Foreword West Virginia faces a pivotal moment as we begin to emerge and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. While the pandemic brought many of its own unique challenges that have been addressed by prompt local, state, and government action, an important takeaway that was highlighted during the pandemic was that there are also…
Charleston Gazette-Mail, Huntington Herald-Dispatch - West Virginia leisure and hospitality jobs, which were hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced an 18% employment uptick from June 2020 to June 2021. Read the full article. The number of jobs in the sector grew from 62,800 to 68,000 between January and May of this year. The numbers…
Mountain State Spotlight, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Times West Virginian - On July 1, Gov. Jim Justice announced that in the 2021 fiscal year, which ended the previous day, West Virginia had a budget surplus of $413 million, topping previous expectations for the year. Read the full article. “We’re in great shape in West Virginia,” Justice…
PA Environment Digest - On July 22, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced new legislation to revive the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) titled the “The REVIVE the CCC Act of 2021” or “The Restore Environmental Vitality and Improve Volatile Economy (REVIVE) by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Act”. Read the full article. The bill would expand…
For Immediate Release: July 21, 2021Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV – Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program that helps low-income individuals and people with disabilities access affordable health care. Serving over 73 million people nationwide, the program provides a range of essential services that may otherwise be inaccessible to these individuals. Medicaid has been one…
Introduction West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) is the state’s largest agency with an essential mandate: protecting the health and well-being of our residents. In addition to leading the state’s public health infrastructure, the agency oversees health coverage for 584,000 residents and manages food assistance programs for 150,000 families and temporary cash…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - He’s no pushover boss, this Jim Cowie fellow. Read the full article. “I am tough,” says the Suzi’s Hamburgers co-owner. “I work seven days a week, and I’ve worked hard all my life. So, if you’re someone who has to have your phone on you and respond to a new text all…
West Virginia MetroNews - Gov. Jim Justice is pleased with how state government has ended the fiscal year. Read the full article. “We’re in great shape West Virginia,” the governor said during a briefing today. Figures released today by the state Senate Finance Committee show that state government exceeded original revenue estimates by $415 million.…
Mountain State Spotlight, Beckley Register-Herald - Shepherdstown Mayor Jim Auxer is proud to point out that, even throughout the pandemic’s worst months and the challenges they presented, his town managed to maintain its services and keep on all its government workers. Read the full article. Auxer estimates Shepherdstown lost a couple hundred thousand dollars in…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - In April, the West Virginia Center on Climate Change’s project director envisioned Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a former scholarship football player at West Virginia University and coal brokerage founder, running with planet Earth tucked under his arm as he heads for the end zone and a game-winning score. Read the full article.…
