
By Lori Kersey | Deputy editor
“He’s worried about what’s going on over here and overseas…but he’s not here worried about us, the people that voted him in office. My gripe is ‘where’s he at?’”
— Jason Mulholland, who lost his home in flooding last week in Lewis County. He says Pres. Donald Trump and Gov. Patrick Morrisey should do more to help flood survivors

Jason Mulholland stands beside his home in Lewis County, W.Va. The house was destroyed by flooding last week. (Photo by Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)
By Lori Kersey
WESTON, W.Va. — On July 21, it took 45 minutes for flash floods to destroy three houses in Jason Mulholland’s family. The home he shared with his wife and the nearby homes of his two sons, 33 and 29, are all beyond repair.

West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack addresses reporters about his 2026 legislative priorities during a news conference Nov. 17, 2025, in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo by Lori Kersey/West Virginia Watch)
By Amelia Knisely
State Treasurer Larry Pack says it’s “unconscionable” that West Virginia’s school clothing assistance program for low-income children has already stopped taking applications due to a funding shortfall.
NATIONAL

Erica Schwartz testifies during her confirmation hearing to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 15, 2026. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)
By Shauneen Miranda
WASHINGTON — Dr. Erica Schwartz got a step closer in her bid to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after a key U.S. Senate panel propelled her nomination to the Senate floor Thursday.
By Shauneen Miranda
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Labor breezed through a key U.S. Senate committee vote Thursday to advance his nomination.
By Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged during his confirmation hearing to do everything in his “power to put the health of America back on track.”
By Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to pull acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to lead the Justice Department until two Republican holdouts, Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas, leave office.
By Jennifer Shutt
WASHINGTON — For the second time in as many weeks, a War Powers Resolution aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s war with Iran failed to pass the U.S. Senate Thursday.
By Amelia Twyman
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not planning an aggressive campaign at voting sites during the upcoming midterm elections, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday in response to a States Newsroom inquiry about a letter from U.S. Senate Democrats voicing concerns about armed federal agents at polling places
By Ariana Figueroa
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced an initiative Thursday for veterans to quickly obtain commercial driver’s licenses, as the administration attempts to fill vacancies in the industry after pausing license renewals for foreign-born truck drivers.
COMMENTARY

The West Virginia Legislature’s 2024 regular session ended Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography)
By Paula Kaufman
West Virginia has one of the weakest marriage laws in the region. Currently, 17 states ban child marriage entirely. News flash: West Virginia isn’t one of them. Thirty-three states still permit it with exceptions. Some still have no minimum age. That’s shocking. It protects predators over a girl’s safety.
ICYMI
Majestic Care touts progress on new long-term care hospitals; lawmakers worry about unknown location | Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Morrisey: 52K kids applied for school clothing assistance before program ran out of money | Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Obamacare enrollment declines in 49 states | Shalina Chatlini
Attempt to halt imminent deportations of Haitians and Syrians blocked in US Senate | Ariana Figueroa
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