Lies, Statistics, and Mark Twain “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” This quote is often attributed to Mark Twain though the true source remains historically murky. Origins aside, the sentiments behind the quip are worth taking seriously. Certainly, for myself as a policy professional. But also for you, dear reader,…

WVU Faces Budget Crisis and Difficult Decisions West Virginia University (WVU) has undergone the difficult process of eliminating 28 majors, 143 jobs, and millions of dollars in spending. The cuts were prompted by the university's $45 million deficit this year. Deficit projections over the next five years are estimated to grow to $75 million. On…

Remote Work is a Growth Opportunity for Appalachia As I was canvassing prospective guests for our Forgotten America Podcast, I came across Aaron Renn’s report titled “The Future of Appalachia.” Renn outlines areas of both growth and opportunity throughout Appalachia. He believes remote work is an area of opportunity for the region. Two firms –…

What do Republican Presidential Candidates Have to Say About School Choice? School Choice initiatives aim to introduce education to the marketplace. These programs give parents purchasing power, free students from zip code based schools, and bring innovation to schooling. While school choice is largely a state-level issue, the attitudes of federal officials can make it…

Hope Grows in the Mountain State  West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship program, passed in 2021. At the time of its passage, the Hope Scholarship was the most expansive ESA program in the country. An education savings account (ESA), the Hope Scholarship awards 100 percent of the state portion of per-pupil funding to eligible students. (Funding for…

Flooding Devastates Elk River Communities A little over seven years ago, on June 23-24, 2016, communities throughout West Virginia were devastated by “thousand-year” rainfall and subsequent flooding. The worst of the damage was concentrated in Kanawha, Fayette, Nicholas, Summers, and Greenbrier counties. A reported 23 people lost their lives in the floods.   In addition…

Foster Care in West Virginia As of July 16, 2023, there are 6,357 children in foster care in West Virginia. Many of these are in the foster care system because of the opioid epidemic. The Mountain State lacks enough families and community support to provide a loving home for these kids while they await reunification…

In the United States, civil asset forfeiture is a legal process through which law enforcement officers may seize assets from individuals that they suspect of committing a crime. The key here is “suspect” of committing a crime. There is no requirement for the person whose assets were seized to ever be convicted of criminal activity.…

West Virginia University Faces Budget Deficit Here in the Mountain State, it’s hard to miss the news that West Virginia University is facing a $45 million budget deficit. Over the coming 5-7 years, the university is projecting a need to reduce their overall budget by at least $75 million due to declining enrollment trends. In…

From New York to West Virginia When I started working at Cardinal in May, and being from Upstate New York, I had little firsthand experience with West Virginia. I knew a fair bit about the Mountain State’s history, geography, and some of the current issues. I pride myself on being informed about history, geography, and…