Innovative Program Seeks To Keep Talented Workers in W.Va.

On this West Virginia Morning, people are leaving West Virginia at an alarming rate. From 2016 to 2017, more than 15,000 people left the state, or about 41 people per day. This trend is putting a strain on local businesses, making it tough for employers to find skilled, educated workers. As part of our Appalachian Innovators Series, Roxy Todd has the story of one organization that is trying to tackle this problem in a new way.

We also hear from the Capitol on today’s show. Conversations focused on the insurance provider for public employees continued Wednesday in the West Virginia House of Delegates. The chamber passed a resolution asking the PEIA Finance Board to hold off on proposed changes for the upcoming year, as House Democrats also pushed to discharge a bill to the floor to repeal the board — only to see no action on the measure. Dave Mistich brings us his report.

And we hear from the Ohio Valley ReSource about immigration. With Congress in a heated immigration debate, the Ohio Valley region is adding to its immigration courts. Kentucky will soon have a new court and Ohio is adding additional judges to handle a backlog of deportations and other immigration cases. As Nicole Erwin reports, the changes in immigration policy have left many people with an uncertain future.