Alison Knezevich

<p>More West Virginia children would qualify for free or low-cost health insurance under a proposal by Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin.</p>

<p>Making smokers pay $1 more per pack for cigarettes would help West Virginia save lives, rein in medical costs and could raise revenue for substance-abuse services, public health advocates told lawmakers Wednesday.</p><p>UPDATE: The state Legislature did not pass the bill this year.</p>

<p>West Virginia lawmakers want Florida's governor to reconsider his plan to drop a prescription monitoring program they say would cut down on pill trafficking.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>West Virginia officials say they're disappointed that Florida's governor wants to kill a planned prescription drug monitoring program in the Sunshine State, which is a destination for people who deal pills.</p>

<p>West Virginia children with autism would have a much easier time getting treatment under legislation passed Thursday by the House of Delegates.&nbsp;</p>

<p>West Virginia smokers would pay $1 more per pack in taxes under a bill state lawmakers are considering.</p>

<p>West Virginia's Catholic bishop is calling on the state of West Virginia to devote more attention and money to help people struggling with addiction and mental illness.</p>

<p>State lawmakers are moving closer to snuffing out synthetic versions of cocaine and marijuana in West Virginia.</p><p>Both the House of Delegates and state Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed similar proposals (HB2505, SB63) to make it illegal to possess or distribute the drugs, often found in convenience stores and head shops.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prescription drug costs continue to climb for West Virginia, despite efforts to rein them in.</p>

<p>Requiring a prescription for certain cold medicines could dramatically reduce methamphetamine production in West Virginia, a national substance-abuse expert told state lawmakers.</p>