West Virginia News & Current Events

More than half of U.S. adults (51%) now consider a college education to be

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Report: More West Virginians Completing College Degrees

West Virginia is among a handful of states with the highest increases in educational attainment between 2019 and 2021, according to a new report from …

According to a new report by EcoConsult Solutions, in more than a dozen states across the country, state legislatures have either passed or have pending bills that would pull state funds from investments deemed to be adverse to the fossil fuel industry. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Taxpayers Burdened by Anti-Sustainable Investing Laws

West Virginia lawmakers are clamping down on corporations trying boost environmentally and socially responsible investing. A new report by EcoConsult …

Volunteers pack boxes at Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway, West Virginia. (Mountaineer Food Bank/Facebook)<br />

DoorDash Partnership Brings Food to WV Families in Need

Mountaineer Food Bank is partnering with DoorDash to home-deliver groceries to Mercer County's neediest families. The pilot program is one of a …

The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 16 million metric tons of methane annually, which has the same near-term climate impact as 350 coal-fired power plants, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules Would Target Flaring at WV’s Oil, Gas Wells

Under proposed rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, oil and gas well operations across the nation would be required to strengthen …

Since 2018, a wave of public school teacher protests and strikes have occurred in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and other states. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Teachers Lambast Governor’s Proposed Tax Cuts

West Virginia's teachers' union warns that new proposed tax cuts will further shrink school budgets and drive more educators out of the profession…

Medical conditions due to exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water and by other means have cost the United States an estimated $62.6 billion, according to a July 2022 study published in the journal Exposure and Health. (Adobe Stock)

West Virgina Lawmakers Push to Regulate 'Forever' PFAS Chemicals

West Virginia lawmakers are expected to introduce legislation in 2023 aimed at regulating PFAS chemicals in the state's drinking-water systems…

The federal government provides <a href=

around 8.5% of funding for K-12 public schools, according to the Congressional Budget Office. (Adobe Stock)">

Survey Reveals Sinking Confidence in Public Schools Among Voters

Five in 10 voters say their confidence in the public school system has decreased since the start of the Covid crisis and over the past year, …

Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits, loan guarantees and other incentives to encourage the implementation of carbon-capture technology. (Adobe Stock)">

Critics: WV Carbon Capture Hub a Boondoggle, Empty Promises

President Joe Biden's infrastructure law contains $10 billion to sow the seeds for the creation of pipelines to capture, transport and store carbon …

More than 80,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U-S between 2019 and 2020, the largest number of overdose deaths during a 12-month period ever recorded, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Over-the-Counter Naloxone Spray Could Hit Shelves in 2023

West Virginians could soon be able to purchase naloxone, brand name Narcan, without a prescription. Earlier this month the Food and Drug …

It's estimated nearly 7 million children are at risk for a period of uninsurance starting next year, according to the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP Benefits WV Kids

Despite economic uncertainty of the pandemic, the number of West Virginia kids with health coverage remained roughly the same between 2019 and 2021…

Nationwide, prison populations dropped dramatically from 2019 to 2020, mainly the result of emergency responses to the pandemic. They're now on the uptick again, according to a Prison Policy Initiative report. (Adobe Stock)

WV Program Mentors People Re-Entering Society After Prison

West Virginia's prison population has ballooned, and formerly incarcerated people face numerous obstacles when they are released. A Charleston-based …

Bipartisan candidates in the Mountain State have joined forces to tackle the region's most pressing issues, including the overdose crisis, broadband access and cannabis decriminalization. (Adobe Stock)

On Heels of Midterms, a Populist Surge in West Virginia

Local candidates that signed onto a no-corporate-money pledge made midterm election gains in Charleston. Katie Lauer, co-chair of West Virginia …

More than 144,000 oil and gas wells are located in West Virginia, according to the American Geological Sciences Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Spotlight on Manchin as EPA Boosts Methane Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency said it plans to tighten up proposed rules aimed at curbing methane emissions from oil and gas wells, the largest …

Hundred-year-old trees, such as those found in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, continue to soak up carbon over time, according to research published in the journal Nature. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia Groups Rally to Protect Old-Growth Trees

The U.S. Forest Service plans to chop down what conservation groups say are large swaths of old-growth trees in the Monongahela National Forest…

The expanded Child Tax Credit offered families between $300 and $360 per month per child, which helped lift an estimated 3.7 million children out of poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As Prices Climb, WV Families Face Hardship without Child Tax Credit

Some parents said they have struggled to make ends meet after federal monthly Child Tax Credit payments of between $300 and $360 a month per child sto…

Two in five U.S. voters say they are worried about threats of violence or voter intimidation at polling stations during the midterm election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. (Adobe Stock)

