West Virginia News & Current Events

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)

Monday, December 23, 2024

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

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

West Virginia is a designated Health Professional Shortage Area for dental providers, falling short by 135 dentists statewide, according to the health care advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid expansion critical for ensuring WV dental care access

West Virginia's adult Medicaid dental benefit plays a critical role in helping to reduce oral health disparities, experts said. Expansion changes …

More than 67% of children younger than age 6 have parents in the workforce and more than two million parents report making job changes because of issues with child care, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

WV braces for more child care center closures

West Virginia child care advocates said they are bracing for more center closures in the new year. There are more than 60,000 children in the state …

Rural young people returning to their communities from out-of-home placements may face unique barriers to successful reentry, and rural reentry service providers may face challenges in meeting their needs, according to the National Reentry Resource Center. (Adobe Stock)

In New Year, Medicaid will cover WV youths transitioning out of incarceration

Changes in federal law will permit West Virginia and other states to use Medicaid dollars to pay for health care services for incarcerated youths begi…

Every year, humans around the world eat 360 million metric tons of meat, according to OurWorldinData.org. (Adobe Stock)

How many animals are killed for food every day?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Colla…

West Virginia has the nation's third highest electricity costs as a percentage of household income, according to a 2022 report by Citizens Utility Board of Illinois. (Adobe Stock)

Grid operator's $14 billion in costs mean higher bills for WV residents

Major electric grid operator PJM Interconnection estimates it'll cost more than $14 billion to provide electricity for 2025-2026, up from $2.2 …

A report released this year by the state's Department of Human Services found homelessness is up by 24-percent compared to 2021. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Evidence-based strategies to help WV address homelessness

Cities and states are struggling with mounting homelessness, and West Virginia is no exception. A recent report points to potential solutions and …

West Virginia communities rely on more than 600 elementary and secondary schools statewide, according to the state's Department of Education. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Survey: WV voters support investing in local public schools, teachers

A new postelection survey found voters across the political spectrum said they support investing in public schools and teachers. The findings from …

The number of certificate or microcrediental earners younger than age 18 jumped by 18.8% in 2022-23 compared with the prior year, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia launches microcredentials to open up paths to jobs, careers

CORRECTION: About 180,000 West Virginians have completed some college, but received no credential. An earlier version of this report incorrectly …

The pesticide Dacthal is often used on vegetable farms for crops like cabbage and onions. (Adobe Stock)

EPA bans weedkiller Dacthal, used on WV farms

The Environmental Protection Agency has banned the pesticide dacthal, frequently used on farms in West Virginia and other states. Mounting evidence …

Money bail is a source of racial disparities in the justice system, particularly for Black and Latino populations, research shows. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Bail reform in WV has no impact on crime rates

Changes in bail policy don't affect crime rates in cities nationwide, according to new data from the Brennan Center for Justice. Cash bail has …

Americans' unpaid care, two-thirds of which is performed by women, is valued at more than $1 trillion each year, according to a 2024 analysis by the National Partnership for Women and Families. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Report: WV women play major economic role as unpaid caregivers

Women's labor force participation rate in West Virginia has fallen over the past two decades but more are performing unpaid work, mostly as …

In 2024, 450,374 West Virginia residents relied on Medicare for health coverage, according to the health care advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare open enrollment: Tips to help older West Virginians select plans

Medicare open enrollment begins today and for West Virginians over 65, this season is a time to reconsider their health care needs. More than 450,000…

After Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023, officials set aflame 116,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the region, citing explosion risk. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA to consider vinyl chloride ban; public comments through Oct. 23

The Environmental Protection Agency began an in-depth review of the health risks of vinyl chloride last year, part of a process required to limit or …

Federal regulations are an area in which the president has significant latitude to affect food policy. (Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)<br />

Where does Harris stand on meat, factory farming?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Colla…

$A fracking waste impoundment pond site. Research shows radioactive waste from fracking can spread to groundwater. (FracTracker/Flicker)$

WV lawmakers consider new rules on radioactive waste

West Virginia lawmakers are pushing legislation forward to pave the way for state management of the transport, storage and disposal of potentially …

Visitors can take in the view from Bear Rocks at the Dolly Sods. According to data collected by the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, an estimated 35,000 people visit the Dolly Sods each year. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Dozens of volunteers help maintain West Virginia’s Dolly Sods

A volunteer program has caught the attention of West Virginia tourism officials. The Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards program has been recognized with …

60.5% of all graduate school completers have federal student loan debt; 54.2% have debt from their graduate studies, according to the Education Data Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Graduate degree costs have tripled since 2000

The cost of a graduate degree tripled between 2000 and 2020, according to a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the …

Some 78% of Americans are concerned about rising utility bills, according to a 2024 survey from CNET. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV regulators dismiss AEP rate hike proposal

A proposed rate hike by American Electric Power that would have affected customers in two dozen West Virginia counties is off the table for now…

Medical co-pays in prisons are associated with worse access to health care behind bars, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Adobe Stock)

WV’s $5 prison copay called a barrier to care for incarcerated people

New research showed medical copays are preventing incarcerated people from receiving medical care. West Virginia's $5 copay is much higher compared …

The nation's child poverty rate increased 1.3 percentage points to 13.7 percent in 2023, according to newly released Census data. (Adobe Stock)

WV poverty rate for children among highest in nation

The number of West Virginia children living in poverty remains among the highest in the nation, and more children are living in households struggling …

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 …

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…

More people are traveling farther and across multiple state lines to access abortion care, according to data from the Guttmatcher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

WV voters worried about abortion care, reproductive health access

New polling found an overwhelming majority, 85% of Americans believe abortion access should be allowed in some situations. Two years ago in the …

