Government Story Archives - Page 1180 of 1195 - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Eastern Panhandle Residents Discuss Child Poverty

The forum started with opening remarks from State Sen. John Unger (D-Berkeley) and Del. Tiffany Lawrence (D-Jefferson). Participants then watched part of…

The forum started with opening remarks from State Sen. John Unger (D-Berkeley) and Del. Tiffany Lawrence (D-Jefferson). Participants then watched part of the PBS film Poor Kids and a short preview of a film about child poverty in the state being produced by West Virginia PBS.

They then met in smaller groups to talk about how poverty affects children academically and socially, stereotypes associated with being poor, what resources are available in the community and what can be done to prevent families from becoming poor.

United Way of the Eastern Panhandle Executive Director Pete Mulford shared his observations about the film clips.

“There was the one young kid that still had a dream,” Mulford said. “The nice thing was that the fact that you can still dream or hope or desire to have something better wasn’t lost yet in the kids.”

School teachers in another group talked about how hunger affects their students’ attitude and academic performance. Each group created a list of how they see poverty impacting children and what can be done about it.

Suggestions included having more people to work directly with poor families to help them find jobs and housing, breaking down barriers that prevent people from getting jobs and making more mental health services available.

The goal of the event was to encourage participants to take action by volunteering, donating money to organizations that help the poor and advocating for policies that help families dealing with poverty.

New Jackson County Plant to Bring 60 Jobs

Governor Tomblin made his third major jobs announcement in two weeks Tuesday in Charleston. A supplier for the steel industry, the newest company locating…

Governor Tomblin made his third major jobs announcement in two weeks Tuesday in Charleston. A supplier for the steel industry, the newest company locating in West Virginia will not just create jobs, but also heavily rely on coal to do it.

“Today, 60 more West Virginians will have good paying jobs and the coal industry will have a new customer,” Tomblin said.

He made the announcement surrounded by executives from Carbonyx International USA and representatives of the state Department of Commerce.

A Texas-based company, Carbonyx uses coal to produce a coke substitute for the steel industry. The company plans to locate their newest facility in Millwood in Jackson County.

“It’s fitting that a company finding bold new uses for coal,” Tomblin said. “It’s appropriate that a company has created a more environmentally friendly use for coal and would do it in our state.”

With the initial investment, Carbonyx will create 60 jobs and plans to add more than 150 over the next seven years.

Secretary of the state Department of Commerce Keith Burdette said the West Virginia Economic Development Authority awarded a $15 million loan equipment loan to Carbonyx Thursday, calling it the most significant incentive for the company to locate in the state.

60,000 More Residents Qualify for Medicaid

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Cabinet Secretary Karen Bowling announced today that a second round of 61,000 auto-enrollment…

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Cabinet Secretary Karen Bowling announced today that a second round of 61,000 auto-enrollment letters have been mailed to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients and parents of children covered by Medicaid notifying them that they may automatically qualify for health insurance coverage.

To date, the DHHR has determined that 58,390 consumers are eligible for Medicaid expansion.

The recipients of the second letter received a simple form asking if they wish to auto-enroll in Medicaid coverage. A response is requested by December 18.

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 gave states, including West Virginia, the option to expand their Medicaid program to include individuals who were not previously eligible. Governor Tomblin chose to expand Medicaid coverage.

Eligibility for Medicaid will depend on two factors: modified adjusted income and the size of the household.

Holiday Event Set for Dec. 3 at State Capitol

West Virginia’s annual Joyful Night celebration is set for Dec. 3.

     Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced that the holiday event at the State Capitol Complex is free and open to the public.

     Activities begin at the North Plaza with music by two high school bands. Tomblin and First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin will then light a tree donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Fisher of Charleston, followed by a performance by a children’s chorus.

     Then it’s on to the South Plaza for music by another high school band, a tribute to first responders and military members, and another tree lighting.

     Other performances and events are set in the first floor Rotunda of the Capitol, the Governor’s Reception Room, the Governor’s Mansion and the Culture Center.

West Virginia First Grader Needs a Break, So She Asked Her Senator

“All we do is work, work, work.”

That’s the message from Sophia Mullins, first grader at Gauley River Grade School. She wrote to Senator Joe Manchin asking him for help:

Dear Sir, My name is Sophia Mullins. I live in Craigsville, West Virginia. I am in the first grade at Gauley River Grade School. All we do is work, work, work. I need a break. Can you please help? Thanks, Sophia

Manchin fielded a call to Miss Sophia while she was at school to encourage her and all her friends to continue to work hard in school. The senator told the first grader receiving a good education is the best way for all young students to succeed when they grow up.

Here’s video from Sen. Manchin’s office of he and Sophia speaking with one another on the phone:

New Committee to Focus on Small Businesses

In his first press conference as Speaker of the state House of Delegates, Speaker Tim Miley announced the intended formation of a new committee in his chamber, the committee on small business, entrepreneurship and economic development.

The committee will be separated from the one already in existence in the House which is focused on the energy industry and labor. Miley said this new committee is important because small businesses are the backbone of future economic growth in the state.

Chaired by Del. Doug Skaff of Kanawha County, Miley said his intention for the committee is to appoint delegates with personal experience as current or previous small business owners.

“I want people who have been there, in the trenches, with that experience on that committee,” he said.

“Those are the people who are there day in and day out when the rubber meets the road trying to determine how they can succeed, how they can employee their employees and how they can make a better life for themselves and their employees.”

Because a new committee can only be established during a legislative session, Miley has established a pre-emptive work group of the committee members. They will travel the state holding forums to discuss the future of small businesses with entrepreneurs.

In a statement released Wednesday evening, House Minority Leader Tim Armstead said it is time to make bold changes to encourage the creation of small businesses and entrepreneurs across the state.

“Job creators and entrepreneurs work hard to grow their businesses and employ hard-working West Virginians,” Armstead said. “They have shared with us innovative and common sense solutions to the problems they face each day and we have worked hard to advance those solutions.”

“We are confident that, if the Democrat leadership truly listens to those who are struggling each day to make their payroll, they will quickly learn of those very basic solutions that have worked successfully in neighboring states and across the country.”