Public News Service

Huntington, W.Va., resident Lindsey Crittendon, a former social worker, is a graduate of NewForce, a fully remote and tuition-free coding school program. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Program creates jobs for West Virginians to stay in their communities

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Resource Rural-Public…

According to The Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation, 3,514 men and one woman have won the Medal of Honor in service of their country from the Civil War to the present day. (Adobe Stock)

As Medal of Honor Marks 160th Anniversary, a National Monument is in the Works

160 years ago, Civil War soldiers were awarded the first Medals of Honor. Now, a Medal of Honor Monument will soon be built on the National Mall in …

Rural towns and communities make up 72% of the nation's land area, house 46 million people and are relied upon for agriculture, natural resources, outdoor recreation and environmental sustainability, according to the USDA. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Help Local WV Entrepreneurs Redevelop Historic Buildings

Small-business owners and entrepreneurs in a handful of towns across the state have resources at their fingertips to help renovate and reuse historic …

The West Virginia Flood Tool is designed to provide floodplain managers, insurance agents, developers, real estate agents, local planners and citizens with an effective means by which to make informed decisions about the degree of flood risk for a specific area or property. (Adobe Stock)

WV Has 'One Chance' To Improve Flood Preparedness

The mayor of Huntington, where more than 200 homes were recently damaged by severe flooding, said now is the state's "one chance" to prevent other …

A U.S. House bill would support 40 programs nationwide that team social workers with police departments to respond to mental health-oriented emergency calls. (Adobe Stock)

WV Support for Mental-Health Alternatives in 9-1-1 Calls

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Mental and behavioral health practitioners in West Virginia are endorsing legislation in Congress to fund the use of social …

Three Wheels United has won a climate action prize for

Keeling Curve Prize Winners Hope to Clear the Air

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — A group working to get electric rickshaws into polluted Indian cities and a start-up that recycles carbon dioxide from the …

The holidays can be a stressful time, but centering gratitude in one's life can help people mentally and physically. (Maggiepoo/Pixabay)

Gratitude Good For the Heart, in More Ways than One

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — What are you grateful for this holiday season? The answer could be good for your health. According to a number of studies…

Crystal Smith says of the work she and her husband do for foster children,

In the Face of Drug Crisis, WV Foster Families Step Up

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The drug crisis means West Virginia is in desperate need of foster families. The state Department of Health and Human …

In the last West Virginia legislative election, some races were decided by as few as 13 votes. (Wokandapix/Pixabay)

Every Vote Really Does Matter

CHARLESTON, W.V. — In the last two elections, West Virginia has had one of the lowest turnout rates in the country. Many West Virginians have …

Former miner Jared Blalock is 12 weeks from finishing a two-year degree he says he may transfer to Marshall University. (Dan Heyman)

Former Coal Miner: “Fighting Through the Struggle” to Change Careers

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A former miner from Mingo County says the hardest part of starting a new career in southern West Virginia is believing that …

A new study shows people might be able to regain more control of their privacy though community-owned internet providers. (Geralt/Pixabay)

Report: Community Internet Better for Protecting Privacy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As Congress considers remedies for large-scale privacy breaches by Cambridge Analytica and Facebook, a recent report …

Nonprofit resettlement groups, often faith-based, help refugee families fleeing war start new lives. (West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry)

WV Interfaith Group: To Help Syria, Welcome Refugees

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – President Donald Trump may be considering a military strike in Syria, but an interfaith group in West Virginia wants the …

FCC critics fear that without net neutrality, Internet service providers would be able to pick which websites and services would be available to consumers. (Pixabay)

Net Neutrality Protests Planned

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Protesters are gathering in hundreds of cities and towns across the nation beginning Thursday to show support for a free …

In 1993, the Great Mass Mooning of the KKK helped mark the last Klan rally at the Texas State Capitol. (Hank Sinatra/ACTV/Youtube)

The Counter-Protest that Showed "Naked" Contempt for KKK

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Most Americans will be gazing up at the sky today for a view of the total solar eclipse - when the moon slips between the …

In the wake of the riots there, organizers have held or are planning almost 1,000 Stand With Charlottesville events nationally. (VOA/Wikipedia)

Nearly 1,000 'Stand With Charlottesville' Events in WV, Nationally

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – People around the country have held or are planning nearly 1,000 Stand With Charlottesville events - and folks in the …

The American Society of Foresters recognized the Gaudineer Scenic Area in 1983 for its

Group Aims to Find, Protect Older Forests in WV, Nation

HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – A conservation group wants to designate an old-growth forest in every county in the United States that has forestland - …

