Mountain State Spotlight

A decade ago, lawmakers created a Future Fund to save coal and gas wealth. It never saved a penny.

West Virginia legislators created the Future Fund to save severance tax revenues for the future. It never received a deposit.
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Share your experiences with Hopemont, Jackie Withrow, Lakin and John Manchin hospitals

Last year, private company Majestic Care bought four state-owned nursing homes, which for decades had been run by the state. Some families and workers were fearful of cuts while others were hopeful.
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Coalfield residents need hundreds of millions of dollars for clean water. Lawmakers propose a drop in the bucket.

Ashley Bunch and her son Otis traveled to the West Virginia Capitol on Feb. 16, to advocate for clean drinking water. Photo by Henry Culvyhouse / Mountain State Spotlight Jake Frye doesn’t trust the ...
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Author Archives: Henry Culvyhouse

West Virginia legislators created the Future Fund to save severance tax revenues for the future. It never received a deposit.
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‘I’ve never been so low in my life’: As thousands lose food stamps, West Virginia food pantries struggle to keep up

Ryan Elkins is the CEO and founder of Lincoln County Community Outreach, an organization that works to bring meals and groceries to families throughout the county. Courtesy Photo. YAWKEY— For more ...
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How the Legislature did — and didn’t — address West Virginia’s challenges during the 2026 session

Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, presides over the House on the last night of the 2026 regular session. Photo by Perry Bennett / West Virginia Legislature Two months ago, lawmakers gathered ...
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Deadly flooding in West Virginia finds prevention plans unaddressed

At least two West Virginians are dead, dozens of homes are damaged and communities across north central West Virginia are left picking up the pieces in the wake of another major flood. Just a decade ...
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Locals fought for details about a planned data center complex. Lawmakers took away their power to do anything about it.

A yard sign protesting the data center project is staked in a planter outside of Trailhead Coffee Shop in downtown Davis. Photo by Sarah Elbeshbishi / Mountain State Spotlight TUCKER COUNTY — In late ...
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What’s the big deal about data centers? Here’s what West Virginians need to know.

The proposed location of one of the power plants from TransGas Development Systems' is identified in Mingo County on an air permit application to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Data ...
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Lawmakers hired researchers to figure out how to fix West Virginia’s schools. Here’s what they recommended.

West Virginia lawmakers are debating how to help rescue financially strapped school systems that educate most of the state’s kids, while pumping more money into private schools. Mostly left out of the ...
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‘If they don’t have child care, they can’t work’: Parents and providers share stories of the struggle for child care

Kanawha Valley YMCA CEO, Sarah Bolyard, chats with Layla Echols at the YMCA's after school child care facility in Charleston. Photo by Tre Spencer / Mountain State Spotlight Across West Virginia, some ...
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‘An ecosystem of dysfunction’: West Virginia still has a child welfare worker shortage, and it’s taking a toll on foster kids and families

As West Virginia’s foster care system struggles to hire and retain workers amid low pay and overwhelming caseloads, it stresses foster families and keeps kids from getting the attention they need.