By Leann Ray | Editor-in-chief
“Jesus is our model. He’s our teacher, and he gave us beautiful parables: the parable of the Good Samaritan: who will have compassion for that person in the road? And we help people without asking, without questioning their status. We just help because they are human beings.” — Rev. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Rev. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, is seen during his installation services July 2, 2026, in Wheeling, West Virginia. (Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston)
By Lori Kersey
The new leader of the Catholic church in West Virginia came to the United States years ago as an undocumented immigrant, and he’s spoken against President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration, but Rev. Evelio Menjivar-Ayala doesn’t see himself as an opponent to the president. They just have different perspectives and roles, he said.
NATIONAL
David Faulk played soccer for his high school, shown here, as well as for club teams before transitioning to football. His family paid thousands each year for his sports, a cost that approached $20,000 during his final years of high school. The money that families pour into youth sports has made it increasingly attractive to private investors, including private equity firms. (Photo courtesy of Tiffany Whitlow)
By Anna Claire Vollers
Youth sports is now a $40 billion industry. It’s a sprawling, commercialized ecosystem where parents pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year for club teams, elite camps, out-of-state tournaments, private coaching sessions, professional-level uniforms and equipment, recruiting events, and even streaming subscription services to watch their kids play.
The amount of money involved — nearly double the annual revenue of the NFL — has made youth sports increasingly attractive to private investors, including private equity firms. State regulators are starting to take notice.
By Amelia Twyman
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress are pushing back against a proposed Trump administration rule introduced by the Office of Management and Budget that would substantially change the way federal grants are reviewed and distributed.
By David Lightman
WASHINGTON — Mass voter challenges are likely to occur in the 2026 midterm elections, the Brennan Center for Justice warned Tuesday, with the potential to “undermine the democratic process.”
By Ariana Figueroa
WASHINGTON — As many as 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children are at risk of losing their federally funded legal representation due to the Trump administration withholding appropriated funds, immigration attorneys warned Tuesday.
By Amelia Twyman
WASHINGTON — New data reveals the number of women running in the 2026 elections is slightly up from 2024, but experts say there is still progress to be made with women’s representation in public office overall.
ICYMI
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