West Virginia News & Current Events

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)

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

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 …

A customized mobile food truck run by the Manna Meal food pantry will soon begin delivering hot meals to Charleston residents in need. (Amy Wolfe/Manna Meal)

Charleston Food Truck to Provide Daily Meals to Those in Need

American Rescue Plan funds will help bring a new food truck to the streets of Charleston, providing free hot meals to the region's most vulnerable …

A court has ruled the Mountain Valley Pipeline can change its crossing method for around 180 bodies of water and wetlands, and dig tunnels under, rather than through, them. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Routing MV Pipeline Under Streams, Wetlands Called Habitat Risk

Mountain Valley Pipeline developers are now allowed to dig tunnels below streams and wetlands, and environmental groups say they are concerned about …

American billionaires saw their net worth climb by a collective $2 trillion, increasing 70%, during the first two years of the pandemic, according to Forbes data analyzed by Americans for Tax Fairness. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Could Gain $335 Million a Year from Billionaire Income Tax

State advocacy groups say West Virginia stands to gain from taxing billionaires. The Biden administration's "Billionaire Minimum Income Tax" would …

Fort Martin is a coal-powered electric power station outside Morgantown. In 2020, West Virginia was the second-largest coal producer in the nation, after Wyoming, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Manchin Rails Against Inflation, Continues to Push Fossil Fuels

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., railed this week against rising inflation, and is pushing for the use of fossil fuels to combat rising gas and energy …

A new report found 73% of the state's assessed waterways, including in the New River Gorge, are impaired for drinking, swimming or aquatic life. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Among States With Most Impaired Sources of Drinking Water

West Virginia ranks among the top three states in the nation for the amount of rivers and streams used for drinking water classified as impaired…

The continuous enrollment requirement for Medicaid, enacted during the pandemic, helped millions of children keep their health-insurance coverage. But it expires in about two weeks. (Adobe Stock)

Public Health Emergency Set to Expire, More WV Kids Could Lose Coverage

In a letter sent to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, the American Hospital Association and other health-care groups asked the …

Research shows Latino and Black children experienced the largest percentage-point increases in poverty since the federal expanded Child Tax Credit expired at the end of 2021. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Without Child Tax Credit, More WV Kids Were Pushed Back into Poverty

It is estimated 50,000 West Virginia children are once again living below the poverty line, since families received their final expanded Child Tax …

Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia is one of a handful of state parks already open to private leasing for development. (Adobe Stock)

Bill to Expand Private Leasing of WV State Parks Heads to Governor's Desk

Gov. Jim Justice is expected to sign legislation to allow private leasing of the state's public parks and forests, but critics worry there are not …

Use of solar and wind power has grown at a rapid rate over the past decade or so, but as of 2018 those sources still account for around 4% of all the energy used in the United States, according to research from the Pew Charitable Trusts. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Ukraine Crisis a Reminder to Break Dependence on Fossil Fuels

As the crisis in Ukraine continues, experts argued investments in clean energy will lower costs for Americans and reduce dependence on foreign oil …

The nationwide unemployment rate for Black workers is 73% higher than that of white workers, according to data from the Century Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

WV Lawmakers Move to Slash Jobless Benefits

A bill moving through the West Virginia Legislature would cut unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 12. Lawmakers cite cost and the need to push …

According to the Fines and Fees Justice Center, 48 states have laws that allow supervision fees to be charged to people on probation. (Adobe Stock)

Drug Offenders Could Get a Decade of Extended Supervision Under Proposed Law

People convicted of a second offense for selling or transporting fentanyl into the Mountain State could get up to a decade of extended supervision aft…

Many states have expanded voting access to people with felony convictions, but it's estimated that more than 5 million Americans remain disenfranchised, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Bill Would Restore Rights for West Virginians on Probation, Parole

West Virginians with past felonies who are on probation and parole currently are barred from voting, but new legislation aims to change that…

A 2021 study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters found pollution from tailpipe emissions in the northeastern U.S. is carried across state lines and can affect the health of people living in downwind states. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA Could Restore States’ Authority to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions

States will soon be able to set their own tailpipe-emissions limits stricter than the federal government's, thanks to an expected rollback of a Trump-…

In 2020, around 5% of West Virginia families lacked health insurance coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Bills Aim to Lower Drug Costs, Prevent Medicaid "Cliff"

West Virginia groups are pushing state lawmakers to pass several bills related to health care, bills they say would lower copays and increase access …

Veteran farmers Jason and Sky, inside one of the high tunnels they procured with the help of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service.(Rebecca Haddix/USDA)

Black Farmers are Rebuilding Agriculture in Coal Country

By Natalie Peart for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Environmentalists say increased sediment from a proposed natural-gas pipeline project would cause significant harm to West Virginia's streams and aquatic life. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Court Rejects Mountain Valley Pipeline Permit

A federal court in Virginia has struck down a proposed permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline, siding with environmental groups who said the project …

More than 300,000 West Virginia kids live in a county officially served by a Child Advocacy Center. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Saw Increase in Child-Abuse Cases Last Year

More than 600 child abuse charges were filed in West Virginia last year, and 94% of alleged offenders were someone the child knew. That's according …

Research shows that elderly adults bounce back faster from illness or injury, with fewer complications, at home than in a hospital. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Biden Administration Aims to Expand Home-Based Care for Medicaid Recipients

Home-based care advocates say they are confident measures outlined in President Joe Biden's now-stalled Build Back Better Act will move forward in som…

The Long Run watershed, located in the Greenbrier Southeast Project area, supports native brook trout and drains into waters that are home to the endangered candy darter fish. (Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance)<br /><br />

Conservation Groups Scrutinize Monongahela Timber-Harvest Proposal

A U.S. Forest Service timber-harvest proposal in Pocahontas County has conservation groups worried about potential harmful impacts to endangered …

The Biden administration's American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit for more than 65 million kids nationwide, according to the Center for Budget Policy and Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

For Parents in Recovery, Expanded Child Tax Credit Provided “One Less Stressor”

West Virginia families can expect a smaller federal Child Tax Credit this year, and no more advance monthly payments now that the Build Back Better …

In a Nov. 2021 poll by Navigator Research, 67% of voters said they believe federal voting rights legislation is necessary. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginians Call for Expanded Voting Access Ahead of Midterms

At a candlelit vigil in Charleston last night commemorating the one-year anniversary of the riot at the U.S. Capitol, attendees asked West Virginia's …

West Virginia ranked 44th in the nation for child well-being, according to the group West Virginia Kids Count. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Stalled BBBA Could Boost WV Kids' Access to Preventive Care

Health advocates say the continuous-coverage provision in the Build Back Better Act - which has hit a dead end in Congress - would benefit West Virgin…

One in three high school students and half of female students now report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an overall increase of 40% from 2009, according to the U.S. Surgeon General. (Adobe Stock)

WV Families Anticipate More Mental, Financial Stress in New Year

West Virginia families expect increased financial stress and anxiety in the new year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment …

Despite a drop in global carbon emissions in 2020 due to the pandemic, worldwide CO2 emissions are estimated to be around 34 billion tons. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Putting Price on Carbon Could Benefit West Virginians

Tax credits and direct payments to companies that capture and store their carbon emissions underground are a key feature of the climate provisions out…

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