AGP Executive Report

Community & Service: K9s United is holding its 7th annual Police K-9 Memorial Run on Sept. 1 (9K/5K/1-mile) to honor 23 police dogs who died in the line of duty in 2025, with funds supporting training and safety gear. Education & Opportunity: West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack says more than 25,000 Hope Scholarship students will get their first quarterly payments two days early for the 2026-2027 school year. Public Health: Cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce has expanded to 15 states, including West Virginia, with officials urging caution as investigations continue; separate reports also track a growing “superbug” fungus spread in U.S. healthcare settings. Local Culture & Sports: A West Virginia University engineering student earned a Boren Scholarship to study Russian abroad, and WVU women’s soccer coach Nikki Izzo-Brown marks her 31st season with the program. Civic Life & Privacy: Huntington organizers launch a ballot initiative to block the city’s Flock surveillance system contract.

Education & Accountability: Gov. Patrick Morrisey is investigating West Virginia’s school clothing voucher program after claims that nearly half the money was withdrawn as cash at ATMs, raising concerns about whether kids’ clothing needs are being met. Local Community Support: “Stuff the Bus” is underway in Greenbrier County, with donation boxes collecting backpacks and supplies to help students and ease costs for teachers. Health & Access: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine welcomed its Class of 2030 with a record 79 in-state students, aiming to help address the physician shortage. Rural Culture & Sports: Crystal Embol won two gold medals for West Virginia at the 2026 State Games of America in tennis. Faith & Community Life: A Weston barber hosted a free back-to-school event for flood-affected families, pairing haircuts with backpacks and food. Politics & Public Trust: Elliott Pritt withdrew from the Fayette County House District 50 race, leaving no GOP candidate on the November ballot. International Religious Freedom: U.S. Rep. Riley Moore criticized India’s proposed FCRA changes, calling them a “clear attack against Christians.” Arts & Learning: WVU students are gaining hands-on hospitality experience through a growing partnership with luxury resort Nemacolin.

Voting Access & Policy: A new push for mobile voting argues it can protect ballot access as mail-in voting faces federal pressure, including efforts to restrict who can receive ballots. Public Safety: West Virginia State Police will run a sobriety checkpoint in Fayette County on Aug. 13 (Oak Hill, Route 16, 6 p.m.-midnight) to deter impaired driving. Health & Community Impact: A national landslide exposure database maps risk building-by-building, pairing hazard data with who is most vulnerable. Books & Local Culture: New Voices New Rooms spotlights independent booksellers and the retiring Eileen Dengler, with conferences and new bookstore energy. Food Safety & Accountability: Michigan confirmed two deaths tied to the Cyclospora outbreak as investigations swirl around Taylor Farms’ recall timing. Appalachian Labor & Life: A report on railroad workers says conditions have worsened since a blocked strike, with ripple effects for communities and supply chains. WV Politics & Faith: Rep. Riley Moore (WV) says India’s proposed FCRA changes could enable government takeovers of churches—calling it a “clear attack against Christians.”

Public Health: A cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has expanded to 15 states with more than 10,000 confirmed cases, and West Virginia consumers are being urged to watch for symptoms and follow recall guidance. Healthcare Access: Marshall University is moving ahead with plans for a dedicated School of Medicine facility in Huntington after the board approved purchasing nearly four acres. Mental Health & Tech: WVU researchers tested ChatGPT-5 Pro for psychiatry training and found it can help create realistic scenarios, but stressed that human supervision is essential for safety. Rural Care Partnerships: A new community pharmacy partnership is expanding heart failure support across West Virginia by connecting pharmacists with specialists for medication management and follow-up. Education Funding Fight: Gov. Morrisey’s office and lawmakers continue sparring over the early closure and funding crunch behind West Virginia’s school clothing allowance program tied to TANF. Arts & Community: West Virginia Folklife is accepting applications for its 2026-27 Folklife Apprenticeship Program, supporting traditional artists and apprentices statewide. Culture on the Move: Morgantown will host the Red Bull Chariot Race on Oct. 24, bringing a downtown build-and-race spectacle to High Street. Scholarship for Service: WVU announced the 2026 Hazel Ruby McQuain Graduate Scholarship recipients, backing graduate study aimed at community impact across the Mountain State.