Social worker Jennifer Wells says West Virginia was a caring refuge, just when she needed one. (J. Wells)

Social Worker, Katrina Survivor: “West Virginia Chose Me”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Social worker Jennifer Wells says West Virginia chose her after Hurricane Katrina drove her out of her old home. And now her …

New mother Sarah Starks says the Promise Scholarship kept her in the state and shouldn't be cut. (Dan Heyman)

Child Advocates' Agenda Includes Protecting Promise, Changing Benefits Rules

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The children's advocacy group Our Children Our Future is releasing its annual legislative priority list. Some items focus …

Resettlement groups such as the West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministries are considering what to do in light of President Trump's travel ban. (WV IRM)

Efforts to Resettle Syrian Refugees In WV Thrown into Chaos

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- President Trump's executive order barring refugees is sparking confusion in West Virginia and around the country. In …

Many West Virginians are answering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s call to give back to others. (Rowland Scherman)

WV MLK Day Volunteers Work 'to Build a Stronger Nation'

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- People around West Virginia and the nation will honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by making today's federal …

Many West Virginians will be filing claims with FEMA for flood damage to homes and vehicles. The agency has some tips for how to do that. (Dan Heyman)

FEMA Offers Advice on Filing a Claim

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – First comes the flood, then comes the paperwork – but at least the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has …

When a culvert collapsed, cutting off the Crossings Mall in Elkview, some of the Kroger workers there fired up the grills to feed the hundreds of folks trapped at the shopping plaza. (Dan Heyman)

Turning a Disaster Into a Cookout – One Flood Response

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The floods have been tragic and disastrous, but they also gave folks a chance to show the instinct for neighborliness West …

Supporters say a Birthplace of Rivers National Monument - including the Cranberry Glades - would mean more jobs at a time when West Virginia needs them. (Mike Costello)

Birthplace of Rivers Potentially Part of WV Transformation

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - A Birthplace of Rivers National Monument could boost tourism and help the state replace losses in the coal and gas industries…

Health officials want parents to try behavior therapy for young children with ADHD, instead of giving them medications. (Lorie Gelwick Tuter)

Report Touts Alternatives to Medications for Children with ADHD

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging parents of preschoolers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder…

Marshall University counseling professor Carol Smith says new research about how trauma can change the brain shows a lot of practical promise. (Dan Heyman)

Why We Should Understand How Trauma Changes the Brain

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - A new understanding of how trauma changes the brain shows promise of helping with crime, education, health care, even parenting…

Backed by extensive new research and a compelling personal story, Virginia social worker Allison Jackson comes to Charleston with big news about public health. (Courtesy of Jackson)

Speaker: To Boost Public Health, Count The ACES

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – To improve public health, count the ACEs – the Adverse Childhood Experiences. That's the message coming to a social …

One in 10 West Virginia children has the traumatic experience of having a parent incarcerated at some point during their youth. (iStock)

Parents in Prison: A "Serious Threat" to WV Children

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - About one in 10 West Virginia children has to grow up with a parent behind bars at some point. According to a new report from …

Backers have high hopes for the economic impact of a proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument for eastern West Virginia. (BirthplaceofRivers.org)

Economic Impact Promising for New Birthplace of Rivers National Monument

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Economic research is lending support to folks backing a new Birthplace of Rivers National Monument in eastern West Virginia…

New numbers from the CDC show autism affects about 1 in 68 U.S. children, and that rate is steady. But doctors say more testing is needed. (Wikipedia)

Rate of Autism Holds Steady, But Testing Needed

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - April is National Autism Awareness Month and the numbers are holding steady in the U.S., according to the latest snapshot of …

New research shows news coverage often unnecessarily links the Islamic faith to acts of extremist violence. (iStockphoto)

A Different March Madness – Media Coverage of Terrorism

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - With the March Madness basketball tournament underway, social justice advocates are releasing their own version of the Elite …

Public financing may be becoming the norm for candidates seeking seats on the West Virginia Supreme Court. (Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia)

Public Financing Clears Hurdle for WV Supreme Court Races

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A ruling that two state judicial candidates can use public financing for their campaigns may be a sign that public money is the …

Votes against several tax bills in the House are leaving West Virginia lawmakers with no clear path to a workable budget. (West Virginia State Legislature).

