West Virginia

Four-State Economic Renewal Plan Gets Fresh Attention

Local officials and others launched discussions this week about a broad revitalization proposal for Appalachia. Talks come as federal legislation could unlock money to help make it feasible.

  • By Bill Lucia

States With the Most and Least Student Loan Debt

Utah tops the list for states with the least student loan debt while West Virginia comes in last place, according to recent report.

  • By Andre Claudio

States Balk at Landing on California’s Restricted Travel List

California will ban state-funded travel to an additional five states due to laws and policies that target transgender and gay residents.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

The Top 10 States for Doctors

These states ranked high because of low malpractice payouts, physician compensation and overall health system performance, according to rankings by a medical information website.

  • By Brent Woodie

Democrats’ Elections Bill in Peril with Key Senator’s Opposition

Sen. Joe Manchin said he would not support the For the People Act, which would create national voting standards, making it difficult for supporters to propel the legislation forward.

  • By Andrea Noble

Cash for Jabs? Officials Look to Cash Perks to Boost Vaccine Uptake

West Virginia's governor announced a $100 incentive program this week. In Detroit, people can get a $50 debit card for driving someone to a vaccination site.

  • By Bill Lucia

States Debate Improvements to Unemployment Systems

Tech upgrades are bipartisan. Increased benefits are not.

  • By Sophie Quinton, Stateline

This Billionaire Governor’s Coal Companies Owe Millions More in Environmental Fines

The richest person in West Virginia, who is also the state’s governor, owns coal companies that routinely violate environmental laws. Latest filings say the companies owe over $3 million for not complying with a major water pollution settlement.

  • By Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica

The Simple Reason West Virginia Leads the Nation in Vaccinating Nursing Home Residents

COMMENTARY | Other states were still far behind when West Virginia became the first state to finish round one of the two-dose vaccine series in nursing homes. What did the state do differently?

  • By Tinglong Dai, The Conversation

The New Plans to Remake Appalachia’s Economy

Mayors from the region and others want the Biden administration to embrace their proposals for billions of dollars of spending, with a heavy emphasis on clean energy projects, as a way to reinvent the region as coal declines.

  • By Bill Lucia

Federal Regulators Are Rewriting Environmental Rules So a Massive Pipeline Can Be Built

Federal regulators and West Virginia agencies are rewriting environmental rules again to pave the way for construction of a major natural gas pipeline across Appalachia, even after an appeals court blocked the pipeline for the second time.

  • By Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica

West Virginians Were Promised an Economic Revival. It Hasn’t Happened Yet.

The coal industry continues to decline. Natural gas isn’t bringing the prosperity it promised, and now the pandemic has wrecked the state’s economy.

  • By Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica
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Militia Group Plotted to Kidnap Michigan Governor, Feds Say

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | West Virginia selected for $500 million hyperloop site … Vermont moves ahead with retail marijuana … Library worker allegedly stole $1.3 million in printer toner ... Tofurky sues over Louisiana “burger” labeling law.

  • By Bill Lucia

New York May Order Colleges With Over 100 Virus Cases to Stop In-Person Classes

The new policy comes as colleges and universities across the U.S. are seeing coronavirus outbreaks.

  • By Bill Lucia

This Billionaire Governor Keeps Firing Top Officials When He Has a Crisis

Similar to President Donald Trump, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has been particularly aggressive at forcing out top officials, including most recently the state’s top public health officer, faulting others when things go wrong.

  • By Ken Ward Jr., ProPublica

Critics Question CARES Act Spending in Some States

“I’ve yet to meet a pothole that has the coronavirus.”

  • By Sophie Quinton, Stateline

Federal Aid Critical for Closing West Virginia Budget Gap, Republican Governor Says

State revenues are lagging by about $200 million. Without enough federal funds to help bridge that shortfall, Gov. Jim Justice warns “you're going to have a bankrupt state.”

  • By Bill Lucia

Looking for Extra Cash? Check Your State’s Unclaimed Property Database

COMMENTARY | State treasurers are returning millions in unclaimed property to residents.

  • By Allison Ball, David McRae and John Perdue

West Virginia Scraps Voatz Mobile Voting App

The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office announced it would use a different electronic absentee voting technology after researchers raised security concerns with the previous voting app it had used.

  • By Andrea Noble

Facing a Foster Care Crisis, One State Seeks to Increase Payments to Foster Parents

A proposal in the West Virginia Legislature would increase monthly payments to foster parents, pay child-placing agencies for finalized adoptions and create a foster parent's bill of rights.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Researchers Find Security Flaws in Mobile Voting App

Hackers could detect how people voted and potentially change their votes on the Voatz mobile voting app tested by West Virginia and jurisdictions in Utah, Oregon, Colorado and Washington.

  • By Andrea Noble