Mountain State Matters

West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s one of the best places in the United States to go white water rafting, tour a coal mine, go hiking in one of the state’s 49 state parks, eat ramps or watch the sun set.

It’s also the second-poorest state in the country and is plagued by poverty-related issues such as lack of transportation, lack of jobs and environmental problems.

Several times I’ve mentioned the state’s name, I’m convinced the person I’m talking to has no clue that West Virginia is actually a state of its own, and not just part of Virginia. (WV actually became a state when it separated from Virginia to join the Union side of the fight during the Civil War.)

So, this is an antidote for those clueless about the Mountain State, as well as a resource for those living in West Virginia or interested in West Virginia news and issues. Some topics that I expect to be following are:

1. Environmental/Mountaintop Removal issues. The Mountain State is on its way to becoming mountainless and flat, thanks to the coal mining technique of mountaintop removal. Mining is always in the news, and the industry and environmental ramifications are issues that affect most West Virginians.

2. Health Care issues. As the Democratic presidential primaries make their way to West Virginia, the candidates’ separate health care plans are important issues. West Virginia constantly ranks among the fattest states in the nation, and 8.9 percent of the state’s children are uninsured.

3. The country’s economic problems. As the United States’ economic forecast continues to look bleaker, I’d like to explore the effects on an area that has had chronic economic problems for a number of years.