West Virginia Governor Announces Education Grant and Reports Crime, Overdose Declines

In September 2026, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's administration made two separate public announcements covering different policy areas. On September 8, Morrisey announced reductions in violent crime, property crime, and drug overdose deaths in West Virginia under his administration. On September 18, he announced that the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education had secured a $15 million federal Educational Opportunity Centers grant. According to the announcement, the education grant will provide $3 million annually over five years and was described as the largest grant of its kind awarded nationally. Regarding public safety, the administration reported that drug overdose deaths declined by 12%, equating to 99 fewer deaths, though the time period for this comparison was not specified. Law enforcement officials cited a fentanyl seizure operation in Mercer County as part of broader drug enforcement efforts credited with contributing to the reported declines. Both announcements originated from the governor's office and were reported by West Virginia outlets WTAP and WVNS. The specific baseline period used to calculate the overdose death reduction, as well as details on how the education grant funds will be distributed among colleges, were not detailed in available reporting. No independent verification of the statistics or grant figures beyond the administration's statements was included in the source material.