West Virginia Watch

07/29/2026

Fauci pleads the Fifth to COVID questions by US Sen. Rand Paul at intense hearing

Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s most visible public health officials during the coronavirus pandemic, declined to answer questions from a U.S. Senate committee in a tense and confrontational hearing Wednesday, citing his Fifth Amendment rights.

07/29/2026

Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office says 52,000 children in West Virginia applied for the school clothing assistance program before funds ran out by Monday night.

07/28/2026

Dominion Energy, a Virginia-based company, is proposing to construct a new natural gas-fired power plant in Grant County, which would be connected to the existing coal-fired plant near Mt. Storm, according to a Tuesday news release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

The new energy plant, if constructed, could add 2.6 gigawatts of natural gas-generated power to the region in addition to the 1.6 GW already produced by the coal-fired Mt. Storm Power Station, which the company plans to keep online as part of the new Mt. Storm Combined Cycle Station.

Dominion Energy, a Virginia-based company, is proposing to construct a new natural gas-fired power plant in Grant County, which would be connected to the existing coal-fired plant near Mt. Storm, according to a Tuesday news release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

07/28/2026

West Virginia’s school clothing assistance program isn’t accepting anymore applications due to running out of funds, according to the state Bureau of Family Assistance. The application window was open for a total of seven days.

The program provides eligible families vouchers to shop for shirts, pants, shoes, coats and more before school starts. In the past, more than 80,000 children statewide have used the clothing allowance.

West Virginia's school clothing assistance program isn’t accepting anymore applications due to running out of funds, according to the state Bureau of Family Assistance. The application window was open for a total of seven days.

07/27/2026

Del. Elliott Pritt resigned from the state House of Delegates on Monday with a one-sentence letter to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw.

“I resign from the West Virginia House of Delegates, effective immediately,” wrote Pritt, R-Fayette.

Del. Elliott Pritt resigned from the state House of Delegates on Monday with a one-sentence letter to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw.

07/27/2026

The executive committee of the West Virginia Republican Party is moving to disavow Del. Elliott Pritt from the party following his arrest for enticing a child and having a sexual relationship with the minor.

This is the first time in the state’s party history that members have made this type of formal move to eject a member from the party.

The executive committee of the West Virginia Republican Party is moving to disavow Del. Elliott Pritt from the party following his arrest for enticing a child and having a sexual relationship with the minor.

07/27/2026

A major and final piece of West Virginia lawmakers’ 2023 hallmark education legislation goes into effect this school year when schools are required to retain third graders whose reading and math abilities aren’t at grade level, reports Amelia Ferrell Knisely.

A major and final piece of West Virginia lawmakers’ 2023 hallmark education legislation goes into effect this school year.

07/24/2026

West Virginia State Police have released the names of two people who died as a result of flooding in North Central West Virginia earlier this week, reports Lori Kersey.

West Virginia State Police have released the names of two people who died as a result of flooding in West Virginia earlier this week.

07/24/2026

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes touched down in West Virginia during Tuesday’s storms, reports Lori Kersey.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes touched down in West Virginia during Tuesday’s storms.

07/24/2026

West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw hand delivered a letter to Gov. Patrick Morrisey's office Friday morning requesting a special session for members to vote on expelling Del. Elliott Pritt, reports Amelia Ferrell Knisely.

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw hand delivered a letter to the governor's office requesting a special session for members to vote on expelling Del. Elliott Pritt.