According to WalletHub’s “States with the Most At-Risk Youth in 2026,” West Virginia is fifth. As in, only four states are worse. (Predictably, those four are Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.)

West Virginia ranks 9th for risks involving education and employment; and 5th for risks involving health. Drilling down, the state is 5th for the percentage of people aged 18-24 who do not have a degree beyond high school and are neither pursuing further education nor employed; 2nd for percentage of overweight and obese youth; and 3rd for youth poverty rate.

“A high share of youth who are not working, not getting education and generally stagnating in life can spell trouble for the future,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “States that are most impacted by this problem, as well as related issues like high youth poverty rates, widespread drug use and low test scores, need a wake-up call to invest more into improving conditions for young residents. Otherwise, the future economic and social progress of the state is in danger.”

Here in West Virginia, we know those who are among the best and brightest leave because they believe they must escape — again, unless they have reason to think they will be able to support themselves financially to a degree that breaks the cycle.

New Jersey, by the way, ranks 51st, meaning the Garden State has the fewest at-risk youth. Bruce Springsteen may need to rewrite some lyrics; but lawmakers in West Virginia would do well to take a look at what is working there and in states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Utah.

This state has so much to offer. There is so much wild, wonderful and welcoming about it — for some people. Knowing what far too many of them have experienced growing up here, West Virginia’s vulnerable kids shouldn’t have to plan to leave, get a remote job and earn $100,000 a year before they can let country roads bring them home.

Among the results are visitors from beyond the Mid-Ohio Valley who get to experience not only a fun day in the park, but the rest of what our communities have to offer.

Both the Kids Fishing Derby and Long Doggy Fest were originally part of Belpre Homecoming festivities. But organizers found a way to better serve their audiences and spread their wings with events scheduled for a different day this year. At least in the case of the fishing derby, the idea was to make sure children did not have to choose between watching their bobbers and watching the Homecoming parade.

People from Tuppers Plains, Wileyville, Middlebourne, Athens — even an organization from Florida — showed up to celebrate their furry friends or see who would be leaving town with the biggest fish tale.

More than 100 kids participated in the fishing derby.

“We love these kids,” said Jerry Burkhart, president of Frontier Bassmasters. “Wouldn’t you (rather) have these kids out here instead of on a phone?”

Indeed, wouldn’t Belpre residents rather be welcoming ALL those visitors to their parks than having them looking for something to do somewhere else?

In talking about the success of the day, Burkhart thanked Belpre Mayor Susan Abdella and other city officials for the investment in improving Civitan Park’s pond, as well as other improvements throughout the park.

“If you build it, they will come,” right? Well, in Belpre’s case, if you take care of it, invest in it and welcome people to it, they will not only come, but enjoy themselves enough that they come back.

Step one, of course, is to stop perpetually looking backward. But step two is to look for innovative ideas such as Ascend West Virginia.

NPR examined it and other similar programs across the country and noted the pandemic-born program has been effective enough that many individuals and families have chosen to stay long past their initial required tenure. That despite many employers believing THEY need to move backward and asking some of these folks to come back to the office.

For one Ascender with whom NPR spoke, West Virginia has so quickly become home that she is now willing to spend two hours in the car — each way — three days a week to commute as required to Washington, D.C., because “at the end of the day, you’re going home to a sanctuary.”

The program is working on recruiting its second round; and has inspired First Ascent, designed to keep West Virginia college graduates from leaving the state; Teachers Ascend, to recruit classroom teachers; and Ascend Heroes, to attract military veterans.

According to NPR the original program brought 700 people into the state, which meant once their families had arrived, 1,500 new West Virginians came through Ascend. An incredible 96% of them have stayed.

These are people with an average income of approximately $100,000 per year, who had so far made an approximately $580 million contribution to our economy, according to a 2023 WVU study.

If you look at what they have to say about this state — if you look at what they love and what has made them choose it as home — it is not the filthy politics, it’s not the socio-cultural crusades of confused elected officials, it’s not the cripplingly retro approach to economic policy … it’s not any of the things we KNOW drive our best and brightest young people away.

Our incredible natural treasures and warm, welcoming communities drown out all of that, for people who are comfortable in their ability to support a good quality of life for themselves.

Ascend started not as a taxpayer-funded experiment out of Charleston, by the way, but with a $25 million budget provided by Brad and Alys Smith’s Wing 2 Wing foundation.

“Where the state leaned in, it was natural because the tourism department [led at the time by Chelsea Ruby] was already advertising West Virginia,” Kenova native, Marshall University graduate and president, and former Intuit CEO Brad Smith told NPR.

Lawmakers, cabinet secretaries, the governor … elected officials at all levels, across our state, MUST learn the lessons of Ascend.

Even their nonsense is not enough to drive away digital nomads whose employers provide a comfortable wage for them. Knowing they are supported financially, they can ignore the noise, and West Virginia is more than enough.

