West Virginia
WVU student leaders fight apathy, lecture series to be revived – WV MetroNews
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Student government leaders on the campus of West Virginia University are watching two pieces of legislation.
WVU Student Body President Colin Street said he made a commitment to be more legislatively engaged during this session, and the effort is energizing the student body.
Street said Monday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” the Student Government Association is encouraging involvement after the development of apathy following the pandemic. Street said to encourage more involvement, the size of student government at WVU has been increased from 40 to 150 members that engage with lawmakers and the campus community.
“It’s that level of inspiration that knows giving students responsibility and civic action to students can really achieve, and it’s that inspiration that will get young leaders to stay in West Virginia and help lead the state,” Street said.
Senate Bill 675, sponsored by Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, would restore voting rights for students and faculty members to boards of governors statewide and is one of the measures the organization is lobbying in favor of.
SGA State Government Liaison Logan Pierce said the other bill of interest, House Bill 4081, would establish the Higher Education Health and Aid Grant program.
“It would allow institutions across the state of West Virginia to establish food pantries or fund food pantries that already exist,” Pierce said. “We’re also working on Senate Bill 675 that would restore the students’ vote to boards of governors across the state.”
Street said the student voice is an important one when it comes to fees, tuition increases, and the overall campus experience.
“Having not just the student voice but an impact with a vote behind that voice allows the university to cultivate an educational experience that’s going to geared toward students and bring more students to Morgantown,” Street said.
WVU SGA works with other assemblies through the Advisory Council of Students to keep the board of governors informed, provide information to the student body about legislative activities, and finally work with lawmakers on policy matters they favor. The task is one Street is working harder to develop.
“That last one, ACS—the Advisory Council of Students—has faltered in the last couple of years,” Street said. “And it’s what we’ve really tried to emphasize this year in our pursuit of getting the board vote back.”
One attempt to revive civic engagement is the proposed revival of the Hardesty Festival of Ideas that will bring a wide range of speakers to campus to interact with students.
“Our student body vice president, Rozaireo Jones, has been planning the revival of the Hardesty Festival of Ideas, which will start on February 16,” Street said. “We hope to bring alumni and speakers to campus not only to engage with students and the larger Morgantown community.”
West Virginia
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West Virginia
West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) convened its second quarterly board meeting of 2026 at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston, continuing its work to advance prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across West Virginia through responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds.
The meeting provided board members with updates on several key initiatives and strategic priorities currently underway.
Expert panel appointments
A significant focus of the meeting was the appointment of several volunteer Expert Panel members following the conclusion of certain panel terms. Expert panelists serve in advisory roles and provide regional knowledge, professional expertise and community perspective to help inform WVFF’s work and funding priorities. To allow time for all appointees to complete the necessary confirmation and onboarding process, names will not be publicly released until all appointments have been finalized.
“Expert Panelists play an important role in helping us understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our local communities,” said Jonathan Board, Executive Director of WVFF. “We are grateful for the individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to support this work and help guide thoughtful, informed decision-making.”
Local government reporting and best practices
Board members reviewed progress on the 2026 Local Government Expenditure Report, which compiles annual spending data submitted by local governments receiving opioid settlement funds. Staff reported that more than 65% of eligible local governments have submitted expenditure reports to date, with the statewide report expected to be released in mid-July.
The board also received an update on new resources being developed to help local governments identify promising practices and learn from successful approaches being implemented across West Virginia. While WVFF does not direct how local governments spend their allocated settlement funds, the Foundation remains committed to providing educational resources that highlight allowable uses, share examples from around the state and support informed local decision-making.
![[CHAMBER] [2026-06-23] Hiring Executive Director](https://res.cloudinary.com/mytown/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1080/spotlights/jqvoqa1wl63oqmzrnmeg)
In the coming months, WVFF plans to host regional learning sessions that will bring local government representatives together to share experiences, discuss challenges and explore opportunities to maximize the impact of opioid settlement investments within their communities.
Strategic priorities
The board received updates on the Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) program, which opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30. Designed as a three-year, outcomes-driven investment, the program will support projects focused on public safety response, day report centers and generational prevention efforts.
Board members also received updates on the West Virginia Wayfinder, the statewide needs assessment project led by the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV. Meetings and engagement activities are underway with WVFF staff, expert panelists and community stakeholders across the state, with data, insights and priority areas currently being gathered and analyzed to help identify needs, gaps and opportunities related to substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services in West Virginia.
![[DHS] [2025-05-23] Pain Free Living](https://res.cloudinary.com/mytown/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1080/spotlights/xswzc9oud10whhzr94hg)
“Our Board remains focused on ensuring these funds are invested responsibly and strategically for the benefit of West Virginia communities,” said Greg Duckworth, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “Each meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, strengthen accountability, and continue building on the work being done across the state.”
Direct funding request approved
The board also voted to approve a $4 million direct funding request submitted by the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) at West Virginia University. The project is focused on expanding access to innovative addiction treatment and recovery support tools while building the technology and infrastructure needed to support implementation across West Virginia.
Consistent with WVFF’s commitment to transparency and accountability, additional details regarding the project and funding agreement will be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. WVFF and RNI plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process has been finalized.
![[TWIN] [2025-08-08] Meadowlands](https://res.cloudinary.com/mytown/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto,c_limit,w_1080/spotlights/sueaeb3swu4g4qwmu3x2)
Hold the Line Tour stop at Rea of Hope
After the board meeting, WVFF board members and staff will visit Rea of Hope, an Initial Opportunity Grant awardee, as part of the Foundation’s Hold the Line Tour, which highlights organizations and programs working to make a difference in communities across West Virginia. The visit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from leadership about the impact of recovery-focused services and community support.
The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s board of directors is scheduled for September 17, 2026 (subject to change). Visit wvfirst.org to learn more.
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