FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, August 13, 2022
CONTACT: Jordan Damron, [email protected]
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West Virginia Week In Review
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On Thursday, Gov. Justice issued a State of Emergency to address critical staffing shortages at correctional facilities in West Virginia. The State of Emergency empowers the Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard to support the Department of Homeland Security with National Guard personnel sufficient to alleviate staffing shortages at adult and juvenile correctional and detention facilities.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Justice announced the preliminary approval of $6 million in grant funding for two massive broadband infrastructure projects – spanning Kanawha, Jackson, and Lincoln counties – through the Line Extension Advancement and Development program.
The program is a branch of Gov. Justice’s Billion-Dollar Broadband Strategy – a plan to invest over $1 billion in state and federal funds to make broadband connectivity available for the first time to 200,000 West Virginia homes and businesses.
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Gov. Justice hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of the West Virginia State Tax Department’s new Taxpayer Engagement Center. Located in downtown Charleston, the Taxpayer Engagement Center consolidates taxpayer access locations in the area to a single, modern location, designed for ease of access and customer service.
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The West Virginia Department of Education, in partnership with Marshall University’s June Harless Center, welcomed American singer-songwriter, actress, and early childhood literacy advocate Dolly Parton to the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences in Charleston. Her visit was a part of West Virginia’s celebration of the successful statewide coverage of her pre-eminent, book-gifting program, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
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Gov. Justice announced Thursday that the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s recently-created Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities has transferred ownership of the Heartland Intermodal Gateway in Prichard to the Wayne County Commission.
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Gov. Justice announced Monday that Larry Pack will be joining his administration as Senior Advisor.
“Larry is a dear friend and trusted advisor to me on a range of issues,” Gov. Justice said. “He will bring a wealth of wisdom to my administration from his decades of private sector experience. This position is perfect for Larry because he truly loves this state and wants to give back in public service differently than he has before.”
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Seven paving projects are among 10 construction contracts awarded by the West Virginia Division of Highways on between Thursday, July 28, and Friday, Aug. 5. The paving projects were awarded from a bid letting held Tuesday, July 12, and are part of an aggressive summer paving campaign being conducted by the WVDOH.
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The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Behavioral Health reports that West Virginia has successfully transitioned to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s new three-digit number (988).
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is operated in West Virginia by First Choice Services and funded by the BBH.
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A massive renovation project on Hal Greer Boulevard all the way from Washington Avenue to Third Avenue in Huntington is among 20 projects included in a bid letting held by the West Virginia Division of Highways on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
The WVDOH is reviewing the bids and hopes to award the contracts for these projects soon.
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The West Virginia Board of Education named David Roach as the next State Superintendent of Schools today during its meeting in Charleston. Roach, who has served as Executive Director of the School Building Authority of West Virginia since April 2018, brings extensive public education experience to the position. He will be the 33rd West Virginia Superintendent of Schools.
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The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles announced Thursday that residents now have a new, convenient option for getting their REAL ID ahead of the federal deadline on May 3, 2023.
The DMV’s new digital service – REAL ID Headstart – offers an easy and guided path through pre-enrollment by allowing applicants to verify their identity, upload required documents, and schedule their REAL ID appointment.
REAL ID Headstart is available at dmv.wv.gov.
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West Virginia Division of Highways maintenance crews are working on a major repair on Martin’s Branch Road (WV 622) in Kanawha County, where a section of road was damaged after a culvert washed out during flooding on Wednesday, Aug. 10. With the flood damage impacting the entire width of the roadway, drivers are being advised to use other routes until the repair is complete.
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