The Legislature, Day 13 -- Updated

The Associated Press' Tom Breen kicks off the week with a look at legislative proposals targeting drug abuse and fatal overdoses in the Mountain State.

A top concern of lawmakers is methadone. The Charleston Gazette was perhaps the first in the country to report the spate of deaths nationwide blamed on the drug, even when it was used as prescribed. West Virginia has led the nation in per-capita methadone-related deaths.

The AP also continued its scrutiny of Gov. Joe Manchin's proposed budget by examining the $1.5 million earmarked for a flood wall in Pocahontas County.

Public Broadcasting wades into the debate over table games with various sides of the issue appearing on its Legislature Today program all this week. Lottery Director John Musgrave will start things off on Monday. Tuesday will pit Sen. Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, against Delegate Kelli Sobonya, R-Cabell.

The Gazette's Phil Kabler takes a quick look at the lobbyists signed up to sway lawmakers this session, while Hoppy Kercheval of MetroNews ponders the future of the Promise scholarship program. Hoppy's take is drawn from Daily Mail coverage of the issue.

UPDATE: The Daily Mail focuses on a pending bill that would tap a new source of jail revenue and the perennial couch-burning bill, while taking another crack at the teacher pay raise issue.

The Gazette also continues its scrutiny of the state Medicaid program, reflecting questions raised by lawmakers about the administration's handling of proposed changes. Prior coverage prompted an op-ed response from Health and Human Resources Secretary Martha Walker. Gazette Editorial Page Editor Dawn Miller weighed in on the topic in her weekend column.