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Mountain State Spotlight
Here are the questions we tried to get Chris Miller to answer
We reached out to GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Miller’s campaign with questions from our staff and readers, but the campaign did not answer them. Here are the questions we tried to get Chris Miller to answer appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Here are the questions we tried to get Patrick Morrisey to answer
We reached out to GOP gubernatorial candidate Patrick Morrisey's campaign with questions from our staff and readers, but the campaign did not answer them. Here are the questions we tried to get Patrick Morrisey to answer appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Here are Mac Warner’s answers to our questions
Read what GOP gubernatorial candidate Mac Warner had to say in response to questions from Mountain State Spotlight's staff and readers. Here are Mac Warner’s answers to our questions appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
The people of Logan County distrust politicians. But they still hope lawmakers will solve the addiction and homelessness problems.
Some people in Logan County say they are often distrustful of politicians. They feel like their votes mean nothing. It’s easy to understand why they feel that way. Year after year, they’ve heard promises from politicians to improve their lives, but many still struggle to make ends meet and continue to watch friends and family […] The people of Logan County distrust politicians. But they still hope lawmakers will solve the addiction and homelessness problems. appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Small businesses often struggle to access funding. A new report examines what that means for Appalachia.
Despite having a significant impact on local economies, small businesses in West Virginia and Appalachia face barriers when trying to access funding, according to a new report published Tuesday. The report, which was released by the Appalachian Regional Commission and put together by small business advisor firm Next Street, examines how small businesses in the […] Small businesses often struggle to access funding. A new report examines what that means for Appalachia. appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
You ask, we report: How we will cover the 2024 elections
At Mountain State Spotlight, we believe elections should be more about you, your family and your community — and less about 30-second campaign spots and horse race polls. That’s why our election coverage in 2024 is going to look a little different than what you are used to seeing. During the 2024 election season, we […] You ask, we report: How we will cover the 2024 elections appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
As small businesses in West Virginia struggle to get off the ground, some entrepreneurs seek new funding sources
As she sits on a sofa across from a stack of green tie-dyed shirts, Shamika Robinson beams with pride when talking about the downtown Charleston office space she’s had for a little over a year. In 2022, Robinson launched Luv Enterprises LLC., which rents cars to people under 25, those with poor credit, and others […] As small businesses in West Virginia struggle to get off the ground, some entrepreneurs seek new funding sources appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Years after a chemical contaminated Paden City’s water supply, residents are still sick and suffering
The EPA designated Paden City’s drinking water contamination as a priority in 2022. But for residents who drank the water for years, help has been slow to arrive. Years after a chemical contaminated Paden City’s water supply, residents are still sick and suffering appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Federal mine safety regulators finally focus on silica dust – with thousands of miners sick and dying
Federal regulators say they’ve finally crafted a rule that will protect coal and other miners from toxic silica dust, a growing problem in mines that has left thousands sick and dying. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) revealed key elements of the regulation Monday night and published the full text of the final rule […] Federal mine safety regulators finally focus on silica dust – with thousands of miners sick and dying appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
New EPA rule to reduce industrial air pollutants leaves out a majority-Black West Virginia community.
