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WVU Rockefeller Institute for Policy Research

@wvu-iprpa.bsky.social

The Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs provides non-partisan research and analysis to state, county, and municipal officials and members of the nonprofit and business community in West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region.

274 Followers  |  21 Following  |  150 Posts  |  Joined: 24.04.2024  |  1.8229

Latest posts by wvu-iprpa.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Thousands of manufacturing jobs needed in WV according to Marshall survey - WV MetroNews Additional 2,700 full-time workers are needed over the next 12 months and nearly 7,000 over the next three years.

A recent study of in-state manufacturers shows that opportunities await new workers.

05.11.2025 14:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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School Building Authority set to hear $170 million in funding requests - WV MetroNews County school superintendents to make their pitches Monday and Tuesday in Charleston.

Superintendents from 31 county school districts in West Virginia will make their best funding pitches when they appear before the state School Building Authority Monday and Tuesday in Charleston.

03.11.2025 14:35 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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WV residents seek answers on permit for data center power plant Citizen groups are continuing their efforts to uncover hidden information in an air pollution permit for a proposed Ridgeline facility in Tucker County, West Virginia. A Virginia-based company, Fundam...

Citizen groups are continuing their efforts to uncover hidden information in an air pollution permit for a proposed Ridgeline facility in Tucker County, West Virginia.

29.10.2025 13:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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From the pulpit to the picket line: For many miners, religion and labor rights have long been connected in coal country The retirement of United Mine Workers of America’s longtime president is a reminder that labor and religion have always been entangled in coal country.

From the pulpit to the picket line: For many miners, religion and labor rights have long been connected in coal country.

22.10.2025 13:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Secretary of Commerce excited about state's economy, eager to build on state's natural strengths - WV MetroNews Matt Herridge spoke before lawmakers during legislative interim meetings.

Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge is encouraged with West Virginia’s current economic state, but he has an eye for the near future.

20.10.2025 13:39 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Morrisey says state will continue paying to keep national parks open through Bridge Day and beyond - WV MetroNews The extended agreement would keep the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and New River Gorge National River open right as leaf-peeping draws a steady flow of fall tourism.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said today that the State of West Virginia will continue paying to keep national parks open during a key tourism season as the federal shutdown continues.

15.10.2025 14:05 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Morgantown, Monongalia County Commission explore joint management structure for Morgantown Airport - WV MetroNews Supporters say it would maximize airport property with runway extension underway.

The Morgantown Municipal Airport has served the community and West Virginia University for decades, but hasn’t been established as an economic engine for the future.

13.10.2025 13:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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West Virginia is already up on deadline to apply for millions of dollars in rural health support - WV MetroNews This is through The Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' to distribute $50 billion over five years across all 50Β states to strengthen rural health care.

A representative from the Governor’s Office described to lawmakers the urgency of meeting a November 5 deadline for a five-year funding application valued at approximately $100 million per year to support rural healthcare.

08.10.2025 15:08 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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West Virginia's rural health systems keep watch on big fee proposal for foreign personnel - WV MetroNews In West Virginia, where rural hospitals are challenged to recruit medical personnel, any changes to the H-1B visa program are being watched with interest.

West Virginia healthcare institutions are monitoring potential changes to temporary, non-immigrant visas by the Trump administration, which would allow U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills.

06.10.2025 13:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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State's collection totals were $43.7 million ahead of projections for the past month - WV MetroNews Collections for the month totaled $585,698,090. That exceeded the monthly estimate of $542,016,000.

The State of West Virginia’s monthly revenue significantly exceeded estimates for both the month of September and the year-to-date performance.

02.10.2025 13:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission Launches Vision 2030 - WV MetroNews Program aims to make WV more competitive with science and technology grants.

Vision 2030, developed in collaboration with RTI International and Keen Point Consulting, is a plan designed to make West Virginia more competitive in science and technology grants and create a skilled workforce that will attract high-paying industries.

29.09.2025 13:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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As federal agency halts annual food security report, West Virginia food bank says data is crucial - WV MetroNews The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week the termination of future Household Food Security Reports.

West Virginia’s largest food bank is expressing concern about the cancellation of a longstanding annual food insecurity survey that is used to help determine levels of need.

24.09.2025 13:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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State officials believe new federal program will help lift up WV rural hospitals - WV MetroNews Rural Health Transformation Program will distribute $50 billion over five years across all 50 states.

Governor Patrick Morrisey and others in West Virginia are pleased with what could come from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
The RHTP would distribute $50 billion over five years across all 50 states to help rural healthcare across the nation.

22.09.2025 14:02 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
School Building Authority receives 'needs' funding requests from 32 counties - WV MetroNews Formal presentations set for early November, final funding decisions in December.

More than 30 county school systems hope to have their names called when the West Virginia School Building Authority decides later this year who should receive funding as part of the β€˜Needs” grants program.
wvmetronews.com/2025/09/16/s...

17.09.2025 14:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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West Virginia economic rankings are a mixed bag again, latest digest shows - WV MetroNews The West Virginia Campaign for Jobs 2025 Digest shows where the state lands on a series of key business metrics.

