Latest news with #MountaineerMile
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Morrisey's health push proving to be quite the hike
Gov. Patrick Morrisey hikes the newest Mountaineer Mile Trail at Summersville Lake State Park in Summersville, on May 9, 2025. (West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey video screenshot) Among the new construction and second-growth forest above the rock cliffs of Summersville Lake, Gov. Patrick Morrisey cut a ribbon, did some media and walked the third Mountaineer Mile hiking tract. Steps from where the local edition of his gubernatorial predecessor's Almost Heaven Swing offers a selfie-ready sit, the governor walked the loop of the newly designated trail. The obligatory press availability of such festivities involved the governor extolling the virtues of setting an example of 'if I can do it, with all the challenges in place, certainly everyone in West Virginia, if you have the chance, get out and walk a mile.' While Summersville Lake State Park is the first new officially designated one in over 30 years, West Virginia's State Parks have long been a source of not only recreational opportunity but local pride. As gateways to some of West Virginia's best scenery, natural wonders, and preserved environments, the state park system has been the public facing portal for the wild and wonderful for generations. Country roads might take you home, but designated camping and outdoor recreation areas are vital to attracting West Virginia tourism as well as being go-to places for locals. Plus, along with West Virginias, walking is always free in addition to being good for the body as well as the soul. The Mountaineer Mile initiative is planned to expand to 32 West Virginia State Parks. The benefits of such a marriage are obvious: Take a new initiative, marry it to one of West Virginia's most successful state-run programs, let the press and social media streams cross on something that is common sense and everyone across the political spectrum can agree is a good thing. But politics, like hiking the hills, isn't about how you start, it is how you finish. Which is a good thing for Morrisey. The Mountaineer Mile is part of a larger push for healthy legislation, regulation and policy proposals. During a 'Make America Healthy Again' joint event in March with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Morrisey found himself on the receiving end of what many took to be weight jokes from RFK. The reaction ranged from laughing it off, which is what Morrisey did, to fat shaming accusations in national outlets, to others finding it a cringy and inappropriate break in the West Virginia ethos of 'we can poke fun of us and ours, but you can't' regarding outsiders. The viral moment with the highly controversial Kennedy highlights the problem of walking the line between prudent policy and performative politics. Morrisey — to his credit — has the self-awareness to realize that in the highly-visual world of modern politics talking about government-enforced health in others has a prerequisite of taking action and personal accountability himself. That is just common sense, a little media/political savvy, and also good basic leadership. Trickier is balancing his current battle to remove soda from SNAP benefits while the southern coalfields of West Virginia are struggling under a water crisis. Or being in lock-step with the still very popular in West Virginia Trump administration's ongoing efforts to cut federal funding to a state like West Virginia which receives 27% of its annual revenue from Washington, D.C. Or the escalating vaccination fight that has combined health care debates, education issues, and personal freedom with legal questions, contradictory policy and plenty of raw emotions. Then there is still the looming need for a legislative special session to potentially deal with a PEIA can that is annually kicked down the road by delegates and state senators who are under the umbrella of a supermajority but have been shown to have plenty of divisions beneath it. Medical science tells us exercise in general, and walking specifically, is great not only for physical health but also mental health and stress relief. Trekking out and back from the newly-designated Hughes Ferry Day Use Area at West Virginia's newest state park on a glorious May day was surely a respite for Morrisey and the many claims on his time and attention. The Mountaineer Mile is one of those initiatives where good policy and good politics meet at a place of agreement. A rare place these days, agreement … one that doesn't have much demand for a sanctioned hiking trail to get there, nor will have a well-worn trail there and back again. Shame, that. Performative politics that has good policy behind it is just good politics and good policy in a good public package. A good politician dreams of such things. A great politician makes such things a reality. But that is a fine line to try and walk for anyone — Morrisey included — for any stretch, let alone a mile. That's a long way to lug a health initiative that is light on the science and heavy on the internet feels and populist politics. A distance that is still early days in a four-year term leading the Mountain State into the future. For Morrisey, the start has had missteps in putting in his miles when the performative politics outweighed the prudent policy. We will see how he finishes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Request to remove soda and add healthy food under SNAP announced by Governor Morrisey
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Governor Morrisey announced that a waiver request was submitted to remove soda and add healthy food under SNAP. According to a press release, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver request to get rid of soda and add healthy food under SNAP was submitted to the federal government by Governor Morrisey. $2 million in funds announced by Governor Morrisey for environmental cleanup in part of Fayette County The press release stated that the request was part of the 'Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia' that was announced by Governor Morrisey earlier in the year that would involve changes to SNAP. According to the press release, changes to SNAP as part of 'Four Pillars' that Governor Morrisey reportedly intends to work on include encouraging healthy food options and work requirements, as well as encouraging people in the Mountain State to exercise as part of the Mountaineer Mile. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Morrisey formally requests WV's food stamp program no longer pay for soda