WV Groups Warn Election Scare Tactics, Threats Weaken Voter Power

The risk of voter intimidation and political violence has increased since 2020, according to research from the Brennan Center for Justice. Two in …

Grupos de WV advierten que amenazas debilitan el poder de los votantes

El riesgo de intimidación de votantes y violencia política ha aumentado desde 2020, según una investigación del Centro Brennan …

Recent drinking water data from six states shows nearly 20% of states' drinking water systems had PFAS above the Environmental Protection Agency's 2022 interim revised health advisory levels. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New Report Highlights PFAS Contamination in West Virginia

A new report finds concerning levels of PFAS contamination in waterways near Martinsburg and Parkersburg. Environmental groups say the findings are …

Nine bipartisan candidates running for local office in Charleston have joined forces to tackle the region's most pressing issues, including the overdose crisis, broadband access and cannabis decriminalization. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan Candidates in WV Capital Join Forces to Combat Drug Crisis

A bipartisan group of candidates running for city council in Charleston say the city needs to tackle the region's drug crisis by decriminalizing canna…

West Virginia's Amendment 2 ballot measure puts more than $190 million in public school funding at risk, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. (Adobe Stock)

WV Ballot Measures: More Accountability, or Less Local Control?

The battle over property taxes and education in the Mountain State has intensified as Election Day nears. Opponents of Amendments 2 and 4 have …

In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, utilities must transition to at least 80 percent clean energy by 2030, according to a Sierra Club report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Utility Continues to Push Coal, Despite Climate, Ratepayer Costs

West Virginia utilities are delaying actions which could help put the brakes on climate change and ease the burden of rising fuel costs on ratepayers…

West Virginia became the second state, after Indiana, to pass a new abortion ban since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. (Adobe Stock)

WV Dems Criticize Legislative Process That Led to Near-Total Abortion Ban

An eight-week abortion ban signed into law last month by Gov. Jim Justice has received widespread criticism for its lack of exceptions and severity …

A bridge pier slide area in the Kerens-to-Parsons section of the under-construction Corridor H highway project near Moore, West Virginia. (Pamela Moe)<br />

Many WV Small Businesses Want Northern Route for Corridor H Highway

Small businesses in Thomas and Davis say they would prefer a planned four-lane highway to be rerouted north, instead of running through what they say …

Funding for WV Groups with Creative Ideas to Solve Child Hunger

Kids living in rural regions are more likely to experience food insecurity, and a new initiative has been launched to help West Virginia communities …

Research from 2015 revealed a federal estimate of more than 48,000 abandoned coal mine sites across the nation, but exact numbers remain unclear. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Reclaiming Degraded Lands Could Help Fight Climate Change

Thousands of former mines, brownfield sites, and orphaned oil and gas wells are scattered across West Virginia, and a new report from the National …

Research shows around a quarter of Americans find it difficult to afford prescription drugs because of high out-of-pocket costs. (Adobe Stock)

Biden’s Insulin Cap is a Start, But WV Residents Can’t Afford Other Prescription Meds

The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden last month caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors who have Medicare…

In 2021, there were fewer than 12,000 coal miners employed in West Virginia, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginians Draw from Within to Rebuild Communities

By Quincy Gray McMichael for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service, Reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

For the academic year 2020-2021, more than 139,000 students enrolled in West Virginia colleges, according to 'collegeevaluator.com.' (Adobe Stock)

College Rankings: WV Schools Highlight Low Tuition, Specialized Programs

Each year, a number of publications release their rankings of top colleges and universities. While rankings can help folks understand a school's …

West Virginia has the potential to create more than 1,000 solar energy jobs, and nearly 3,000 energy efficiency jobs by 2030 and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, according to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act: A Pathway to Transition WV from Coal

West Virginia residents stand to gain from the tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation, supported by Sen. Joe Manchin…

A child's chances of thriving depend not only on individual, family and community characteristics but also on the state in which she or he is born and raised, according to research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (praba_tuty/Public Domain Mark 1.0)

Report: WV Sees Uptick in Kids Diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression

More West Virginia kids are struggling with their mental health, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation…

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 …

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 50% of people age 12-35 are exposed to unsafe levels of sound from the use of personal audio devices. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Hearing Experts Warn of Risks from Excessive Earbud Use

Many people are returning to recreational activities they suspended during the pandemic, and hearing experts warn cranking up music using earbuds can …

Corridor H Highway Project construction in Tucker County, West Virginia. (W.Va. Dept. of Transportation)

As Corridor H Takes Shape, Environmental Groups Urge Protection of Falls

West Virginia has received federal Infrastructure Bill funding to complete the Corridor H Highway, a four-lane route beginning in Tucker County and …

