Short Takes from the Session: Day 10

CLEAN STREAMS, PRIVATE PROPERTY: Gov. Joe Manchin's Environmental Protection chief, Stephanie Timmermeyer, sought to explain her department's approach to designating waterways for special protections on Thursday.

The Associated Press was among those covering the House Chamber presentation, as was The Charleston Gazette. The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington focused on the proposal's regional impact.

GRADES & LICENSES: The Parkersburg newspapers report that "Manchin’s plan to link high school grades to driver’s licenses for students is getting a mixed reaction in Wood County." The Register-Herald of Beckley gauges a tepid reception from lawmakers as well.

BUCKS FOR JOBS: State university officials appear largely in favor of Manchin's legislative agenda items that would "pump money into the state’s higher education system to encourage work force training and business investment," The State Journal finds. The Charleston Daily Mail, meanwhile, checks out Manchin's assertion that the state is running out of skilled workers.

HOME RULE: Senate Government Organization Chairman Ed Bowman, D-Hancock, is among those planning to resist changes to the state's "home rule" pilot program, he tells The Intelligencer of Wheeling.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS: Public Broadcasting tracks the latest sign of an ongoing effort among lawmakers: "Legislators want junk food and sugary soft drinks out of public schools. Bills introduced Wednesday would require that only healthy beverages and nutritional snacks be sold in schools." (Audio here.)

STATE ROAD FUND: Predicting a $25.8 million drop in fuel tax revenues _ their largest single source of funding _ next year, state highway officials are telling lawmakers that "demand for state road construction projects already far exceeds the available money," The Gazette reports.