This week on Inside Appalachia, the online world of Appalachian memes — and what they tell us about folks who live here. Also, parts of West Virginia have been radio silent since the 1950s for scientists to monitor the skies. So, what does that mean for first responders in an emergency? And winter holidays are here. We’ve got some tips to keep the festivities from going up in smoke.
Rally Organized To Encourage Manchin To Support $15 An Hour
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About 50 people rallied in Charleston on the sidewalk in front of U.S Sen. Joe Manchin’s Charleston office to encourage him to vote yes on the proposed $15 an hour federal minimum wage.
The minimum wage increase is part of the COVID relief package currently before Congress.
The rally was organized by the Repairers of the Breach and the Poor People’s Campaign. The groups organize Moral Mondays events nationwide to focus on equity issues. Charleston was one of eight cities with simultaneous events.
Matt Kerner drove to Charleston from Buckhannon in Upshur County to be part of the event. He told a story about a man he knew in a plant where he worked in. The man was begging for a raise because his wife had a complicated pregnancy and couldn’t work.
“And the plant manager told him, minimum wage is our way of telling you if we could pay you any less, we would,” Kerner said.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass the current relief package this week and then it will go to the Senate. Senators Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have both questioned the wage increase.
Michael Barker was the maintenance director for Boone County public schools but now he has been indicted on 18 counts for allegedly stealing approximately $3.4 million from the school district.
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Speaking to the Joint Committee on Health during the last legislative interim meetings for the year, Interim Inspector General for the Departments of Health, Human Services, and Health Facilities Ann Urling said budget cuts have kept her office at a 40 percent vacancy rate for staff positions.