Last week, Biden administration officials finalized a rule they said would significantly reduce cancer-causing air pollutants, lowering cancer risk and advancing environmental justice goals. But the move by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency left out a Black West Virginia community yet again. While the rule will target facilities surrounding communities historically overburdened by toxic air […] New EPA rule to reduce industrial air pollutants leaves out a majority-Black West Virginia community. appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginia’s utility commission wants to know how companies alert customers about outages and service interruptions
The West Virginia Public Service Commission has ordered more than a dozen utility companies to reveal how they notify their customers of service interruptions. The April 8 order comes on the heels of the gas and water outage that affected hundreds of customers last year on Charleston’s West Side. It also comes after the death […] West Virginia’s utility commission wants to know how companies alert customers about outages and service interruptions appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
One-third of West Virginians may soon have a harder time getting health care after lawmakers declined to fully fund Medicaid
State health officials told lawmakers they needed more money for Medicaid, which provides health care for people who are low-income, too sick to work or have disabilities. Lawmakers didn’t grant that request, so cuts may be on the horizon One-third of West Virginians may soon have a harder time getting health care after lawmakers declined to fully fund Medicaid appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Join us in Morgantown for a roundtable discussion about the 2024 election
Election season is underway, and that means candidates will be out vying for your vote. We want you to help guide Mountain State Spotlight’s election coverage. What do you want the candidates to be discussing as they compete for your vote? We want to hear from you! Building on our reader-informed election agenda, we want […] Join us in Morgantown for a roundtable discussion about the 2024 election appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
West Virginia’s hydrogen hub is being built in their backyard. They have questions.
POINT PLEASANT — Marsha Frame lives in a housing development tucked to the side of state Route 62 with her husband Randy and their dog. From their back porch, she can see acres upon acres of farmland. “We planned on leaving this place feet first on a cart,” said Frame. Just beyond Frame’s backyard, across […] West Virginia’s hydrogen hub is being built in their backyard. They have questions. appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Volunteer fire departments in West Virginia finally have a permanent funding source
Scratch-off and Powerball tickets will become the newest funding source for volunteer fire departments, after Gov. Jim Justice signed off on a bill Wednesday. With little fanfare — and near unanimous approval — lawmakers passed a bill earlier this month to provide an extra $12 million for volunteer fire departments in the state each year […] Volunteer fire departments in West Virginia finally have a permanent funding source appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Thousands of West Virginians can afford internet access thanks to a federal program. It’s running out of money
For more than two years, a key federal broadband program has been a lifeline that helped people afford the internet by pouring billions of dollars into efforts to close the digital divide. That could all change in the next few weeks when the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) runs out of money, leaving around 125,000 West […] Thousands of West Virginians can afford internet access thanks to a federal program. It’s running out of money appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Here’s what questions readers told us they want candidates to answer this election
This election season is a big one for West Virginia. On the ballot are a U.S. Senate seat, two U.S. House of Representatives seats, the Governor’s office, all statewide constitutional offices, all 100 House of Delegates seats and 17 — half — of the Senate’s 34 seats. Elections in some districts will be determined by […] Here’s what questions readers told us they want candidates to answer this election appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Months after a gas outage on Charleston’s West Side, a bill to keep residents informed of interruptions died in the Senate
Months after the natural gas outage residents of Charleston’s West Side community say they are still frustrated about the lack of communication about the crisis. “It just felt very… like they did not care,” said Sydney Delaney, who lives on Madison Street on the West Side. A one-paragraph bill that would have required utilities to […] Months after a gas outage on Charleston’s West Side, a bill to keep residents informed of interruptions died in the Senate appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
As coal companies point fingers, Wyoming County residents say they’re being poisoned by a contaminated creek
PINEVILLE — As they drive a truck hauling bottled water along the twists and turns of Route 16, Richard Altizer and James Christian point out the sights along Indian Creek. There’s where slimy film continues to stick to foul-smelling water. There’s where people’s pets and livestock have died. And there’s the place where they gutted […] As coal companies point fingers, Wyoming County residents say they’re being poisoned by a contaminated creek appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
How the Legislature failed to improve West Virginia’s deadly jails during the 2024 session
On Feb. 9, 20-year-old Desarae Godsey died during a stint at the Southern Regional Jail, adding another name to the growing list of people who have died at West Virginia’s deadliest jail. An hour west on I-64 and a day earlier, delegates on the House Committee on Jails and Prisons sat around a large conference […] How the Legislature failed to improve West Virginia’s deadly jails during the 2024 session appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia's civic newsroom.
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Mountain State Spotlight is an independent, nonprofit newsroom founded in 2020 to give West Virginians the news they want, need and deserve.
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