UP: To the West Virginia Department of Revenue’s announcement that going into fiscal year 2021, the state is showing a surplus, despite being caught in the middle of a pandemic. In fact, by June 30, there was a $28 million budget surplus for the state’s $4.6 billion General Revenue Fund, half of which must by law go into the Rainy Day fund. At one point officials were certain there would not be enough cash to run state government between May 10 and June 30. To be clear, this “borderline miraculous” finish, as Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy called it, was accomplished by borrowing out of the state’s surplus Medicaid funds and receiving federal C.A.R.E.S. Act money, not by right-sizing state government. The rest of THIS fiscal year will still require careful planning. For now, however, congratulations are in order to those who made the moves that have kept West Virginia in the black.

UP: To local city administrations’ decisions to keep their pools open a little longer this year, as the delayed start to the school year will mean more lifeguards are able to stay on duty. The temperature won’t be budging much for a while yet, and families will still need a place to have fun and cool off!

UP: To the nearly completed glass and ceramic mosaic mural at the new Williamstown-Waverly Elementary School, produced in collaboration with artist Jack O’Hearn and Artsbridge. It is fantastic to see a little bit of Fenton glassware beautifying the halls of the new facility. Nice job, folks!