Former US senator Jay Rockefeller dies at 89

Former US senator and governor John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV passed away at the age of 89 on Thursday night. Rockefeller, born into one of America's wealthiest families, spent a significant portion of his life serving impoverished communities before entering politics. He moved to West Virginia in 1964 to participate in the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) programme and later became a Democrat in 1966, breaking with his family's Republican tradition.

Rockefeller served as the governor of West Virginia from 1976 to 1980 and then as a senator from 1985 to 2015. His political career focused on healthcare access, consumer protection, broadband expansion, veterans' welfare, and the oversight of US intelligence activities. One of his notable achievements was authoring the Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997.

Rockefeller also chaired several Senate committees, including Commerce, Science and Transportation, Veterans' Affairs, and Intelligence. He expressed regret over his 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq War. Despite his advocacy for the underprivileged, Rockefeller's career was not without controversies, particularly regarding his stance on coal mining.

He opposed some environmental regulations and played a role in attracting Japanese investment to West Virginia, leading to the establishment of a Toyota plant. Rockefeller is survived by his wife, Sharon Percy Rockefeller, their four children, and nine grandchildren.