Commentary
Standing Up for Mental Health Care in West Virginia
Every day, countless West Virginians experience a mental health crisis, and too often with tragic results. In 2022, 1,335 West Virginians died of a drug overdose and 353 individuals died by suicide.
West Virginia law enforcement officers are often the first responder to engage with someone struggling and at their lowest moment. Many of us have received additional training to know how to respond to mental health crisis. We are grateful to have acquired these additional skills. While our job is to keep folks alive, we know that what people in crisis need most is a mental health professional.
Fortunately, West Virginia is home to many innovative collaborations between law enforcement and community mental health clinics.
– Doug Day Retired Kanawha County Police Department
(https://www.lootpress.com/op-ed-standing-up-for-mental-health-care-in-west-virginia/
Thursday, August 22, 2024 12:49 pm)
WalletHub: West Virginia must improve on care for babies
Data is a tricky thing. Sometimes it can present a complicated picture. That is the case with two WalletHub studies, one on “2024’s Best and Worst States to Have a Baby,” the other on “2024’s States with the Best and Worst Early Education Systems.”
For the latter, West Virginia is sixth-best in the country. Wonderful. For the former, we are a wretched 45th.
For the study on babies, WalletHub looked at 31 measures of cost, health care accessibility and baby-friendliness. West Virginia was 21st for cost, 38th for health care, 30th for baby-friendliness and 48th for family friendliness. The Mountain State has the fifth lowest hospital Cesarean-delivery charges and the lowest average annual infant-care costs. On the other hand, we’ve got the 48th worst infant mortality rate, the 48th worst number of pediatricians and family medicine physicians per capita and 49th lowest number of child-care centers per capita.
It’s a bleak picture.
But what happens when our babies reach the age for pre-K education?
Then, we are eighth for access, 11th for quality and 20th for resources and economic support, in a study that accounted for 12 key metrics such as the share of school districts that offer a state pre-K program or the total reported spending per child enrolled in pre-K.
Experts discussing the studies came across as having lived for a long time in academia, and perhaps never visiting a place like West Virginia.
“The biggest mistake prospective parents make financially is to fail to plan financially before having children. Prospective parents should save up, and research costs of having children. Some prospective parents may need to find ways to create additional streams of income to support their children,” said Julia Kroeker, a professor at Florida SouthWestern State College.
She’s right, of course. But in a state with an economy like ours “planning” is almost a luxury for many families. That kind of lecture isn’t going to land.
Link: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-to-have-a-baby/6513
(https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/editorials/2024/08/wallethub-west-virginia-must-improve-on-care-for-babies/ Aug 17, 2024/
Contact: editorial@newsandsentinel.com)/
Leftovers from Last Issue
Discover Wineberries: West Virginia’s Inviting and Invasive Berry
News
West Virginia First
Remembering Jon McBride, The 1st West Virginian In Space
On Oct. 5, 1984, Capt. Jon McBride piloted the successful launch of the space shuttle Challenger on an eight-day mission called STS-41G.
He was the first West Virginian in space and the only one to ever fly a shuttle.
McBride was born in Charleston and grew up in Beckley. He attended West Virginia University and became a Navy pilot.
In 1978, NASA chose him to be part of the first class of astronauts in the shuttle program. Among the thousands of applicants, NASA picked 35.
They included Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and Kathryn Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space.
Both were on the mission McBride piloted. Marc Garneau, a Canadian, joined them to become the first person from his country in space.
It was the first shuttle mission with seven astronauts. By the time they landed, they had traveled 3.3 million miles – one full orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes.
McBride was scheduled to pilot another shuttle mission in March 1986, but the explosion of the Challenger after liftoff earlier that year put the program on hold.
McBride retired from NASA in 1989 but continued to educate young people about space.
(https://wvpublic.org/remembering-jon-mcbride-the-1st-west-virginian-in-space/ Published August 8, 2024 – 4:30 pm)
Boastings
Survey: West Virginia among most underrated states to live in
(https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/survey-west-virginia-among-most-underrated-states-to-live-in /
West Virginia ranked second best place to retire to in the country
West Virginia ranked second best place to retire to in the country
Business, Industry & Commerce
Nucor Steel West Virginia’s John Farris retiring, Johnny Jacobs named as new vice president and general manager
Nucor Steel West Virginia’s John Farris retiring, Johnny Jacobs named as new vice president and general manager
Justice: Sale of Greenbrier assets averted; employee insurance premiums paid
Where exactly are all the AI jobs?
https://westvirginiawatch.com/2024/08/22/where-exactly-are-all-the-ai-jobs/
West Virginia is one of the worst states to work in, new report says
The study looked at data based on the percentage of employed individuals represented by unions and the states with the highest work fatality rates in 2022.
