State

State

Senator Willis Cites Venezuela Crisis in Calling for Military Experience in Congress

January 3, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — U.S. Senate candidate and state Sen. Tom Willis (R) drew attention to the absence of military backgrounds within West Virginia’s congressional delegation during a period of growing international security concerns. Willis, a Republican from Berkeley County who represents the 15th Senate District, raised the issue while discussing recent U.S. military action in Venezuela […]

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WVGOP Resolution Committee Rejects Open Primary Resolution, Floor Vote Expected

January 3, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — A resolution seeking to reopen the West Virginia Republican Primary was introduced Friday in the party’s resolution committee but failed on a 4-3 vote, leaving limited options for any change ahead of the 2026 election, according to Politismack, a conservative news website. The committee’s rejection effectively closed the most direct path to reopening […]

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Senator Tom Willis Honors Coal Miners Lost in Sago Mine Tragedy 20 Years Ago Today

January 2, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Sen. Tom Willis (R-Berkeley, 15) paid tribute Thursday to the 12 miners who died in the Sago Mine disaster 20 years ago. He serves as chairman of the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee and is a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. “Today, we honor the memory of these courageous miners, remember their sacrifice, […]

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20 Years After Sago Mine Disaster, 12 West Virginians Remembered

January 2, 2026 WV Statewire

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SAGO — Twenty years ago today, an explosion and collapse at the Sago Mine in Upshur County trapped 13 miners underground, resulting in the deaths of 12. Only one miner survived the nearly two-day ordeal. The disaster, one of the deadliest in West Virginia’s coal mining history, drew national attention as rescue teams and local […]

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Haley Bunn to Serve as West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice During Leadership Transition

January 2, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Supreme Court will enter 2026 with new leadership as Justice Haley Bunn takes over as chief justice for an extended 18-month term beginning Jan. 1, a move tied to a change in how the court rotates its top post. The justices voted earlier this year to shift the chief justice […]

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West Virginia Leads Nation in Households Reporting No Income, Data Shows

January 1, 2026 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has the highest percentage of households reporting no annual income in the nation, according to data released Friday. An analysis by Visual Capitalist, a digital publisher that compiles global statistical information, found that 34% of households in West Virginia reported zero income, the highest share of any state. Using 2020 […]

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Governor requests Purple Hearts for West Virginia National Guard members

December 19, 2025 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — Gov. Patrick Morrisey said his office has formally requested Purple Heart medals for two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot while on duty in Washington, D.C. Morrisey said the requests were made for Army National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the shooting, and Air National Guard member Andrew […]

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Coal miner dies after accident at Wyoming County mine

December 19, 2025 WV Statewire

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CHARLESTON — A coal miner died following an accident at the Lower War Eagle mine in Wyoming County, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Tuesday. In a statement, Morrisey expressed condolences to the miner’s family and coworkers and said the state has launched an investigation into the incident. “Denise and I were deeply saddened by the tragic […]

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Senator Capito Officially Declares 2026 Re-Election Run with Video Announcement

December 16, 2025 WV Statewire

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WASHINGTON — Sen. Shelley Moore Capito announced Monday that she will seek a third-term in the U.S. Senate, launching her 2026 campaign with a video. Capito, 72, is the fourth-highest-ranking member of the Republican-controlled Senate and chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee. She is the daughter of Arch Moore, a three-term West Virginia governor […]

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Senator Capito Officially Declares 2026 Re-Election Run with Video Announcement

December 16, 2025 WV Statewire

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WASHINGTON — Sen. Shelley Moore Capito announced Monday that she will seek a third-term in the U.S. Senate, launching her 2026 campaign with a video. Capito, 72, is the fourth-highest-ranking member of the Republican-controlled Senate and chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee. She is the daughter of Arch Moore, a three-term West Virginia governor […]

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