opioid crisis
Man featured in Brad Paisley music video reflects, hopes to educate on substance use disorder
It was nothing short of chance that landed Brian Simpkins, a Logan County native, on computer and television screens across the country earlier this year as part of West Virginia native and country music star Brad Paisley’s new single, “The Medicine Will.” The 40-year-old works at least 360 days a year. While he loves to […]
In West Virginia’s opioid crisis, a new high school will serve teens in recovery
In West Virginia, the state hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, kids haven’t been immune to the problem, and it isn’t easy to get help. This year, there have been 2,720 emergency room visits from kids 19 and under related to overdoses, according to West Virginia Office of Drug Control data. The office also reported […]
WV First Foundation would better serve state if it represented those affected by opioid epidemic
Last week, Gov. Jim Justice finally announced his appointments to the West Virginia First Foundation Board, a group that will decide how the state’s opioid settlement money will be spent. He was only six weeks late in his appointments. Listen, the man loves being fashionably late. That’s not the only glaring issue. The foundation is […]
Meet the people deciding how to spend $50 billion in opioid settlement cash
As more than $50 billion makes its way to state and local governments to compensate for the opioid epidemic, people with high hopes for the money are already fighting over a little-known bureaucratic arm of the process: state councils that wield immense power over how the cash is spent. In 14 states, these councils have […]
Multiple WV counties short on school safety officers while the governor touts a $1.8B surplus
Cpl. Mike Talbott walks around the grounds of Cabell Midland High School, one of West Virginia’s largest high schools, its sprawling campus nestled between rolling hills and Interstate 64. As a school resource officer, some of his day is spent checking outside doors and classrooms for safety concerns. Another part of his day — the […]