West Virginia News & Current Events

Universities across the country are facing declining enrollment and increasing financial challenges. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Lawmakers call for special session on WVU's budget crisis

A group of West Virginia Democratic delegates is calling for a special session to address West Virginia University's budget shortfall. Del. Evan …

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median salary for a police officer was $67,290, more than one-third higher than the national median for all occupations. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ballooning Costs for Police Overtime Pay in Charleston, WV

The City of Charleston continues to funnel massive amounts of funding toward law enforcement. According to a new report, since 2020, Charleston's …

Residents, alumni and stakeholders voiced concerns and input about recently announced West Virginia University budget cuts at a series of community sessions. (West Virginia Create/Facebook)

Residents Voice Input on West Virginia University’s Future

Mountain State residents are reacting and coming up with solutions and ideas to deal with recent budget cuts announced by West Virginia University Pre…

Research by the Economic Policy Institute finds that unionization leads to better pay and worker safety. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Unions Host Labor Day Celebrations Across West Virginia

Across the Mountain State today, unions are hosting Labor Day celebrations - in Baden City, Charleston, Mannington, Marmet, and Racine. Public …

A national coalition of more than 130 organizations recently released a roadmap for lawmakers and public health officials for distribution of more than $50 billion in opioid settlement funds.(Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Communities Map Path for Opioid Settlement Funds

This week, Gov. Jim Justice announced five new appointments to the West Virginia First Foundation, the private foundation responsible for the …

Spending in local food systems, such as weekly farmer's markets, leads to thriving communities, according to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

Appalachian Region Focus of New Federal Food Business Grant Program

A new $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will boost the resources and assistance for farmers and food businesses in Appalachia…

The national average cost for child care was nearly $11,000 in 2022, according to a study by Child Care Aware of America. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: More WV Parents Would Work Full-Time with Affordable Child Care

Half of West Virginia voters who are parents working part-time or less say they'd go back to full-time work if they had access to quality child care a…

Exposure of miners to silica dust is a prime culprit in the current resurgence of black lung disease, according to the group Appalachian Voices. (Adobe Stock)

WV Miners Give Input on New Silica Dust Exposure Rule

West Virginia coal miners and advocates spoke out this week in support of new silica dust exposure standards at a public hearing held in Beckley…

According to the Sentencing Project, Between 2000 and 2020, the number of youths held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 109,000 to 25,000 - a 77% decline. (Adobe Stock)

Mounting Evidence Finds Youth Incarceration Ineffective

A wealth of research shows youth incarceration doesn't increase public safety or work for youth well-being, according to a recent report from the …

Nationwide, experts say aging fossil-fuel-based energy infrastructure isn't designed to withstand the extreme weather conditions driven by climate change over the next decade. (Adobe Stock)<br />

West Virginians Could Face Higher Energy Bills Under Proposed Rate Hike

West Virginia residents' electricity rates have nearly doubled over the past decade - and may soon climb higher, under a nearly $650 million rate …

Cumulative community solar capacity has grown by about 121% year over year since 2010, more than doubling in capacity on average, according to research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As Utility Cost Burden Increases, WV Counties Look to Community Solar

Interest in community solar is on the rise, as a greater share of West Virginians' household incomes go toward utility bills. Federal data show …

In 2021, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

WV Sees 'Alarming' Black Infant, Maternal Mortality Rates

In West Virginia, babies of Black mothers are dying at higher rates in childbirth compared to white infants - and experts say the lack of access to …

With millions of Americans expected to lose Medicaid coverage as states undertake reviews of benefit eligibility following the end of COVID-19 pandemic-related protections. (Adobe Stock)

WV's Medicaid Renewal Rate Near 60%

Advocacy groups in West Virginia are working to raise awareness about the end of COVID-19 pandemic-related protections that have triggered a new revie…

According to 2021 Census-based data, Medicaid was the most common type of needs-based assistance received by people ages 65 and over. About 10% received Medicaid, either as a supplement or an alternative to Medicare. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Employment Program Helps WV Seniors Increase Income

