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Solar panels on the roof of Lifeline Church of God in Princeton, W.Va. (Resource Rural)

Federal funding reduces barriers to solar for WV schools, churches

Wayne County Schools and a church in Princeton have installed solar panels with help from the Inflation Reduction Act, local grants and solar …

From 2011 to mid-2020, 95 gigawatts of coal capacity was closed or switched to another fuel and another 25 gigawatts is slated to shut down by 2025, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia’s PSC faces lawsuit over coal-plant directive

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is facing legal challenges for its 2021 directive that Appalachian Power increase the usage of three of…

As of June 2023, about 5% of Americans had unpaid medical bills on their credit reports - down from 14% in March 2022, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

WV advocates: eliminate medical debt from credit scores

West Virginia healthcare advocates are applauding a recent proposed rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to remove medical bills from cred…

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va (far left), and other lawmakers join President Joe Biden as he signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law on Aug. 16, 2022. (Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm/Wikimedia Commons)

Super PAC spending in WV Senate race ramps up as Manchin bows out

By Harshawn Ratanpal for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Serv…

A survey conducted by Swiftly found 60% of Americans say they're currently struggling to pay for their groceries. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: West Virginians’ budgets shrink while corporations rake in profits

As the nation's largest corporations see their profits surge, more West Virginians are relying on assistance to meet basic needs as their spending …

Nationwide, in the second quarter of 2022, residential solar set its fifth consecutive quarterly growth record, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)

Pressure mounts on WV’s utility regulator to preserve solar net-metering

Residents and advocacy groups will rally in Charleston this Saturday to protect net-metering for solar customers. Two of West Virginia's major …

According to the group West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare, around 30% of West Virginia residents have medical debt in collections. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV could lose hundreds of millions in Medicaid funding

Since West Virginia's Medicaid eligibility review began this spring, around 100,000 residents have been kicked off the rolls. Experts have said many …

In the second quarter of 2022, nationwide residential solar set its fifth consecutive quarterly growth record, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV utilities propose slashing energy credit in half for customers with solar panels

Major utilities in West Virginia, Mon Power and Potomac Edison, want to reduce the credit their solar customers get for producing power the utilities …

As of March 2023, 65,748,297 people are enrolled in Medicare nationwide, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV residents can get help navigating Medicare open enrollment

With just a few weeks left until the end of Medicare open enrollment, experts in West Virginia say now is the time to compare current coverage to …

Private insurance companies deny more than 248 million claims or pre-authorization requests from their policyholders annually. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Concern mounts over denied claims by health insurers, impact on West Virginians

Congressional Democrats are investigating Medicaid prior authorization practices and denied claims by private health insurers. According to a …

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 …

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Students, seniors and other West Virginia residents gather in Morgantown, calling on Congress to reform prescription drug prices. (Shane Assadzandi/Linda Benesch)

West Virginians Rally for Fair Prescription Drug Prices

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginians concerned about the rising cost of drug prices say they want Sen. Joe Manchin - D-W.Va. - to Vote for the Build …

Around 32% of Americans plan to travel for Thanksgiving this year, a decline from 35% last year, according to a recent survey from GasBuddy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Gas-Powered WV Drivers Pinched at the Pump This Thanksgiving

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia gas prices continue to climb, and experts say drivers can expect to shell out more money for gas through next year…

A mobile billboard is crisscrossing West Virginia to encourage Sen. Joe Manchin's support of President Joe Biden's

'Build Back Better' Plan Gets Mobile Billboard in WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - You may spot a mobile billboard on your travels in West Virginia, and its creators hope the signage reminds people of how they …

The U.S. Postal Service reported a $2.2 billion loss in the second quarter of 2020. (Adobe stock)

WV Small-Business Owners Decry Post Office Changes

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As congressional Democrats call for an investigation into Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's recent cost-cutting measures at the U.…

Utility cutoffs can start again in West Virginia, increasing financial burdens for some people who've lost jobs as a result of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

WV Utility Cutoffs to Resume; a “Catastrophic” Hardship for Some

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - A ban on West Virginia utility shutoffs during the pandemic has ended this week, leaving many customers scrambling to pay …

The United Food and Commercial Workers estimated that more than 9,000 grocery store workers in the United States were infected with the coronavirus as of May. (Adobe stock)

Union Protests Escalate Push for Grocery Chain to Extend Hazard Pay

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Union workers for Kroger Company in West Virginia and Virginia on Wednesday staged a car caravan demonstration to urge the …

Advocates for renters in West Virginia are already seeing an uptick in evictions since the pandemic began, and expect to see a rise in first-time homelessness as a result of job loss. (Adobe Stock)

WV Housing Groups Brace for Evictions as Courts Reopen

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia's court system has reopened, after being closed to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. Now, advocates for …

Telehealth services used to be mostly available in rural areas like Appalacha, with limited access to health clinics, but COVID-19 has made them popular in other areas as well. (Adobe stock)

West Virginians Can Get Free COVID Symptom Checks Online

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The use of telemedicine is skyrocketing during the pandemic, and a new online tool is part of the trend, helping patients …

Kroger workers report having to pick up used masks and gloves after customers leave them in carts, and say many aren't following social-distancing guidelines. (Adobe Stock)

Union Calls on Grocery Chain to Extend, Not Cancel, Hazard Pay

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After Kroger Co. announced it will be cancelling the extra hazard pay for its grocery-store workers nationwide on Saturday…