Health & Safety: West Virginia is among states tied to the growing cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce; CDC reports thousands of cases nationwide and Michigan has now recorded the first outbreak-related deaths. Public Health & Schools: With measles hitting a 35-year high nationally, experts say schools need to be ready for outbreaks as MMR rates among kindergartners remain below earlier levels. State Policy & Families: Gov. Morrisey’s office says TANF will keep running through the fiscal year while it seeks new funding, and it also faces scrutiny after the School Clothing Allowance program abruptly shut down when money ran out. Culture & Community: Mercer Street’s Riff Raff Arts Collective and Lori McKinney are spotlighted ahead of Culturefest 2026, a free multi-day arts push. Sports & Local Pride: WVU Athletics lands Antero Resources as its first-ever jersey patch sponsor for all 18 varsity sports, starting 2026-27. Arts & Education: Bluefield State hosts an Engineering Appalachia roundtable on building the region’s technical workforce. Community Service: N.C. Baptists on Mission continue flood recovery work in Weston, helping with mud-out and tear-out as volunteers are still needed.

Maternal Health Access: A Parkersburg nonprofit launched a free mobile prenatal clinic to reach rural “maternal health deserts,” cutting the transport gap for early pregnancy care. Heart Care in Rural WV: A new pharmacist-to-cardiology program places 22 pharmacists across 12 WV and southern PA locations as ongoing support for heart failure patients between specialist visits. Education & Food Security: Greenbrier County Schools will again provide free breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision program. School Policy Pressure: West Virginia’s Third Grade Success Act may hold back some third graders who miss reading benchmarks, with exemptions varying by student. Community & Culture: Charleston Ballet announced its 71st season, including a world premiere “The Legend of Mothman” and the return of “The Nutcracker.” Public Health Watch: Measles cases hit the highest annual total since 1991, with WV pointing to MMR vaccination as a key factor. Disaster Recovery: Trump approved West Virginia’s $4.5 million disaster declaration request for Upshur and Lewis counties after flooding. TANF Tension: The state’s TANF review continues amid controversy over the school clothing allowance program running out of funds.

Local Environment & Permitting: Kanawha County commissioners asked the state DEP to hold off on an air quality permit for Clean-Seas West Virginia’s proposed plastics pyrolysis plant near schools and homes until residents get more details. Family Policy & Daily Life: West Virginia Department of Human Services highlighted Child Support Awareness Month, saying its Bureau for Child Support Enforcement distributed $181.7M to nearly 60,000 children and manages 69,240 active cases. Public Health & Food Security: A new report warns that after cyclospora, foodborne illness outbreaks may keep coming as labs and surveillance systems face strain. Community Mental Health: NAMI West Virginia will host a behavioral health listening tour in Beckley Aug. 13 at WVU Tech to gather input for a statewide mental health report. Culture & Youth: WVU Tech and local partners are also drawing attention to youth and education through events and school-support efforts, including a church-led “Stuff the Bus” drive in Wheeling. Arts & Heritage: Appalachian musician Phillip Bowen is set to perform at the State Fair of West Virginia Aug. 15, bringing mountain roots to a statewide stage.

Outdoor & Community Events: The West Virginia Water Festival in Hinton wrapped up with its first annual kayaking race on the New River, adding a new “water-focused” tradition to the long-running 61-year celebration. Local Culture & Lifestyle: Heritage Farm Museum and Village near Huntington is being highlighted as West Virginia’s only Smithsonian affiliate, blending antiques, artisans, animals, and outdoor adventure for families and weekend travelers. Public Health & Safety: Federal regulators issued an egg recall tied to drug-resistant Salmonella illnesses across 17 states, and a separate recall flagged nearly 23,000 pounds of baked spaghetti and chicken cobbler products that may contain metal slivers, including distribution in West Virginia. State Policy & Daily Life: West Virginia lawmakers are pressing for answers after the school clothing voucher program shut down early, with debate over TANF funding, transparency, and how many families depend on it. Youth & Education: West Virginia 4-H competed at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational at WVU’s Jackson’s Mill, with a West Virginian placing among top individual scorers. Sports & Local Interest: West Virginia football players Jordan Scruggs and Eddie Kelly Jr. are seeking court action to pursue an extra NCAA eligibility year.

