In Around West Virginia: flooding to hurt the state tourism industry, varying types of treatment for drug addiction, whether Uber plans to serve additional West Virginia cities, and more.
n The state's top tourism official said the flood will reduce tourism in the state, The Register-Herald reported. Amy Shuler Goodwin, state commissioner of tourism, said popular destinations in West Virginia, such as Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, have been fielding inquiries from potential visitors about the flood. Tourism is the top industry in Greenbrier County, one of the counties hardest-hit by the floods.
n West Virginia Public Broadcasting takes a look at medication-assisted treatment versus abstinence-based treatment for drug addiction. James Sweasy, a recovering addict who got clean without medication, said there is no one-size-fits-all approach. "I think it is important to say anything is better than being dead," he said.
A new federal rule takes effect this week, giving doctors the ability to treat up to 275 patients with buprenorphine, up from 100. Buprenorphine is a medication used to treat opioid addiction that is controversial because it is also illegally sold and abused.
n Uber says they are not ready to launch in additional areas in West Virginia, The Intelligencer/ Wheeling News-Register reported. The smartphone application, which matches people who need rides with drivers, recently launched in Charleston and Morgantown. A reporter had asked whether the company was considering launching in Wheeling.
n Several Marion County school board members said at a recent meeting that they opposed allowing transgender students to use the restroom that corresponds with their gender identity, the Times West Virginian reported. But at the conclusion of the meeting, Marion County Superintendent Gary Price said the decision is not up to them.
"I understand their frustration in dealing with a federal ruling that they do not agree with," Price said. "However, I really wish they would address their grievances with the people who could do something about this, such as our federal officials."
In May, the Obama administration issued a joint guidance requiring schools to let transgender students use facilities and participate in sex-segregated activities consistent with their gender identity, or lose federal funding.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.