Election results: Democrats double their seats in the Legislature, unlocking greater sway in the statehouse
What electing more than a dozen Democrats means for the West Virginia Legislature.
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Voters in four counties approve additional public education funding as lawmakers drag out changes
Fourteen counties have asked to start or continue an additional property tax for extra public school funding this year.
McCuskey’s subpoenas against environmental groups paused by U.S. judge
U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin expects the organizations to have the subpoenas dismissed for violating their first amendment rights.
West Virginia groups and local governments demand data center oversight. The state is continuing to develop them anyway.
West Virginia’s extractive history with developers worries residents as the state signs data center deals with companies
It’s already illegal for noncitizens to vote in state elections. However, it will be on West Virginia ballots this November.
West Virginia voters will consider a ballot measure saying only U.S. citizens can vote in elections. However, that’s already the law.
‘The First Amendment is not a license to lie’: McCuskey responds to environmental groups he subpoenaed for citing climate science.
McCuskey said environmental groups have been misleading their supporters with inaccurate climate claims.
McCuskey has made protecting fossil fuel industries a priority. Now he’s investigating climate groups.
JB McCuskey faces a lawsuit over sweeping subpoenas his office sent to the West Virginia Rivers Coalition and 350.org
Jobs, education and political apathy: What Wood County residents are thinking ahead of the election
Ahead of the midterms, Wood County residents discuss job losses, education, political apathy and what they want from elected leaders.
As rural schools face closure, families in Raleigh and Mingo fear losing more than just classrooms
Raleigh and Mingo parents say small schools are best for their kids. But candidates say keeping them open isn’t part of their platforms.
Early voting has begun. Here’s what you should know before you head to the polls.
There are hundreds of names on ballots across West Virginia’s 55 counties as well as a constitutional amendment. They include candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as county commissioner roles.
This Republican tried to cap the Hope Scholarship. Out-of-state billionaires helped bankroll efforts to replace him.
A high-ranking Republican had wanted only to curb the unchecked growth of West Virginia’s voucher program, not destroy it. In the ensuing backlash, three PACs — affiliated with the Koch family and Jeffrey Yass — helped defeat him at election time.
From retirement plans to family farms, the lives of these West Virginians could be upended by a massive power line
NextEra, one of the largest energy companies in the United States, plans to build a 500,000 volt transmission line running through 59 miles of West Virginia. Residents, from affected landowners to county commissioners, are speaking out against it.
Public health experts warn that with lawmakers spending opioid settlement dollars, they may prioritize political points
The West Virginia First Foundation includes people with health expertise charged with dispersing money to groups that apply to fight the addiction crisis. Now, Attorney General JB McCuskey wants state lawmakers to give out the majority of the money.
We tried to find out where candidates stand on key issues. Most of them didn’t tell us.
To build our 2026 election voter guide, we reached out to more than 240 candidates asking them to share where they stood on issues that matter to West Virginians. 65 responded.
West Virginia Fire Commission says it critically needs firefighters but not how many
The new state fire plan has no description of how many vacancies fire stations have or how many firefighters would be needed for safety.
A West Virginia grant program helps students get free community college education, but its workforce impact isn’t clear
WV Invests has subsidized since 2019, college degrees for students who stay and work here. The state isn’t measuring what alumni are doing.
Millions of people enjoy West Virginia’s national forests. Trump wants to open up logging just down the road.
Over 180,000 acres of West Virginia national forests could be opened up for logging and road construction if the Roadless Rule is repealed. The rule protects certain forested areas from excessive human impact.
How to vote in Braxton County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick to pick people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Braxton County In Braxton County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can
How to vote in Calhoun County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Calhoun County In Calhoun County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can vote
How to vote in Clay County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick to pick people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Clay County In Clay County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can
How to vote in Doddridge County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick to pick people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Doddridge County In Doddridge County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can
How to vote in Barbour County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Barbour County In Barbour County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can vote
How to vote in Gilmer County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Gilmer County In Gilmer County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can vote
How to vote in Grant County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Grant County In Grant County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can vote
How to vote in Brooke County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick to pick people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Brooke County In Brooke County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can
How to vote in Boone County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick to pick people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Boone County In Boone County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can
How to vote in Greenbrier County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Greenbrier County In Greenbrier County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can vote
How to vote in Lincoln County
West Virginians will go to the polls on Nov. 3 to pick the people to fill federal jobs like U.S. senator and U.S. representative all the way down to state legislative seats and county commissioners. Voting in Lincoln County In Lincoln County, like around West Virginia, early voting starts on Oct. 21. You can vote
We’re reporters, not teachers. We were able to start private schools anyway.
Our reporting has shown how easily people — some with questionable backgrounds — have founded their own private schools in barns, strip malls and other places. That led us to an experiment: If the hurdles to open a school are so low, could we do it?
As Morrisey doles out federal healthcare funding, thousands of West Virginians stand to lose their Medicaid coverage
Many West Virginians will stop qualifying for Medicaid. A new rural healthcare fund won’t help them pay for care.
Lawmakers have long sought to weaken the Board of Education’s independence. Here’s what to know about the latest court battle.
WV Board of Education and lawmakers battle for control over education policy. Lawmakers have long sought to weaken the Board of Education’s independence. Here’s what to know about the latest court battle. appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight , West Virginia's civic newsroom.
Kathambari Ramkumar returns to Mountain State Spotlight to focus on audience growth
Mountain State Spotlight is pleased to announce that Kathambari “Kat” Ramkumar has returned to the organization as audience manager, a role where she will work with reporters to grow our audience and broaden the newsroom’s efforts to incorporate the experiences and perspectives of all West Virginians into our work.
Law enforcement across the state have adopted Flock Safety cameras. Lawmakers say the company is dodging their questions.
As police departments across West Virginia rapidly deploy Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers, state lawmakers are raising serious concerns about digital security, accuracy, and data privacy. So far, Flock has sidestepped the questions.
Chemours settled major pollution cases. In a new lawsuit, Wood County residents say contamination damaged their homes for years.
In June, Chemours settled with the Trump administration, the West Virginia DEP and the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. A proposed class-action lawsuit says the chemical company’s Washington Works landfill contaminated nearby property.
Morrisey’s data center plan includes local involvement. West Virginia communities are still in the dark.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s 20-year data center development plan promises protections for communities, water and power bills. But some provisions aren’t backed by law, and local officials say projects are moving ahead without their input.
Vouchers promise students with disabilities a path to private school. Parents say that’s not the reality.
Lawmakers created voucher programs for children with disabilities as part of a strategy to pave the way for today’s much larger programs open to all students.
West Virginians are dying of neglect in jails and prisons. The state wants to limit how families can pursue justice.
West Virginia’s corrections system is asking the state’s highest court to take away a legal tool families use to hold them accountable.
Mountain State Spotlight hires reporter to cover energy and the environment
Mountain State Spotlight is pleased to announce that Josephine Johnson has joined the organization as our environment and energy reporter.
Morrisey has said a family aid program is running out of money. Here’s what TANF is, what it pays for and why it matters.
Thousands of West Virginians rely on TANF for help with childcare, paying for their basic needs and more. Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the state is spending too much. Here’s what you need to know.
Trump and Congress want states to take the lead on disaster recovery. West Virginia isn’t ready.
Washington is planning changes to FEMA that would require states to shoulder more of the responsibility for disaster recovery. West Virginia lawmakers have chosen for years not to fund its flood resiliency office, leaving the state ill-prepared.