Community Health Hiring: Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority is recruiting EMTs and paramedics, including a new EMT academy track, as it tries to strengthen emergency coverage. School Clothing Voucher Shock: West Virginia’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families-funded School Clothing Allowance program shut down early after running out of money, even as Gov. Morrisey promoted a back-to-school sales tax holiday. Local Arts & Music: Woody Fest 2026 brought major hip-hop acts to the Shawnee Sports Complex, giving Kanawha County a long-awaited homegrown-style crowd moment. Public Service & Faith-Based Support: Love in Action in Welch distributed clothing, backpacks, and bicycles, with organizers passing the torch to a new ministry team. Family Safety & Justice: West Virginia State Police charged a Mercer County man with 25 counts tied to suspected child sexual abuse material after a Google cyber tip and subsequent investigation. Culture & Tradition: The West Virginia State Water Festival kept rolling with its grand parade, vendors, live music, and a Sunday kayak race. Food Lore: A roundup highlights why the pepperoni roll remains a West Virginia coal-country staple tied to early Italian immigrant life.

Community & Culture Calendar: The West Virginia State Water Festival keeps rolling Saturday with a grand parade, vendors, and live music in Hinton, then wraps Sunday with a kayak race at The Pointe. Local Giving: In Welch, Love in Action brought hundreds together at the Armory to distribute clothing, backpacks, and bicycles, with organizers saying the mission continues under new leadership. Health & Community Support: West Virginia Donor Day is Saturday, spotlighting organ, eye, and tissue registration and noting only 36% of residents are registered—plus a “Ducking for Donor Day” campaign to spread the word. Arts & Education: WVU’s Art Museum is bringing Blanche Lazzell’s work home for its largest exhibition ever, returning for Fall 2026 after a two-year national tour. Food & Lifestyle: A Morgantown Main Street opening celebrates Tikka Shack, aiming for “authentic flavor” while keeping Indian food approachable. Sports & Youth: Berkeley County Youth Fair continues through Aug. 8, with 4-H, FFA, Scouting America, and more bringing hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of projects. Church & Community Change: St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Weirton faces possible closure after the diocese declared it “imperiled,” with activities paused during an appeal.

School Meals Access: Nicholas County Schools will again offer free breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), aiming to keep nearly 3,000 kids fed and ready to learn. Education Policy Fight: A federal school choice push has now pulled in 31 states, while others like Pennsylvania and Illinois raise concerns about oversight and accountability. Health & Safety in Schools: The U.S. Department of Education is demanding Washington and California change student-record and transgender-related policies, warning of funding consequences. Local Church Uncertainty: St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Weirton faces possible closure after the diocese labeled it “imperiled,” with activities paused during an appeal. Courts & College Sports: WVU’s Javan Buchanan’s NCAA waiver for an extra year was denied, sending the case into legal steps. Community & Culture: WVU’s Art Museum is bringing home Blanche Lazzell’s largest exhibition ever for Fall 2026, spotlighting the Monongalia County modernist pioneer. Environment & Permits: Kanawha County commissioners urged the state DEP to hold off on an air-quality permit for a proposed “advanced recycling” plastics pyrolysis plant near schools and homes. Disaster Relief Logistics: Buckhannon’s flood Distribution Center at West Virginia Wesleyan College will close Sunday, with remaining supplies moving to Lewis County. Podcast Spotlight: “This West Virginia Week” covers remote work efforts, flood recovery updates, and the state’s first measles case in two years.

Flood Relief & Community Logistics: Buckhannon’s West Virginia Wesleyan College distribution center for July 21 flood supplies will close Sunday, with remaining items moving to Lewis County’s Market Place Mall site as recovery shifts from emergency response to longer-term staging. Arts & Local Pride: WVU’s Art Museum is bringing home the largest-ever exhibition of alum Blanche Lazzell, a Monongalia County modernism pioneer, returning for Fall 2026 after a national tour. Education & Early Learning: The Trump administration is preparing to roll back major Head Start requirements, raising fears that math/literacy, health checks, and anti-poverty supports could be weakened. Health & Giving: West Virginia Donor Day on Aug. 1 spotlights organ registration (only 36% registered in WV) and the “Pledge for Life,” with WVU Medicine urging sign-ups. Local Culture & Food: Tikka Shack Indian Grub opened in Morgantown, aiming for “authentic” but approachable Indian food. Community Events: Elkins celebrates Tree City status with Arbor Day plantings, while Kanawha Valley’s weekend calendar highlights family-friendly activities. Safety & Accountability: Kanawha County residents are pushing back on a proposed Clean Seas “advanced recycling” plastics pyrolysis permit near schools and homes. Scouting & Inclusion: Scouting America’s National Jamboree in West Virginia removed dedicated spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, girls, and scouts of color after Pentagon pressure. Civic Tension: West Virginia’s school clothing voucher program was abruptly closed early, sparking outrage from the state treasurer over timing and funding claims.