According to federal data, law enforcement accounted for 82% of all delinquency cases referred to juvenile court in 2019. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV NAACP lawsuit says state agencies failed to collect juvenile justice data

West Virginia state agencies have failed to collect data on incarcerated youth, according to a new lawsuit filed by the West Virginia NAACP in the …

Good jobs are defined as paying a median salary of $74,000 for workers ages 25 to 44, and $91,000 for those ages 45 to 64. (Adobe Stock/AI-generated)

Report: Percentage of good jobs, skilled trades to increase over next decade

As the economy continues to struggle with inflation and ongoing fears of a potential recession, a new report found the nation's labor market will add …

Health effects from exposure toxic algae include skin rashes, headaches, vomiting, pneumonia and more, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock/AI-generated)<br />

Toxic algae blooms are on the rise in WV, industrial farming a driving cause

Harmful algae bloom events are increasing, according to a recent analysis of EPA data from the advocacy group Environment America and have occurred …

Thousands of Charleston, West Virginia, residents signed a petition to create a municipal measure to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. (Adobe Stock)

WV city OKs measure reducing jail time, fees for marijuana possession

Charleston City Council members have greenlighted a citizen-led municipal measure to reduce local penalties for some marijuana possession offenses…

Despite reforms to reduce the use of juvenile life without parole sentences, thousands of youth and emerging adults have been left behind, according to The Sentencing Project report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: WV has made progressive youth sentencing reforms

West Virginia has made significant criminal justice reforms in reducing harsh sentences for children, according to the latest report from The …

According to a June 2024 survey from The Pew Research Center, 33% of Americans think installing a solar panel farm in their community would help their local economy, while just 7% think it would hurt it. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV green lights solar plant construction, advocates rally against rising utility bills

Residents in Nicholas and Clay counties could soon receive their electricity from a local solar plant, estimated to power around 90,000 homes in the …

Mental health tops the lists of concerns of parents with kids younger than 18, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey. (Adobe Stock)<br />

A holistic approach to get WV kids on right back-to-school track

More than 263,000 West Virginia kids will soon return to school, and experts said it is crucial for parents to stay up-to-date with doctors' visits …

A proposed transportation project would build a four-lane highway through the adjacent towns of Thomas and Davis, W.Va. (West Virginia Highlands Conservancy)

WV small business owners push for northern 'Corridor H' route

Concerns about environmental and economic disruption by the proposed "Corridor H" four-lane highway project have led dozens of small businesses in two…

Huntington, W.Va., resident Lindsey Crittendon, a former social worker, is a graduate of NewForce, a fully remote and tuition-free coding school program. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Program creates jobs for West Virginians to stay in their communities

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Resource Rural-Public…

Research shows global plastic production has surged from 15 million tons per year in 1964 to more than 450 million tons per year today. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Biodegradable plastics more marketing than environmentally friendly

As West Virginia opens its door to the plastics recycling or "advanced recycling" industry, a recent report found only a fraction of plastics are …

More than 2,000 people in prison currently face execution in the United States. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

200 people on death row exonerated since 1973

It's being called a historic milestone - 200 people have been exonerated after being sentenced to death since 1973, what's known as the modern era of …

The number of home-schooling families in the state is about 13,000 and continues to grow, according to the West Virginia Home Educators Association. (Adobe Stock)

WV lawmakers urge passage of Raylee’s Law during special session

After the tragic death of Kyneddi Miller, a 14-year-old West Virginia girl found dead in her home, some state lawmakers are calling on the governor …

Hunger Free America's 2023 Annual Hunger Survey found more than 175,000 people in West Virginia are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Health center to develop programs to fight WV food insecurity

A West Virginia community health center is participating in a program addressing food scarcity. The National Association of Community Health …

In 2017, mental health and substance use disorder emergency department visits in the U.S. cost more than $5.6 billion, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia taking steps to strengthen 988 crisis response system

More households, workplaces, and schools are struggling with mental health crises, and a new report by the mental health advocacy group Inseparable …

A proposal making the rounds in Washington, D.C., would incentivize states to incarcerate fewer people in exchange for federal funds to retool their sentencing guidelines. (Adobe Stock)

Proposal: Pay states to change sentencing guidelines, reduce prison populations

In West Virginia, 11,000 people are behind bars, mostly in state prisons and local jails. A new proposal has surfaced to bring those numbers down but …

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…

A zombie mine is shown in Clintwood, Kentucky. (Erin Savage)

Zombie mines continue to pose environmental, health threats to Appalachia

West Virginia and other Appalachian states are littered with hundreds of "zombie mines," abandoned mines neither producing coal nor undergoing reclama…

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated a total of $16 billion to address legacy pollution, including $11.3 billion in Abandoned Mind Land funding over 15 years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV receives $140 million to clean up abandoned mine lands

West Virginia will receive $140 million to clean up legacy pollution in regions decimated by decades of coal mining. The money is part of $725 …

Chronic absence from school may be driving learning loss. Thirty percent of all students, or about 14.7 million, were chronically absent in 2021-2022, nearly double pre-pandemic rates, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: WV kids face sliding reading, math scores

Math and reading proficiency among West Virginia kids has worsened over the past five years, according to new data. The latest Kids Count Data Book …

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which for nearly 50 years had affirmed the constitutional right to an abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: One in five women personally impacted by Dobbs decision on abortion

As Texas made recent headlines for ruling against a group of women seeking abortion for serious pregnancy complications, polling found one in five …

Public records show West Virginia police officers are allowed to switch departments after being fired or resigning for misconduct. (Adobe Stock)

In lieu of termination: Tracking WV police officers after misconduct incidents

By Kyle Vass for Dragline.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the ACLU of West Virginia-Public News Servi…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - December 24, 2024

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