The Legislature, Day 27

The 2007 session hits its midpoint on Thursday, and various topics are jockeying for the attention of lawmakers as crunch time approaches:

* As noted below, The Associated Press reports on several health care-related issues: the future of AccessWV and anti-obesity efforts from the Public Employees Insurance Agency.

* The Charleston Gazette's Phil Kabler links the fate of the more robust teacher pay raise proposals to the recent teacher pension merger ruling. The AP offers the latest on options facing lawmakers and state officials in the ruling's wake.

* Kabler also offers some interesting statistics from the state's Problem Gamblers Help Network (2nd item in his column), within the context of the ongoing table games debate.

* MetroNews looks at a bill that would require the governor to fill a judicial vacancy within 90 days, spurred by the lag time in appointing a new circuit judge for Wood County,.

* Public Broadcasting will interview Supreme Court Chief Justice Robin Davis this evening on The Legislature Today. Davis continues to pursue "Year of the Child" initiatives begun last year, while studies commissioned by the state's highest court recommend additional circuit and family court judges.