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Gov. Justice: U.S. Department of Commerce
says West Virginia #1 in personal income growth rates
On Tuesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced that the United States
Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis released a
report, confirming that West Virginia led the nation in personal
income growth for the 1st Quarter of 2019, with a 5.6 percent
growth rate. For context, none of the states bordering West
Virginia reached a growth rate of even 4 percent. [Watch
Video]
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United
States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross tweeted a congratulatory
message to Gov. Justice after the findings were announced Tuesday, also
announcing that the state boasts the 2nd-highest earnings increase
in the country. [Social
Post]
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Gov.
Justice also shared a statement, congratulating all West Virginians
on the accomplishment. [Read More]
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The
complete findings of the report can be viewed on the Bureau of
Economic Analysis' website. [Read More]
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Gov. Justice introduces State Farm as new
sponsor of the West Virginia Parkways Authority Courtesy Patrol
Gov. Justice and the West Virginia Parkways Authority announced
Tuesday that State Farm is the new sponsor of the Courtesy Patrol,
which services the entire 88 mile stretch of the West Virginia
Turnpike. The newly renamed “WV Turnpike State Farm Safety Patrol”
performs a vital service, keeping traffic moving by assisting
drivers in times of need, reducing pollution, alleviating
congestion, and helping prevent secondary crashes. [Watch
Video]
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The patrol
services the turnpike 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days a
year, attending a total of more than 9,000 annually on
average. Disabled motorists can dial *SP and the nearest
patrol unit will be notified
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Gov. Justice announces West Virginia Housing
Development Fund has AAA credit rating affirmed
On Friday, Gov. Justice announced that the West Virginia
Housing Development Fund has once again been affirmed in its
AAA issuer credit rating by Standard & Poor’s Rating
Service. The AAA qualification is Standard & Poor’s
highest ranking and the Fund is the only state housing finance
agency to receive a AAA rating. [Read More]
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The WVHDF
is a public body established to increase the supply of residential
housing for persons and families of low and moderate income, among
other purposes. The Fund has issued more than $4.4 billion in
bonds and has financed more than 122,000 housing units since it
began operation in 1969.
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WEST
VIRGINIA TOURISM OFFICE
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West Virginia Week Challenge reaches record
26 million social media users
On Tuesday, the Tourism Office announced that West Virginia’s
birthday social campaign had an estimated reach of more than 26
million social media users in just seven days, thanks to thousands
of West Virginia fans who shared their love of the state using the
hashtag #AlmostHeaven. [Read More]
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In
thousands of comments, people from all over the United States gave
their instant reactions to the campaign. Across all Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter, #AlmostHeaven posts received more than
237,000 likes, comments and shares during the week. The high volume
of engagement earned West Virginia third place in Facebook travel
promotion last week, just behind Florida and Michigan.
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DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION
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Secondary road maintenance work continues
statewide
Once again this week, crews with the Division of Highways worked
around the clock and across the entire state, fixing secondary
roadways in need of repair. Over the past week, work done in
specific DOH Districts has been highlighted, including in District
4, which includes Monongalia, Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Taylor,
and Preston counties. [Watch
Video]
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Work was
also highlighted recently in District 2, which includes Cabell,
Wayne, Lincoln, Logan, and Mingo counties. [Watch
Video]
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DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES
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School clothing allowance applications to be
accepted through July
The Department of Health and Human Resources' Division of Family
Assistance will begin accepting school clothing allowance
applications on Monday, July 1, 2019, for eligible children enrolled
in West Virginia schools. Each eligible child will receive a $200
voucher that may be used toward the purchase of appropriate school
clothing or piece goods for families who sew clothing for their
children. [Read More]
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Families
with school-aged children enrolled in the WV WORKS program will
automatically receive school clothing allowance vouchers for each
school-age child in the home by mid-July 2019. Children receiving
foster care will be issued a check. Additionally, families that
received school clothing allowance vouchers in 2018 and currently
receive Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) benefits from DHHR should have received an application by
mail in June 2019. Others may be eligible for school clothing
allowance vouchers, but the monthly income for a family of four may
not exceed $2,146 and applications must be submitted by July 31,
2019.
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DIVISION
OF NATURAL RESOURCES
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Trout stocking held at Blackwater Falls
State Park
On Tuesday, crews with the Division of Natural
Resources stocked nearly 20,000 fingerling brown trout into
the Blackwater Canyon at several locations throughout
Blackwater Falls State Park in Tucker County. [Watch
Video]
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Applications available for 2019 Antlerless
Deer Season limited permit areas
On Tuesday, the Division of Natural Resources announced that
applications for the 2019 Antlerless Deer Season limited permit
areas are now available online at www.wvhunt.com. Applications will
be accepted until midnight, August 14. Applicants must log on,
select "Enter Lottery" on the home screen, select “2019
Antlerless Hunt,” then choose the county or wildlife management
area for which they want to apply.
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These
limited permit areas provide antlerless deer hunting opportunities
in counties or areas of the state where wildlife biologists have
determined that the deer population exceeds management objectives.
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Applications being accepted for controlled
waterfowl hunt
On Monday, the DNR announced that applications are now being
accepted for hunters who wish to hunt from a shooting station
in the controlled waterfowl hunting zone of McClintic Wildlife
Management Area, located near Point Pleasant. Those interested must
submit their application by midnight August 11.
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Hunting is
by permit only on a portion of McClintic WMA during the October split
of the waterfowl season. Those hunters who are successful in the
lottery draw will be assigned an area free of charge and will be
permitted to bring one guest. Hunters may apply online at www.wvhunt.com. Log into your
account and press “Enter Lottery” on the individual’s home screen.
