Author: alaynadegenhardt

Choosing to Work Rather Than Retire?

By: Alayna Degenhardt

Charleston Gazette-Mail reported last week that only 400 public employees filed for retirement compared to the usual 1,000. Why has this sudden change occured? 

During the 2018 and 2019 year, public employees across West Virginia saw a pay increase of around 5%. Consolidated Public Retirement Board executive director, Jeffrey Fleck, says this could possibly be the reason public employees are choosing not to retire quite yet. 

Is this something good for West Virginia? 

Well, if we continue to have public employees choose to keep working instead of retiring what does that say about us? We had to increase the pay of public employees to get them continue working instead of retiring. 

On the other hand, it is nice to see that a pay increase has motivated public employees to stay working, but that does mean that people who retire at the correct age have a longer retirement than those that do. 

Think about this too. What if you continued to work past your retirement age and once you do decide to retire, you die two years later? What would all those years working past retirement do for you? Nothing besides make you money and over-work you. 

For three years now, the United States life expectancy has been on a decline and according to The Denver Post if you want to look at why, just look at WV. 

The Denver Post stated, “West Virginia is 94 percent white. That makes it a telling indicator. Nearly 80 percent of the Americans who die each year are white people, and death rates rose in white men and women last year but were flat or falling in blacks and Hispanics.”

At some point, people need to leave the workforce behind. Regardless of the money situation. According to a USA Today post, the number one rule on why you should retire early is because putting off retirement could be risky. Meaning, you never know how long you will live, what your health might be in a year, or how active you will be. 

With that being said, West Virginia public employees may need to reconsider their priorities when choosing not to retire. Many factors can weigh into deciding to retire, but it is important to start early when planning to retire.

Trouble For West Virginia As Murray Energy Files Bankrupcy

By: Alayna Degenhardt

Murray Energy, the largest privately owned coal company in the US, chose to file for bankruptcy on October 29. The company has many operations across the United States and roughly 3,000 employees in West Virginia.

Murray Energy Files for chapter 11 bankrupcy

The Founder of Murray Energy, Bob Murray, has stepped down as CEO and now only holds a place on the board. What does the bankruptcy of Murray Energy mean to West Virginians?

West Virginia government officials voiced their concern with the news of Murray Energy. Senator Shelly Moore Capito said on Metronews, “The bankruptcy with Murray is a tragedy for our state.” The court showed Murray Energy as being $2.7 billion dollars in debt. 

Murray Energy plays a big role in West Virginia’s economy and employment. Yearly, Murray Energy produces 76 million tons of coal. They also employee roughly 7,000 people, and  plan to stay in operation under the Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Murray Energy has roughly $350 million dollars of cash on hand from a lending group to help them get through this time. 

Senator Joe Manchin and the United Mine Workers of West Virginia continue to voice their concerns with the bankruptcy. They claim it will directly affect their pensions and benefits. 

United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts said, “Now comes the part where workers and their families pay the price for corporate decision-making and governmental actions. Murray will file a motion in bankruptcy court to throw out its collective bargaining agreement with the union.”

Senator Manchin has been pushing Congress for years for federal support for a national pension plan for miners. Senator Joe Manchin is past years use to auto tweet every morning, “support the miners pension!”

Other West Virginia residents have made comments saying “this will be the death for West Virginia,” and it could possibly if Murray Energy can’t get back on their feet. Miners could leave the state to find jobs elsewhere, and West Virginia’s economy could fall without the support of Murray.

Guess Who’s Back. Elk Are Back!

By: Alayna Degenhardt

Most people who reside in West Virginia, are probably not aware that the state has begun to repopulate it’s grounds with Elk. The elk came over from Land Between The Lakes in Kentucky and from Arizona. 

The repopulation of Elk could bring more tourism to the state. Especially, in areas that don’t get a lot of tourism, and you know what that means. If more people are coming to the state, that means we may see a rise in our economy. 

Photo by Josh Meeder on Pexels.com

In the beginning, the elk were being held in Logan County’s Tomblin Wildlife Management, and they are certified disease free, so no worries about West Virginia trying to repopulate something that carries a harmful sickness. 

The current Elk population in West Virginia is over 80, but bringing in more Elk this year has stopped due to not being able to obtain any from other states. 

The original plan for the Elk repopulation was that at the beginning of every year, West Virginia was suppose to see Elk brought in, but that wasn’t the case this year. The Land Between The Lakes is currently trying to get their own population back-up, and the Arizona Game and Fishing Commision saw complaints from licences owners for the decrease in Elk population in their state. 

