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More than 200 child care centers in West Virginia closed between 2018 and 2019, according to ChildCare Aware. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Child care, tax cuts expected focus of upcoming WV special session

West Virginia lawmakers will convene for a Special Session on Sept. 30, with the state's child care crisis, proposed income tax cuts and supplemental …

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…

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 …

West Virginia has been among the leading states nationwide for the number of children in the foster-care system per capita for the past several years, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. (Adobe Stock)

CPS Shortages, Lack of Data, Plague System as Demand for Foster Parents Rises

Children's advocates said they are hoping for major changes to the state's foster-care and child-protective services systems in the new year…

WV Groups: Corporate Taxes Should Fund American Jobs, Families Plan

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Former West Virginia Lt. Gov. Jeff Kessler and the Huntington-based Service Employees International Union Local 1199 are among …

According to data from the National Partnership for Women and Families, both parents work in 64% of all West Virginia households. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Leave Could Mean Fewer WV Women Exiting Workforce

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Nearly 60% of West Virginia workers lack access to any form of time off, either paid or unpaid. Kelly Allen, executive director …

In West Virginia, about 6,700 families in need receive TANF benefits, out of more than 37,500 families living in poverty. (Adobe stock)

Fewer WV Low-Income Families Receive Cash Assistance

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Too few families struggling to make ends meet are able to access cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy …

In a new survey, about 40% of young adults who've aged out of the foster care system said they don't have anywhere to live during the COVID-19 crisis. (Adobe Stock)

After Foster Care, Young Adults Struggle During Pandemic

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- Young adults aging out of foster care in the U.S. have been thrown into crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new …

Some West Virginia foster parents are troubled by a bill in the Legislature that would reduce licensing requirements for state caseworkers. (Adobe Stock)

New Bills Aim to Relieve WV Foster-Care Crisis

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Demands on West Virginia's foster-care system have exploded due to the opioid epidemic, and state lawmakers are proposing ways to …

The same health insurer that has served West Virginia's Medicaid program since 1996 has also been tapped to cover children in the state's foster-care system. (Adobe Stock)

Foster Groups Alarmed by WV Switch to Private Health Care

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Foster parents and child-welfare groups are worried about the switch from state-managed health care to private care for …

Julia Hamilton and her partner, Zack Cruze, hope to get more support for their foster children, who were both born to drug-addicted parents. (Julia Hamilton)

Swamped by Opioid Crisis, Foster Network Seeks Input to Support Caregivers

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With the opioid crisis pushing more children into foster care in West Virginia, supporting foster parents is more crucial …

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Shazam! Folks Can Transform Into a Hero for Foster Kids

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A popular movie about an unlikely superhero is opening the curtain on the plight of children in need of foster care…

Many more children are entering the foster-care system in West Virginia, but more of those that do are being kept in families. (Olichel/Pixabay)

More WV Foster Children Kept In Families

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A small bit of good news about foster care in West Virginia: Following a national pattern, more children removed from their …

Nearly 7,000 children were in state care in West Virginia in February. Three years earlier, that number was well under 5,000. (Pixabay)

Foster Children's Advocates Travel To D.C.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials from child-welfare agencies across the country are headed to the nation's capital this month to exchange hard-won …

The attack videos darken the delegates' official portraits for a more ominous appearance. (1863 PAC/YouTube)

Dark Money Attacks Over WV Foster Children’s Managed Care

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A secretive group with unknown donors is attacking lawmakers who oppose granting a multi-million-dollar managed-care contract for …

State officials say West Virginia needs to increase support for families before they end up in crisis. (Bess-Hamiti/Pixabay)

Driven by Drug Crisis, WV DHHR Plans Child-Welfare Reforms

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Driven by the drug crisis, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is preparing a package of changes to …

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 …

Three years ago, there were about 4,600 foster children in West Virginia. The number now is close to 6,700. (Pixabay)

New Foster Care Group Seeks More Dialogue with State

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – West Virginia is in a foster care crisis, as many addicted parents lose custody of their children. According to a new …

To break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, The Annie E. Casey Foundation is recommending policies that focus on the needs of young parents and their children. (Pixabay)