Successful applicants will be notified by mail by the second week
of September. Hunters successful in the draw will be randomly
assigned a day to hunt. They must report to the McClintic WMA
office before 6 a.m. on that day. Applicants not selected may come
to the McClintic office on the morning of each day’s hunt to sign
up for the chance to use shooting stations not filled by selected
hunters.
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WEST
VIRGINIA STATE PARKS
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Canoe Day group paddle held at Beech Fork
State Park
In celebration of National Canoe Day on Wednesday, State Parks held
a group paddle event at Beech Fork State Park in Barboursville.
Participants used canoes or kayaks to navigate several miles on
Beech Fork Creek.
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OFFICE
OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
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State Fire Marshal urges safety for upcoming
Fourth of July
This week, the State Fire Marshal’s Office began a campaign to
remind West Virginians to buy and use consumer fireworks in a safe
manner with the Fourth of July holiday approaching. According
to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, on average, 280 people
go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries
in the month around the July 4th holiday. The Fire Marshal's Office
is also reminding residents who decide to use fireworks to review
their safety instruction video. [Read More]
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DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
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WVDEP holds 39th annual Junior Conservation
Camp
This past week marked the conclusion of the Department of
Environmental Protection's 39th annual Junior Conservation Camp,
held at Cedar Lakes in Jackson County. Nearly 200 campers ages
11-14 attended the week-long overnight camp that promotes
environmental stewardship and education. Campers attended classes
on forestry, hunter safety, wildlife, wastewater treatment,
geocaching, and more. [Watch
Video]
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Attendees
also participated other activities such as basketball, kickball,
soccer, swimming, a movie night, and arts and crafts, and capped
off the final night of camp with a dance.
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Division of Air Quality displays exhibits
for Clay County Schools Summer Program
On Wednesday, the DEP’s Division of Air Quality set up exhibits and
displays for Clay Elementary School students as part of the Clay
County Schools Summer Program. Students spent over two hours
learning about the Clean Air Act, electrostatic precipitators, and
control devices. They even got to see how solar energy works using
the DAQ’s solar-powered mini-racetrack.
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DEPARTMENT
OF ARTS, CULTURE AND HISTORY
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WVDACH highlights Miss West Virginia exhibit
at Culture Center
The Miss West Virginia exhibit celebrates 75 years of pageantry
with gowns, shoes, swimsuits, and other artifacts worn by those
crowned Miss West Virginia. The exhibit is currently on display in
the State Culture Center in Charleston will remain open until
August 24. [Watch
Video]
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“African American Life: A Personal
Perspective” address to be presented in the Archives and History
Library
The Department of Arts, Culture and History announced last Friday
that Betty Cardwell Spencer will present “African American Life: A
Personal Perspective” in the Archives and History Library in the
Culture Center in Charleston on Saturday, June 29. The program,
part of the 2019 Block Speaker Series, will begin at 3 p.m. and is
free and open to the public. [Read More]
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Spencer
has dedicated her career to the field of education. She began
teaching in Kanawha County schools at the age of 21 and continued
for more than 43 years. A school principal for 32 years, she
briefly served as Director of Elementary and Secondary Education
for Kanawha County before returning to the position of principal
for the remainder of her career.
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DEPARTMENT
OF ADMINISTRATION
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Change order approved for dome project to
create new support system
Work on the Capitol dome continues, following the recent approval
of a change order to provide new support for the dome below the
structure. This change comes after engineers discovered additional
damage to clay tiles directly beneath the dome, investigated as
part of the dome moisture intrusion project. The tiles were
originally installed to serve as interior partitions to support the
finished plaster and were not intended to support the dome; the
dome instead used a comprehensive hanger system to suspend the dome
in place. [Read More]
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The work
that will be completed as part of the change order will include
creating a new support structure beneath the dome to provide
continuous support, along with rebuilding the damaged walls in the
central rotunda beneath the dome. The new support structure is
necessary to fully support the dome and to prevent it from moving
while the walls are removed and rebuilt beneath the
dome.
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DIVISION
OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
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WVDHSEM hosts grants management course for
agency partners
From Tuesday to Thursday this week, the Division of Homeland
Security and Emergency Management hosted more than 70 students from
across West Virginia for a Fundamentals of Grants Management
course, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the West
Virginia State Police Academy Professional Development Center in
Dunbar. The course is designed to enhance recipient's and
sub-recipient’s ability to administer and manage federal financial
assistance.
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WEST
VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD
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Guard hosts multi-agency cyber exercise
focused on election security
At the end of last week, the West Virginia National
Guard helped to host a Cyber Security Tabletop Exercise
dealing with election security. The exercise is a multi-agency
effort involving the United States Department of Homeland Security,
the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, the West
Virginia Office of Technology, the WVNG, and other partner
agencies. [Read More]
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The
exercise included simulated scenarios to identify best practices
and areas for improvement in cyber incident planning,
identification, response, and recovery for elections.
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DEPARTMENT
OF VETERANS ASSISTANCE
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WVDVA discusses benefits available to
veterans at roundtable event with central West Virginia community
leaders
On Tuesday, Department of Veterans Assistance Secretary Dennis
Davis spoke with elected officials and community leaders from
central West Virginia at a roundtable event in Parkersburg. He
spoke about the needs of veterans in the state, the benefits available
to them, and what the Department of Veterans Assistance does to
connect veterans with those benefits.
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Secretary
Davis explained the transition of the state-operated Veterans
Transportation Program to the Disabled American Veterans
Transportation Program, and the benefit to rural veterans in the
state.
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