It's estimated that more than 4 million children younger than age 19 lacked health insurance coverage in 2020, according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Marking 25th Anniversary, CHIP Advocates Call for Permanent Funding

The federal health-insurance program for children helps keep more than 200,000 West Virginia children insured. Advocates said the Children's Health …

An estimated seven out of 10 LGBTQ patients have experienced negative care, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Research Uncovers Barriers Affecting Health of Rural LGBTQ People

By Yasmeen Saadi for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Coll…

A handful of large corporations, including AT&T, Chevron, ExxonMobil, FedEx, GM, Merck and UPS, together gave almost $1.5 million to candidates that denied the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to an Americans for Tax Fairness Report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wealthiest Americans Pumped Millions into 2022 Midterm Campaigns

Most West Virginians pay taxes on every dollar they earn, while large corporations and billionaires use tax loopholes to pay as little as zero in …

The United States and Canada are responsible for the majority of Uber's revenue - at $10 billion - collectively coming from the two countries in 2021, according to the website Business of Apps. (Adobe Stock)<br />

West Virginians Say Uber's 'Gig Economy' Has Downsides

Thousands of leaked documents shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have revealed questionable tactics deployed across…

Research shows just 5% of power plants are responsible for 73% of the planet's emissions of carbon dioxide. (Adobe stock)<br />

Experts: Incentives for Renewables Even More Critical

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was at the center of the Supreme Court's recent decision to curb the ability of the Environmental Prot…

In West Virginia's southern coal fields, coal production has steadily declined over the past decade, from nearly 117 million tons to 46 million tons, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

In WV, a Push to Rebuild Economy from the 'Ground Up'

A new coalition of businesses and nonprofits in West Virginia is ready to create at least 3,000 new green industry jobs. They say they just need the …

A decades-long decline in abortions performed in the United States has now reversed, according to new data from the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Restrictions, Uncertain Fate of Roe, Abortions Rise in U.S.

The latest U.S. Census data reveals abortions have been on the rise across the nation. A new report from the Guttmacher Institute found 8% more …

National Guard members help with debris removal and cleanup after 2018 floods in Wheeling, W.Va. An increase in severe weather events is one consequence of a warming climate. (U.S. Air National Guard/Caleb Vance/Flickr)

WV Faith Leaders Voice Support for Climate Solutions

Faith leaders and environmental groups want West Virginia to implement policies aimed at cutting carbon emissions and slowing the pace of climate chan…

In 2019, West Virginia's McDowell County had the highest gun death rate, followed by Clay County and Roane County, according to data from The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. (Flickr)<br />

Gun Safety Focus of Charleston "March for Our Lives" Rally

West Virginians concerned about gun violence are rallying this weekend to put pressure on lawmakers to pass gun-safety measures in the wake of mass sh…

The Albright Dam is the last dam in West Virginia on the Cheat River, and environmental groups say it has long been an impediment to fish migration. (Joey Kimmet/Friends of the Cheat)

Albright Dam Removal Part of National River Cleanup Effort

Environmental groups say removing the Albright Dam on the Cheat River will help restore fish populations, improve water quality and expand outdoor …

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 …

The West Virginia Emergency Management Division is asking residents of Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties to document and report damage from recent floods using an online damage-assessment tool to help determine eligibility for federal assistance. (Adobe Stock)

After Huntington Damage, WV Flood-Planning Event Takes Center Stage

Less than two weeks after the mayor of Huntington issued an emergency declaration over the second large-scale flooding episode to hit the city in the …

Nationwide, low-producing oil and gas wells leak roughly 4 million metric tons of methane emissions per year, according to new data from the Environmental Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

WV’s Low-Output Oil, Gas Wells Big Contributors to Methane Emissions

Smaller oil and gas wells churn out roughly half the nation's overall methane emissions and contribute significantly to climate change, according to …

Two-thirds of the country's mental health-care deserts are in rural America, where three in five adults have reported the pandemic has impacted mental health in their communities

Experts: WV Mental-Health Issues Can Spur Child Anxiety

Marking Mental Health Awareness Month, advocates contended more outreach and services are needed to help West Virginia caregivers with their mental …

The nonprofit Save the Children says the digital divide is one reason children lagged behind in schoolwork during the pandemic. Four in 10 West Virginia families don't have reliable internet service. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic, WV Kids Still Catching Up at School

During the COVID pandemic, West Virginia's elementary school enrollment dropped and saw rankings near the bottom among states for some education …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2023 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2023 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 23 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

PNS Daily Newscast - February 7, 2023

2023Talks - February 7, 2023

The Yonder Report - February 2, 2023

West Virginia