AGP Executive Report

Health & Care Access: An Ohio University team won a nearly $4 million NIH grant to expand a primary-care model for prescribing medication for opioid use disorder across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia, aiming to close the gap between what’s proven and what’s actually offered. Food & Public Health: A federal voluntary phase-out of certain synthetic dyes by end of 2026 faces pushback as major companies haven’t fully committed, while West Virginia is among states that have moved to restrict the additives. Community Memory: Hundreds gathered in Triadelphia to dedicate a flood memorial marking the June 14, 2025 flash flood that killed nine people, keeping names and stories at the center of recovery. Sports & Local Pride: WVU baseball advanced in the College World Series, setting up a winner’s bracket showdown with North Carolina, while the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy North celebrated the graduation of its 66th class at Camp Dawson. Culture & Belonging: Morgantown Pride and Parkersburg Pride both drew growing crowds for Pride Month events, with more vendors and local LGBTQ+ performers showing up to build community.

Opioid care in primary settings: Ohio University researchers won a nearly $4M NIH grant to expand a model that helps primary care clinics prescribe medication for opioid use disorder, scaling to about 40 clinics across Ohio and West Virginia with local health partners. Food & health: A new report says synthetic dyes show up in nearly 1 in 5 packaged foods (and far more in children’s products), as a voluntary FDA phase-out by end of 2026 faces pushback and uneven industry follow-through—West Virginia is among states with restrictions. LGBTQ+ community life: Parkersburg Pride at City Park grew with more vendors and sponsors, while Morgantown Pride’s Pride Block Party drew 50+ vendors and local performers, pairing celebration with resource-sharing. Local history & identity: Boone County finished its America250 mural project with a tourism grant. Education & culture: Wheeling University received provisional reauthorization from the HEPC to confer degrees, tied to continued essential services. Sports as regional culture: WVU and North Carolina meet again in the College World Series with a berth on the line, as Omaha weather threatens play. Community memory: One year after Ohio County floods, residents reflect on loss and recovery.

Higher Ed & Community: Wheeling University received provisional reauthorization from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, allowing it to confer degrees while meeting ongoing compliance and essential-services requirements. Public Health & Care Access: An Ohio University-led team won a nearly $4 million NIH grant to expand opioid use disorder treatment support in primary care across about 40 Ohio and West Virginia clinics, aiming to close the gap between what’s proven and what’s prescribed. Culture & Learning: West Virginia’s Golden Horseshoe program honored 225 eighth graders statewide, including four students from Greenbrier County recognized for standout West Virginia history knowledge. Local History & Arts: Carnegie Hall’s ArtWalk exhibition spotlights multidisciplinary artist Thomas Ott, a Follansbee native known for murals and craft work. Community Resilience: One year after the Ohio County floods, residents and first responders reflect on what they lost—and how they rebuilt. Youth Outdoors: The West Virginia DNR is hosting a free youth fishing derby at Bowden Fish Hatchery on June 13 as part of Free Fishing Days. Sports & Pride: WVU baseball coach Steve Sabins was named National Coach of the Year after leading the Mountaineers to their first College World Series appearance.

Community & Outdoors: West Virginia DNR is hosting Free Fishing Days June 13-14, with a youth-only derby at Bowden Fish Hatchery (ages 3-14) featuring grade-level fishing sessions and prizes—an easy way to get families on the water without a license. Civil Rights & Local History: Clarksburg renamed the Hammond Highway Bridge for Philip W. Carter Jr., a longtime civil rights activist and higher-ed educator. Education & Health: New West Virginia Supreme Court justices Bill Flanigan and H.L. Kirkpatrick are set to weigh a major school vaccine case tied to religious exemptions. Youth & Safety: Marion County Rescue Squad became the first WV EMS agency recognized for pediatric readiness under the state’s Always Ready for Kids program. Higher Ed & Workforce: Bluefield State University won approval to launch a Master of Science in Engineering Technology, starting fall 2026. Arts & Culture: Bluefield’s Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Celebration returns with a free film screening and a downtown community festival. Public Health & Policy: A national push is growing around alcohol-detection tech for school buses after a West Virginia crash injured 19 students.

