On Friday, Gov. Justice reported that the CDC has recommended booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to certain individuals. The Governor announced that pandemic response teams are ready to get more booster shots in the arms of eligible West Virginians.
The CDC recommended the Moderna booster for elderly people and at-risk adults six months after they complete their primary series of shots, bringing it in line with the distribution plan for the Pfizer booster. The CDC also endorsed J&J boosters for everyone age 18 and older who received the initial shot at least two months ago.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice discussed the passage of the bill that he originally proposed, clarifying that any government or private business that wishes to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine must also allow exemptions to that mandate for medical or religious reasons. The bill still allows businesses to mandate COVID-19 vaccines, so long as the appropriate exemptions are available.
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Gov. Justice announced Wednesday that West Virginia’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.2% for September 2021; the lowest such rate recorded in all of state history. The landmark achievement is the result of the actions taken by Gov. Justice to make West Virginia a more business-friendly state.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice signed a total of 40 bills that were passed during the recent special legislative session, called by Gov. Justice on October 8, 2021. Among the bills signed were three related to the decennial redistricting of the House of Delegates and State Senate and the decennial apportionment of representatives of the United States House of Representatives.
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On Monday, Gov. Justice was joined by Sissonville resident Christopher Holmes, who spent 80 days in the hospital, fighting for his life against COVID-19. Holmes says he and most of his relatives were strongly opposed to getting vaccinated against COVID-19 until infections started to spread through the family in early June. Holmes says it was a miracle he made it out alive. During his stay in the hospital, he lost 110 pounds and all of his muscle.
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On Wednesday, Gov. Justice continued his pleas for more young West Virginians to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“One thing is absolutely for certain, and that is the more of us that are vaccinated, the less will die,” Gov. Justice said.
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On Friday, Gov. Justice and West Virginia legislative leaders announced their support for a proposal to make three western Maryland counties part of West Virginia. Several lawmakers from Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties in Maryland recently authored a pair of letters asking the West Virginia Legislature to consider adding them to the Mountain State. Calling the proposed arrangement “mutually beneficial for both states and for our local constituencies,” the Maryland officials’ request comes in the midst of an unprecedented period of success for West Virginia under Gov. Justice’s leadership.
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On Friday morning, ABC’s premier morning television program Good Morning America (GMA) aired several, feature-length segments about West Virginia as part of their Rise and Shine series. GMA Network Correspondent Stephanie Ramos spent several days exploring Almost Heaven West Virginia, learning about our culture and history, experiencing first-hand our world-class outdoor recreation and trying some of our local favorites, including the famed Pepperoni Roll.
“To have the opportunity for West Virginia to shine on the national stage yet again and to share our success story with the outside world is going to be an incredible source of pride to everyone who calls our great state home," Gov. Justice said.
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On Monday, Gov. Justice announced that, for the second straight year, West Virginia Game Changer will be conducting its “Change Their Holiday” promotion. Once again this year, Jobs & Hope West Virginia is joining the cause to help ensure families recovering from opioid and substance misuse are provided the financial means to enjoy a happy holiday season.
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Gov. Justice announced Friday that he has awarded $13,182,765 in Victims of Crime Act Assistance (VOCA) sub-grant funds to 84 public and private non-profit agencies throughout the state. The Victims of Crime Act Assistance sub-grant funds will provide such direct services as counseling, personal advocacy, court advocacy, client transportation, and support services to victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. The funds will also support assistance to victims as they move through the criminal justice system.
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First Lady Cathy Justice and the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History invite West Virginians of all ages, including artists of all disciplines, to create and submit hand-crafted ornaments to be displayed on a Christmas tree at the West Virginia Culture Center this holiday season. Celebrating its 11th anniversary as a First Lady initiative, Artistree 2021 asks artists, or any West Virginia resident, to create an ornament that “Celebrates the magic of Christmas.”
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All road and landscape work is complete on a massive slide that closed part of WV 2 in northern Mason County in July. The massive slide sent thousands of cubic yards of earth and part of WV 2 tumbling into the valley below. West Virginia Division of Highways drew up emergency plans to shore up the hillside and replace the missing section of roadway. Contractors installed soil nails – long steel bolts driven deep into the hillside – to stop the hillside from slipping further, then sprayed concrete to help hold the soil nails in place.
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A project to completely rebuild MacCorkle Avenue in Kanawha City from 33rd Street to 40th Street is among 17 projects in a bid letting conducted by West Virginia Division of Highways on Tuesday, Oct. 19. WVDOH is reviewing the bids and hopes to award contracts for these projects soon.
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Gov. Justice and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced Thursday that fall trout stocking is underway in West Virginia. With stockings beginning on Oct. 18 and continuing through Oct. 29, Gov. Justice and the WVDNR are encouraging anglers from across the state and nation to take advantage of these fishing opportunities throughout the fall season.
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Color is still spreading throughout the southern mountains as the Department of Tourism releases its third fall foliage report to help travelers enjoy peak leaf season. This report marks the third in a series of weekly updates, prepared in partnership with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, to help travelers plan autumn road trips and adventures based on peak foliage across the state.
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West Virginia’s Youth Environmental Program, under the state Department of Environmental Protection, is offering a virtual Youth Environmental Conference from October 25-29 on the agency’s social media platforms. Typically, the conference is staged in-person at a West Virginia state park and is open to youth, ages 13-18. This year’s conference was set for early October at Cacapon State Park but ultimately canceled because of concerns surrounding COVID-19.
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