A West Virginia program helping adults age 55 and older return to the workforce is seeing renewed interest as inflation and high gas prices squeeze th…

A new study reveals extent of the public health harms of U.S. oil and gas production, including more than $77 billion in human health damages nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

WV Among Top States for Public Health Harms from Fossil Fuels

Ozone, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in 2016 caused more than $77 billion in human health damages …

In 2021, some 53% of working adults ages 25 to 54 were parents, and more than a third of those parents had young children, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe stock)<br />

Report: More West Virginia Parents Not Working due to Childcare Issues

Thirteen percent of young children in West Virginia lived in families in which someone quit their job or refused a job because of responsibilities wit…

The number of people brought to jail on a capias arrest in West Virginia increased from 1,990 in 2012 to 4,936 in 2022, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New WV Law Aims to Address Jail Overcrowding

A new West Virginia law requires magistrates and judges to set a hearing within five days for people who've been arrested for not showing up to a cour…

Hundreds of environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to construction of the multi-billion-dollar natural gas Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would stretch more than 300 miles through Virginia and West Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

WV Enviro Groups Call MVP Greenlight a 'Terrible Precedent'

A 300-mile-long fracking pipeline project slated to cross numerous streams and rivers in West Virginia and Virginia got a major boost over the weekend…

The U.S. could run out of money to pay its bills by June 5, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Billions in WV Federal Funds at Stake as Debt Ceiling Looms

Over the weekend, lawmakers announced they have reached an agreement to reduce spending and address the debt limit. The deal needs a full signoff …

Wetlands are valuable for flood protection, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, and provide habitat for thousands of species, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.(Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Conservation Groups 'Troubled' by SCOTUS Wetlands Decision

Since the U.S. Supreme Court has sided with private property owners in a battle of over wetland protections and the Clean Water Act, West Virginia …

Community solar projects can make solar energy accessible to residents who may not be able to install solar panels on their own home, according to the National Association of Home Builders. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In WV, Community Solar Gains Popularity Amid Rising Utility Bills

Amid rising energy costs and inflation, energy advocates said they have seen a jump in interest in community solar. Luanne McGovern, legislative …

Coca-Cola workers in West Virginia recently went on strike. (Teamsters Local 175)<br />

WV Coca-Cola Workers End Strike, Say Grievances Still Ignored

More than one hundred workers at Coca-Cola plants in Logan and Charleston have returned to work after going on a days-long strike. Ken Hall - the …

Wheeling, W. Va., City Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum talks to advocates at the 2023 Rural Policy Action Summit, Omaha, Neb. (Michael Chameides)

WV Leaders Talk Farm Bill at Rural Policy Summit

Rural West Virginia communities are struggling to recover from decades of disinvestment, and some are counting on the next Farm Bill to help propel …

Bachelor's degree attainment for Black people aged 25 to 29 has increased more slowly than among white people, according to the Postsecondary National Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia's Black College Student Population on Decline

Amid declining enrollment at colleges in the Mountain State, new research showed Black students are disappearing from classrooms at higher rates…

More than 5,000 workers lost their lives on the job in the United States in 2021, according to the latest Death on the Job report from the AFL-CIO. (Adobe Stock)

Worker Fatalities Rise Amid OHSA Funding Cuts

Eighteen West Virginians never returned home from their work shift last year, and advocates for workers' rights say oversight rollbacks and funding …

Lesser prairie chickens require large parcels of intact native grasslands, often in excess of 20,000 acres, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Congress Votes on Revoking Popular Game Bird’s Endangered Status

Congress votes today on whether the lesser prairie chicken -= a popular southwestern game bird -- should have its status as "endangered" overturned…

An estimated 1.5 million seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries are likely to save $500 per year on insulin because of measures in the Inflation Reduction Act, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As Insulin Costs Shrink, Older West Virginians Can Meet Other Basic Needs

In West Virginia, older residents are no longer seeing the bulk of their household budgets go toward paying for insulin or rationing their medication…

According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 41% of rural renters are cost-burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income for housing. (Adobe Stock).