Report: Policies to Help Young Families Good for WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia and the nation are missing opportunities by not focusing on the needs of young parents and their children…

Online access can make children seem separated from adults and the world around them. (Pixabay/Sasint)

Parents Offered Tips on Bridging Social-Media Rift with Kids

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tips for parents trying to bridge the modern media gap with their children - that will be one topic of Thursday night's …

Half of mass shootings involve family or domestic violence, according to research. (Pixabay)

Link Cited Between Mass Shootings, Domestic Violence

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – There is a strong link between mass shootings and domestic violence, according to an analysis of seven years of shootings …

Food pantries reported a rise in requests for help in the nine West Virginia counties where work requirements were added to the SNAP program. (WV Center on Budget and Policy)

WV Families on SNAP Say Few Use Program to Avoid Work

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia lawmakers who want to add work requirements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program argue that many …

SNAP benefits help millions of low-income Americans put food on the table each month, including about 360,000 West Virginians. (Pixabay)

SNAP Cuts Possible as Congress Debates Farm Bill

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Congress is expected to begin work soon on the $140 billion Farm Bill. But there are concerns that some conservatives are …

Doctors say they are worried that more children will show up in emergency rooms, sicker, if Congress continues to fail to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Pixabay)

Congressional Delays In CHIP Funding Bringing Chaos

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Healthcare systems are now bracing for chaos as Congress failed to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program. According to …

A study found more than half of all West Virginia veterans reported serious symptoms of PTSD or depression. (Pixabay)

A Method Vets Can Use To Help Deal With Trauma

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Friday in Charleston, a WVU professor will be teaching a method veterans can use by themselves to deal with traumatic …

NARAL has been advocating for state laws to protect contraceptive coverage. (Pixabay)

Birth Control Availability at Risk

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Reproductive-rights advocates say a leaked Trump administration draft regulation threatens birth control insurance coverage for …

In half of families with young children, women are working. But a new report confirms many aren't making as much as men doing the same jobs. (Unsplash/Pixabay)

How to Cut WV Poverty Rate? Pay Women More

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – How many moms asked for equal pay for Mother's Day? In a new report, the Institute for Women's Policy Research compared …

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 …

West Virginia author Laurie Helgoe wants people to appreciate the power in being an introvert. (L. Helgoe)

Introvert Power and “The Right to Pursue Peace and Quiet”

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - A West Virginia author says more people need to see the power in being an introvert. Davis and Elkins College psychology …

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 …

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 …

Watchdogs say controversial West Virginia legislation is tied to Kansas oil billionaires Charles and David Koch. (CMD)

Controversial WV Legislation Tied to Shadowy Billionaires' Network

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - The right-to-work bill and prevailing-wage repeal just passed by the Legislature have ties to Kansas oil billionaires Charles …

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 …

Anti-smoking groups say evidence shows tobacco tax increases don't chase sales out of state.(WalletHub)

Evidence Shows Cig Tax Hike Won't Chase Sales Out of State

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - In spite of industry arguments, anti-smoking groups say the evidence shows a sharp boost in the state's tobacco tax won't drive …

West Virginians are returning to the roads after a whale of a winter storm. (Dan Heyman)

Main Roads Look “Passable” for WV Monday Commute

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - West Virginians are returning to work after a whale of a winter storm over the weekend. Officials say a lot of the snow from …

A new policy brief from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found working families are having a hard time keeping even a small amount in savings. (AECF)

A Counterintuitive Way To Get WV Families Off Gov't Programs

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - West Virginia lawmakers are looking for ways to reduce the number of folks on government assistance. A new policy brief …

Roanoke, Va., grocery store worker Steve Meador says he gets paid nearly $2 less an hour than an exact peer in West Virginia because his state has a right-to-work law. (Dan Heyman)

Critics: Right to Work "Undermines Middle-Class Jobs"

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - As West Virginia lawmakers debate a so-called right-to-work bill, critics charge it's designed to undermine a basic source of …

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 …

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 …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 19, 2024

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WV: Family/Father Issues