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced in a video message on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, that he has formally asked the federal government to disallow the state's SNAP program from paying for soda. (West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey video screenshot) West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has formally asked the federal government to disallow the state's food assistance program from paying for soda. Morrisey submitted a request for a waiver to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to make the change, the governor announced in a video message Tuesday. 'For a long time I've talked about the fact that SNAP — the N should stand for nutrition,' Morrisey said. 'Well, now it's going to, even more than you've seen in the past. We're promoting healthy bundles. That's fresh produce and lean meat, and good opportunities for some hot foods for West Virginians for some products that you've never been able to have before.' Morrisey first announced the SNAP proposal during an event in March with federal Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promoted the idea of states prohibiting SNAP from covering soda. The SNAP changes are part of a statewide health initiative Morrisey called the 'Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia.' Other pillars included prohibiting the sale of certain food dyes in the state, and the 'Mountaineer Mile,' challenge to walk at least a mile a day. Legislation similar to the SNAP change was introduced during the 2025 regular session, but went nowhere. House Bill 2350 would have required the state to submit a SNAP waiver so that the program could disallow coverage of soda and candy. Opponents of the bill expressed concerns it would hurt local grocery stores, particularly near the state border, by causing SNAP recipients to use their assistance to buy the sweets in stores across state lines. One in six West Virginians, or approximately 277,000 residents, rely on the SNAP program for food assistance, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. The program is paid for by the federal government's Department of Agriculture and administered through the state. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hope in the Mountains hosts meeting in Rhodell to work towards safe, clean drinking water
RHODELL, WV (WVNS) – Safe drinking water might be a necessity. But for some communities in the mountain state, like the small town of Rhodell in Raleigh County, the necessity still is not there. Pipestem Resort State Park to kick off Homegrown Music Series The Raleigh County Public Service District tells 59News at least five dozen customers around Rhodell still do not have access to safe and clean drinking water. 'I was shocked to learn that anyone in 2025 doesn't have access to safe water. A lot of us that live in Beckley and in different areas, we take it for granted.' Ryan Snuffer, Executive Director, Hope in the Mountains On Monday evening of April 28th, Hope in the Mountains facilitated a meeting at the Rhodell Church of God to help address the issue. With coordination from the group DigDeep, they helped residents fill out surveys about their water situation. Both groups have been raising money to begin installing new lines to any home in need. 'Grew up in West Virginia, grew up here my whole life. That's the thing about DigDeep, they hire local people in the area. Everyone that works here, we're from Raleigh County, McDowell County, Wyoming County.' Travis Foreman, Director, Appalachia Water Project Snuffer said they will start to lay down new lines from the main water line in the next few weeks. WVSOM student competes in Boston Marathon, helps make Mountaineer Mile a weekly tradition Of course, their goal doesn't end with just Rhodell. They hope to find all communities affected to ensure all of West Virginia has clean and safe water. 'My first water project was in 1975 when we did a seven hundred and eighty-five thousand dollar rehab to the town of Sophia. We are continuing to try and upgrade and maintain the system.' Paul Flanagan, Treasurer, Raleigh County Public Service District Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. urges Americans to dispose of medicine safely — and to not flush them
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is urging Americans to dispose of their prescription medications properly. He addressed the issue in a video posted on X, marking National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which is April 26. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has set up free, anonymous drop-off sites across the country where Americans can leave their unused prescription medications. Rfk Jr Vows To Make Sure Kids Get 'Real Food,' Not 'Poison' After Artificial Food Dye Announcement While some may think that flushing prescriptions down the toilet is a safe alternative to throwing them away and can prevent people from accidentally ingesting it, Kennedy warns that there are dangers to that too. The HHS chief explained that once flushed, the medications will go into the water system, potentially exposing anyone who drinks the water to those substances. "We don't fully know the effects of low levels of birth control hormones or antibiotics or chemotherapy agents and so on, in the water, but it's not good," Kennedy said in the video. Rfk Jr Talks Kennedy History On First Trip As Hhs Chief, Inspires Gov To Order 'Mountaineer Mile' For 'Maha' Read On The Fox News App However, there are some medications that are safe to flush. According to the FDA's "Flush List," there are several opioid medications that are safe to flush, including Vicodin, OxyContin and Percocet. However, the FDA warns that drugs that do not appear on its Flush List should not be flushed down the toilet. The DEA sees National Prescription Drug Take Back Day as more than a way for Americans to clear out unwanted or unused medication. On its website advertising the take back day, the DEA frames it as a way to prevent "medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting." During its most recent take back day in October 2024, the DEA collected 629,953 pounds, or 314 tons, of medication across 4,644 collection sites. For those who miss National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are drug take-back sites open year-round. The FDA provides instructions on how to safely dispose of medications, as well as needles and syringes article source: RFK Jr. urges Americans to dispose of medicine safely — and to not flush them