Arizona Elk head to the WV mountains

Both Kentucky and Arizona seem to be rebuilding at the moment, but West Virginia plans to see more elk in 2020. 

Former West Virginia DNR Director Frank Jezioro spoke on this issue.  “We’re definitely looking to bring in another 75 to 100 and hopefully we get that done in 2020 and 2021.” he said. “However, we have to be very careful with where we get the animals. There’s very few states where we can bring animals in due to health and disease concerns. We definitely want to be very careful with it.”

Maybe you’re wondering why would West Virginia want to bring back Elk and what would it do for us? There’s actually a lot of reasons. 

Matt Pedigo from the Michigan Wildlife Council made a good point about hunting too. “There is far more to hunting than chasing after white-tailed deer,” he said. “What many people don’t realize is how critical hunting and fishing are to maintaining the forests, waters and wildlife that everyone in the state can enjoy.”

So if you happen to find yourself driving down West Virginia back roads, make sure you look out for our new residents.

Will the Decline of the Coal Industry and Natural Gas Tank WV’s Economy?

At the beginning of 2019, West Virginia was ranked number one in the country for biggest gross domestic product rate (GDP) as it jumped 5.2% from 2018. What is causing this big jump for West Virginia when our bordering state Pennsylvania jumped only 2.9 percent? 

West Virginia is known for coal mines. Seriously, WVU football puts on a miner’s hat when they get a turn over. Everyone who lives here knows that coal brings jobs to West Virginia.

Not only has coal played a role in West Virginia’s economy, but so has natural gas. There have been major pipelines being constructed through the state even though it’s just a temporary thing. 

After the pipelines are done being constructed, will West Virginia see a downfall in state GDP growth? 

Even though the state has experienced growth, when you look deeper into it, only certain counties have contributed. The increasing number of 12,000 jobs only truly played a part in Marshal, Monongahela, Harrison, Lewis, Berkley, Jackson, Cabell and Raleigh county. 

These increases in jobs are mostly in the coal and natural gas industries, with the biggest factor being in the pipeline. Though the pipeline construction won’t be around forever. 

West Virginia Adjutant General James Hoyer spoke three weeks ago to WV state leaders in regard to the West Virginia economy. 

“It all boils down to entrepreneurship. It boils down to creating an environment conducive to small-business startup and growth. Industrial diversification is a key, key key priority for our state. There should never be a discussion without the question, what can we do to create an environment for small business startup and growth?”

All in all, the pipeline and coal going away would not tank West Virginia’s growing economy because other factors play a role, but it is certainly a concern for people currently in those fields.

Without A Place to Call Home

Photo by malcolm garret on Pexels.com

Homelessness in West Virginia has recently hit the news again after new data has emerged, but also with people voicing their concerns in Morgantown.

At a recent Morgantown city council meeting that took place on October 1st, residents and business owners spoke out about the rising rate of homeless people on High Street.

As you walk or drive down  High Street, you’ll tend to notice a startling amount of homeless people. Sad as it is, they have been causing a lot of problems with loitering, and according to business owners, they have been causing a decrease in customers.

Business owners also voiced their concerns over a “campsite” that was put up by the homeless under Decker’s Creek bridge.

Morgantown city council says they don’t believe anything will be done this year, but are hoping to introduce a plan for the beginning of next year.

Though, throughout the state, the rate of homeless youth has been rising. This is a big concern because this is West Virginia youth we are talking about! I mean can you leaving school as a child, and having no place that is a secure home for you?

West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin has had a lot to say about homelessness in West Virginia. It’s important that this issue is taken as a big concern, and not just something the legislature of West Virginia pushes aside.

So where does the youth homeless rate stand in West Virginia currently? Well, according to data on the Charleston Gazette-Mail, youth homelessness in West Virginia comes in at 10,522. Though it is important to point out something called the McKinney-Vento.

Manchin took the issue to the highest educational court to ask for attention on this issue and federal aid.

The McKinney-Vento has helped many homeless youths.

The youth homeless number has to include children living in shelters, hotels/motels, cars/RVs, other family members that are not their parents. 

The number of students classified as homeless in the 2014 and 2015 school year was 8,959, so we have seen an increase since then. 

Though according to the West Virginia Department of Education, in the year 2015 and 2016 the number was 9,320 and then went to 9,025 the following year, but then rose back up.