On Tuesday, West Virginians were given several extra days to get their vaccine and register for a chance to win in the final prize drawing of the “Do it for Babydog” Vaccination Sweepstakes. Gov. Justice announced that he had extended the registration deadline to Sunday, Aug. 8, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The final round of prize winners will now be announced Tuesday, Aug. 10.
The final round of prizes for vaccinated West Virginians ages 18 and older include:
- One grand prize of $1.588 million
- One second place prize of $588,000
- Two brand-new custom-outfitted trucks
- Five lifetime hunting licenses
- Five lifetime fishing licenses
- Five custom hunting rifles
- Five custom hunting shotguns
- 25 weekend getaways to West Virginia State Parks
Additionally, two vaccinated West Virginians ages 12-25 will win a full four-year scholarship to any public institution in the state.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice was joined by State Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch and WVSSAC Executive Director Bernie Dolan to discuss back-to-school plans for West Virginia as they relate to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The West Virginia Board of Education and the West Virginia Department of Education released their back-to-school guidance for the 2021-22 school year. The information is designed to provide county school systems with strategies to facilitate the safe return to school and the continued operation of schools without interruption.
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On Monday, Gov. Justice reminded West Virginians that the State has launched its Booster Battlefield Assessment. The voluntary program is an opportunity for West Virginia’s long-term care facility residents and other West Virginians ages 60 and above who were vaccinated more than six months ago to volunteer to have their blood drawn and have their antibody levels measured.
Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) Director Jim Hoyer said Monday that any West Virginians who are interested in participating in the Booster Battlefield Assessment should call the West Virginia COVID-19 Vaccine Info Line at 1-833-734-0965. The info line is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that the total number of active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia had reached 3,372; nearly four times the number of active cases seen throughout the state less than a month ago. Gov. Justice also reported that West Virginia now has five counties in the Red category of the County Alert System map: Cabell, Marshall, Upshur, Wetzel, and Wyoming counties.
“With all the risks that are out there, you need to move today,” Gov. Justice said. “We all know how to stop it. All we’ve got to do is get vaccinated."
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On Monday, Gov. Justice announced that West Virginia’s General Revenue collections for July 2021 came in at $28.1 million above estimates. The Governor noted that severance tax came in at $11.0 million above estimate, an increase of 95.8% above the previous year.
“The net of the whole thing is that it was a great month,” Gov. Justice said. “This was our first month of Fiscal Year 2022. We’re off to a great start and we’re just going to keep on rolling.”
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Gov. Jim Justice announced today that he is officially reactivating the West Virginia Public Energy Authority (WVPEA). The WVPEA was created by the Legislature with a mission to foster, encourage, and promote the mineral development industry in West Virginia.
By reactivating the WVPEA, the State will maintain real time, firsthand knowledge of the status of each power plant, their life cycle, and whether there are concerns of household power supplies being disrupted.
The WVPEA will also help coordinate the output of merchant plants with capacity needs of regulated plants. Additionally, the Authority will assist in developing the next generation of coal plants and long-term energy policies that use all of West Virginia’s resources.
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On Thursday, Gov. Justice addressed hundreds of community leaders from across the state at the West Virginia Municipal League’s (WVML) 52nd annual conference, which was held this week at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling. During his remarks, the Governor commended municipal leaders for their role in helping West Virginia achieve one of the nation’s most successful responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Justice has dedicated a total of $265 million in CARES Act funding to local governments across the state.
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Gov. Justice visited the Wheeling YMCA Thursday to take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new, state-of-the-art J.B. Chambers Memorial All-Inclusive Playground. The playground is designed for all children to enjoy, featuring equipment that allows children in wheelchairs and children with autism to participate fully.
The Governor and local officials cut the ribbon to officially open the playground. Then, the dozens of children in attendance became the first to use the new equipment.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice announced that he had appointed Bill Raney to the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
Click here to view appointment letter
The Governor also announced that, on Wednesday, the PSC granted Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power approval to make the upgrades necessary to comply with federal environmental regulations at the Amos, Mountaineer, and Mitchell coal-fired power plants. The Commission’s approval provides an opportunity for all three plants to remain operational through 2040.
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Gov. Justice also announced Wednesday that he sent a letter to President Joe Biden, requesting that he reauthorize funding for the National Guard.
“Our National Guard has been so good,” Gov. Justice said. “This funding is critical to our continued response and preparedness for the ongoing pandemic, so I surely hope and pray that we'll get that authorization and we’ll get it quickly.”
Click here to view letter
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks about COVID-19 to honor Logan Fluharty of Paden City, who lost his courageous battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia earlier this week. Gov. Justice visited Logan two weeks ago, riding in a parade through Paden City in Logan’s honor and taking part in a special ceremony alongside the Ohio Valley Avengers; a charity organization made up of high school students that partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to bring hope and joy to kids battling diseases.
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On Thursday, Gov. Justice has issued a proclamation, ordering that all United States and West Virginia flags on all State-owned facilities throughout West Virginia be displayed at half-staff until sunset in honor of Navy Patternmaker 1st Class Stanislaw F. Drwall of Thomas, WV; a fallen sailor who has been returned home to be laid to rest.
Also on Thursday, Gov. Justice has issued a proclamation, ordering that all United States and West Virginia flags on all State-owned facilities throughout West Virginia be displayed at half-staff on Friday, Aug. 6, in honor of Army Cpl. Pete W. Conley of Chapmanville, WV; a fallen soldier who has been returned home to be laid to rest.
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West Virginia Division of Highways has already completed dozens of projects statewide from the $150 million in funding, requested by Gov. Justice and approved by the state Legislature. In June, Gov. Justice called a special session of the West Virginia Legislature to approve $150 million in additional funding for state highway, bridge, and repair projects. Lawmakers agreed, allowing WVDOH to tackle paving, road repair, bridge, and slide projects in every part of West Virginia.
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Demolition work started this week on Bluefield’s Grant Street Bridge. The bridge is being torn down to make way for an all-new span. In October 2020, Gov. Justice announced $10.5 million in federal, state and local funding to replace the decaying structure. Highways officials helped hammer out an agreement between Norfolk Southern Corporation and the city of Bluefield, who jointly owned the old bridge.
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