Mountain State Spotlight

Mountain State Spotlight is a standalone news organization dedicated to covering important stories that matter to the people of West Virginia. When we launch, we will have one of the largest newsrooms in the state, staffed by experienced editors and proactive reporters. Our focus will be on key topics such as public health concerns, economic growth obstacles, environmental challenges, and holding the government accountable.

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As Trump promotes ‘clean beautiful coal,’ a lit cigarette above a West Virginia coal mine leaves a woman fighting for her life - Mountain State Spotlight

1 week ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | James Bruggers

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump took to the White House podium to boost one of his favorite energy sources. “We’re ending Joe Biden’s war on beautiful clean coal once and for all,” he said, as uniformed coal miners lined up behind him.
Wayne County schools use solar to save money. The county's lawmakers tried to stop the practice.

1 week ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Sarah Elbeshbishi

As Superintendent Todd Alexander anticipates a continued decrease in state funding for Wayne County Public Schools, he’s always looking for ways to cut costs. So, when he found out he could supplement the school district’s power with solar panels and save millions in electricity costs at no upfront cost, he pursued it. Wayne County Public Schools is now estimated to save nearly $6.5 million over the next 25 years. But Sen.
IMPACT: Seniors aren’t getting the help they need. State officials are now searching for solutions.

1 week ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Erin Beck

Last month, Mountain State Spotlight reported that those who are sick and homebound can’t get Meals on Wheels, in large part due to inadequate funding. Following reports about West Virginia seniors going without this help, a state official is seeking solutions. Senior centers reported that at least 1,000 people were on waitlists and they’d need an additional $2 million in state funding to serve these residents.
Legislative session 2025 wrap-up: How lawmakers did — and didn’t — address West Virginia’s challenges

1 week ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Erin Beck |Duncan Slade |Tre Spencer |Sarah Elbeshbishi

For the last 60 days, state lawmakers have had the chance to tackle the biggest challenges facing West Virginians: clean, reliable drinking water; affordable electricity; cheaper housing; better jobs; well-funded public education; transportation and finding reasonably-priced health care and treatment for addiction. At the stroke of midnight, time was up.
West Virginia Republicans said they wouldn’t cut Medicaid. Then they voted to cut Medicaid.

2 weeks ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Henry Culvyhouse

In early March, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito looked into the camera and told anyone watching that she wouldn’t kick any West Virginians off Medicaid. “I want to make sure that our benefits are still there for that 500,000 people,” Capito told WCHS. For his part, Sen. Jim Justice told Axios last month that he had concerns about cuts to Medicaid, which serves nearly 30% of the state’s population.
‘Your people are suffering’: Families ask lawmakers for help caring for West Virginians with dementia

2 weeks ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Erin Beck

When Debbie Elkins’ husband Chuck began to show symptoms of impairment, even as a nurse, she couldn’t find words to describe the changes — let alone “dementia” or “neurodegenerative disorder.”It took more than five years and multiple visits to medical specialists to get an accurate diagnosis: frontotemporal degeneration dementia. To care for him, Elkins, of Putnam County, quit her job. “I’m sometimes so exhausted, I feel like I’m cognitively impaired,” she said.
"A slap in the face for working West Virginians": Morrisey admin quietly guts anti-discrimination office

2 weeks ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Tre Spencer

Last week, lawmakers debated whether to eliminate a small office that protects West Virginia government employees from discrimination. But it was already done. The employees had been reassigned. The website was no longer active. “Who made that decision?” Del. Jonathan Kyle, R-Randolph, asked the state’s personnel director. The director stood in silence. “You don’t want to throw anyone under the bus,” he said. “I understand.”Since taking office, Gov.
Flood prevention fund left empty in lawmakers’ last week of legislative session

2 weeks ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Sarah Elbeshbishi

On the first Friday in April, members of the House of Delegates stood in prayer for flood victims in West Virginia. Soon afterwards, Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, asked the body to do something else to help them. He proposed putting $50 million in the state budget to protect from future floods. “We have the ability to do something earthly,” Hornbuckle said.
West Virginia's Senate, House and Governor offer dueling state budget proposals. Here's what's in them.

3 weeks ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Henry Culvyhouse

In the final days of the session, lawmakers are hashing out the only bill they are required by law to pass – the state budget. In February, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the budget would be tight. Money coming into the state coffers has decreased over the last few years, due to a sweeping income tax cut passed in 2023. The cost of the government has increased. The House and Senate have now released their own budget proposals with different philosophies and priorities.
In a rare move, the coal industry and environmental groups both opposed a bill defining ‘sound science’

3 weeks ago | mountainstatespotlight.org | Sarah Elbeshbishi

The West Virginia Coal Association and the West Virginia Rivers Coalition were in rare agreement warning about the consequences of a bill supported by chemical companies that would have limited the development of new regulations. After testimony from representatives of each organization, the bill did not advance out of the House.