West Virginia

Capito Secures Grant Funding for Various West Virginia Efforts – West Virginia Daily News

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2024

Capito Secures Grant Funding for Various West Virginia Efforts – West Virginia Daily News

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced grants from various federal agencies and other organizations to deliver funds for projects she championed, including healthcare, education, research, environmental cleanup, infrastructure, economic development, and drug use prevention projects.

More information on each project can be found below:

HHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for a variety of health service projects in West Virginia.

$7,104,407 in HHS Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) funding to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WV DHHR) (Charleston, W.Va.).
$2,500,000 in HHS funding to First Choice Services, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.) to provide high quality insurance navigation services in West Virginia.
$2,398,129 in HHS Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Science grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.).
$1,600,215 in HHS Preventive Health and Health Service Block grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.).
$1,575,743 in HHS Maternal and Child Health Services grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.).
$270,458 in HHS Rural Health Care Services Outreach program grant funding to West Virginia University (WVU) (Morgantown, W.Va.).
$228,000 in HHS research grant funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) to develop machine learning frameworks for public health intervention in rural America.
$199,122 in HHS Substance Abuse Prevention grant funding to Hampshire County (Romney, W.Va.).
$169,703 in HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant funding to the WV DHHR (Charleston, W.Va.) for Pediatric Mental Care access.

DOL FUNDING: Senator Capito, through her role as Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, secured grants from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for workplace safety and injury prevention.

$160,000 in DOL funding to Marshall University (Huntington, W.Va.) for education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards and employ injury prevention.
$149,933 in DOL funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards and employ injury prevention.

EPA FUNDING: Senator Capito, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) for a variety of programs in West Virginia, including funding made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Ranking Member Capito helped negotiate and craft portions of the landmark legislation.

$35,451,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) (Charleston, W.Va.) to support a fund that will distribute low-interest loans for water infrastructure projects.
$30,845,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to support a fund that will distribute low-interest loans for clean drinking water projects.
$12,726,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for capitalization grant funding for the state Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program.
$7,690,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for capitalization grant funding for the state Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program.
$3,345,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for a capitalization grant for the CWSRF program with a primary purpose to address emerging contaminants. Emerging contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or re-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment.
$2,000,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the Raleigh County Recreation Authority (Beckley, W.Va.) for Brownfields cleanup projects.
$1,872,000 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) for clean water projects.
$1,500,000 in EPA funding to the Bel-O-Mar Regional Council (Wheeling, W.Va.) to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct cleanup planning and community involvement related activities at West Virginia Brownfields sites.
$500,000 in EPA IIJA funding to the New River Gorge Rural Development Authority (Beckley, W.Va.) to clean up a Brownfield site.
$500,000 in FWS funding to the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Washington, D.C.) to improve forest habitats in the Chesapeake across West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
$500,000 in FWS funding to Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust (Capon Bridge, W.Va.) wildlife habitat conservation in the Cacapon and Lost Rivers Watershed.
$741,514 in EPA funding to the WV DEP (Charleston, W.Va.) to support air pollution control efforts in West Virginia.
$439,000 in FWS funding to Trout Unlimited (Arlington, Va.) to protect native brook trout in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
$419,000 in FWS funding to the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (Rockville, Md.) to improve eel passage on the Potomac River in West Virginia and Maryland.
$269,500 in FWS funding to the West Virginia Land Trust (Charleston, W.Va.) to protect forests and working lands to restore James Spiny Mussel habitat.
$74,100 in FWS funding to Cacapon and Lost Rivers Land Trust (Capon Bridge, W.Va.) to protect biodiversity in West Virginia’s Cacapon Watershed.

