Blog

November 19, 2020 by Quenton King
New West Virginia Criminal Law Coalition Website Tracks Jail Populations and Cost for Counties

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, West Virginia law enforcement and corrections officials moved quickly to reduce jail and prison populations. And while the prison population has remained lower than normal, since April, the jail population has steadily increased and was more than 35 percent overcapacity as of November 12. Among the reasons for the burgeoning…

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November 18, 2020 by WVCBP
The High Cost Of Losing Harm Reduction in Kanawha County

This blog was guest written for WVCBP by Jill Kriesky, former associate director of the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project and author of our upcoming report on the cost of the addiction epidemic in Kanawha County. Someone, let’s say your sister, partner, or friend, gets hooked on opioids or stimulants, or a combination of both. We…

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November 11, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia Has a Long Road Ahead to Full Recovery

We are now eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic that first started affecting West Virginia's economy in late March. Since then, the state has experienced huge drops in employment and revenue, followed by a much smaller bounce back, with an influx of federal aid providing a boost. So how has West Virginia fared so far?…

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November 3, 2020 by Rhonda Rogombe
The Affordable Care Act Remains Essential to West Virginia Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The open enrollment period to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) started on November 1 and continues through December 15. This period allows individuals without existing health coverage to enroll in a private insurance plan or Medicaid – all in one place. As the nation continues to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic,…

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October 29, 2020 by Seth DiStefano
Food For All Summit More Important Than Ever as Hunger Persists

While the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for many elements of the West Virginia economy, one of the most startling effects has been increased rates of food insecurity throughout the state, especially in households with children. This year, the third annual Food For All Summit will take a closer look at the cracks in…

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October 27, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
Five Scary Charts About West Virginia’s Recovery

It's almost Halloween, a spooky time of year with ghosts, witches, zombies, and unemployment claims data. If you love being scared, check out these bone-chilling charts featuring some ghastly trends on West Virginia's economic recovery during COVID-19. But be warned, these blood-curdling bars and spine-tingling lines are not for the squeamish. West Virginia lost 93,900…

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October 22, 2020 by Rhonda Rogombe
West Virginia Medicaid Enrollment Continues to Rise Even as Unemployment Claims Level Out

Last week, West Virginia’s Bureau for Children and Families released updated state Medicaid enrollment figures. The data revealed that 6,500 additional West Virginians registered for the program in September. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in February – and the subsequent loss of employment and wages – 53,500 additional individuals have gained coverage. This…

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October 15, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
West Virginia’s Recovery Grinds to a Halt in September

According the latest jobs report from WorkforceWV, West Virginia's jobs recovery -- which had already been showing signs of weakness in recent months -- took another step backward in September, as total non-farm employment fell by 3,000 jobs. Most of September's jobs losses occurred in the public sector, with the state losing 3,200 government jobs,…

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October 6, 2020 by Kelly Allen, Sean O'Leary
West Virginia Must Target Remaining CARES Act Aid to Those Most in Need

As part of the CARES Act COVID relief package passed by Congress in March, West Virginia received $1.25 billion in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to help pay for the state’s pandemic-related costs. Guidance issued by the United States Treasury requires that payments from the CRF may only be used to cover costs that: Are necessary…

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