Politicians continue to demonstrate they do not want to learn this lesson. But it is clear our mission must be to diversify and expand our economy in a way that provides the same reassurance to young people who would desperately love to stay; AND stop sending the message that we are more interested in division and exclusion than in making them feel welcome at home.

What a slap in the face.

It was followed by a nauseatingly disingenuous, “DoHS appreciates the strong response to this year’s School Clothing Allowance program.”

The department had already confused vulnerable families by waiting until July 10 to open applications to a program many were expecting to see open July 1. Now, while families are left scrambling, elected officials on both sides of the aisle are finding it difficult to swallow the claim the program has run out of money.

“The dollars that were asked for in the budget that started July 1 were appropriated by the Legislature as the governor had asked for,” said Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood. “We are in the first month of that new fiscal year. There should be no reason that in less than 31 days that he has, quote unquote, run out of money. None at all.”

“I think we’re failing our children,” said House Finance Committee Minority Chairman John Williams, D-Monongalia. “I don’t think it’s been explained exactly what the problem that the governor’s office is having, and it’s hard to be helpful when you’re unsure of what the problem is.”

Further, State Treasurer Larry Pack, also a Republican, expressed significant skepticism on the matter.

“It is outrageous and unacceptable that, as we celebrate millions of dollars in surpluses, we claim we lack the proper funding for programs that protect our most vulnerable children,” Pack said. “Providing for these needy children is a fundamental duty of government. With rising costs, we must do more to ensure that needy families have the resources required to give their children a real chance at success.”

The situation certainly gives the appearance of playing political games — and why ANYONE would do such a thing when some of West Virginia’s most at-risk children are involved is beyond basic decency — or someone has made a mistake and isn’t talking.

“These are matching dollars for federal drawdowns, and therefore, if they have mismanaged their drawdowns or have mismanaged the money in 30 days, that is an administrative problem and not a legislative problem. And we will not cover him if he’s mismanaged the situation,” Criss said.

“Between new shoes, clothes, backpack essentials, and modern classroom tech, the costs stack up quickly,” Morrisey said, indicating he knows EXACTLY what families are facing, as he touted the sales tax holiday. “As your governor, my mission is to get government out of the way and put more of your hard-earned dollars back in your pocket.”

That’s cold comfort to families for whom government — or, perhaps, politics — is very much in the way of their ability to help their kids start the school year with the clothes they’ll need.

Morrisey and leaders at the Department of Human Services must do what is necessary to resolve this shortfall — now.

* Parkersburg Moose Lodge #1118 is hosting a blood drive today (and another in October), and the Red Cross’s recently declared blood supply crisis inspired organizers to want to reach out — not only to let the public know about their own event, so they could fill all the timeslots available, but to encourage readers to seek out whichever local blood donation opportunity suits their schedule. That kind of determination to spot a problem and do something about it should spur more of us to roll up our sleeves, but also to look around at what WE can tackle.

* West Virginia Central Federal Credit Union stepped up this year for Mid-Ohio Valley students by sponsoring free admission to the annual Back-to-School Bash at Discovery World on Market over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Spartan Foundation funded a book vending machine in partnership with Wood County Schools, which the district’s director of curriculum, Ashlee Beatty, said increases kids’ access to books throughout the year. Community partners are what make the difference when local businesses and nonprofits work to support our kids. Thank you, folks.

In this study, West Virginia is 8th for access, 9th for quality and 14th for resources and economic support. That’s impressive enough, but it is also among only 12 states with universal pre-K.

WalletHub estimates every dollar invested in early education programs for disadvantaged families can generate $7.30 in economic benefits “by helping children become healthier and higher-earning adults.”

Ohio, meanwhile, ranks 32nd overall — 31st for access, 24th for quality and 35th for resources and economic support. While middle-of-the-pack may be acceptable for those in Columbus, at least there has been progress on one front, as Ohio is ranked 46th for monthly child care co-payment fees as a percentage of family income.

“The more that states invest in early education, and the more accessible they make those programs, the more they will benefit in the future,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Having access to quality early education gives students a jump start that can improve their future performance in school, as well as lead to better job opportunities and higher earnings in the long-term. A better-educated, higher-earning population will in turn bring economic benefits back to the state.”

If West Virginia is starting with providing the best possible early education, surely policymakers plan to work their way up with investments and improvements of a similar magnitude at all levels. For now, though, we can commend those who have dedicated themselves to providing a top-tier early education for our kids.

The Mountain State ranks 19th in the country for healthcare access.

Though poorer, rural residents may question that ranking, it was the good news. Now, on to the rest.