Local Arts: WVU’s Art Museum is bringing home the largest collection of Blanche Lazzell’s work for its biggest-ever exhibition, “Blanche Lazzell: Becoming an American Modernist,” returning for Fall 2026 after a two-year national tour. Public Health: West Virginia confirmed a measles case in an unvaccinated Barbour County resident; officials say there are no reported cases in Harrison County and are urging MMR vaccination and symptom awareness. Community & Youth: Scouting America is ending dedicated inclusion spaces for gay youth, women, and scouts of color at its National Jamboree in West Virginia after Pentagon pressure. Sports & Courts: Two WVU football players are heading to court seeking an extra year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new age-based rule. Education & Families: West Virginia’s school Clothing Allowance Program shut down abruptly after a week as funds ran out, leaving thousands of applicants without help. Health Care Spotlight: Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley earned an American Heart Association “Get With The Guidelines” Stroke Gold Plus award again, highlighting stroke-care access statewide. Local Business: Tikka Shack Indian Grub opened in Morgantown and is already building a local following.

School Clothing Voucher Fight: West Virginia’s $200 school clothing allowance program shut down after just a week as TANF funds ran out, with State Treasurer Larry Pack calling it “outrageous” while lawmakers question how the money was handled. Back-to-School Cost Relief: Gov. Morrisey’s 4-day sales tax holiday kicks off Friday, waiving the 6% tax on qualifying school essentials. Community & Culture: Morgantown is hosting its first National Night Out Aug. 5 at Krepps Park, building ties between neighbors and first responders. Arts Spotlight: WVU’s Art Museum is bringing Blanche Lazzell’s major modernist collection back home for a fall 2026 exhibition. Health Watch: WV confirms a measles case in Barbour County, urging vaccination awareness amid a broader national outbreak. Local Food & Travel: A new Mountain Creek Appalachian Cuisine opens Aug. 8 at Pipestem, reached by tram down into the Bluestone Gorge. Sports & Education: WVU says Javan Buchanan’s NCAA waiver was denied, moving the matter into legal process. Public Safety Tech Debate: Flock surveillance cameras face growing backlash nationwide, with cities canceling or deactivating systems.

Prison Accountability: A Mount Olive inmate filed a proposed class-action saying officials diverted about $45,000 from West Virginia’s Inmate Benefit Fund to renovate executive housing and offices instead of inmate programs. Education & Equity: West Virginia’s school community is watching broader national fights as Jeffco’s Title IX dispute highlights how federal rules can threaten tens of millions in school funding—raising questions about how districts handle transgender sports eligibility. Back-to-School Support: West Virginia’s school clothing allowance program shut down after funds ran out in just a week, leaving families scrambling as backpack giveaways and other aid step in. Community Health: WVU’s Bonnie’s Bus mobile mammography is scheduled to visit multiple counties in late August, offering 3D screenings and breast care education. Local Culture & Learning: WVU’s Water Research Institute student Sarah Nelson is advancing acid mine drainage work, tying environmental science to mental health and recreation access. Heritage & History: “Echoes From the History Center” spotlights the Appalachian Freedom Heritage Initiative, documenting Underground Railroad sites across Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Public Safety & Service: Scouting America launched a Wildland Fire Management merit badge at the 2026 National Jamboree, bringing wildfire prevention and stewardship into youth programs.

Back-to-School Relief: Gov. Patrick Morrisey is pushing a four-day West Virginia sales tax holiday (midnight July 31 through Aug. 3) that waives the 6% state sales tax on qualifying school items, with officials expecting to top last year’s $3.5 million in savings. School Updates: Monongalia County’s Board of Education is moving toward hiring a construction manager for the $34 million Suncrest Middle project, aiming to open in about two years. Health & Community Care: WVU Medicine’s “Bonnie’s Bus” mammography program will make stops across central West Virginia in late August, offering 3D screenings and help enrolling for those who qualify. Public Health Reminder: Doctors are urging immunization after a confirmed measles case in central West Virginia, stressing prevention to protect kids and adults who can’t be vaccinated. Local Culture & Tradition: West Virginia Folklife is now accepting applications for its statewide Folklife Apprenticeship Program, pairing mentors and apprentices to carry on traditional music, dance, crafts, foodways, and storytelling. Sports & Spotlight: The New York Giants kicked off training camp at The Greenbrier, with players emphasizing coach John Harbaugh’s focus on intensity and execution. Education Access: West Virginia Junior College held a ribbon cutting for a new location in Sophia, expanding healthcare education statewide. Education Funding Crunch: West Virginia’s school clothing allowance applications closed after just seven days because program funding ran out.