizes conditional use of stabilization fund",1459,2025000,3484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597&start=2025&end=3484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5451030-3691d022024c503b4c72a37723637597/thumbnail_2025000.jpg","/articles/6160175/Morgantown/Monongalia-County/West-Virginia/Morgantown-council-approves-budget-revision-authorizes-conditional-use-of-stabilization-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160175-9c54409f03391b61ef90421d8bdd3656/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145413&Signature=gzWgAWMfe4yneLyI9sCqLuqbnkuWg97tq31fpQqyw3kt2yX~hNAKdNwOHBioTgEbx3xI4ul82WLT7NgxDVmClhTayCXybu3FJStEJ3-MMCp~r3kp725eN~DGPqB3kiBlQOARj7rBOzjHXnDHUj5NrIQS~NRFQ-rhY2BHd9fE6fxql5m36QPctsWpTPwECcNTvGDIDPLxqoGpz34PI81m8eOfZqfyWZqmL4uu1109THDlMYQmTDYjVN0JohWPlieIoep0~3LO0qA8FwjvzLSfalqoaBx5WIcl9oFSXJKC2xLUKPKfFmoZ3pyukQvaCrYNNKZhYZ-06l8WiDWBlhLlFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Morgantown City Council on July 22 approved a budget revision to reconcile the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget with actual cash balances at the end of fiscal 2025, moving the revision on a 5-1 roll call vote.

Finance Director John Ferguson told council the revision adjusts the carryover figure the city projected when preparing the FY26 budget to actual cash on hand as of June 30, 2025. “We have a total of $2,700,000,” Ferguson said, referring to the actual carryover; the council had budgeted an estimated $3,200,000.

The measure includes several steps to address that shortfall: delaying the FY25 year-end capital escrow contribution that had been budgeted for $2,200,000; partially delaying a FY26 capital escrow contribution ($750,000); reducing the general fund contingency; and increasing the conservative estimate of Business & Occupation major construction tax revenue for a WVU Medicine project from 25% to 30% of the projected first-year receipts. Ferguson also described the conditional use of the Fiscal Stabilization Fund as a last-resort balancing tool.

“The conditional use of the Financial Stabilization Fund . . . is to be used only if absolutely necessary,” Ferguson said. Council clarified the revision authorizes a contingent transfer of up to $2,000,000 from the Fiscal Stabilization Fund if required; Ferguson said the stabilization fund’s balance is about $3,400,000 and that using the authorized amount would leave roughly $1,400,000.

Councilors pressed staff on alternatives. Councilor Gansz asked whether spending cuts had been considered; Ferguson and staff said the FY26 budget already reflected tight, “lean” allocations and that discretionary trimming would produce limited savings. Councilor Mark Downs expressed concern about approving reductions to contingency and said he did not support the revision; Downs cast the lone no vote in the roll call.

Ferguson said the revision corrects an inconsistency in prior carryover calculations that had used a modified-accrual approach while the city’s adopted budget is prepared on a cash basis. He also reported key revenue realizations for FY25: municipal service fee receipts were realized at about 95.1% of the $4.2 million budget, and major B&O construction tax collections totaled about $1,339,000 (about 89.3% of the $1.5 million estimate), funds that historically move into the city’s capital escrow account.

City Manager Jamie Miller and other staff told council they have begun internal discussions about expense reductions and will monitor early FY26 receipts before tapping the stabilization fund. The council vote approving the budget revision was: Jody Hollingshead, Yes; Weezie Michael, Yes; Jenny Celine, Yes; Mark Downs, No; Deputy Mayor Butcher, Yes; Mayor Danielle Trumbull, Yes.

The ordinance and related transfers require staff to follow up on timing and accounting entries; Ferguson said the delay in one transfer would be measured in weeks and would not imperil capital projects or the capital escrow fund.

The council passed the revision at first consideration; the action completed the agenda item and will be reflected in the city’s budget records and follow-up reporting to the state.","City council approved a first budget revision for fiscal year 2026 to align the cash-basis budget with actual year-end balances, delayed capital transfers and authorized a conditional draw from the Fiscal Stabilization Fund if needed. The vote was 5-1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Human Rights Commission chair urges hospitals to restore domestic-violence screening practices

Resident urges council to revise ordinance moving municipal elections to county ballot

Council accepts $9.5 million FAA grant for runway extension via consent agenda

Morgantown council approves budget revision, authorizes conditional use of stabilization fund