College Sports & Culture: College baseball’s College World Series is underway in Omaha, with West Virginia making its first trip and opening Friday against Troy, while the tournament’s double-elimination format keeps the field famously unpredictable. Local Education & Health Workforce: WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital unveiled plans for a new Center for Nursing Education in the former NTTC building, aiming to train about 26 future RNs in a tuition-free, 21-month program starting fall 2027. Public Health & Recovery: A new study comparing naloxone routes in 9-1-1 EMS calls finds intramuscular naloxone linked to faster recovery and fewer repeat doses than intranasal. Kids & Community Well-Being: West Virginia’s Kids Count report shows slight improvement in child well-being across multiple indicators. Outdoor Family Fun: The state Division of Natural Resources is hosting a free youth fishing derby at the Bowden Fish Hatchery on June 13 as part of Free Fishing Days. Arts, History & Learning: Morgantown’s Service League is running a pottery workshop for young students that ties hands-on art to local history and America 250. Opioid Settlement Use: Hancock County commissioners approved additional agreements for distributing opioid settlement funds, including memorandums with local groups and services. Food & Consumer Safety: A report says synthetic dyes remain in about 1 in 5 packaged foods, with West Virginia among states that have moved to restrict them.

Maternal Mental Health: West Virginia’s maternal mental health score improved to a B-Minus in the 2026 report card, up from a D-Minus in 2023, as the state expands screening and treatment access through the Perinatal Partnership. Water Crisis in Southern WV: A Gazette-Mail series highlights worsening drinking-water conditions in McDowell County, with Rep. Riley Moore bringing jars of discolored water to a House Appropriations meeting to press for funding. Foster Care Savings Accounts: First Lady Melania Trump announced “Fostering the Future Accounts,” a Treasury-backed $1,000 seed program for eligible foster children, with states including West Virginia signing on. Food & Health Policy: A new look at synthetic dyes finds they’re still in about 1 in 5 packaged foods nationwide, with West Virginia among states that have moved to restrict them. Opioid Treatment Access: Ohio University researchers won a nearly $4 million NIH grant to expand primary-care support for prescribing medications for opioid use disorder across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia. Culture & Music: WV Public Broadcasting’s “Us & Them” spotlights West Virginia Music Hall of Fame inductee Daniel Johnston and his outsider-art legacy. Sports & Community: The Big 12 released the 2026-27 basketball scheduling matrices, with West Virginia set for specific home-and-road matchups in both men’s and women’s leagues.

Health & Care Access: Ohio University researcher Berkeley Franz secured a nearly $4M NIH grant to expand a primary-care model for opioid use disorder treatment across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia, pairing prescribing support and mentorship with long-term patient tracking. Local Giving & Kids’ Health: Circus Saints and Sinners pledged $100,000 to the new WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Center in Wheeling, with Party on the Plaza proceeds funding the commitment. Youth Stability: Mission West Virginia’s Bridge Program says 98% of its seniors (125 students) graduated this year, with mentors helping kids in foster and kinship care finish school and plan ahead. Community Pride: Shepherdstown’s second annual Pride Parade kicked off Pride Month with a youth-led theme, honoring local queer businesses and community leaders ahead of expected court action on transgender girls’ sports. Outdoor Learning: Appalachian Headwaters in Greenbrier County is drawing students to hands-on wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration, turning field trips into “community science” for state agencies. Policy Watch: The new WV Vape Safety Act begins rolling out this week, adding labeling rules, age-21 requirements, and licensing oversight for vape shops. Sports Culture: WVU baseball is set for its first College World Series game Friday, with the matchup against Troy highlighting pitching, speed, and high-stakes momentum.

Pride & Community: Shepherdstown kicked off Pride Month with its 2nd annual Pride Parade, themed “Trusting Our Youth to Lead Us,” honoring local LGBTQ+ businesses and spotlighting a transgender sports case expected to be decided soon. Pride & Belonging: Morgantown Pride’s Pride Block Party returns Saturday at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park with live music, vendors, and a drag show—an explicitly “you’re always welcome here” celebration. Education & Access: Save the Children is applying for a new childcare education program to boost qualified staff in 14 rural WV counties, paying tuition and adding support for barriers like internet, fuel, and childcare. Higher Ed & Change: Marshall University approved cutting seven certificate and degree programs as it works through a budget deficit while aiming for growth. School Policy & Rights: The U.S. Education Department admitted it violated a federal court order in Title IX cases tied to gender identity and sexual orientation. Sports & Safety: A new lawsuit in Washington alleges a trans athlete sexually assaulted a female wrestler, raising fresh debate over school sports rules and student protections. Health & Food: A new report finds synthetic dyes show up in nearly 1 in 5 packaged foods, with children’s products higher—while West Virginia is among states with restrictions. Public Health & Treatment: Ohio University researchers won an NIH grant to expand opioid use disorder medication support in primary care across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia.

