Brad McElhinny

Statewide Correspondent at West Virginia MetroNews

statewide correspondent for West Virginia MetroNews

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Articles

Community groups: Watch out for congressional changes to Medicaid and SNAP

1 week ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

A coalition of West Virginians urged the state’s senators to just say no to changes to federally funded medical and food support. The gathering at the Cabin Creek Health Systems clinic on Charleston’s West Side focused on the effects of proposed changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, called SNAP.
New WVU board chairman says incoming President Benson will have solid support

1 week ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

The new chairman of West Virginia University’s board of governors said President Michael Benson, whose tenure kicks off next month, will have solid support. “I’m confident that he’s going to get the job done. I’ve had multiple conversations and have shared, you know — my desires and his desires are in touch and in tune with each other,” said Rusty Hutson, the chief of executive of Diversified Energy who was selected last week to be the new board president.
State says GreenPower is in default; GreenPower says state is in material breach of deal

1 week ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

The State of West Virginia has issued GreenPower Motor Company a final notice of default, saying the electric school bus manufacturer fell months behind on lease payments, according to records obtained by MetroNews.
During period of transition at WVU, board of governors adds a few more changes

2 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

In a first meeting after controversial legislation removed faculty, staff and students as voting members of higher education boards of governors, the governing board at West Virginia University dramatically changed its top leadership. In a meeting marked by comments about ongoing discord, board members voted 9-6 for Diversified Energy Chief Rusty Hutson to be the new board chair rather than the current chairman, Martinsburg attorney Rick Pill.
West Virginia officials praise rollback of Biden-era environmental regulations

2 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

Senator Shelley Moore Capito is applauding the Trump administration’s move to roll back a major Biden era climate policy that was aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, especially those fired by coal and natural gas. “I think the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, 2.0 again, returns us to common sense,” Capito said in a briefing with West Virginia reporters, responding to a question by Charles Young of West Virginia News.
West Virginia University is at a turning point, with prominent figure at center of conflict

2 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

West Virginia University is at a crossroads with President Gordon Gee departing, a new president coming in and three top officers on the board of governors up for renewal or rejection in those roles. During all that change, and following a difficult academic restructuring, the family at the center of power at WVU – the board of governors – is in dissension that sometimes spills out in public.
Governor's top lawyer asks state school board to cooperate with vaccination directive

2 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

The governor’s in-house counsel asked state school board members for cooperation with a directive to allow religious exemptions to vaccination requirements. Governor Patrick Morrisey’s administration is standing behind an executive order issued during the governor’s first week in office. Morrisey described the basis as the “Equal Protection for Religion Act,” which went into law in 2023.
Cleveland-Cliffs sent official letter declining state financial incentives

2 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

It’s officially over between the State of West Virginia and Cleveland-Cliffs. Cleveland-Cliffs had announced a transformer production plant for Weirton last summer. West Virginia political leaders hailed the announcement at the time. The plan had been for Cleveland-Cliffs to repurpose its Half Moon Warehouse in Weirton to start production of three-phase distribution transformers used in electric power distribution systems. Cliffs had expected the new plant to come online in the first half of 2026.
West Virginia ranks 41st in child well-being, according to latest data book

2 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

West Virginia improved its overall child well-being ranking compared to last year, according to an annual assessment — although that meant moving from 44th to 41st among the states. That’s according to the most recent Kids Count Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring in post-pandemic America. The annual project assesses national and state data in economic well-being, education, health and family and community factors.
Will megabill make deficits snowball? Capito says economic growth will more than counter that

3 weeks ago | wvmetronews.com | Brad McElhinny

The Congressional Budget Office projects that President Trump’s “One Big beautiful Bill” will increase federal deficits by about $2.4 trillion over the next ten years. The Trump administration says the bill reduces deficits by $1.4 trillion over 10 years when adjusted for the economic growth that it maintains will occur as a result of extending 2017 tax cuts. Senator Shelley Moore Capito says she agrees with Trump.