West Virginia News & Current Events

Service dogs can help with mobility and access, object retrieval, reminders and medical alerts, among other things. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Service dogs trained behind bars in WV transform lives, inside and out

With demand for assistance dogs on the rise, people in two West Virginia prisons are getting involved in their training. At Saint Marys Correctional …

Reduced federal funding for Medicaid would lead to widespread coverage losses and tens of thousands of avoidable deaths each year, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia Senators push Medicaid cuts

Many residents of West Virginia are at risk of losing health care under a federal proposal to cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion. Sen. Jim Justice…

Nearly 10,000 West Virginia children per year will suffer asthma attacks because of ozone from the oil and gas industry, according to a report from the Clean Air Task Force. (Adobe Stock)

WV facilities seek exemptions from limits on toxic pollution

West Virginia communities will see increased air pollution with little oversight under a new Trump administration proposal offering presidential exemp…

Of the more than 5 million families with young children who pay for child care each year, on average 2.2 million, or about 43%, pay unaffordable rates, according to a Center for American Progress report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV child care crisis expected to worsen as lawmakers fail to take action

West Virginia lawmakers continue their inaction on improving access to child care. House Bill 2026 would have allocated $32 million toward child …

Bumblebee colonies have annual life cycles, according to the ZYWang Lab at the University of Washington, where researchers study natural social behavior changes in aging bees. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Impact of solitary confinement goes beyond psychological trauma

Imagine being locked in a cell for 23 hours a day, under constant artificial light, with no human contact for months or even years. This is the …

For the first time, more American college students will be learning entirely online than will be learning 100% in person, according to the consulting firm Encoura. (Adobe Stock)

Online college courses just as expensive as in-person classes

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

According to the American Journal for Public Health, in the 1980s, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health led pioneering research on job-related musculoskeletal injuries, workplace violence, latex allergy among health care workers and risks of occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed NIOSH cuts could affect health of coal miners

The Trump administration has slashed jobs and closed research centers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the …

States who adopt universal licensing have seen the benefits of increased migration, job creation, and higher levels of economic growth, according to the America First Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)<br />

West Virginia passes new 'universal licensing' law

New residents of West Virginia can now use professional and occupational licenses issued in other states. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who signed the bill …

Research showed those who were previously incarcerated are approximately 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Broken prison system leaves many in WV without options post-release

April is National Second Chance Month but across West Virginia, resources to help people leaving prison find gainful employment are dwindling…

In 2019-20, some 21% of undergraduates and 11% of postbaccalaureate students reported having a disability, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Blind students sue West Virginia University for discrimination

Two blind students are suing West Virginia University. They allege the school has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing …

A McKinsey analysis suggested global demand for data-center capacity could rise at an annual rate of between 19% and 22% from 2023 to 2030 to reach an annual demand of 171 to 219 gigawatts. (Adobe Stock)

High-impact data centers could pose WV energy, environment threats

Large, energy-intense buildings used in Bitcoin mining, cloud computing and artificial intelligence data processing industries could become more …

More than 200,000 state employees in West Virginia rely on the Public Employees Insurance Agency for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Most WV voters oppose privatizing Public Employees Insurance Agency

More than 70% of West Virginians polled said they opposed privatizing or abolishing the state's health insurance agency for public employees…

The USDA reported since April 2024, there have been avian influenza virus detections in 336 commercial flocks and 207 backyard flocks, for a total of more than 90.9 million birds affected.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: Americans concerned about bird flu effects on wallets over health

West Virginians are more concerned about bird flu's effect on grocery costs rather than health implications, and Republican voters are more likely to …

The combination of inflation and avian influenza has caused egg prices to rise more than 350% per dozen compared to last year, according to the American Farm Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Importing eggs won’t lower prices, experts say

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

West Virginians recognized at new National Medal of Honor Museum

The stories of 57 West Virginians who've received the Medal of Honor, the highest military award, will be on display at the new National Medal of …

Roughly 150 cities in 32 states have passed homelessness ordinances, according to the National Criminal Justice Association. (Adobe Stock)

Morgantown residents will soon decide whether to veto camping ban

Next month, the city of Morgantown, West Virginia, will ask residents to vote on whether to keep or eliminate a city ordinance banning camping on …