DHS FUNDING: Senator Capito, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, announced a variety of grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

$300,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Camp Torah, Inc. (High View, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the West Virginia Tree of Life Congregation (Morgantown, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Emmanuel Baptist Church DBA: Emmanuel Christian School (Clarksburg, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Enslow Park Presbyterian Church (Huntington, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to First Baptist Church of Saint Albans (St. Albans, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley (Vienna, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the Herbert J. Thomas Hospital Memorial Association (South Charleston, W.Va.).
$150,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Iskcon New Vrindaban, Inc. (Moundsville, W.Va.).
$149,250 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Wheeling Country Day School (Wheeling, W.Va.).
$148,705 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to St. Michael Church and School (Wheeling, W.Va.).
$143,050 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Shuck Memorial Baptist Church (Lewisburg, W.Va.).
$142,300 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Charleston (Charleston, W.Va.).
$141,050 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to St. Joseph the Worker Parish School (Weirton, W.Va.).
$116,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Randolph Street Baptist Church (Charleston, W.Va.).
$101,074 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Union Mission Ministries, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.).
$58,000 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Hope for Appalachia, LLC (Charleston, W.Va.).
$55,100 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to CenterPoint Bible Church (Falling Waters, W.Va.).
$35,803 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Union Mission Ministries, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.).
$24,249 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (Wheeling, W.Va.).
$19,491 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to Union Mission Ministries, Inc. (Charleston, W.Va.).
$15,380 FEMA Emergency Preparedness Grant award to the African American Community Association of Jefferson County, W.Va.

NSF FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for academic research projects at WVU, Concord University, and Marshall University.

$632,019 NSF award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project titled “CAREER: Advancing Fairness in Biometric Systems: Towards Security and Privacy Enhancement.”
$594,458 NSF award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project titled “NANOGrav Student Teams of Astrophysics Researchers Undergraduate Pathways (STARS-UP): Infrastructure for the Two to Four-Year College Transition.”
$400,000 NSF award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a project titled “Course-Based Undergraduate Research: The Magnetic Analysis and Measurement Project.”

DOE FUNDING: Senator Capito announced grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a hydrogen project affecting West Virginia.

$909,269 in DOE funding for IN-2-Market Inc. (Follansbee, W.Va.) for a hydrogen project that will affect the community in and around Follansbee, W.Va.

DOT FUNDING: Senator Capito, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, also secured funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a variety of projects.

$6,302,717 in DOT Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding to the City of Morgantown, W.Va. for a runway extension project at Morgantown Municipal Airport.
$6,529,858 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and bridge repair in northern West Virginia stemming from May 2023 storms.
$5,561,238 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and culvert repair in the South Fork of the Cranberry River Basin stemming from August 2022 storms.
$2,165,080 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and trail cleanup and repair in the Monongahela National Forest stemming from June 2019 storms.
$1,590,763 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and trail repair in the Monongahela National Forest stemming from May 2023 storms.
$250,032 in DOT funding to the U.S. Forest Service for road and trail repair in the Monongahela National Forest stemming from October 2017 storms.
$200,620 in DOT funding to the City of Fairmont, W.Va. for a project that will aim to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

EDA FUNDING: Senator Capito also secured funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for several West Virginia projects.

$2,800,000 in EDA funding to the Greenbrier Airport Authority (Lewisburg, W.Va.) to construct a new hangar and increase airport service.
$1,033,698 in EDA funding to the Marshall University (South Charleston, W.Va.) to support expansion and redevelopment of the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center in South Charleston.
$799,926 in EDA funding to Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College (Moorefield, W.Va.) to support development of a new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
$717,116 in EDA funding to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) to support expansion of the Vantage Ventures Accelerator program, providing technical assistance to small, technology-based businesses.

DOJ FUNDING: Senator Capito also announced three grants from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for victim of crime support programs.

$4,433,069 in DOJ funding to GO33 Justice and Community Services (Charleston, W.Va.) to assist and support victims of crime.
$1,308,132 in DOJ funding to GO33 Justice and Community Services (Charleston, W.Va.) for STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula grant funding.
$515,000 in DOJ funding to the Legislative Office of the State of West Virginia (Charleston, W.Va.) to assist and support victims of crime.

NPS FUNDING: Senator Capito also delivered grant funding from the U.S. National Parks Service (NPS) for two Land and Water Conservation (LWCF) projects.

$250,000 in NPS LWCF funding to the City of Morgantown, W.Va. for Morgantown’s Bike Skills Pump Track.
$113,515 in NPS LWCF funding to the Pleasants County Commission (St. Marys, W.Va.) to improve to renovate the Pleasants County Aquatic Center.

