West Virginia

Over the last few decades, blue-collar communities from Michigan to West Virginia have been hollowed out by the mass decline of American manufacturing, from steel to automobiles.

Van Hollen's rebuff came a day after another US member of Congress, West Virginia Republican Riley Moore, was allowed by Salvadoran authorities to enter the prison.

Much like its smaller counterpart in West Virginia, the Bureau of Prisons has dealt with severe problems, including staffing shortages, preventable deaths and overuse of solitary confinement in recent years.

The version I remember best comes from West Virginia, where my grandmother — daughter of a coal miner, master of the frugal feast — made hers with snapped spaghetti, ground chuck and a generous pour of Ragu.

Last week, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law a bill that was passed earlier this month by state lawmakers banning seven food dyes commonly found in food products and drugs.