Patients can verify if a purported drug shortage is real by checking the Food and Drug Administration's Drug Shortage database. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)

What to Do if Prescription Prices Rise Due to COVID-19

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Anecdotal reports show that prices have risen for a number of common drugs because of the COVID-19 crisis. So one senior …

Millions of older Americans who receive Medicare can now access telemedicine services, even if they're not living in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare Telehealth Expansion Vital in COVID-19 Outbreak

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - With West Virginia reporting its first case of exposure to the new coronavirus this week, the use of telemedicine could be vital …

The list price of insulin has nearly tripled since 2002, according to the American Diabetes Association. (Adobe stock)

WV Legislation Aims to Slash Insulin Copays

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Concern over the soaring cost of prescription drugs has spurred the West Virginia Senate to consider a bill that would help …

A West Virginia Senate bill aims to let power companies offer regulated solar energy to businesses and households, in a state that currently offers no solar power. (SolarWorld)

Groups See WV Solar Bill as a ‘Step Forward’

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A bill that passed unanimously in the West Virginia Senate is being seen by environmental groups as an important step toward …

The civil rights group Fairness West Virginia is urging lawmakers to pass the Fairness Act for LGBTQ protections in the state. (Fairness West Virginia)

WV Groups Back Bill Providing LGBTQ Legal Protections

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- LGBTQ groups in West Virginia are fighting to pass the Fairness Act in this year's legislative session. The bill ensures that …

The majority of immigrants in West Virginia come from India, according to a new report, and many work in the health care industry. (Adobe Stock)

New Campaign Celebrates WV Immigrants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Trump administration's hard line policies toward immigrants have spurred a coalition of civil rights groups in West Virginia …

Environmentalists in West Virginia oppose the funding of a proposed natural gas storage facility in the state's Ohio Valley. (Adobe Stock)

Enviros to Fight WV Bill to Fund Natural-Gas Storage Hub

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- One of the first bills introduced in West Virginia's 2020 legislative session, which opened Wednesday, is by Republican House …

A rural phone co-op expanded high-speed broadband in Appalachia, bringing hundreds of telework jobs to the region. (Adobe stock)

High-Speed Internet Key to Economic Recovery in Appalachia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A rural phone cooperative based in Appalachia has brought some of the fastest Internet in the United States to mountain …

The latest Trump Administration proposal to import less expensive drugs from Canada excludes insulin. (Adobe Stock)

Trump Plan to Import Cheaper Canadian Drugs Won't Help Diabetics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Trump administration this week proposed allowing states to import drugs from Canada, which officials say could save …

The Reclaiming Appalachia Coalition is planning to revamp a deserted coal mine in Morgantown, W. Va., into a composting facility. (Adobe Stock)

Alliance Aims to Transform Deserted Coal Mines into Viable Businesses

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – A coalition of development groups in central Appalachia aims to give new life to abandoned coal mines in the region by …

A new report finds that the majority of children without health insurance in the United States live in the South. (Adobe stock)

Report: Sharp Decline in Insured WV Children

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia ranked fourth best in the nation in 2016 for providing health care insurance to its children. But in 2018…

Falling solar-panel prices have made renewable energy increasingly reasonable for businesses such as the Twin Spruce Marina in Morgantown. (Twin Spruce Marina)

Solar Tour Highlights Potential for West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – This weekend, tours of West Virginia solar sites helped illuminate how sunlight might make more electricity here, and help …

One commonly prescribed drug in 2017 cost 20% more than the average amount of a person's annual Social Security income in retirement. (Steve Buissinnea/Pixabay)

Prescription-Drug Prices Rise at Twice Inflation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Prescription-drug price hikes have been twice the rate of general inflation for more than a decade, according to a new …

The 2008 financial crisis has been widely attributed to banks that failed after making huge, highly risky market trades. (Gino Crescoli/Pixabay)

White House Weakens Wall Street Regulations

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Consumer groups are warning that new financial rules will make a recession more likely after the Trump administration …

A protester was arrested Wednesday after he locked himself to excavating equipment at this West Virginia site of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. (Appalachians Against Pipelines)

Arrest Made as Mountain Valley Pipeline Protests Continue

SUMMERS CO., W.Va. – Protests against the Mountain Valley Pipeline continue this week, and Wednesday a man was arrested after locking himself …

Supporters of Harpers Ferry say the National Park Service needs funds to help maintain historic sites like John Brown's Fort, where the abolitionist made his last stand. (Mamageek/Wikimedia)

Calls to Address Maintenance at Nat'l. Parks, Including Harpers Ferry

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Legislation in Congress would fund half of the estimated $12 billion in backlogged maintenance in the National Park System …

Renewable energy provided a greater percentage of U.S. electricity than coal this spring, a pattern observers expect more often as solar and wind power rise and coal declines. (IEEFA/EIA)

Wind, Solar Hit New Records; Critics say WV Lawmakers Ignore It

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This spring, renewable energy sources for a time generated more electricity than coal in the U.S., according to federal …

Nationwide, almost 300,000 elementary and secondary students attend school entirely online. (April Bryant/Pixabay)

Virtual Charter Schools Get Failing Grade in Study

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia lawmakers are debating a controversial plan to allow charter schools, and in other states that has included …

In 2017, 7.7% of American seniors were at risk of going hungry. (Feeding America)

Food Insecurity for Seniors Remains High, Despite Economy

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Despite a strong economy, the number of seniors at risk of going hungry remains stubbornly high. According to a new …

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