Legislature 2009: Day 16

• The House and Senate education committees are jointly reviewing Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal for extending the annual school calendar, and The Associated Press is there.

• "West Virginia drivers again face the possibility of fines for using cell phones on the road," The Charleston Gazette reports.

• The Charleston Daily Mail highlights a bill "that would require a jobs impact study for certain legislation upon request by select government leaders." MetroNews also has an item.

• Some senators are questioning "whether industrial facilities should be given more leeway in reporting accidents," under Manchin's bill on the topic, Public Broadcasting reports (with audio).

• The oil and natural gas industry, meanwhile, tells AP that they have issues with the governor's proposed changes to severance taxes and credits on their wells.

• The Register-Herald of Beckley observes that "a renewed effort is afoot in the state Senate to hand landowners more say-so when gas and oil firms come calling to drill their property."

• AP also previews a daylong presence at the Capitol planned by retired public employees seeking "a cost of living allowance, a $20,000 tax break for retired public workers' pensions and other goals."

• The Senate Finance Committee has been told that "West Virginia Public Broadcasting is feeling the pinch of the economic downturn," having lost several key sponsorships and in danger of further cuts, The Gazette reports.