| State of West Virginia Government & Agencies
West Virginia accelerates opioid-settlement funding by opening a streamlined grant round for treatment and recovery providers. Source: [WV MetroNews]
WV’s opioid-response funding is moving from settlement to awards, with treatment and recovery priorities likely to shape procurement of medications and supports. The new grant round (above) and DoHS recognition of recovery providers signal continued emphasis on evidence-based treatment and recovery housing capacity. Sources: [WV MetroNews], [WV DoHS]. WV MetroNews+
Human Services spotlights statewide leadership in addiction recovery with 2025 recognition awards as agencies coordinate on treatment capacity. Source: [WV Department of Human Services]
Energy
Falling crude prices on demand worries and a stronger dollar pressure energy markets tied to West Virginia’s producers and royalty streams. Source: [Reuters]
U.S. natural gas futures tick up on late-season heat, with Appalachian producers watching near-term power burn and storage trajectories. Source: [Reuters]
Metallurgical coal softens on China demand concerns, signaling near-term headwinds for WV export receipts. Source: [Reuters]
Recent PSC rulings and securitization for Appalachian Power intersect with coal-fired fleet economics and near-term WV rate stability. After trimming a large base-rate ask, the PSC approved a securitization framework that spreads legacy costs over time, potentially reducing pressure for near-term increases as plants like John Amos remain central to reliability planning. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews+1
The Public Service Commission’s board-member training seminar convenes this week, underscoring governance and compliance priorities for water/sewer utilities. Source: [WV PSC]
Federal LNG-permit rules are being rewritten in a way that could reshape export approvals with downstream effects on Appalachian producers. The White House is drafting a “climate and economic” test for LNG projects after a pause earlier this year; industry groups warn of delays while environmental groups push for tighter scrutiny. Source: [Reuters].
The PSC pushed a Wyoming County school power dispute back to litigation amid a broader probe into Black Diamond Power. Commissioners rejected mediation in a case tied to “extraordinary” connection costs and multiple complaints, returning it to the litigation stream as staff recommends investigation. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews
Child Welfare
A new employer-supported child-care pilot launches to help West Virginia workers stay on the job while expanding access for families. Source: [Associated Press]
WV’s opioid-settlement board opened a $19.2M grant round that explicitly targets foster and kinship caregivers.The West Virginia First Foundation’s Momentum Initiative includes a $3.9M statewide bucket for foster youth and non-parent caregivers, with additional tracks for youth prevention and recovery housing. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews
Health Care
WV hospital systems report large “community benefit” outlays as nonprofit finances and local care obligations draw scrutiny. New reporting spotlights charity care, uncompensated services, and investments that exceed $1B, shaping policy debates over rates and service access. Source: [WV News]. WV MetroNews
West Virginia’s nursing-home landscape continues to shift as five facilities change ownership, with regulators emphasizing continuity of care. Source: [Associated Press]
Pharmaceuticals
State insurance regulators continue emphasizing drug-pricing transparency, flagging the impact of manufacturer rebates on commercial premiums in 2025 guidance. Source: [WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner]
Insurance
Humana remains the Medicare administrator for PEIA retirees, preserving benefits continuity for roughly 54,000 West Virginians. Source: [Associated Press]
A Kanawha County ruling increases potential insurance exposure in the WV State Police hidden-camera litigation by treating each recording as a separate occurrence. Plaintiffs could access up to $1M per occurrence under the state’s policy, rather than a single cap, after mediation stalled. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews
Substance Use Disorder
Settlement-fund governance tightens as the WV First Foundation opens its Momentum Initiative grant cycle, aiming for faster awards to on-the-ground programs. Source: [WV MetroNews]
DoHS honored standout SUD clinicians, peers, and programs as the state doubles down on recovery housing and peer-support infrastructure. Awards announced this month highlight statewide impact groups and certified residences—complementing the West Virginia First Foundation grant focus on recovery housing. Source: [WV DoHS]. WV DHHR
Senior Citizens
Ownership changes in skilled-nursing facilities raise oversight questions for quality and staffing, with state officials monitoring transitions. Source: [Associated Press]
WV’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition vouchers remain in effect through October 31, sustaining fresh-food access for low-income seniors. The program provides $30 in market vouchers redeemable statewide and coordinated through county senior centers. Source: [WV Department of Agriculture]. West Virginia Department of Agriculture
Education
Career and Technical Education programs drew statewide honors late last week, reflecting WVDE’s focus on workforce readiness pathways. Source: [WV Department of Education]
The vaccine-law fight now directly affects access to public-school resources and athletics, with county rulings diverging and a Supreme Court review expected. Raleigh County granted a preliminary injunction earlier this summer; Mineral and Berkeley have not—leaving families and school officials in limbo pending higher-court action. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews+2WV MetroNews+2
Business & Economic Development
Morrisey’s administration continues to orient growth strategy around energy, manufacturing, and tech—with data-center/microgrid policy as a marquee tool. Officials say the state is targeting projects with high in-state “touches,” while the microgrids/data-center law channels revenues to tax relief and counties. Sources: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews+
Local governments are asserting themselves in regional transmission debates linked to data-center growth. Monongalia County formally opposed a high-voltage line tied to a Virginia data-center project and may intervene at the PSC. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews
State broadband and water/sewer investments remain a cornerstone of economic-development strategy, with BEAD final-proposal milestones and location maps published this month. Source: [WV Office of Broadband]
Broadband
West Virginia’s BEAD roadmap targets ~74,000 additional locations, with NTIA review pending; stakeholders are preparing for implementation. Sources: [WV Office of Broadband]
WV submitted its final BEAD plan seeking about $600M to reach ~74,000 unserved locations, while the PSC is pressing faster pole-attachment timelines. The combination could speed builds once awards flow and make-ready is cleared. Sources: [WV MetroNews], [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews+1
Technology
AI-driven electricity demand continues to reshape utility planning nationwide, a trend WV grid operators and policymakers are watching closely. Source: [Reuters]
Elections
SOS Kris Warner is pushing voter-registration outreach and touting 2025 election-integrity changes ahead of the 2026 cycle. Recent actions include implementing photo ID to vote, publicizing September voter-registration efforts, and promoting municipal election schedules. Sources: [WV Secretary of State], [WV Secretary of State].
Agriculture
WVDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant awards are slated for September, sustaining investments in high-value fruit and vegetable markets. Source: [WV Department of Agriculture]
First Responders
WV EMS protocols and data modernization remain in focus as agencies phase in national reporting systems and expand lifesaving blood-in-the-field programs. Sources: [WV DOH/EMS & OEMS]
Court developments in the WVSP camera case (above) carry direct financial implications for state risk coverage and potential settlements. The insurance “occurrence” ruling could materially alter exposure as parties return to negotiation, with broader HR and facility-security ramifications. Source: [WV MetroNews]. WV MetroNews
Court
With SCOTUS set to hear West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports” case this term, state and national briefs continue to stack up ahead of arguments. Sources: [Politico] ; [WDTV/WVVA]
This briefing compiles the latest developments in West Virginia’s government and policy landscape. For more detailed information, please refer to the cited sources. Send tips or additions for tomorrow’s edition. |