Source link

West Virginia

West Virginia Yeager International Airport launches ‘Behind the Journey’ campaign

Published

10 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia Yeager International Airport launches ‘Behind the Journey’ campaign

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — Every passenger traveling through the airport has a story and a meaningful reason to be heading to their destination.

But most passengers don’t know the work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure they get there safely.

‘Behind the Journey’ is West Virginia International Yeager Airport’s campaign that helps passengers get a better understanding of airport operations and adds transparency and education to the travel experience.

The operations department is up early at 4 a.m. to search for foreign objects or debris that could create a dangerous situation for an aircraft.

“Our first job in the morning is to do a sweep of the entire airfield, the runway and the taxiways, just to make sure that there’s nothing on there that could puncture an aircraft tire or be sucked into an engine,” Joe Belcher, operations specialist, said.

Latest News:

Once the runway is clear and safe, passengers can enjoy their flight with peace of mind.

Elizabeth Lynn, who flies to New Jersey once a month for work on Breeze Airways, says she loves the experience she has at a regional airport.

“One experience I had, I didn’t get here in time. I have to check my bag. And they were nice enough to actually take my checked bag down and let it in for me because I showed up a little late,” Lynn said.

Ned and Hercules are working hard to keep birds away from the runway and brighten up a passenger’s day.

“They will also go through the terminal. They’ll visit employees. They’ll also visit any type of passengers that are in the lobby. They’ll do meet and greets. They do a lot of things. They stay pretty busy throughout the day,” Blecher said.

Paige Withrow, marketing officer at CRW, says the campaign educates passengers on how the airport systems work.

“It’s important for passengers to know what happens behind the scenes so that they know who to contact if something goes wrong while they’re traveling. So if their baggage is delayed, they know to contact their airline. If they have an issue during their travel, don’t know exactly which vendor to contact,” Withrow said.

There are QR codes throughout the terminals for passengers to fill out surveys about their experience.

The campaign runs until June 30.

For more news from across the Tri-State, click here.

Source link

West Virginia

Governor’s Highway Safety Program hosts annual luncheon recognizing law enforcement – WV MetroNews

Published

22 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Governor’s Highway Safety Program hosts annual luncheon recognizing law enforcement – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Law enforcement who keep West Virginia roadways safe were honored Thursday in the Capital City.

The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) hosted the annual Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Awards Luncheon at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center to highlight over 100 law enforcement agencies and officers from across the state for their work.

Jack McNeely

GHSP Director Jack McNeely says the program covers the nearly 39,000 miles of public roadways in West Virginia, and it aims to reduce crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. It was very important to recognize the law enforcement during the luncheon, McNeely said.

“For their efforts while enforcing against impaired driving, distracted driving, seatbelt use, and while they’re on the Governor’s Highway Safety Program time,” McNeely said. “Our program, we change behaviors. Our goal is to change behaviors or drivers. We do that through engagement, education and enforcement.”

A particularly susceptible group to roadway accidents is young drivers. McNeely said the number one cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds is car crashes. He said part of it is inexperience, and so education plays a key role.

McNeely mentioned the GHSP funds some projects through the Driver’s Education Program in West Virginia, as well as the Drive to Save Lives program, which spreads information about factors that cause crashes.

The ceremony was held at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center (Photo/MetroNews)

McNeely said 30-year motivational speaker Cara Filler spoke with the GHSP last week, and she has particular insight into the dangers of speed-related crashes. McNeely said Filler’s twin sister was killed one day after her 18th birthday in a speed-related crash. Filler has reached two million people in five countries during her time as motivational speaker.

There were special guests at the luncheon. Boone County couple Jimmy and Zelda Craig, whose daughter Baylea Bower was killed by an impaired driver during Easter weekend last year, were present in the Capital City. McNeely mentioned House Bill 4712, named “Baylea’s Law” after Bower, which was passed earlier this year.

“Baylea’s Law” stiffened penalties for those charged with DUI causing death.

