Mental Health Needs And Retaining Government Emails, This West Virginia Week

On this West Virginia Week, we learned about mental health needs in southern West Virginia, and we heard about efforts to keep state agency emails as lawsuit evidence. We also have reports on the Hope Scholarship, renewable energy, conservation and a planned closure of a pharmacy.

On this West Virginia Week, we have a short show in light of the Thanksgiving holiday. This week, we learned about mental health needs in southern West Virginia, and we heard about efforts to keep state agency emails as lawsuit evidence. 

We also have reports on the Hope Scholarship, renewable energy, conservation and a planned closure of a pharmacy.

Liz McCormick is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Learn more about West Virginia Week.

Justice Highlights Closure Of Parsons Pharmacy

On Monday, Gov. Jim Justice sent an open letter to the president of Walgreens urging the company to reconsider their decision to close their location in Parsons, Tucker County.

Gov. Jim Justice is drawing attention to the planned closure of a pharmacy in the state. 

On Monday, the governor sent an open letter to the president of Walgreens urging the company to reconsider their decision to close their location in Parsons, Tucker County.

In the letter, Justice said Mayor Bruce Kolsum “expressed deep distress over the impact” of the closure and that the manager of the Walgreens in question was unaware of the decision until recently.

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During his weekly media briefing, Justice reiterated the impact the sudden closure will have on the community just as it is poised to connect to Corridor H.

“This community needs a Walgreens and needs a Walgreens really bad,” Justice said. “I’m gonna do everything I possibly can to try to urge the folks at Walgreens to keep it there, because I do believe that it will be tremendously successful going forward.”

Walgreens announced earlier this year it plans to close 150 locations across the country by August 2024.

Asked later in the briefing how he plans to address the closure, which may happen as soon as Dec. 14, Justice said he did not have an immediate solution.

“I really don’t know how we fill the void from a private entity closing, and I don’t know how we do that,” he said. 

Justice once again highlighted Parsons’ proximity to the Corridor H currently under construction. 

“This is a nationwide program that they’re closing down so many Walgreens across the nation and everything,” Justice said. “They ought to absolutely pay really close attention to the fact that a major artery in this nation is going right through the middle of this town.” 

Free Coronavirus Testing At Some Walgreens, Fruth Pharmacies In W.Va.

Gov. Jim Justice announced that West Virginia is partnering with Walgreens and Fruth pharmacies to offer free coronavirus testing.

The governor said in a virtual press briefing that Walgreens drive-thru pharmacies at sixteen locations in Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, Monongalia, Putnam and Raleigh counties are now offering free testing for COVID-19 as of Friday, Oct. 9.

Justice also announced that Fruth Pharmacies at twelve locations in the state will also offer free testing. Those counties include Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam, Roane and Wood counties.

“Over the next several weeks, more locations will be added across West Virginia,” Justice said. “It’s just one way for West Virginians to get tested and stop the spread of this terrible virus, so take advantage of all this.”

Free testing at Walgreens and Fruth pharmacies are by appointment only.

Anyone from any county in West Virginia can visit these locations regardless of whether they are a resident of that county.

The testing effort is being paid for by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. DHHR said it hopes to partner with more pharmacies in the state.

For more information on free coronavirus testing locations in West Virginia, click here.

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