West Virginia News & Current Events

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 />

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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 />

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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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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 …

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