Child & Family Funding: West Virginia’s Family Support Centers face a July 1 budget crunch, with lawmakers warning federal anti-poverty dollars may fall short and staffing/program cuts could follow. Education Honors: Hundreds of West Virginia eighth graders were knighted in the 95th Golden Horseshoe ceremony, celebrating top scores on the state history exam. Local Schools: Marshall County BOE received an update on the future Riverside Elementary School, with bidding expected soon and a new campus identity in the works. Recovery & Community Services: Brooke County commissioners heard a funding request from Empower and Link Inc., seeking opioid-settlement support to expand housing, utilities, food, and recovery services. Public Safety: West Virginia Division of Forestry says burn rules loosen June 1, but warns dry conditions can quickly bring fire risk back. LGBTQ+ Safety: A new analysis ranks West Virginia last for LGBTQ+ safety, citing gaps in nondiscrimination protections and youth-related restrictions. Civic Leadership for Youth: Davis & Elkins College hosted American Legion Auxiliary Rhododendron Girls State, with state leaders speaking to rising young women. Sports & Community Pride: WVU baseball’s long road back to the College World Series is framed as a perseverance story after the program once teetered on being dropped.

Community & Culture: Ohio University Southern is documenting African American stories along the Ohio River corridor in a new documentary, collecting oral histories from the Underground Railroad through segregation and integration. Education & Equity: Kentucky’s child poverty is down since 2019, but the latest Kids Count report says nearly one in five kids still lack what they need—an affordability and health warning that also puts West Virginia in the spotlight. Local Government & Family Support: Tucker County’s Family Support Center is asking residents to share stories with Gov. Morrisey’s office as funding uncertainty threatens parenting education, support groups, and kinship services. Youth & Summer Meals: Preston County is restarting a free summer feeding program for kids 18 and under, with meal pickups beginning June 29. LGBTQ+ Safety: A new SafeHome.org analysis ranks West Virginia last for LGBTQ+ safety, citing gaps in nondiscrimination protections and youth-related restrictions. Heritage & Learning: West Virginia’s Golden Horseshoe program wrapped up with new eighth-grade Knights and Ladies honored for state history, geography, government, and culture. Outdoors for Kids: The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources will host a free youth fishing derby at the Bowden Fish Hatchery on June 13. Sports & Pride: WVU baseball’s run to the College World Series comes after the program once faced near-disbanding doubts.

Education & Choice: West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack is urging families to apply for the Hope Scholarship before the June 15 deadline, touting a surge to 25,675 started applications for 2026-27 and $5,435.62 per student for eligible K-12 families. Child Wellbeing: A new Kids Count snapshot keeps WV at 41st overall for child wellbeing, with poverty still driving worse health and education outcomes. Housing Stability: In Wood County, Legal Aid of West Virginia is set to expand eviction-prevention services with $145,982 in HOME-ARP funds, pairing legal help with renter/landlord rights education. Public Schools & Culture: A West Virginia Board of Education leader argues school choice is “here to stay” and presses districts to clean up outdated policies. Community Life: Bridgeport’s therapy dog Connor was honored by city council with a proclamation—then celebrated with an attempted nap. Local Justice: A former Wheeling Middle School principal, Rich McCardle, faces a felony child abuse charge tied to an alleged March incident.

Child Wellbeing: West Virginia held steady at 41st nationally in the 2026 Kids Count Data Book, with 22% of children living in poverty—policy analysts point to wages and family economic support as key levers. Housing & Homelessness: Wood County HOME Consortium awarded Legal Aid of West Virginia $145,982 to expand eviction-prevention legal help and renters’ rights education, aiming to reduce homelessness. Summer Meals: Wood County Schools will offer free summer breakfast and lunch starting June 15 at 12 sites, with no registration needed for kids under 18. Pride Reading: Essex-area libraries are curating Pride Month “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors” book picks to help readers find empathy and new perspectives. Sports & Community: WVU Tech highlights affordability with $4.4M in scholarships/aid for 2026-27, while WVU’s URC robotics team earned top results at the University Rover Challenge. Justice: Rachel Shoaf was denied parole for a third time in the Skylar Neese case. Culture History: Greenbrier Historical Society board member Janice Cooley was named a 2026 West Virginia History Hero.

