West Virginia is among a handful of states with the highest increases in educational attainment between 2019 and 2021, according to a new report from the Lumina Foundation. Overall, around 44% of adults age 25-64 have completed a degree or certification, but the state still lags behind the national average of around 53%. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, explained several initiatives are in place to try to make college completion within reach, including shifting to an open educational resource model, where textbooks are free online and low-cost to print. .
The state s "divisive concepts" law is preventing educators from holding rational discussions about race relations in America, New Hampshire civil rights leaders said. February is Black History Month, a dedicated time for students to learn about the struggles and triumphs of African Americans despite systemic racism. James McKim, president of the Manchester chapter of the NAACP of Manchester said the law has caused educators to fear reprisals for even mentioning the word "race" in their classrooms. .
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has announced a $450 million investment in North Carolina s Research Triangle Park to develop new drugs, and put more people to work in the state. It is the latest in a series of investments in North Carolina s research sector, designed to put more medications and more jobs in the pipeline. Edgardo Hernandez, president of global manufacturing for Lilly, said it builds on investments the company has already made in the area, and will help them keep up with the soaring demand for pharmaceuticals. .
While the U.S. Senate passed a massive omnibus spending measure, N.C. Sen. Thom Tillis voted against the bill, saying it was bloated with "left-wing priorities." Sen. Richard Burr was recorded as "not voting." The bill increases spending on government programs and the military through late 2023, and its passage heads off a government shutdown, scheduled