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Local Government

Dual enrollment program to give college credits

The West Virginia Legislature adopted and Gov. Jim Justice signed legislation establishing West Virginia’s first statewide dual enrollment program to allow more students to take college courses in high school. Through House Bill 2005, West Virginia’s higher education system will launch a pilot program this fall that will cover the costs of dual enrollment courses offered by the state’s colleges and universities that are tied to some of West Virginia’s most in-demand careers. “Prior to this legislation, what we have had is a system that favors our highest achieving, ...

Capito announces $7M for programs

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, announced $7,094,905 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for six programs that will support medical research and improve health care services across West Virginia. She also announced that West Virginia was one of 15 states selected to receive a $1,000,000, one-year Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) planning grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) ...

PEIA to hold public hearings on premium increases

CHARLESTON — Workers who have state insurance can have some say-so this week about three options that will all hit their pocketbooks. “They’re pretty huge increases for folks, and that comes after years of no increases,” said Elaine Harris, whose work for the Communications Workers of America includes representation of troopers and corrections workers. The Public Employees Insurance Agency plans public hearings around the state will focus on whether to move ahead with premium increases of about 24% or to instead pick a different option that would increase premiums a little ...

About $4.5 million of city’s $11.2 million ARPA allocation spoken for

MORGANTOWN — Morgantown City Council has approved an update to the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) action plan highlighted by major investments in recreation, sidewalks and the city’s airport. Thus far, the city has spent or obligated just over $4.5 million of its $11,243,509 ...

PEIA board takes plan options on the road

CHARLESTON — The agency that oversees insurance for public employees is taking three new plan options on the road because of new legislation that will raise costs. “We have to now reconvene and adopt a new financial plan based on Senate Bill 268,” said Jason Haught, acting director of the Public Employees Insurance Agency. The main reason for the change is that a broad plan passed by the Legislature mandates a return to an 80-20 cost share between government employers and public employees. That ratio had gotten out of whack in recent years because of a reserve that state ...

Gov signs bill creating structure for opioid settlement spending

After a bill signing by Gov. Jim Justice, West Virginia state law now reflects a structure for determining how state and local governments will work together to determine the best uses for financial settlements in the state’s ongoing battle over the effects of opioid addiction. The “West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding” already laid out the terms for the state and the many counties and cities that may receive a portion of settlements to push back against ongoing drug addiction issues. The agreement also applies to other proceeds from state legal actions over opioid ...