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Public Health

West Virginia’s substance abuse epidemic (and, according to some public health officials, lawmakers’ response to it) has led to an increase in the number of HIV cases here as well. Particularly in rural counties, the worry is growing, as HIV clusters are appearing in places where there hadn’t been a single case in years. Dr. Anita Stewart, of the Nicholas County Health Department, told Mountain State Spotlight the problem is two-fold. First, in 2021 lawmakers passed a bill restricting how harm reduction programs could operate. After that, multiple county syringe exchange programs ...

Labor Day

As we approach the Labor Day holiday, become more entrenched in the new school year and welcome the joys (and agonies) of football season, it is a good time to look at what all our labor is earning us these days. WalletHub conducted its annual Labor Day survey to find out how people were feeling about the economy and their place in it. Frustration is high. The survey showed 74% of those who participated believed inflation is erasing their hard work. Nearly two-thirds of participants said inflation had affected their Labor Day weekend plans. Ninety-three percent of people said they ...

Transparency

The new superintendent of Randolph County Schools recently delivered what he himself described as “distressing” news about the school system’s finances — and yet local residents should be grateful to receive the message. Dr. Shawn Dilly, who was sworn in to the position in July, presented the county Board of Education with a list of concerns — including declining student population, increasing costs and a lack of special education teachers. “The picture I’m painting is that we have some unfortunate challenges in front of us, and we are going to have to make some tough ...

Give Blood

Those looking to this space for perspective on the pressing issues of the day may wonder why it contains yet another appeal for blood donors and support of the American Red Cross’s mission. It is because the need is that urgent, and only growing more so. Over the weekend, the Red Cross issued a plea for help, as the blood shortage that had already presented a challenge is getting worse. Severe weather including the remnants of Hurricane Debby has canceled a significant number of blood drives that might have helped fill that gap. “The American Red Cross continues to experience an ...

Premature

There has been no shortage of political dialogue about the abortion issue, especially since the U.S. Supreme Court negated Roe v. Wade in 2022. Unfortunately, though, there has not been enough discussion about what an Aug. 9 Wall Street Journal headline described as “A life-or-death divide for very premature babies.” Every woman and many men should be interested in what that all is about. The Journal article in question reported that doctors now are capable of saving the lives of babies born at 22 weeks and, in rare cases, a week earlier, thanks to improved techniques “to help ...

Form Rollout

Remember the struggle last academic year as students and their families struggled to figure out the new “simplified” Free Application for Federal Student Aid? Well, the U.S. Department of Education is at it again, this time announcing a phased rollout for the 2025-26 form. That means it will be available to some students on Oct. 1, but not to everyone until Dec. 1. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, this is an attempt to fix any issues that crop up while the first batch of students is working on the form. But, it means many other students will be two months ...