So Long, Farewell Nostalgia. Gratitude. And a tinge of bittersweet sorrow. It is the only way to describe the complex storm of emotions I currently hold onto. At the end of the month, I will bid farewell to the organization that has been my home, my sanctuary, and source of inspiration since 2019. After an…

Research About Certificate of Need Regulations Grows At the beginning of June, I had the opportunity to spend two days in Morgantown with a collection of scholars. They came from around the country, but all had ties to West Virginia. We spent that time learning about, providing feedback to new research on, and discussing avenues…

What a State Celebrates Matters Show me what a state celebrates, and I will show you what a state values. For now, one would have to assume that revenue is the “highest good” for the state’s political leadership. On one level, this is understandable, but it’s important to recognize that this is, ultimately, flawed. More…

West Virginia Has Some of the Worst Barriers to Work in the United States A new report from the Archbridge Institute has revealed just how difficult big government makes working in the Mountain State. In terms of occupational licensing burden, West Virginia clocks in at 13th in the country, sharing burden scores with deep blue…

West Virginia Should Become a Top State for Remote Workers In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, remote work is here to stay. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 35% of men and 42% of women are working from home – either some or all days per week. Many states and cities…

School Choice Helps Children Achieve Their American Dream Every child should have access to a quality education. Education is the bedrock of a prosperous society, equipping future generations with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Thus, it is essential that we provide each student with the ability to achieve their own version of…

Wonderful Policy Changes to Celebrate in West Virginia On Tuesday, June 20th, our beloved West Virginia celebrates 160 years of statehood. While this year’s celebration may lack the same pomp and circumstance of 2013’s sesquicentennial, there’s plenty over the last 10 years to be excited about.   As a policy organization, we’re keen to focus…

Mother's Day is a West Virginia Invention From time to time, we have the opportunity to celebrate the incredible contributions of West Virginians on this blog. Did you know that Mother's Day first began in West Virginia? The Mountain State was the first in America to formally recognize and celebrate mothers. The movement centered around…

What is the Next Step in Education Reform for West Virginia? With the advancements that West Virginia has made in alternative forms of education, it is imperative that our state find ways to support the traditional public school system. The release of West Virginia's NAEP scores in October showed a decline in the quality of…

CON Laws Are Hurting West Virginians' Health Regulation is killing West Virginia. We have the highest prevalence of heart attacks, lung cancer, and drug overdose deaths of any state across the U.S. We rank highest in the nation for poor physical health and mental health. Despite such grim statistics, West Virginia has  protected an archaic…