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W.Va., Ohio struggle with unemployment
By Casey Junkins, Staff Writer, The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
WHEELING - West Virginia has a significantly higher unemployment rate than the rest of the nation, according to data released this week, while the Upper Ohio Valley in general continues coping with job losses.
Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel, Tyler, Brooke and Harrison counties feature higher unemployment rates than they did in June 2014, while Belmont...
Op-ed: Just a matter of time before year-round school debate begins
By Matt Harvey, The Exponent Telegram
For as long as most of us can remember, summer’s unofficial end is tied to the beginning of school.
Five or 10 years ago, that would have meant having about a month of “summer” left. But the past few years, the end of July has equated to having just a few days left.
Summer today also has a lot of organized activities that weren’t available 30...
State funding for local truancy officers now available
By Ashton Marra, West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia’s 55 schools districts can now apply for state funding to help combat excessive absences in public schools.
The West Virginia Department of Education is accepting applications from county boards of education for funding to hire a local truancy diversion specialist.
Those county level specialists will work directly with students...
KIDS COUNT: Child poverty a growing problem in W.Va.
By WV MetroNews Staff
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There are 13,000 more West Virginia children living in poverty than there were in 2008, according to the newly released KIDS COUNT data book.
Margie Hale, the Executive Director of KIDS COUNT said the povery statistics among children are alarming.
“We learned from the 2015 data book that 100,000 children are living in poverty in West Virginia,” she said...
Too soon to know if PEIA retiree premiums will rise
By Phil Kabler, The Charleston Gazette-Mail
Days after the state Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board was notified the plan will need nearly $60 million of premium increases for active state employee coverage for the 2016-17 plan year, Administration officials said it is too early to tell if similar increases will be needed for retiree health coverage.
“By September or October, they’ll have...