Medicaid & work requirements: A major federal push to enforce Medicaid work rules is already threatening coverage for millions, with critics saying the paperwork-heavy system hits working people and the administratively vulnerable hardest. Immigration & asylum: A federal judge ruled Trump administration asylum processing freezes violated federal immigration law, calling it “legal limbo” for applicants tied to a travel-ban-era pause. Homelessness in WV: New federal estimates show homelessness rose in West Virginia from 2024 to 2025, even as the rest of the country saw a decline. Supreme Court watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is nearing big decisions on gun rights, transgender athlete bans, and immigration-related disputes—issues that will ripple into West Virginia schools and communities. Childcare strain: West Virginia’s childcare system is facing rising costs, low wages, and shrinking spots, leaving tens of thousands of children without access. Energy & coal politics: Gov. Morrisey and leaders are touting Trump’s roughly $700M coal energy investment, including grid and plant modernization efforts tied to federal initiatives. WVU health expansion: WVU Health System signed a deal to acquire Independence Health System, aiming to expand services across five Southwestern Pennsylvania hospitals. Local culture & community: The Calfee Community and Cultural Center announced its June 20 fundraising gala, and Bedford County’s America250 events spotlight local Revolutionary-era history through the Fort Bedford River Rendezvous. Sports & pride: WVU’s baseball run to the College World Series continues to draw national attention, while WVU’s robotics team earned top marks at the University Rover Challenge in Utah.

Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on major “culture wars” cases, including gun rights and whether transgender athletes can compete on women’s teams—decisions that could directly reshape West Virginia school sports. Coal & Energy: Gov. Morrisey says West Virginia will benefit from Trump’s announced $700 million energy push, with projects tied to grid upgrades and coal plant modernization. Health Care: WVU Health System signed a deal to acquire Pennsylvania’s Independence Health System, aiming to expand services and invest $800 million across the partner hospitals. Local Politics: Delegate Laura Kimble has filed an election contest after losing a GOP primary by six votes, citing possible voting irregularities in Harrison County. Community & Heritage: Harrisville’s America 250 event honored Revolutionary War-era patriots at Pioneer Cemetery, tying local history to the national anniversary. Education & Youth: Bridgeport alum Miyah Swiger brought global agriculture learning back from Spain through the FFA International Leadership Seminar. Sports & Pride: WVU baseball’s run to the College World Series is celebrated after a dominant Super Regional win over Cal Poly. Lifestyle Picks: A roundup of free summer things to do highlights West Virginia’s waterfalls, trails, and scenic stops for families.

Supreme Court Culture-Wars Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide major cases touching gun rights and transgender athletes, including whether West Virginia’s ban on transgender athletes can stand. Human Services Leadership: Gov. Morrisey named William “Bill” D’Aiuto as the new COO of the Department of Human Services, aiming to tighten operations across child welfare, Medicaid, SNAP, and behavioral health. Coal, Energy, and Politics: West Virginia leaders praised Trump’s roughly $700 million push for coal power, including funding tied to the Defense Production Act. Immigration Enforcement Funding: Congress is moving toward a large Homeland Security funding package that would keep Trump’s mass deportation agenda funded. Public Health Close to Home: A salmonella outbreak linked to backyard chicken flocks has spread across many states, with West Virginia among those reporting cases. Local Civic Life: A Bridgeport delegate candidate is filing an election contest after losing a GOP primary by six votes. Sports & Community Pride: WVU’s baseball run to the College World Series is being framed as a comeback story after the program nearly faced the chopping block years ago. Summer Culture: The 22nd annual West Virginia Hot Dog Festival drew big crowds in Huntington, with dachshund races and dozens of vendors.

Coal & Energy Policy: The Trump administration is set to push nearly $700 million into the U.S. coal industry, including about $425 million for 13 existing coal plants with major funding tied to West Virginia, plus grants for new coal power builds (including one in West Virginia) and a restart near Cumberland. Foster Care & Courts: A federal class action lawsuit over West Virginia’s foster care system is back on track after a Fourth Circuit ruling reversed a dismissal, with claims that children are often placed in hotels, shelters, institutions, or out of state. Public Health & Innovation: A Morgantown-developed drug for opioid use disorder, GATC-1021, has shown promising early results published in PNAS, with human clinical trials expected next. Community Life & Events: Parkersburg’s McClinton Chevrolet held its 14th annual car show for the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, and Wheeling’s Ohio River Splashtacular returns Sunday with water-ski shows and family activities benefiting Easterseals. Local Politics: Bridgeport delegate candidate Laura Kimble files an election contest after losing a GOP primary by six votes, alleging possible voting irregularities in Harrison County. Culture & Identity: A Morgantown lab-to-clinic story meets local tradition as the New River Gorge Historical Society hosts a Miners’ Vacation fish fry fundraiser in Hinton.