“We refer to them as crashes, because it’s a choice for someone to get behind a wheel impaired, whether by alcohol or drugs,” McNeely said. “It’s a choice for someone to speed. In that [Baylea Bower] particular case, we had speed, we had impairment, both alcohol and drug related. It’s a choice to pick up your phone and look at it while you’re driving down the road. It’s a choice not to put to buckle up your seatbelt.”

There’s no excuse for driving impaired, McNeely said. He implored people to always have a backup plan if they become intoxicated under alcohol or drugs.

“It’s important to have somebody, if you’re going out, whether a college town, whether you’re in Huntington, whether you’re in Morgantown, but if you know you’re going to be around that, have a designated driver,” McNeely said. “That’s the only thing I can say. Have a game plan, not only if you’re going to be the one drinking, but have a game plan if you’re going to be the one that’s not, and going to be the responsible one for that evening. Take those keys away.”

Another initiative with the GHSP has been impaired-driving checkpoints. McNeely said those checkpoints are more of an awareness program, the blue lights remind drivers to travel safely. He said it helps keep impaired drivers off the road.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Program reported 1,873 DUI arrests in the state of West Virginia in 2025. The GHSP cited 23% of the state’s vehicle deaths over the past five years as alcohol related.

Source link

West Virginia

Primary Election Post Mortem – WV MetroNews

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Primary Election Post Mortem – WV MetroNews

A few post-election observations:

–This election saw an historic divide within the state’s Republican Party, with candidates endorsed and funded by Governor Morrisey and related PACS vs. Senator Tom Takubo’s slate. In Kanawha County, Takubo survived withering and well-financed attacks to win re-nomination, as did Senator Vince Deeds in Greenbrier County. However, as our Brad McElhinny reported, “Morrisey’s endorsements and associated spending touched enough winners that the governor still could have significant influence on the chamber going into the next regular session.”

–The Morrisey vs. Takubo state senate slates ended up being a push. Morrisey is claiming victory, but at what cost? The Morrisey side outspent Takubo’s fundraisers four to one but ended up with status quo in the Senate. That means the internal dealing begins now to determine who will lead the Senate in the next session.

–West Virginians living in competitive districts were deluged with negative ads. Many crossed the line from being mean-spirited to simply inaccurate. There is always debate about the effectiveness of negative ads, but we don’t see any letup. More recent research suggests the conventional wisdom that negative ads depress turnout may not be accurate, but they certainly did not help turnout in this election.

–Most West Virginia voters stayed home. The Secretary of State’s office reports turnout at 21 percent (20.91 to be exact). That is slightly less than the last off-year primary in 2022, when the turnout was 23 percent, and well below the 2018 turnout of 26 percent.

–The statewide court races, which were open to Democrats, Republicans and Independents, turned into a brutal night for incumbents. Two Supreme Court office holders and the Intermediate Court of Appeals incumbent all lost. MetroNews Talkline co-host T.J. Meadows speculates that independent voters, who were blocked from voting in the GOP primary, joined Democrats in throwing out the judicial office holders.

–It was also a rough night for a handful of Republican House of Delegates members. At least 14 lost their re-nomination races.

–Yes, every vote does count, especially in the small single-member House districts, when there is a light voter turnout. Unofficial results on the Republican side show that in the 74th district, incumbent Guy Ward won by 17 votes. Paul Howe finished with a 15 vote advantage in the 70th. Justin Beanard won by five votes in the 10th, Tim McNeely won by four votes in the 71st, and Aaron Holley finished two votes ahead in the 22nd.

–Getting out the vote in your home county makes a difference in a statewide race with low turnout. Rachel Fetty Anderson won the race for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate over four other candidates, including former state Senate President and one-time gubernatorial candidate Jeff Kessler. Anderson received 3,900 more votes than Kessler in her home county of Monongalia, while Kessler received fewer than 1,400 more votes than Anderson in his home Ohio County. Anderson’s win may also signal Democrats are more interested in new faces than giving another shot to a veteran pol.

–And finally, another West Virginia county has gone Republican. The Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee says GOP registration has now surpassed the Democratic Party 22,670 to 22,468. Democrats have the advantage in registration in just four counties—Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo—and Boone is just 41 registrations away from flipping.

Source link