Slightly more than 55% of registered West Virginia voters cast ballots in the 2024 General Election, according to Ballotpedia. (Adobe Stock)

WV lawmakers move to speed voter purges, tighten absentee ballot rules

Absentee ballot restrictions and shortening the amount of time it takes to purge inactive voters from the voting rolls are priorities for West Virgini…

In January 2014, approximately 10,000 gallons of chemicals used to process coal spilled from a storage tank into the Elk River in West Virginia, a water source which serving 300-thousand people in the Charleston area.(Adobe Stock)

Bill aims to weaken WV coal and gas industry chemical tank regulations

Lawmakers in the West Virginia Senate have passed a bill to remove mandated inspections for chemical storage tanks in the oil, coal and gas …

In West Virginia, 11,000 people are incarcerated and another 9,200 are on probation or parole, according to data from the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: West Virginia’s prison population on the decline

West Virginia is among just ten states whose prison population declined between 2019 and 2023, according to a new report from the Prison Policy …

Coal is mined in 22 of West Virginia's 55 counties, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock AI/generated Image)<br />

Environmental groups sue over permit for West Virginia valley fills

West Virginia environmental groups are suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, arguing the agency failed to consider residents' health when it gave …

The USDA reported one of seven households in America struggled with hunger in 2023. (Adobe Stock)<br />

SNAP cuts could wreak havoc on West Virginia’s economy

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is on the chopping block in Congress. A House budget resolution would cut $30 billion in SNAP …

Polluted, acidic water leaving KD #1 Surface Mine on Lens Creek near Marmet. (Kanawha Forest Coalition)

WV officials expected to let coal company evade water-pollution cleanup

Watchdog groups said the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection seems poised to allow coal company Keystone West Virginia to walk away f…

Eating food grown, raised or caught within a relatively short distance of where it's consumed supports local farmers and the economy and provides fresher meals. But

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Expert: 'Eating local' may not be best solution for fighting climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, in 2023, 12% of people in West Virginia prisons were over age 55, and the average age of state prisoners was 39. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Bill to increase penalties could overpopulate WV prisons

A bill pending in the West Virginia Legislature would increase the length of penalties for "serious" felony convictions, but critics have said it …

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve saw more than 1.7 million visitors in 2023, the highest attendance since the park was established in 1978. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: WV tourism gains threatened by federal job cuts

With West Virginia's tourism industry seeing dramatic growth in recent years, conservation groups are sounding the alarm about layoffs of federal …

Congestion, caused by lack of of grid capacity nationwide, increased consumers' energy bills by an estimated $20.8 billion in 2022, according to a report by Grid Strategies. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Pushback against proposed AEP rate hike grows in WV

One of West Virginia's major utilities, Appalachian Power, is proposing a more than 13% rate hike, along with cuts to its current net metering rate …

A McDowell County, West Virginia resident holds up a water bottled filled with brown tap water at a webinar hosted by ReImagine Appalachia. (Facebook/ReImagine Appalachia)<br />

Southern WV residents demand lawmakers address ongoing water crisis

Many residents of southern West Virginia say the water flowing out of their taps is a brown or orange color and most continue to rely heavily on bottl…

Meatpacking is a concentrated industry, with the four largest firms handling 85% of all steer and heifer purchases and 67% of all hog purchases, according to USDA data.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Meat processing tax exemption bill could help WV farmers

Some West Virginia lawmakers want to remove consumer sales taxes on the processing of beef, pork and lamb at slaughterhouses. House Bill 2146 would …

According to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, rural children under age 5 make up 24% of children eligible for child care services in the country, yet 55% of them live in areas considered to be child care deserts. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Rural steering committees help to close WV learning gaps

Appalachian counties are expanding efforts to help ensure children are off to the right start in their education. Research shows attending a high-…

A map shows West Virginia's abandoned oil and gas wells. (Ohio River Valley Institute)

WV's abandoned wells could pose risks for planned carbon storage

West Virginia has thousands of unplugged and improperly plugged oil and gas wells that could leak and contaminate groundwater, potentially harming …

