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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.
Solar energy and its cheaper bills are coming to more disadvantaged communities
HOUSTON — When a lightning storm knocked out power in Doris Brown’s Northeast Houston neighborhood this summer, her solar-powered home suddenly became a refuge for frantic neighbors left without electricity. The impromptu guests were able to charge their cellphones, power up their CPAP and portable oxygen machines, and take hot showers. A party vibe prevailed […] The post Solar energy and its cheaper bills are coming to more disadvantaged communities appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
The US avoided a recession in 2023. What’s the outlook for 2024?
Next year is packed with potential shifts in the economy but many economists and investment analysts expect that the country will likely avoid a recession in 2024 even as growth slows in the first half of the year. States Newsroom talked to economists about their expectations for some key metrics as well as their concerns […] The post The US avoided a recession in 2023. What’s the outlook for 2024? appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Medicaid, the uninsured and a budget shortfall
West Virginia has removed 118,000 residents from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) since its eligibility review began this spring. That is quite a stunning number of people impacted — about 13,000 West Virginians are losing their health care coverage every month. They are our friends, neighbors, and family. Unfortunately, many of these are procedural […] The post Medicaid, the uninsured and a budget shortfall appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Other cities take note as New York City tells Airbnb: Fuhgeddaboudit
NEW YORK — As New York City’s busiest tourist season approaches — with travelers visiting holiday attractions across the city and the famed New Year’s Eve ball drop — the options of where to stay are shrinking. For years, it has been illegal for homes...
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.
As new nursing program launches at WVSU, health care officials turn eye to retaining workers
Amid ongoing staffing shortages in hospitals locally and nationwide, West Virginia State University will be launching a new nursing degree program next year. The licensed practical nurse to Bachelor of Science in nursing pathway will be a hybrid degree program and will launch in the summer of 2024, according to a news release from WVSU. […] The post As new nursing program launches at WVSU, health care officials turn eye to retaining workers 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.
For the sake of West Virginia’s kids, will the buck stop with our next governor?
There’s a crowd of candidates vying to become West Virginia’s next governor: the state’s attorney general, the secretary of state, the mayor of Huntington, a member of the House of Delegates, an automobile dealer, an owner of a preschool and a farmer. That’s a lot of candidates, with more sure to follow.
Biden: Trump ‘certainly supported an insurrection’ on Jan. 6
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden Wednesday said that there was “no question” former president Donald Trump was responsible for supporting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol more than two years ago. Biden’s comments followed Tuesday’s ruling by Colorado’s Supreme Court that ordered Trump barred from appearing on the state’s 2024 presidential ballot, on the grounds of […] The post Biden: Trump ‘certainly supported an insurrection’ on Jan. 6 appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
A ‘chaotic’ January? Congress faces two shutdown deadlines with no action yet on spending
WASHINGTON — Congress is staring down a funding cliff in mid-January and a second one in early February, but neither of those deadlines have inspired House and Senate leaders to broker agreement on the dozen bills that were supposed to become law by Oct. 1. Appropriators are concerned the upcoming election year and competing legislative […] The post A ‘chaotic’ January? Congress faces two shutdown deadlines with no action yet on spending 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.
Physician says residency programs must reassess post-Roe training for miscarriage, abortion care
More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, many have raised concerns about training for obstetrician-gynecologists, particularly in states with civil and criminal penalties for providers if they perform abortions. But researchers from the Person-Centered Reproductive Health Program at the University of California San Francisco have found there is reason to be […] The post Physician says residency programs must reassess post-Roe training for miscarriage, abortion care 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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