By Kaitryn Wetzel, Web Producer
...Here are some interesting facts listed from the report:
- 12 percent of WV's major roads have pavement in poor conditions
- 24 percent are in mediocre condition
- 15 percent of major roads that are locally and state maintained are in poor condition
- 28 percent of WV roads are in mediocre condition
- Driving on rough roads costs the average WV motorist $333 in extra costs annually, $400 million to the state per year
- 13 percent of WV's roads are structurally deficient
- 22 percent of the state's bridges are functionally obsolete and don't meet current highway standards
- Traffic crashes claimed 1,820 people between 2007 and 2011, averaging 364 per year
West Virginia's overall traffic fatality rate averages 1.78 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2011, making it the second highest in the nation. Not only does this effect population statistics, this also has an economic impact....
The university system can be promoted as well. There is also room for improving the rankings of the state universities to bring in more and out of state students as well. There has to be some very unique qualities of West Virginia that would bring in students interested in specific types of education, like geology.
September 10th, 2013
“Being among the top ‘Best National Universities’ tier is where we want to be,” said WVU President Jim Clements. “It indicates we’re on a good path, and have a solid reputation nationally as a quality institution.”
WVU was listed 94th among public universities in U.S. News’ list. Overall, the University was 170th among 281 “national universities,” which includes private schools, although only 206 are ranked, with the remaining done alphabetically....
Where is Robert Byrd when you need him?
The USA is in need of increasing the manufacturing in the country.
Manufacturers (click here) are a priority at the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing (RCBI). RCBI is the only statewide facility that provides manufacturers with regional access to advanced CNC equipment, affordable workforce development and technical training programs to develop new business and jobs in West Virginia.
West Virginia needs to perfect their special schools and attract out of state students to increase the incomes to these schools and the cities where they exist. College Towns have very stable and successful economies.
...To achieve worldwide competitive capacity (click here) is no small thing, especially for a small to medium-sized manufacturer. It takes state-of-the-industry equipment, outstanding technical expertise, resourcefulness and, sometimes, a little luck—and that’s just to produce the prototype. Lucky for you there’s RCBI and our Shared Manufacturing and Technical Services group....
I have noted today the return of jobs to medium sized companies has been slow in the USA. They have been unable to keep up with small, local businesses and the largest businesses.
Go out an RECRUIT the leaders of these companies and find out what they need to return to their standing before the 2008 collapse. Design plans that will facilitate their recover and can learn to achieve a better and more diverse market. Do the nation a favor and help these medium businesses back to their standing.
The people of West Virginia can retool their state. I know they can.
The economy of West Virginia nominally would be the 62nd largest economy globally. The real GDP growth of the state in 2009 of .7% was the 7th best in the country. Morgantown was ranked by Forbes as the #10 best small city in the nation to conduct business in 2010.
Expand on the existing economy and bring the manufactured products to a larger global consumer base. West Virginia has to stop relying on the coal industry to support it's identity and it's fiscal base. There is a charm in the people of West Virginia that can drive tourism. The Late Senator Robert Byrd alone is a tourist industry all by himself.
West Virginia is home to manufacturing operations including Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell, Blenko Glass Company in Milton, Champion Industries in Huntington, Gabriel Brothers in Morgantown, MTR Gaming Group is Chester, and PNGI Charles Town Gaming.
Get on with this already.
The spill that has affected Charleston and the nine surrounding counties was discovered around noon on Thursday at a storage facility owned by on the Elk River, where a 48,000-gallon tank began leaking 4-Methylcyclohexane Methanol, or MCHM, a compound used to wash coal of impurities, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection....
It is a cyclohexane with an methyl group and a hydroxide group. It is very biologically reactive. The good news is it has a low solubility in water. It is an oil. That is why it is less reactive with water. However, the chemical properties in regard to biological interactions with the human body processes are relatively unknown. 