Overall, West Virginia ranks 47th this year — 41st for cost and 47th for outcomes. (Hey, it’s not dead last. Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Alaska are worse.) The state is also 51st for average monthly insurance premium (meaning we pay the most in the country), a surprising 3rd for hospital beds per capita, 48th for dentists per capita and 50th for the percentage of adults with no dental visit in the past year, and a horrifying 50th for cancer rate and 51st for stroke and heart disease rate.

Health outcomes here are abysmal, and so far, nothing lawmakers have attempted has truly addressed that it feels inevitable in West Virginia a person will be diagnosed with cancer and/or cardiovascular disease.

Yes, we have an unusually high rate of tobacco-product use here. That accounts for some of the cancer — not all of it. And yes, our diet could be better and we could be moving more. Easier said than done if you are struggling in a food desert; in a culture that doesn’t always value exercise.

“The most important step is to keep oneself healthy,” said Chunhuei Chi, a professor at Oregon State University. “At the same time, there are also factors affecting an individual’s health that are beyond an individual’s control (the societal determinants of health). Which is why collective healthcare financing, whether through private insurance, or through public health insurance, is vital to minimizing health-related expenditures.”

How many of those social determinants of health could be addressed by lawmakers who simply don’t have the will? Could we do something to make tobacco use harder/less appealing? Could we do something to better tell people what is in their air, soil and water — and protect those things? Could we stop leaning into the socio-cultural battles that depend on constituents NOT thinking very hard about why they believe and behave as they do?

Numbers in a report are one thing. But as lawmakers refuse to let go of the attitude that they either can’t or won’t do something about it, they’re killing us.

During those days, clothing priced $125 or less, laptops and tablets priced at $500 or less, school instructional materials priced at $20 or less, school supplies priced at $50 or less and sports equipment priced at $150 or less will be exempt from sales tax.

The total purchase is not limited, only the amount for each individual item.

There are restrictions, of course. Find explanations such as “‘School instructional material’ does not include any material purchased for use in a trade or business,” at tax.wv.gov/Business/Pages/SalesTaxHoliday.aspx

And, if you’re looking at some of the details wondering, for example, who tried to pass off a costume mask or wetsuit and fins as back-to-school purchases, just remember rules exist because someone tried to push the boundaries first.

There are answers to plenty of other questions on the website, too. Topics include buy-one-get-one-free, refunds, layaway, shipping and handling and more.

It is worth noting West Virginia appears to be working to better accommodate students’ and parents’ needs than some surrounding state. Policymakers are to be commended for their effort on that front.

If you’ve been putting off the inevitable, your chance is fast-approaching for back-to-school weekend shopping that will take a little less out of your wallet. Given the expenses parents know pop up to surprise us throughout the school year, you’re going to need it.

Individuals, organizations and businesses again took a greater interest than usual in taking back what was theirs — which is a wonderful thing, but also perhaps a marker of the NEED to find new resources as budgets are stretched ever tighter.

Fiscal year 2025 set the $40.6 million record. But before that, efforts to reclaim funds netted $18.6 million in 2022, $26.8 million in 2023 and $28 million in 2024. Improved educational campaigns can’t take all the credit for such a dramatic leap in people looking for their money over the past two fiscal years.

Still, those in Pack’s office have done an excellent job of guiding people through the process.

“Our team remains committed to ensure West Virginians are reconnected with their lost unclaimed property funds, and this fiscal year was no different,” Pack said. “While more than $40 million was returned, there is still much more in our system that needs to go back into the pockets of our citizens. We’re proud to present checks to individuals, businesses, municipalities, and law enforcement agencies who can then use the money to benefit their communities. We encourage more people to check our online database because you never know if you’ll find unclaimed property money in your name.”

Remember, it’s your money, not the state’s. There are still $529 million in unclaimed listings in the division’s database. It’s worth checking, at www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov.

You never know, you may get a pleasant surprise; and couldn’t we all use that right now?

Family and friends of those people know the anxiety that comes with worrying an interaction with law enforcement could go wrong because of difficulties with communication. But the program gives participating drivers a blue envelope where they can put their driver’s license, registration, insurance information, emergency contact information AND communication guidance for the responding officer.

“We’ve watched law enforcement officers rescue families from floodwaters, help communities recover, and serve West Virginians during some of their toughest moments,” Morrisey said. “The Blue Envelope Program reflects that same commitment to public service by giving our officers another tool to communicate effectively, protect vulnerable drivers, and help ensure routine traffic stops remain safe for everyone involved.”

Morrisey is correct that implementing a program is simply common sense. Administered through the West Virginia State Police, the program allows eligible drivers to pick up an envelope at either the local State Police detachment or the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Surely the envelopes will also spark important conversations among individuals, their families, their doctors and/or caregivers.

“This is a simple idea that can make a meaningful difference,” Morrisey said. “It supports law enforcement (and) provides peace of mind for families.”

These are the little steps that help government do better for all West Virginians. Keep it up.