West Virginia

Alaska, Delaware, and West Virginia are the only states that still don't have a single billionaire resident

Published

3 months ago

May 3, 2024

Alaska, Delaware, and West Virginia aren’t home to any billionaires, Forbes reported.
California, in comparison, has nearly 200 billionaires.
This is despite nearly 800 billionaires living in the US, per estimates.

Alaska, Delaware, and West Virginia are the only states that still don’t have a single billionaire resident, according to a new report by Forbes.

The outlet on Thursday released its latest ranking of the richest residents of every state. Many of the findings were unsurprising: Elon Musk claims the title for Texas, Mark Zuckerberg for California, and Michael Bloomberg for New York.

As of December, nearly 800 billionaires lived in the US, according to a report by investment-migration consultancy Henley & Partners.

But three states don’t have any billionaires listing them as their primary residence.

Intuit CEO Brad Smith — no, not the Microsoft president of the same name — isn’t far off, however. Forbes estimates that the West Virginia resident, who’s also the president of Marshall University, was worth about $900 million as of March.

And Delaware’s Elizabeth Snyder, whose family’s manufacturing company developed and patented Gore-Tex, is worth about $800 million, per Forbes’ estimates.

But Alaska is still a long way from having a billionaire resident.

The two richest people in the state, Jonathan Rubini and his family and Leonard Hyde and his family, are both worth around $400 million each, per Forbes’ estimates. Rubini and Hyde cofounded JL Properties, a commercial real estate developer.

To be clear, Alaska, Delaware, and West Virginia are among the least-populated states in the US. According to Census Bureau estimates for 2023, Alaska was the fourth-smallest state or district in the US by population, Delaware was seventh-smallest, and West Virginia was 13th-smallest.

And the states with the most billionaires — California, followed by New York and Florida, per Forbes’ ranking — are three of the four most populous states. California has 197 billionaires, per Forbes data from March.

But there are many more factors that contribute to how many billionaires a state has than just its population. California has a swathe of multi-billion-dollar tech companies; New York is home to Wall Street and top law firms; and Florida is building its reputation as a hub for financial-services companies as well as a playground for the superrich.

And where the wealthy choose to live is changing, too. The pandemic has contributed to what Henley & Partners dubs a “millionaire remix,” with more rich people living in cities including Texas state capital Austin, Scottsdale, Arizona, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

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West Virginia

Two New Gondolas Coming To West Virginia

Published

5 hours ago

July 29, 2024

Press Room

Two New Gondolas Coming To West Virginia

West Virginia — In the latest sign that West Virginia’s tourism industry is booming, two new gondolas are coming soon to its state park network.

The first new gondola is coming to Pipestem Resort State Park. Beginning in 1971, the state park was home to a scenic tramway. This system only had twelve cabins, each able to accommodate four people. If winds exceeded 24 miles per hour, the lift had to be shut down.

With the old tram in disrepair, West Virginia decided to replace it with a new pulse gondola. The $12.4 million gondola is more efficient and provides greater capacity than its predecessor. It will have a length of 3,410 feet and a vertical drop of 1,200 feet as it will drop into Bluestone Gorge and conclude next to the Mountain Creek Lodge. The gondola will be able to operate with winds up to 54 mph. This new gondola is expected to open this fall.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice explained in the press conference why they decided to add a new gondola:

“When I heard the old tram was in disrepair, I didn’t think twice about replacing it. This tramway has been an iconic spot in West Virginia for many, many years. It’s a place where hundreds of thousands of folks have created memories over the last 50 years, and I’m just thrilled that we’ve found a way to bring it back better than ever before. I’ve ridden it down into the gorge to fish more times than I can remember, and I plan to be among the first to ride it down again this fall.”

The other gondola replacement is coming to Hawks Nest State Park. First opened in 1970, the aerial tram connected New River Gorge on Hawks Nest Lake and the Hawks Nest Lodge. However, it also became inoperable and thus needed replacement.

This month, the state announced that it will be replaced by a $8 million gondola. These new cabins will be able to hold six people each. This gondola project is expected to open in late spring or early summer 2025.

