skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WV Jobs and Economic Recovery Campaign Kick-Off

play audio
Play

Friday, December 19, 2008   

Charleston, WV – They want economic recovery as soon as possible, along with new jobs. A campaign is getting underway in West Virginia to try to drum up support for a national economic rescue package.

Rick Wilson is the executive director of the American Friends Service Committee's "Economic Justice Project." He says that, while West Virginia has not felt much economic pain yet, it's only a matter of time. He cites the announcement that the Ravenswood aluminum plant may shut down as an indicator of what's to come. A comprehensive federal package of short-term and long-term investments is what he says is needed.

"We need to be helping people who are hit hardest by the recession - looking at child care, looking at health care. There's a huge bunch of needs out that which we could be investing in, investment that would be good for the country, and be good for the economy."

According to Wilson, top economists say investing in child care assistance and food stamps brings a local economic return of almost $2 for every $1 of federal money spent.

Gary Zuckett is the chair of West Virginians United for Social and Economic Justice. He looks at federal investment as an opportunity to diversify the state's job picture.

"West Virginia has $20 billion of needed infrastructure repairs on the books right now, mostly roads and bridges. We could keep our people working."

Congress is working on an economic package for states, and President-elect Obama has outlined a plan topping $800 billion that focuses on health care and transportation.

Those concerned about economic rescue packages point to the fact they will increase the federal deficit and could lead to higher taxes.

The West Virginia AFL-CIO, National Association of Social Workers-West Virginia Chapter, West Virginia Citizen Action Group, and the Direct Action Welfare group are supporters of the campaign calling for a federal economic rescue package.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021