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West Virginia Watch
Some states act to protect residents from extreme heat — with a new focus on young people
After two years of record-breaking heat that brought a surge of deaths and health emergencies, several states have enacted or are considering measures designed to protect residents — with a new focus on younger people whose vulnerability is rising with the temperatures. Nationally, heat-related deaths rose from about 1,000 in 2018 to 1,722 in 2022 […] The post Some states act to protect residents from extreme heat — with a new focus on young people appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Teaching positive psychology skills at school may help student mental health, happiness
Youth mental health has worsened significantly over the past decade, but new interventions that teach positive psychology concepts in school may help. American young people are reporting historically high levels of hopelessness, sadness and loneliness. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20% of adolescents […] The post Teaching positive psychology skills at school may help student mental health, happiness appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia’s oral health indicators improve slightly in new assessments
West Virginia’s oral health is still overall worse than the national average, but it has improved over the last two years, according to recently released assessments. The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition last month released its 2023 and 2024 Oral Health Report Cards, which compare the state’s dental care performance with that of the nation […] The post West Virginia’s oral health indicators improve slightly in new assessments appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The state of journalism is looking up in West Virginia
This time last year, I was worried for the future of journalism in West Virginia. Four journalists in Charleston had been fired in December 2022. Three were let go by the Charleston Gazette-Mail after they tweeted about HD Media’s poorly done interview with Don Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy who was jailed for […] The post The state of journalism is looking up in West Virginia appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Building transmission takes forever. The Biden administration is pushing to change that.
The SOO Green electric transmission project, a 350-mile high-voltage line between Mason City, Iowa, and Plano, Illinois, was proposed in 2018 to deliver renewable power and to better connect the nation’s two largest power markets. The project won approval from Iowa regulators this fall. The developers of the line, which will link wind and solar […] The post Building transmission takes forever. The Biden administration is pushing to change that. appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
WVU paid more than $230K for Coben to fly on private jet to Charleston for governor-appointed job
West Virginia University paid more than $230,000 for employee Jeff Coben to fly on a private plane to Charleston and work for the governor’s administration. University leaders, grappling with a budget shortfall, said the pay out was justified as they’re fulfilling a “land grant mission” to serve the state. Earlier this year, Coben, who is […] The post WVU paid more than $230K for Coben to fly on private jet to Charleston for governor-appointed job appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Grassroots groups help Medicaid recipients regain lost coverage
Eight months after states started dropping millions of low-income families from Medicaid rolls, grassroots groups say they are leading the push to re-enroll people denied coverage for bureaucratic reasons. Nationwide, more than 12.5 million people have lost coverage since April. That’s when the federal pandemic provision that had required states not to drop anyone from the rolls expired and states […] The post Grassroots groups help Medicaid recipients regain lost coverage appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
In Clay County, opioid settlement could fund children’s resources, substance abuse treatment
Employees at Clay County High School spent this holiday season talking to students about the importance of gift giving and thankfulness. “Our library looks like a Walmart right now,” said Leslie Osburn, a school counselor. “They learn joy, gratitude and the effort that goes into [gift giving].” It wasn’t a typical part of the curriculum, […] The post In Clay County, opioid settlement could fund children’s resources, substance abuse treatment appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
5 Southern states had most of the nation’s population growth
Southern states continued to get the lion’s share of new residents this year as Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina added almost 1.2 million people among them. The South was the only region that drew net new residents from other states. Meanwhile, the national population grew by 1.6 million people from births and […] The post 5 Southern states had most of the nation’s population growth appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Tuberville blockade finally ends with confirmations of top military leaders
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday night approved the remainder of the military nominations that Sen. Tommy Tuberville had continued to block, even after the Alabama Republican lifted his monthslong freeze of hundreds of armed services promotions in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the floor asked for unanimous […] The post Tuberville blockade finally ends with confirmations of top military leaders appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia American Water raises fairness concerns in PSC’s gas outage investigation
Representatives for West Virginia American Water have raised concerns that the West Virginia Public Service Commission’s investigation into last month’s gas outage on Charleston’s West Side so far unfairly targets it and not Mountaineer Gas Company. In a response dated Monday to initial filings in the investigation, an attorney for the water company wrote that […] The post West Virginia American Water raises fairness concerns in PSC’s gas outage investigation appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
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West Virginia Watch is an independent, nonpartisan news service based in Charleston. Our journalists will hold public officials and agencies accountable, and inform West Virginians of what’s going on behind closed doors. We focus on issues that affect our state every day – such as poverty, access to health care, the foster care system – with an aim of filling the gaps in coverage caused by shrinking newsrooms. The Watch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit network supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence. West Virginia Watch is free to read without paywalls or subscription fees.
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