West Virginia
West Virginia ranks second in the nation for workplace fatality rate. Cuts could make it worse.
West Virginia had the second-deadliest workplace fatality rate in the country, behind Wyoming, according to the AFL-CIO’s annual Death on the Job report released last month. It tracks the number of workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses per state.
The state’s workplace fatality rate is twice the national average, and 58 West Virginians lost their lives on the job in 2023, up from 48 the year before.
Josh Sword, president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, a labor union that represents more than 80,000 people in the state, said West Virginia workers are more likely to be hurt or killed due to hazardous industries like mining, manufacturing and chemical production.
“This report is just more proof we aren’t taking workplace safety seriously in this state,” he said. “Clearly, we have more work to do to protect our workers.”
Labor leaders say more workers in the state could die due to cuts by the Trump administration that undermine worker safety.
The AFL-CIO report warned that Trump “has committed to repealing multiple regulations that protect workplace safety, as well as environmental and consumer regulations that protect Americans’ health and safety.”
Already, the administration has cut staff at an agency charged with keeping West Virginians safe on the job.
The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety is expected to lose 900 employees by July. The agency conducts safety research and recommends workplace policies.
This year marks 27 years since the AFL-CIO created Workers’ Memorial Day in 1998 to honor workers who were injured or killed on the job.
On a quiet Monday afternoon last month, a crowd of nearly 100 gathered on the banks of the Ohio River to commemorate the dozens of West Virginians who died on the job last year.
“If you really, really, really want to honor these fallen workers, don’t do it in a day,” Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, said to thundering applause.
After his speech, the names of the workers who died were read aloud, each followed by a bell toll.
Federal cuts are raising concerns
Last month, two-thirds of NIOSH employees were notified they’d be laid off by the summer.
Sword said he’s witnessed a surge in rollbacks of workplace protections across states, specifically targeting training and education programs.
“The work and research being done at NIOSH has been incredibly helpful,” Sword said. “It’s saved many lives.”
The agency works directly with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which enforces workplace safety rules. OSHA oversees inspections in the state by conducting investigations.
Like 27 other states, West Virginia does not have a state-approved OSHA plan and relies on federal regulations. But the agency only had six inspectors covering the entire state last year.
A U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson said the agency sets enforcement policies for workplaces that include targeted inspection programs. The agency is also in charge of responding to any fatalities and complaints.
“OSHA is a small agency with a large mission,” they said.
OSHA staff have helped to uncover dangerous working conditions in places like Hardy County, where a poultry plant had many violations and instances of serious worker injuries.
They’ve also issued thousands of dollars in fines for over a dozen safety violations for a timber company in Petersburg, including for an incident that resulted in an amputation. The company shut down last year.
However, because of the limited number of investigators, it would take OSHA 180 years to complete an inspection of every private workplace in West Virginia at least once, according to the AFL-CIO report.
West Virginia
Charleston commemorates Juneteenth with downtown parade and celebration – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va – Charleston is celebrating Juneteenth with its annual parade, followed by a celebration in Slack Plaza featuring live entertainment, food, educational exhibits, and more.
The parade stepped off from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center at 11:30 on Friday with a long line of organizations participating and several community members recognized as “Mr. and Miss Juneteenth.” Smiles dotted the procession as organizers watched a community come together.
“It’s just a wonderful thing when we can bring the community together to celebrate freedom, and here in West Virginia, we’ve had some challenges because they’ve said that Juneteenth is not a state holiday, but our people are still celebrating,” parade chairperson Karen Williams said.
The parade marked the start of an entire day recognizing the history of Juneteenth, the emancipation of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people when the Union Army arrived at Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. With the last stronghold of slavery in the Confederate States eradicated that day, June 19 came to be celebrated as a second independence day, and President Joe Biden established it as a national holiday in 2021.
In West Virginia, former Gov. Jim Justice was the first to declare a state holiday and did so in each of his last four years in office. Gov. Patrick Morrisey recognized Juneteenth with a proclamation on Friday but has not declared a state holiday in 2025 or 2026.
