West Virginia Watch

06/23/2025

"West Virginia is a leader in teenage obesity, diabetes and depression — and we keep handing out donuts for breakfast."
Martinsburg High teacher Derek Gallagher is getting his students out of traditional classrooms and seeing positive results, reports Mike Chalmers.

Derek Gallagher, a teacher at Martinsburg High School in Martinsburg, West Virginia, isn’t one to sugarcoat hard truths.

06/20/2025

⛰️ 🌭 Happy West Virginia Day! 🌭⛰️ Why not celebrate by supporting nonprofit journalism? West Virginia Watch has set a goal of 35 donations in honor of the 35th state's birthday. Your donation ensures our reporting remains free for everyone.
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06/20/2025

West Virginia University’s Board of Governors formally removed voting rights from faculty, staff and student representatives on the board, carrying out a Republican-backed bill that mandated the change, reports Amelia Ferrell Knisely.

West Virginia University’s Board of Governors formally removed voting rights from faculty, staff and student representatives on the board.

06/18/2025

Gov. Patrick Morrisey celebrated a decision from the United States Supreme Court released on Wednesday that upholds a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors, reports Caity Coyne.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey celebrated a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court that upholds a law banning gender-affirming care for minors.

06/18/2025

One more person has been confirmed to have died in flash flooding in Ohio County, West Virginia over the weekend, bringing the death toll to eight. One other person is still unaccounted for, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Wednesday.

An eighth person has been confirmed to have died in flash flooding in Ohio County, West Virginia over the weekend.

06/18/2025

COMMENTARY: The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that is now before the U.S. Senate, slashes Medicaid by around $800 billion and will harm millions of people across the country, including 507,000 West Virginians who are only able to access critical health care because of this life-saving program, writes Kaitlin May.

Over 34,000 West Virginians rely on Medicaid for addiction services that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

06/18/2025

Advocates and residents gathered at the West Virginia Public Service Commission on Tuesday to speak out against another proposed electric rate hike from Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power Company, reports Caity Coyne.

Advocates and residents gathered at the West Virginia Public Service Commission to speak out against another proposed electric rate hike.

06/17/2025

A seventh person died as a result of Saturday’s catastrophic flash flooding in the Wheeling, West Virginia area, according to Gov. Patrick’s Morrisey’s office. The body of a 71-year-old woman was found at the Wetzel County dam, reports Amelia Ferrell Knisely.

A seventh person died as a result of Saturday's catastrophic flash flooding in the Wheeling, West Virginia area.

06/17/2025

As the U.S. Senate continues to debate the “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill, several West Virginia organizations came together Tuesday to ask their representatives not to support cuts to health care and food assistance programs, reports Lori Kersey.

Several organizations came together Tuesday to ask their representatives not to support cuts to health care and food assistance programs.

06/17/2025

COMMENTARY: Gov. Patrick Morrisey has said state employees will not get Juneteenth off as a holiday this year. In 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, former Gov. Jim Justice issued proclamations declaring Juneteenth a state holiday. Is Justice really more woke than Morrisey, writes Leann Ray.

Gov. Morrisey has said that state employees will not get Juneteenth off this year after four years of the day being recognized as a holiday.

06/16/2025

It’s the second round of deadly flooding this year in West Virginia, and the state’s flood prevention fund is empty.

Six people were killed, and dozens displaced after up to 5 inches of rain caused flash flooding in parts of West Virginia over the weekend.

06/16/2025

COMMENTARY: According to a 2024 report by the FTC, there were 14,911 fraud reports by West Virginia residents, resulting in $27 million in losses. So, how do these scammers get West Virginians hooked? Emails, phone calls and texts are the main methods, writes Ben Backus and Jack Bernard.

So, how do these scammers get West Virginians hooked? Emails, phone calls and texts are the main methods. But there are others.