By Leann Ray | Editor-in-chief
“It just seems really odd. They’ve never been in this field before. Obviously, the other (grant recipients) have. And then when I seen what the grant was, it’s like 23 times the biggest grant (they’ve had). They’ve never administered anything over $50,000. Now we’re asking to do almost $1.2 million.” — Del. Gary Howell, R-Mineral, on e Spotted Owl Health Organization receiving $1.17 million in Rural Health Transformation funding
Del. Gary Howell, R-Mineral, watches a presentation during the Joint Committee on Finance meeting at the Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Howell raised concerns about one recipient of Rural Health Transformation program funds. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)
By Lori Kersey
As West Virginia continues to announce recipients of its federal Rural Health Transformation program funding, a state lawmaker this week raised concerns about one organization set to receive a grant of more than $1 million.
NATIONAL
A mother holds hands with her son on a swing set. At least seven states have passed laws making equally shared parenting time the legal default in child custody cases. (Photo by Troy Bennett for Maine Morning Star)
By Anna Claire Vollers
A growing number of states are making an equal split between parents the default child custody option in divorce cases.
By Ashley Murray
WASHINGTON — As the November midterms approach, vulnerable U.S. House Republicans voted late Tuesday to require congressional approval for President Donald Trump to continue his war in Iran.
By Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — Voters are much more likely to support U.S. Senate candidates in the November midterm elections if they have a plan to avoid an automatic cut to Social Security benefits in 2032, according to a poll released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
By Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House is expected to depart Wednesday evening for a seven-week campaign break after spending less than two weeks in session during August and September.
By Shauneen Miranda
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday moved forward on a sweeping bipartisan bill that would set national standards for college athletes’ compensation.
By Ashley Murray
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as inflation continues to dog the economy, largely driven by soaring gas and fuel oil prices while the war in Iran drags on.
COMMENTARY
An anti-data center bumper sticker hangs on the door of the Stumptown Ales brewery in downtown Davis, West Virginia on Nov. 1, 2025. (Photo by Caity Coyne/West Virginia Watch)
By Quenton King
There was a lot of talk this summer about data centers in artificial intelligence West Virginia. Let’s get to it. The governor outlined his Responsible Data Center Development Plan, which is full of a lot of “must’s” but mostly empty promises. A data center developer in Mason County started buying out homes, then residents learned that they now have to deal with a second data center, after the governor announced a surprise approval at a conference in August. Zooming out, AI CEOs and employees are saying that we need guardrails and that this technology could lead to civilizational collapse by 2030. Sweet.
ICYMI
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