Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) ruled out running for West Virginia governor, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reports.

https://politicalwire.com/2024/05/30/manchin-wont-run-for-governor-2/

The effort to coax retiring Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) into running for West Virginia governor is “more than just a rumor,” WVRC reports.
Manchin attended an event at the Greenbrier Resort last week where the lobbying for him to run intensified… The effort is led by moderate Republicans who are reluctant to support their party’s nominee, state […]

https://politicalwire.com/2024/05/28/manchin-for-governor-is-more-than-just-a-rumor/

A federal agency is investigating how #WVgov treats its intellectually disabled population.

The civil rights office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notified the state of the investigation in mid-November, responding to a complaint that the state agency is “engaging in unlawful discrimination based on #disability.”

https://wvmetronews.com/2022/12/06/as-feds-investigate-state-run-facilities-advocate-tells-lawmakers-of-vicious-cycle-of-institutionalization/

#WVGov's secretary for health and human resources said the agency has placed a freeze on hiring while working through the recommendations of a recent outside review.

https://wvmetronews.com/2022/11/29/dhhr-secretary-says-empowered-deputies-will-lead-to-better-results/

#WV ranks lowest for life expectancy, highest for rate of drug-related deaths, highest for percentage of minors in foster care, second highest for food insecurity and 35th for access to care.

A million-dollar outside review was supposed to assess the #WVgov agency tasked with improving on those quality-of-life standards.

When the report came out, lawmakers were not impressed.

“We’re finished with that million-dollar nothingburger. Let’s more on to other business.”

https://wvmetronews.com/2022/11/13/senate-president-calls-dhhr-report-a-nothingburger-and-house-majority-leader-is-also-underwhelmed/

An outside review has concluded #WVGov is not measuring up on addressing the most challenging health and societal issues.

Consultants noted that West Virginia ranks lowest for life expectancy, highest for rate of drug-related deaths, highest for percentage of minors in foster care, second highest for food insecurity and 35th for access to care.

Current efforts "are not driving long-term improvements in state-wide health and human services outcomes."

https://wvmetronews.com/2022/11/10/review-dhhr-needs-big-improvement-but-not-a-split/