The number of of working-age adults with degrees or professional post-high school credentials continues to grow, according to new data from Lumina Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV’s free community college helps more residents attain degrees

West Virginia's innovative programs and a boost in state financial aid have made it possible for more people to earn a college degree or get a credent…

Nearly half of U.S. adults said it was at least somewhat hard for them to regularly obtain and eat nutritious foods, and 54% agreed the nation is not making enough progress in making nutritious food accessible and affordable, according to a 2024 survey from Research!America and the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

Revive SNAP Stretch, WV growers, consumers urge

Food advocates are calling on lawmakers to help jump-start the state's SNAP Stretch program, which was paused last year due to budget constraints…

According to the health care advocacy group KKF, there were 9,422 people living in certified nursing home facilities in West Virginia in 2024. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Lawsuit alleges unsafe conditions in West Virginia nursing homes

Rural West Virginia counties are already facing shortages of home health care services and nursing home workers. Now, they are facing accusations of …

Nationwide, at least 17 public universities and colleges in 2024 faced existential crises and considered merging or shutting down, according to the Hechinger Report. (Christopher Ziemnowicz/Wikimedia Commons)<br /><br />

WV communities grapple as public colleges merge, close

By Jon Marcus, Brianna Atkinson, Molly Minta and Amy Morona for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News …

Syringe exchange programs can play an important role in reducing HIV and viral hepatitis infection, according to The Foundation for AIDS Research. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Syringe exchange fears hobble fight against West Virginia HIV outbreak

By Taylor Sisk for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Se…

More than a half million Mountain State residents rely on Medicaid for health coverage, according to the health advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Medicaid essential for WV nursing home care

Nearly one-third of Medicaid funding could be on the chopping block as lawmakers look for ways to reduce the national deficit. A new report found …

Appalachia could see wind and solar economic benefits over the next decade, according to the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Institute. (Adobe Stock)

What’s next for Appalachia's green energy economy?

The future looks promising for green energy and manufacturing in Appalachia, and states like West Virginia are slated to receive around $1 billion in …

In recent years, the meat industry took out full-page ads in newspapers, and placed a $5 million Super Bowl commercial, claiming that meat is

How 'big meat' worked to rebrand in 2024 using disinformation

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service C…

At least 75 tree species, more than 225 bird species and eight federally listed, threatened or endangered bird, bat, salamander and plant species call the Monongahela National Forest home, according to the U.S. Forest Service. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

WV groups urge shutdown of Monongahela coal haul road

Advocates want federal regulators to shut down what they say is an illegal coal haul road in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. South Fork …

Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, roughly 13 bottles per month for every person in the country, according to Earthday.org. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Trump administration should ban vinyl chloride

As public awareness about the link between plastics and cancer risk increases, environmental groups said they want the Trump administration to make …

The Cranberry Glades, located in the Monongahela National Forest, protects the largest area of bogs or acidic wetlands in West Virginia, according to the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit alleges South Fork Coal violations near Cranberry Wilderness area

Environmental groups are suing South Fork Coal Company, alleging the company has repeatedly violated federal law in Greenbrier County. The lawsuit …

Congress's latest one-year Farm Bill extension provides $20 billion in funding for federal farm programs and $10 billion in direct economic relief to farmers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Trump administration could tackle corporate food system, help farmers

As inflation and falling crop prices continue to affect farmers, their advocates say the incoming Trump administration could take steps to reform the …

Six million U.S. students attend a school where there is a School Resource Officer but no school psychologist on staff, according to a Brookings Institution report. (Adobe Stock)

WV schools funnel more kids into juvenile justice system

West Virginia schools' reliance on zero-tolerance policies are driving more kids into the juvenile justice system - with lifelong consequences…

The Environmental Protection Agency has set and implemented emissions standards to control pollution from everything from cars, heavy-duty trucks and buses, and construction and farm equipment, since 1970. (Adobe Stock/AI generated Image)

Poll: Most voters want a robust EPA, more pollution controls

Nationwide, 76% of Trump voters and 86% of all voters oppose attempts to weaken the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new poll …

About 13 million people live in higher education

Rural WV students’ choices shrink as colleges slash majors