WVCBP in the News

August 12, 2021 by Sean O'Leary
Report: Financial Hardships, Not Employment, Increased after Justice Cut Off Unemployment Benefits

Charleston Gazette-Mail, Huntington Herald-Dispatch - Gov. Jim Justice’s decision to cut off federal enhanced unemployment benefits 12 weeks early did not improve state employment rates or reduce unemployment rolls, but coincided with a sharp spike in West Virginia households experiencing financial hardships, an analysis released Thursday shows. Read the full article. “With the pandemic still…

Read More
August 10, 2021 by Seth DiStefano
How Should West Virginia Spend American Rescue Plan Funds?

WOWK13 - West Virginia has received half of the $1.35 billion that was allocated to the mountain state from the American Rescue Plan back in March. Watch the full segment. Now there are some who say the distribution of the money to those who need it is not happening fast enough. As the nationwide eviction…

Read More
August 9, 2021 by Quenton King
West Virginia’s Bail Reform Bill: How It Works And Who It Serves

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - In the first episode of this series, the focus was on the story of Lisa Hartline— a legal aid lawyer who found her calling while incarcerated and unable to make bail. Just like Lisa, Deborah Ujevich dated a man who got caught up in drugs. Listen to the full segment.…

Read More
August 9, 2021 by Kelly Allen
The Importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave in West Virginia

WOWK13 - On Inside West Virginia Politics, Kelly Allen, the Executive Direct of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, talks about the importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave being considered in Congress. Watch the full segment. According to Allen, 1 in 5 people have paid medical leave with a higher-paying job. With…

Read More
August 3, 2021 by Quenton King
The Human Cost Of Bail

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - Lisa Hartline grew up in Parkersburg. Today, she is an attorney at Legal Aid of Pennsylvania representing people who can’t afford a private attorney because she used to be one. Read the full article. “I think I’m more willing to make exceptions when maybe clients aren’t following the plan that…

Read More
July 30, 2021 by Kelly Allen
Advocates in West Virginia Call on Congress to Expand Paid Leave for Workers

WOWK, Opera News - Dozens of people from various families gathered for a picnic in Charleston’s Cato Park. But this wasn’t just about good food and having fun. Read the full article. It was also about politics. Advocates are urging Congress to pass a paid family and medical leave bill that covers all American workers.

Read More
July 30, 2021 by Sean O'Leary
WV Leisure and Hospitality Job Market has Rebounded Since COVID’s Start

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…

Read More
July 29, 2021 by Sean O'Leary
Sales Tax Holiday in W.Va. This Weekend Could Help Struggling Families

West Virginia MetroNews - This weekend’s Sales Tax Holiday in West Virginia is expected to benefit a number of state residents who are hoping to save a few dollars amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Read the full article. “For a family that’s struggling, that can really help,” said Sean O’Leary, a senior analyst with the West Virginia…

Read More