Local Governments Work to Address West Virginia’s Housing Crisis

In Parkersburg, West Virginia local government officials have an innovative plan to address the region's housing crisis - getting 50 families into …

The Ohio River is the source of drinking water for more than 5 million people, according to the Ohio River Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Ranks Ohio River 'Second Most Endangered' in Nation

The Ohio River, a drinking water source for many West Virginians and millions in neighboring states, is the second "most endangered" river in the …

Research shows West Virginia's Corridor H highway could potentially impact threatened and endangered species such as the West Virginia flying squirrel. (Adobe Stock)

After WV Town Greenlights Corridor H Highway, Residents Want Input

Residents in West Virginia want more input on a four-lane highway slated to cut through the towns of Thomas and Davis, continuing over the Blackwater …

Nearly a quarter of coal-fired power plants in the U.S. are expected to retire by 2029, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Aging WV Power Plant Slated to Close, Utilities Propose Keeping It Open

An aging power plant in Belmont, West Virginia is slated to shut its doors this year. But two utilities, Monongahela Power Company and Potomac Edison…

In 2020, 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Rising Inflation, Poverty, Puts WV Kids at Higher Risk of Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and experts say ongoing inflation, economic challenges and poverty can place stress on families and increase …

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 …

During this year's ACA open-enrollment period, a record high of more than 16 million people signed up, with 4.4 million more enrolled for health insurance coverage since 2021, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As ACA Hits 13th Year, West Virginia Makes Coverage Gains

It's been 13 years since more than 156,000 West Virginians gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. As sweeping and …

ERIC has operated as a nonprofit membership organization created by state election officials to help improve the accuracy of state voter rolls since 2012, according to its website. (Adobe Stock)

Former Secretary of State Calls WV Leaving ERIC 'Shortsighted'

Critics say West Virginia is taking a step backward by dropping out of the Electronic Registration Information Center system known as ERIC. Run by …

Montgomery Mayor Greg Ingram looks out over the old library of WVU Tech, which the city is slowly attempting to repurpose. (Photo/Nick Fouriezos)

What Happens When a College Town Loses Its College?

By Nick Fouriezos for Open Campus via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service Service for the Public News…

As of 2023, 11 states have passed legislation permitting concealed carry firearms on school campuses in some form, according to BillTrack50. (Adobe Stock)

Educators: 'We Weren’t Heard' on WV Campus-Carry Bill

West Virginia educators say they are dismayed at Gov. Jim Justice's signing of legislation allowing concealed guns on college campuses. The Campus …

In April 2019, the FDA approved the first generic form of mifepristone, following a review of the evidence that medication abortion is a safe, effective way to end an early pregnancy, according to Planned Parenthood. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Faces Lawsuit after Blocking Access to Medication Abortion

It's the latest chapter in West Virginia's attempt to outlaw abortion. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is attempting to throw out a …

As more West Virginia families are affected by the criminal justice system, the number of advocates for pushing for change has increased. (Ashley Omps)

Reentry Poses Challenges for West Virginians' Life After Prison

West Virginians released from prison are not allowed to vote until their parole or probation period is over and their sentence is complete. Since …

Blue hydrogen is produced mainly from natural gas, using a process called steam reforming, which brings together natural gas and heated water in the form of steam, and releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct, according to the National Grid Group.(Adobe Stock)

WV Ratepayers Could Foot the Bill for Proposed 'Blue' Hydrogen Hub

The federal government is on the verge of announcing which states will receive $2 billion to create "blue" hydrogen hubs, and West Virginia, along …

Research shows having access to health care can influence children's physical and emotional health, growth, development and their capacity to reach their full potential as adults. (Adobe Stock)

Eligible WV Kids Could Slip Through Cracks When Coverage Protection Ends

A pandemic-era law that helped keep children and families continuously covered is set to expire this spring, and advocates are worried the state's …

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

During American Heart Month, West Virginians Urged to Pay Attention to Chest Pain

February is American Heart Month, and experts said it is important to know the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. According to …

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

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…

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