West Virginia

According to a new study from the Health Statistic Center of West Virginia, overdose deaths related to methamphetamine have increased by 500 percent in just four short years.

In fact, a record-number 129 people have passed from overdoses in 2017 - and that number is expected to climb through the holiday season.

As the late American-German poet, Charles Bukowski once said, “My dear, Find what you love and let it kill you.”  It seems as some West Virginians have taken it to heart...

"I think [impeaching Trump] would be a catastrophic mistake," warned outspoken conservative, and Fox News contributor, Charles Krauthammer, noting that there's no evidence Trump has committed any crime.

.@krauthammer on Dems wanting @POTUS impeachment: "I think that would be a catastrophic mistake." #Tucker pic.twitter.com/lHLj6quOLO

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 4, 2017

In an otherwise boring day, Trump sparked some excitement earlier today when he announced that he will make a "very big announcement" during a planned rally in West Virginia tonight. Moments ago, the NYT spoiled the surprise when it unveiled what the announcement is: West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Democrat who was elected last year even as President Trump carried the state by 42 points, is expected to announce Thursday night at a rally with Mr. Trump that he is changing parties.

For 60 years the labor force participation rate of 25-54 year old men in America has declined. There are many reasons for this existential decline, but Philly Federal Reserve President Pat Harker explained today during a Q&A session that he is concerned that more 25-54 year old men are out of the workforce and blamed "drug abuse" for the problem.

Submitted by Matt Stoller via The Intercept,

In 2011, unemployment was at a near crisis level. The jobless rate was stuck around 9 percent nationally, an unusually high number due to the continuing effects of the financial crash.