The investment comes as tourism in West Virginia continues to grow. These gondola investments are part of the $250 million the government has invested in its state park systems over the past seven years. The result of these investments is an increase in visitation and revenue. In the past fiscal year, West Virginia’s state parks brought in over $50 million in revenue.

West Virginia Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby described the growth of this sector to WCHS ABC 8:

“I’ll tell you the added benefit that you might not know, which is this is changing the way people think about our state. If you think back to where we were 10 years ago people were not thinking about West Virginia as a popular destination. It wasn’t that we weren’t. It wasn’t that the state’s gotten prettier in 10 years, but we weren’t telling that story. We weren’t putting the funds behind telling that story.”

Image/Video Credits: West Virginia Department of Commerce, Office of the Governor, WCHS, West Virginia State Parks

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West Virginia

West Virginia Department of Health Celebrates 4th Place Finish in National Healthcare Quality Awards

Published

12 hours ago

July 29, 2024

Press Room

West Virginia’s dedication to rural healthcare has garnered national recognition once again as the state achieved a significant milestone in the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) rankings. In collaboration with the Healthcare Education Foundation of WV (HEF) and supported by the West Virginia Department of Health’s (DH) State Office of Rural Health, West Virginia’s 21 Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) have excelled in providing quality healthcare services to rural communities.

Each year, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) assesses states based on their reporting rates and improvements in healthcare quality over the preceding 12 months. This year, West Virginia proudly secured the 4th position nationwide, marking a notable ascent from last year’s 6th place tie. The quality measures gauged for the award are Patient Safety/Inpatient; Outpatient Care; Patient Engagement; and Care Transitions.

“This achievement is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our healthcare providers across the state,” said West Virginia Department of Health Sec. Sherri Young, DO, MBA, FAAFB. “Through collaborative efforts and a focus on continuous improvement, West Virginia’s hospitals have demonstrated exceptional dedication to enhancing healthcare outcomes in our rural areas.”

The MBQIP awards recognize states that have exhibited the highest levels of quality improvement and reporting rates in rural healthcare settings. West Virginia’s success in climbing to 4th place underscores its proactive approach to healthcare quality enhancement and patient care.

“This achievement is a great example of West Virginia hospitals collaborating with key partners to elevate the quality of care for all patients,” said Jim Kaufman, President and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association. “We’re proud of the work our Healthcare Education Foundation (HEF) is doing through their partnership with the State and other stakeholders to advance health care in rural communities throughout West Virginia.”

West Virginia has previously received MBQIP recognition, but this year’s 4th place ranking marks a particularly proud moment for the state. As stakeholders continue to collaborate and innovate in healthcare delivery, West Virginia remains committed to further improving healthcare access and quality for all its residents.

For more information on the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project and West Virginia’s achievements, visit HRSA’s official website here.

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West Virginia

Mercer County is asking for your votes in the Best of West Virginia 2024 contest

Published

20 hours ago

July 29, 2024

Press Room

Mercer County is asking for your votes in the Best of West Virginia 2024 contest

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) — Mercer County is currently asking for your vote in several categories of the Best of West Virginia 2024 contest.

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Put on by West Virginia Living, the contest showcases the literal “Best” of West Virginia.

Categories range from Travel to Culture to Shopping and Services, then get more specific in different subcategories.

Candice Wilson, Executive Director for the Chuck Mathena Center in Princeton, said she feels Mercer County truly has some of the best that West Virginia has to offer.

“I think Mercer County is a really special place and I think a lot of people in West Virginia, they pass through here, you know, going to the beach, different things like that. But we’ve got really special things here. I mean, the whole state’s beautiful, don’t mistake, but we’ve got really good things,” said Wilson.

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Your favorite places in Mercer County can be nominated and voted for now.

Wilson said she hopes people will vote for places like Dolly’s Diner in Princeton and the Granada Theatre in Bluefield.

The full list of categories and nominees are available on the Best of West Virginia 2024 webpage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.

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