MORGANTOWN — We are living in unprecedented times.
Navigating our way through the information and issues surrounding this pandemic is difficult. With every update, every answer, the questions seem to multiply.
Our staff is doing its best to filter through the noise and bring you the news you need now — stories that cover the ins and outs of this virus, its effects, how to deal with it and the changes it brings to our community.
Our editors, publisher and department heads have tasked our reporters with digging into all angles of this developing situation, from how to talk to our kids about it, to how to keep our community safe, to the struggles our businesses face now and in the days, months and possibly years to come.
We are also working on creating audio files for some of our COVID-19 coverage, which will be available to listen to for free on our site.
If there are articles you would like to see, questions you have, or local stories you feel must be shared, please let us know. We are all in this together, trying to work our way through the fear and confusion.
One way we can do that is with much-needed, accurate information.
To that end, here are some of the stories we’re working on.
- Financial impact — unemployment rates have shot through the roof and will likely rise before they level out. We will look at who is seeking benefits, how to get them, possible relief packages, the effects on the financial markets and more.
- What are area landlords doing to help people stay in their homes?
- How are local service industry employees dealing with the shutdown of restaurants, bars salons and more?
- We will speak to employees who have been the backbone during this trying time: Gas station and grocery store workers, health care workers, first responders, delivery drivers and postal carriers.
- We will keep tabs on community services, such as meal assistance and shelter programs and how they are dealing with providing benefits to our most vulnerable populations.
- With the drug crisis still on our doorstep, what is the recovery community doing to stay clean and sober when in-person meetings are halted? What resources are available for the still sick and suffering addicts looking for help?
- How are high school and college commencements being handled?
- What can we do to stay mentally healthy under the stress of social isolation and quarantine?
- We will talk to some professionals about the best way to explain this situation to our children and some ways to help soothe their fears.
- If your kids have questions, we’d love for you to send them to us, and we will try our best to have them answered.
- We have a reporter working on a series teaching readers how to get started learning some new things from home.
- We will run stories with recipes using pantry staples and non-perishables.
- The state and the country is facing a blood shortage. What can you do to help? What do you need to know before donating?
- How will this pandemic affect the upcoming election?
- How do we all avoid cabin fever?
- Is now a good time to adopt or foster a pet?
- We will share what we are doing to keep ourselves occupied and positive, and how we’re moving our reporting from the newsroom to the home office.
- We will share your stories and photos, too.
- Of course, we’ll look at what we can do to best help our vulnerable neighbors, while still maintaining social distancing practices.
- And bring you stories of our hometown heroes, who are going out of their way to provide, support and help during these troubling times.
Now more than ever it is our privilege to be your source for local news.
See all of our COVID-19 coverage at dominionpost.com/coronavirus-coverage/
Stay informed. Stay safe.
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