Health care benefits for thousands of West Virginia children could be cut if Congress fails to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Families could have to pay up to ten times more on average for health coverage. To learn more, and find out what you can do to save CHIP, read Erin’s blog post.
In part two of his blog series, Ted breaks down how a decrease in productivity is hurting the coal industry in southern West Virginia. This downturn is largely attributable to a depleted resource; much of what is left in the region is harder to mine. Here’s a look at where the state ranks nationally in terms of production:
Registration for the Summit on Race Matters in Appalachia will close on November 5. Please take a minute today to register and reserve your spot!
Here’s more on the Summit in this week’s Charleston Gazette and its editorial page. See you at the Summit!
The week in Beckley, members of the West Virginia Senate SCORE Task Force met at the Raleigh County Commission on Aging, for their first listening tour.
If you weren’t able to make it, here’s a video of the event.
SCORE (Southern Coalfields Organizing and Revitalizing the Economy) is an initiative focusing on helping revitalize Southern West Virginia.
Lucy Boettner checks out the refreshments at the first SCORE meeting 10.29.14 in Beckley, W Va. Photo by Lynette Maselli.
Libraries are the heart of a community, providing free services for every family. Kanawha County voters have an opportunity to pass a library levy on Election Day. The levy would mean a tax bump of just pennies a day for county property owners. Here’s more in this week’s Daily Mail.
A panel discussion & community conversation on our water
Thursday, November 6th, 7-9pm (doors open at 6:45)
University of Charleston, Erma Byrd Gallery (in Riggleman Hall)
Event is free. Register here
Speakers include: Dr. Rahul Gupta (Kanawha-Charleston Health Department), Fred Stottlemyer (former director of Putnam PSD), and other safe water experts.
Despite legislation and promises from our politicians, our drinking water system is still at risk. The Public Service Commission’s investigation of WV American Water has been pushed back until next year, and the legislation we have won is at risk. Hear experts explain what a safe water system might look like, and discuss among our community how we can achieve that goal.
Sponsored by: Advocates for a Safe Water System, WV Center on Budget & Policy, WV Council of Churches, National Association of Social Workers, and WV Healthy Kids & Families Coalition.
While WVCBP staff is split on the Boy Scout Amendment, one paper in southern West Virginia is not. The Fayette Tribune came out this week against the amendment which would create a special tax status for just the Boy Scouts of America, allowing the organization to rent out its facility in Raleigh County to for-profit groups while maintaining a tax-free nonprofit status. Opposition seems to largely fall around amending the Constitution for just one group, not treating all nonprofits alike.