“Representation really matters, so seeing Black queens and Black kings roaming the streets of Charleston is a beautiful thing, and it’s a needed thing. I think there’s a lot more people that aren’t going to celebrate Juneteenth than people that are, so I think it’s really important that we continue to celebrate this holiday and show why it’s important,” Miss Juneteenth Adult Keyarna Frederick said.
Different groups from around the Kanawha Valley came out to participate from businesses and youth organizations to political committees and arts collectives. Williams believes that shows that Juneteenth is a day for the entire community to celebrate.
“Appalachian people have always grown up and lived together, and what we want—we want people to continue that. We want people to continue to be together. We’re not saying this is a Black event or a white event. We welcome all people to come and participate,” she said.
The parade route echoed her sentiment as nearly everyone who joined the parade shared handshakes, high-fives, and hugs. That spirit of togetherness spoke to the day’s honorees as well.
“It’s definitely something that we should all be celebrating. It’s for all of us, not just for a certain color or a certain kind. It’s for all of us, so I believe everyone should be celebrating this day,” Mr. Juneteenth Adult Edward Frederick said.
“This is my first time in the parade. It’s so beautiful. It’s so amazing to see different organizations a part of the parade, seeing how much muscle has went into even doing something like this, so I think it’s a beautiful thing for Charleston,” Keyarna Frederick added.
From the parade to the activities in Slack Plaza, the day’s organizers sought to create an environment to celebrate Juneteenth with a spirit of unity. Williams hopes that anyone that joined or watched felt that along the way.
“I want them to see that we are Almost Heaven, West Virginia; that we are celebrating freedom; and that we are a community that embraces one another,” she said.
BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – We have a traffic alert for drivers in the Danville area of Boone County.
Starting on Friday, they should expect delays as crew perform work on the Jill Micah Hess Bridge along U.S. 119.
According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, northbound traffic will be shifted from the slow lane to the fast lane.
This will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and drivers are asked to expect delays.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
Community Catalyst Grant applications are open through West Virginia First Foundation through June 30 – WV MetroNews
The West Virginia First Foundation, which was established to use drug lawsuit settlement money to try to alleviate problems related to addiction, reported having access to $378.5 million in financial resources and noted that more than $34 million in grants have been awarded since the organization’s start.
The West Virginia First Foundation met for a few minutes Thursday at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston. The meeting was also available for view through streaming.
Executive Director Jonathan Board highlighted the launch of the Community Catalyst Grant application and a statewide needs assessment intended to identify service gaps.
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. The program opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30.
“We’re very encouraged by the interest and engagement so far,” Board said.
The board also approved a $4 million funding request for the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. 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.
Additional details about the project and funding agreement are to be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. West Virginia First Foundation and Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process is complete.
“They’ve gone through a very rigorous process for the correct funding,” Board said. “Their team has presented an opportunity to fund a project that will build technology, training and support systems of care needed to expand access to an innovative addiction treatment approach throughout the state of West Virginia, and really beyond.”
The West Virginia First Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2023 to manage and distribute 72.5% of the state’s opioid settlement funds, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. The organization is aimed at combatting the addiction crisis through grants and regional projects.
The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s Board of Directors is scheduled for Sept. 17 although it’s subject to change.
-
Lifestyle14 minutes agoJames Burrows, director of classic shows ‘Cheers’ and ‘Friends,’ dies at 85
-
Technology22 minutes agoNothing cancels this year’s CMF phone due to RAM prices
-
World29 minutes agoTwo-train crash leaves at least 1 dead, 89 injured as emergency crews rush to chaotic scene
-
Politics32 minutes agoDouble endorsement drama: Trump backs second candidate in red state’s GOP gubernatorial runoff
-
Health37 minutes agoMeasles-infected traveler may have exposed passengers at LAX and nearby hotel, health officials warn
-
Sports44 minutes agoWorld Cup Red Cards: 2026 Has More Red Cards Than Each Of Last 2 World Cups
-
Technology47 minutes agoChina’s brain chip breakthrough raises big questions
-
Business52 minutes agoRanch lovers can soon travel with a TSA-friendly kit of the popular American dressing
