By Leann Ray | Editor-in-chief

“The legal issues with this contract are numerous, but we are starting with how it was awarded in the first place. Simply put, the city acted hastily and did not follow its own laws when approving this contract, so it should be considered null and void from the start.” — Aubrey Sparks, ACLU-WV legal director

A Flock Safety license plate-reading camera is seen at Colfax Avenue and Franklin Street in Denver, Colorado, on Aug. 5, 2025. (Photo by Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

By Lori Kersey

The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia has filed a lawsuit against the city of Huntington and Mayor Patrick Farrell over the city’s $2.1 million deal with Flock Safety for artificial intelligence-assisted surveillance equipment.

Del. Laura Kimble, R-Harrison (center), has served in the House of Delegates since 2020. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)

By Lori Kersey

The Harrison County Commission on Wednesday voted to deny Del. Laura Kimble’s challenge of the primary election results for House of Delegates District 71.

NATIONAL

Consumers are unlikely to see any relief in gas and electric bills as utilities proposed more than $18 billion in rate hikes across the country over the first half of the year, according to a newly released report. (Photo by Dave Cummings/New Hampshire Bulletin)

By Kevin Hardy

Consumers are unlikely to see any relief in gas and electric bills as utilities proposed more than $18 billion in rate hikes across the country over the first half of the year.

By Shauneen Miranda

WASHINGTON — A major legislative package that would put into law President Donald Trump’s push to greatly reduce the responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education advanced out of a U.S. House panel on Wednesday.

By Jennifer Shutt

WASHINGTON — Republicans on the U.S. House Budget Committee approved their budget resolution Thursday, marking one small step forward in the complicated process that could allow the party to enact a third party-line bill.

By Amelia Twyman

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries rallied a key group for his party Thursday, telling the American Federation of Teachers’ national convention that, if successful in November’s midterm elections, a Democratic majority in the House would pursue several progressive policies.

By Shauneen Miranda

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department on Thursday defended the agency’s major role in a broader drive by the administration to dismantle the Education Department.

COMMENTARY

Both Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and former Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia have come from families of politicians. (Photos courtesy of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s Congressional website and the Office of Sen. Joe Manchin)

By Aaron Hamler

Here in West Virginia, two family names have popped up every 2-4 years, for nearly my entire life. I’ve seen the family names Manchin and Capito long be positioned as our supposed “representatives” for whose job is to advocate for the needs of the people of West Virginia. What have they delivered for you? Do you feel like your needs have been advocated for, by them, during their time in office?

ICYMI

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