Education
Interim Report: Joint Committee on Education
Interim Report: Joint Committee on Education
Interim Report: LOCEA
Interim Report: LOCEA
(Both articles by Cheyenne DeBolt
August 25, 2024 / Refer to https://blog.wvlegislature.gov/blog-categories/ for additional legislative reporting.)
Latest State Test Scores Show Improvements With Intensive Interventions
https://wvpublic.org/latest-state-test-scores-show-improvements-with-intensive-interventions/
Also refer to Opinion / Trending…)
New school attendance policy in effect in West Virginia
New school attendance policy in effect in West Virginia
WV’s kindergarten vaccination rates have dropped again recently. Doctors aren’t worried.
Superintendents say school vacancies are somewhat improving in the state
Most Personal Electronic Devices Will be Prohibited During School Day in Berkeley County
Monongalia County students will no longer have smartphone access during the school day
Most Personal Electronic Devices Will be Prohibited During School Day in Berkeley County
Gov. Justice Announces Launch of the Inaugural West Virginia Healthy Schools Contest
W.Va. Student Places Third In Global Microsoft Excel Contest
https://wvpublic.org/w-va-student-places-third-in-global-microsoft-excel-contest/
Weirton student places third in Microsoft World Championship
https://wvpress.org/breaking-news/weirton-student-places-third-in-microsoft-world-championship/
WSAZ Investigates | Tracking Homeschool Data
https://www.wsaz.com/2024/08/19/wsaz-investigates-tracking-homeschool-data/_
West Virginia Department of Education continues to promote online platform supporting student mental health
Paden City residents thrilled with Judge’s ruling to keep school open
Higher Learning
Students, families share mixed reactions to campus carry
https://wvpress.org/breaking-news/students-families-share-mixed-reactions-to-campus-carry/
Also refer to https://blog.wvlegislature.gov/headline/2024/08/25/interim-report-locea-9/
Education Commentary
West Virginia’s education deficit
https://wvmetronews.com/2024/08/09/west-virginias-education-deficit/
West Virginia’s disappointing school test scores
https://wvmetronews.com/2024/08/16/west-virginias-disappointing-school-test-scores/
State Agencies
Interim Report: Joint Standing Committee on Finance
Interim Report: Joint Standing Committee on Finance
August 27, 2024. Refer to https://blog.wvlegislature.gov/blog-categories/ for additional legislative reporting.)
Expected August special session of West Virginia Legislature pushed to ‘later in the year’
West Virginia state of emergency extended amid drought conditions
https://www.wchstv.com/news/local/state-of-emergency-extended-amid-drought-conditions-in-west-virginia
Interim Report: Joint Standing Committee on Finance
Income tax revenue down as West Virginia begins new fiscal year
Wood County Commission hears update on lawsuits with opioid distributors
West Virginia agencies face lawsuit over lack of juvenile justice data collections
WVU experts discuss artificial intelligence at recent WV Press Association convention
WVU experts discuss artificial intelligence at recent WV Press Association convention
Gov. Justice-DOHS Announce Increase in Provider Waiver Rates and IDD Waiver Expansion
Justice announces major investments in Cass Scenic Railroad and Lost River state parks
https://www.wdtv.com/2024/08/22/justice-announces-major-investments-cass-scenic-railroad-lost-river-state-parks/
Over $6.6 million in investments in Rural Partners Network will help lower costs and create jobs in West Virginia communities
Over $6.6 million in investments in Rural Partners Network will help lower costs and create jobs in West Virginia communities
Lawin’
Supreme Court will take up state bans on gender-affirming care for minors
Also see:
West Virginia is asking the US Supreme Court to consider transgender surgery Medicaid coverage case
https://www.newsandsentinel.com/wire/?category=5465&ID=334447
West Virginia is asking the US Supreme Court to consider transgender surgery Medicaid coverage case
https://www.newsandsentinel.com/wire/?category=5465&ID=334447
Locally
Children of abuse and neglect gain advocacy program in Raleigh County
Charleston City Council passes marijuana penalty bill
‘Interesting terrain’: Yeager Airport hosts US Navy flight school summer session
‘Interesting terrain’: Yeager Airport hosts US Navy flight school summer session
After 20 years of red tape, business dealings and broken promises, a Mingo County drag racing strip may finally open
The story of a racing project’s ups and downs, and the long road to getting this close shows the hurdles West Virginia coalfield communities face as they search for a post-mining economy.
by Erin Beck
August 2nd, 2024
A drag strip in Mingo County, recently sold, is built on former mine land used for pilingmountaintop removal waste. Photo courtesy Neil Wicker Aerial Photography
Thousands come to Philippi (West Virginia) to celebrate Lurch Fest