The West Virginia Campaign for Jobs 2025 Digest shows where the state lands on a series of key business metrics. The report produced by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce tracks the state’s economic health through 61 economic statistics, highlighting both positive and challenging areas.

16.09.2025 14:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Staffing shortages still a challenge in West Virginia's crowded jails β€’ West Virginia Watch West Virginia is making progress in addressing staffing shortages in its crowded jails and prisons, but hundreds of positions remain unfilled.Β David Kelly, commissioner for the state’s Division of Cor...

The Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation has made progress hiring correctional officers, ending a state of emergency over the problem, but there are still hundreds of unfilled positions.

10.09.2025 13:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mingo County split on idea of proposed data center - WV MetroNews DEP will hear from citizens with in-person public meeting this month.

Mingo County Commission President Nathan Brown says he’s heard mixed reviews about a proposed data center within his county.

08.09.2025 13:36 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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West Virginia revenue collections just miss monthly estimate; up for the year so far - WV MetroNews General revenue collections for August totaled $396,946,723. That fell just below the monthly estimate of $401,932,000 by $4,985,277.

State revenue was just slightly off for the most recent month, a figure that is 1.7% below what the State of West Virginia took in last August.

03.09.2025 13:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Poll: West Virginians are critical of public school performance; split on Hope Scholarship - WV MetroNews Forty-six percent of respondents in the latest edition of the poll describe themselves as dissatisfied with the public schools.

West Virginians have deep concerns about the state of the public school system, according to the most recent edition of the MetroNews West Virginia Poll.

02.09.2025 14:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lawyers for state school board ask Supreme Court to halt vaccine case in lower court - WV MetroNews The motion emphasizes that the appeal could resolve the underlying issues, making the lower court proceedings potentially unnecessary and inefficient.

Lawyers for the state school board have asked the state Supreme Court to halt proceedings in a lower court over whether West Virginia’s Religious Freedom Act affects school vaccination policies.

27.08.2025 13:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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West Virginia business group wants sharper focus on economic growth from lawmakers - WV MetroNews The organization aims to use the prominence of its annual forum to address challenges faced by West Virginia employers, families, and communities -- focusing on issues that drive long-term growth and ...

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is pushing the importance of an economic growth agenda for the next legislative session, saying the last one fell short.

25.08.2025 13:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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County clerks weigh in on potential change to use of polling machines - WV MetroNews Presidential executive order may affect West Virginia.

County clerks across the Mountain State are at the Canaan Valley Resort in Tucker County for the three-day County Clerks Election Training Conference.

20.08.2025 14:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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WV Health Right to receive $250,000 in opioid settlement funds as part of Recovery Month - WV MetroNews September is recognized as Recovery Month.

The Kanawha County Commission voted to award $250,000 of opioid settlement funds to West Virginia Health Right for their recovery programs and services last week.

18.08.2025 14:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mountaineer Gas explains what's behind rate hike requests - WV MetroNews Cost to purchase gas and line replacement keys parts of filings.

Mountaineer Gas is seeking a pair of rate increases simultaneously through the state Public Service Commission.

11.08.2025 13:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Residents ask questions about MARL project - WV MetroNews Community meeting held in Morgantown about high-voltage line.

Several residents who showed up at a meeting Tuesday night in Morgantown say they are against the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, a high-voltage power line planned from Pennsylvania to Virginia, via a handful of counties in the Mountain State.

06.08.2025 14:50 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Huntington launches pilot program to address veteran homeless population - WV MetroNews Mayor Patrick Farrell the driving force behind Mission Zero.

The City of Huntington is working with healthcare organizations, mental health professionals, and groups across the board in an effort to eliminate veteran homelessness.

04.08.2025 13:06 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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EPA moves to rescind finding that greenhouse gas emissions pose risk to the public - WV MetroNews The 2009 standard, called the endangerment finding, has been a declaration that six keyΒ greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, endanger public health and welfare because of their cont...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with the repeal of a 2009 scientific finding that greenhouse gases pose a danger to the public.

30.07.2025 13:16 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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US Education Department to unfreeze contested K-12 funds β€’ West Virginia Watch The Trump administration said it’ll soon release billions in Education Department funding that has been frozen for weeks.

The Trump administration announced on Friday that it’ll soon release billions in Education Department funding that has been frozen for weeks, thereby delaying disbursements to K-12 schools nationwide.

28.07.2025 13:46 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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West Virginia is the riskiest state for older drivers β€” why? β€’ West Virginia Watch West Virginia's residents are older than other states and the winding roads can be treacherous, so how can roads be made less risky for them?

West Virginia experiences 4.68 fatal accidents per 100,000 residents for seniors (aged 65+).
westvirginiawatch.com/2025/07/18/w...

24.07.2025 16:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Mother of son who overdosed says new fentanyl legislation is just the beginning of addressing the drug epidemic - WV MetroNews The HALT Fentanyl Act was signed into law Wednesday

A New Martinsville mother who lost her son to a drug overdose says the signing of a bill reclassifying fentanyl as a Schedule I drug is only the beginning of addressing the drug epidemic nationwide.

21.07.2025 14:37 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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