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W.Va. Colleges And Universities React To Financial Woes Left By Coronavirus Pandemic

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On this West Virginia Morning, we hear an update from Gov. Jim Justice who is warning of mandating face masks in public. Also, in this show, we hear how colleges and universities in the state are reacting to financial challenges brought on by COVID-19; we hear the latest on the unprecedented numbers of unemployment claims in the region; we hear about a federal spending bill that may help improve infrastructure in coal-reliant communities, and we hear this week’s Mountain Stage Song of the Week.

Gov. Justice is warning that he may mandate masks be worn in public beginning next week. As Dave Mistich reports, warning comes as West Virginia reported its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since mid-May.

The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed a massive spending bill focused on improving infrastructure and creating jobs. The bill includes two provisions that would specifically help coal-reliant communities in the Ohio Valley, but as Sydney Boles reports, the bill faces steep opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate.

While colleges across the state are preparing their residence halls and classrooms for students to return this fall, they’re also having to adjust to new financial norms created by the coronavirus pandemic. As Corey Knollinger reports, most students will not immediately see a rise in tuition this year due to financial creativity.

Jobless claims in the Ohio Valley continue to reach unprecedented levels compared to a year before. Another nearly 69,000 people in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia filed for unemployment assistance last week. Becca Schimmel has more.

Steve Earle is widely considered to be one of the greatest living songwriters, so it’s a testament to the prowess of the late Guy Clark that Earle pays tribute to the Texas songwriting legend. In his seventh appearance on Mountain Stage since 1996, Steve Earle & the Dukes perform a set of songs from “Guy,” including our Song of the Week, “Dublin Blues.”

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from West Virginia University, Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from CAMC and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Glynis Board, Caitlin Tan, Jessica Lilly, Kara Lofton, Liz McCormick, Dave Mistich, Brittany Patterson, Eric Douglas, Corey Knollinger, Emily Allen, and Roxy Todd.

Dave Mistich produced and hosted this show.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning