'09 Session To End Without Live Coverage

West Virginia Public Broadcasting plans to end its tradition of covering live the final hours of the 60-day session of the Legislature.

The news outfit cited the recent trend in which "legislators have engineered a drama-free ending to the session." Noting the cost of that live coverage, including renting a satellite truck and hiring additional staff members, Public Broadcasting instead plans to spend the money to "strengthen day-to-day legislative coverage."

The announcement notes that its session mainstay, The Legislature Today, "will broadcast weekdays at 6:30 and 11:30 p.m. on West Virginia PBS. And for the first time, The Legislature Today will be available anytime on You Tube."