‘This is not what I signed up for’: Flock cameras raise privacy concerns across West Virginia; The Dominion Post, October 8, 2026

 

EVIE SAFRAN, The Dominion Post; ‘This is not what I signed up for’: Flock cameras raise privacy concerns across West Virginia

"For Monongalia County residents Lathwell and Paige Reiring, concerns over Flock cameras have created an unlikely point of political common ground.

Lathwell identifies as politically conservative, while Reiring is a Mountain Party candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates. Despite their political differences, both question how much information the government should be able to collect about people who have not been accused of a crime.

For Lathwell, the issue comes down to privacy.

"I don't like this at all," she said. "This is not what I signed up for."

Reiring's concerns center on the technology behind the cameras and the amount of data they can collect.

"For me, the issue is the automated aspect of ALPRs, automatic license plate readers, because a lot of these depend on AI-powered software and surveillance systems, which is where we get the harvesting of data," Reiring said.

Their concerns show how the debate surrounding Flock cameras does not fall neatly along traditional political lines. As the technology becomes more common in Monongalia County, residents from different sides of the political spectrum are raising similar questions about privacy, surveillance and the collection of their data.

As artificial intelligence becomes capable of doing tasks once left to people, Flock's automated license plate readers are doing the same for law enforcement - identifying vehicle information and making it searchable for officers.

The technology can speed up investigations. It also means information about ordinary drivers can be collected before they are suspected of a crime."

An Uphill Battle; American Libraries, May 2, 2022

Austin Persinger , American Libraries; An Uphill Battle

"The complaint bothered me, so I entered the conversation to talk about the concept of the Library of Things—that our institutions can loan so much more than books—and how Summers County Public Library could help. I began soliciting donations on various Facebook pages and through the local newspaper for a fleet of lightweight, collapsible utility wagons that cost about $100 each. Project Buggy Buddy had a fundraising goal of $1,200; community response to the idea was enthusiastic, and we raised $2,000. We began checking out six wagons within a month and have six more on order.

The wagons in our fleet are designed to go over rough surfaces, and a five-day checkout period removes pressure to return them immediately after a trip. We don’t charge fines if wagons are returned late—though, in the first four months of lending, all of them have been returned on time—and we allow renewals if needed. The program has been successful: It is popular among users, is eliminating the guilt and fear of harassment for taking buggies, and has engendered goodwill and renewed interest in the library.

People tell us they are grateful we are assisting them in a real way. One patron said that using the wagon allows them to buy items in bulk, which has helped them save money on groceries.

We have myriad needs and problems here in Appalachia. Lack of transportation may not be the biggest, flashiest, or first problem one thinks of, but it causes an undue burden in our communities. Our crowdsourced fleet is a Band-Aid on the issue—our way of alleviating the problem in a small but helpful way. Solving the rural infrastructure problem may be too big and complex for me and my library, but I am happy to get the wagon rolling."

Serious questions remain about the ethics code for new appellate court; The Exponent Telegram, January 16, 2022

David McMahon, The Exponent Telegram; Serious questions remain about the ethics code for new appellate court

"West Virginia’s newest court is set to open its doors this year, but important questions are still to be determined about an ethics code for its judges.

Proposed by legislators in early 2021 and signed into law by Governor Jim Justice soon after, the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals is speeding towards its July start date.

Key among the rules by which it will operate are requirements for situations in which justices must decide whether to remove themselves from a case because of the potential for bias or a personal connection to a litigant or the case."

Big pharma executives mocked ‘pillbillies’ in emails, West Virginia opioid trial hears; The Guardian, May 16, 2021

 

Chris McGreal, The Guardian; Big pharma executives mocked ‘pillbillies’ in emails, West Virginia opioid trial hears

"Paul Farrell, a lawyer for a West Virginia county, put it to the executive that the emails reflected a culture of contempt."