Tax Bill Failures Leave State Budget in Doubt

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The House of Delegates has defeated several tax bills, leaving big holes in the state budget. The chair of Senate Finance says …

A new analysis suggests federal programs for low-income families are not straining the federal budget. (CBPP)

Analysis: Programs For Low-Income Families Not Straining Federal Budget

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Some West Virginia lawmakers want to restrict access to low-income assistance, arguing the programs are unsustainably expensive…

West Virginia food banks say tightening access to state safety-net programs will add pressure on feeding programs. (Letsmove.gov/USDA)

WV Food Banks Fear Cuts to SNAP and TANF

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Lawmakers may tighten access to West Virginia safety-net programs but food banks in the state say that would only raise the …

West Virginians say news of lead contamination in the drinking water of Flint, Mich., is painfully familiar. (Friends of Water)

WV Groups Send an Open Letter to Flint

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Nearly 40 West Virginia groups are sending an open letter to the people of Flint, Michigan saying they know what it's like to …

Critics say, unlike much of the country, West Virginia's unemployment rate is still too high to restrict access to SNAP benefits. (WV Center on Budget and Policy)

Cutting SNAP Benefits Would Cost WV Economy

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Some state lawmakers want to make it harder for single adults to collect SNAP benefits. Critics say that would cost West …

School lunches could change if a bipartisan bill expected to come up for a vote in the U.S. Senate becomes law. (keyseeker/morguefile.com)

Possible School Lunch Improvements

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Members of the U.S. Senate are working on a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize child nutrition programs, including the …

$DEP samples taken downhill from one part of a waste disposal site in Ritchie County last fall suggest the injection well site is leaking frack waste. (WV DEP)$

Ritchie County Disposal Well Leaking Frack Waste

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - A disposal well site in Ritchie County is leaking frack waste, according to a West Virginia Department of Environmental …

A campaign is urging the Postmaster General to establish low-cost financial services in the nation's 30,000 U.S. Post Offices. (USPS)

Postal Banking Could Meet Need

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Most people don't think of the Post Office as a place to cash a paycheck, but a coalition of national consumer, labor and civic …

The U.S. Postal Service receives and helps answer millions of letters to Santa each year. (USPS/YouTube)

Yes, West Virginia, There is an "Operation Santa"

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - At a time when "goodwill toward men" may seem to be in short supply, many kids across West Virginia and the nation will have …

Supporters say new limits on the mercury and other toxins coal (orange) and oil (white) power plants can emit will save thousands of lives. (Earthjustice)

Long Delayed Air Pollution Rules Will Limit Mercury

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - After a 20-year court fight, the EPA is set to put power plant pollution rules in place that supporters say will save thousands …

A new study of bike-share programs in four cities shows the majority of rides are replacing other modes of transportation. Credit: Tyree303/Wikimedia Commons

Study: Folks Do Use Bike-Share for Recreation, Transportation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - More people are willing to share bicycles to meet their daily transportation needs and people are also using bike-share programs …

Training sessions now starting are aimed at opening up West Virginia offices to new kinds of candidates. Credit: Our Children Our Future

Candidate Training Aims to Bring New Faces, Voices into WV Politics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Candidate Training Academy is holding sessions around the state. It's an effort to open the political …

Student loan debt is an increasing problem for many. Courtesy: Federal Department of Veterans Affairs

A Growing Problem With WV Student Loan Debt

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Student loan debt in the state is high and rising and it's a real problem for some. An annual survey by the Institute for …

An in-depth series in The New York Times may help a push to reform the forced-arbitration clauses in the fine print of many contracts. Photo by Dan Heyman

Some in Congress Push Changes to Forced Arbitration

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - In light of an in-depth investigation by the New York Times, some in Congress hope to protect people from what they say is …

A legal push is underway to force the EPA to close a sizable loophole in the regulation of hazardous waste from oil and gas drilling. Credit: Bill Hughes/Earthworks.

Legal Push to Get EPA to Finally Regulate Oil and Gas Waste

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The EPA has largely failed to regulate waste from oil and gas drilling, even though the agency admitted the hazardous …

West Virginians will get to voice their opinions tonight in Charleston on a federal rule designed to protect streams. Credit: Trout Unlimited

Hearing on Protecting Streams from Surface Mining Tonight

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginians get to have their say tonight on surface mining's impact on streams. The federal Office of Surface Mining…

A bill to be introduced at the Legislature would create a way for nonviolent felons to ask the court to give them a clean record after five years without getting in trouble. Photo by the WV state legislature.

A Second Chance For Nonviolent Felons

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - No matter how they live after being convicted, West Virginia felons have a hard time getting a job. But legislation could change …

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WV: Community Issues and Volunteering