This week we're looking back at some of our favorite stories of 2025. Tre Spencer highlighted how a health department worker, a 911 operator and a Head Start teacher led a grassroots effort to bring a bus system to their community. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/06/01/m...

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West Virginia’s Office of Energy planned to create a program with a goal of saving participating households 30% of solar costs. The funding was also going to help support workforce development and training programs to grow the state’s solar workforce. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/22/e...

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We're looking back at some of our top stories of the year. In April, Henry Culvyhouse reported that Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice said they wouldn’t vote to kick West Virginians off Medicaid, then voted to slash billions of dollars from the program. buff.ly/UM4jHIw

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As we wind down 2025, here are 12 stand-out examples of accountability reporting we published this year. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/29/2...

As electricity costs rise and solar becomes cheaper, people have begun turning to solar energy to help save money on their power bills. But even then, the cost of installing the renewable energy source has been too high for lower-income households. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/22/e...

During this year’s legislative session, the House eliminated public hearings in favor of a new committee process. Henry Culvyhouse and Duncan Slade found the new process was dominated by lobbyists, representatives of associations and business executives. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/03/24/h...

More than 20 states are suing the U.S. EPA after the agency canceled a $7 billion initiative aimed at helping low-income communities access solar energy. Despite losing $106 million, West Virginia is not among the states challenging the federal cut. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/22/e...

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If state officials want to do more to help West Virginians live longer, healthier lives, they can pass laws and enact policies to improve healthy food access, education and community support. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/10/w...

As we wind down 2025, we're sharing stand-out examples of accountability reporting we published this year. Sarah Elbeshbishi reported during the legislative session that lawmakers pushed industry-friendly water bills at the urging of chemical companies.

Last year, the U.S. EPA awarded West Virginia $106 million to create a program to help low-income communities access solar energy and reduce their power costs. The federal government canceled the program earlier this year. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/22/e...

As 2025 winds down, we’re looking back on some of our biggest stories of the year. In January, Erin Beck reported that relatives who care for kids who'd otherwise end up in foster care can face more strain — and get less help — than other caregivers.

Thousands of families could lose their health insurance and food assistance over the next 10 years. Gov. Patrick Morrisey has said changes to the state will be seen in the upcoming Legislative session. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/20/b...

More than 20 states are suing the federal government over what they say is the “unlawful’ termination of the Biden-era Solar for All program. Despite losing $106 million, West Virginia is not among the states challenging the federal cut. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/22/e...

The Big Beautiful Bill, a spending package pushed by President Donald Trump to slash taxes and social safety net programs, could have an outsized effect on the state, which relies heavily on federal dollars. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/20/b...

NEW: 22 states sued the EPA after it canceled a $7 billion solar program. West Virginia wasn’t one of them.

The West Virginia state government has a report about effects of the Big Beautiful Bill on the state. It refuses to release it to the public. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/20/b...

West Virginia is failing to connect former foster kids with federal money that could help pay for rent and college. Instead, it’s giving the feds back millions of dollars. “It’s one of the most embarrassing things West Virginia can say that they do.” mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

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NEW: State officials have a report about the effects of the Big Beautiful Bill on West Virginia. They won’t release it. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/20/b...

Advocates for foster kids say a federal program meant to prepare kids for adulthood could break West Virginia’s vicious cycle. Instead, the state has returned nearly $7 million. An overloaded and broken system breeds distrust and exacerbates the problem. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

“I never saw a future.” In a state with the nation’s highest rates of kids in foster care, West Virginia has for years failed to spend millions of dollars from the federal government meant to help foster kids transition into adulthood. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

State health officials haven't been spending millions in federal funding that could help older and former foster youth. Asked whether he’ll commit to spending future funding, Morrisey said he’s weighing spending with fiscal responsibility.

Federal funds are available to provide older and former foster kids with college and trade school tuition, rent and tutoring. Gov. Morrisey stopped short of promising his administration will spend all federal money allocated for this purpose.

Public health experts say West Virginia needs consistent nutrition education, funding for farmers markets and support for breastfeeding if the state really wants healthier families. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/10/w...

Mountain State Spotlight found that from 2010-2023, health officials returned to the federal government nearly $7 million meant to help older and former foster kids. The Morrisey administration isn’t saying whether it will have to return funds.

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Gov. Patrick Morrisey said he’ll take a “close look” at spending federal funds meant to help West Virginia’s former foster youth transition into adulthood. He stopped short of pledging to spend all the money allocated to the state.

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NEW: There’s money available to help West Virginia’s former foster kids. Morrisey wouldn’t commit to spending it all. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/m...

Jaiden Holt, a former foster kid, thought his dream of becoming a barber was out of reach. West Virginia had the money to help — but nobody ever told him. The state has returned nearly $7 million in federal aid meant for foster kids. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

Aging out of foster care? You can get help with your rent, medical bills and education. Here’s what you need to know. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/f...

For years, West Virginia has been squandering an opportunity to help former foster kids succeed as adults. The state has returned nearly $7 million for these programs to the federal government. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

NEW: West Virginia got federal money to help foster kids succeed as adults. The state sent millions of dollars back. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

A law, passed earlier this year, stripped local control over data center projects. Now, communities are calling on their leaders to reinstate local control. Some lawmakers say they’re open to it, while others don’t see a need. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/14/d...

Marty Daniel, the founder of a gun manufacturer at the center of multiple mass shooting-related lawsuits, met with Gov. Patrick Morrisey at the Capitol. The next day, Morrisey asked lawmakers to introduce a bill that would protect gunmakers’ profits. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/d...

NEW: Despite community opposition to data centers, lawmakers offer no clear plan for addressing local concerns mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/14/d...

A bill that raises the bar for a lawsuit to be filed in West Virginia against a gunmaker based on how it advertises was championed Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez, a prominent gun YouTuber and attorney and a gunmaker at the center of multiple lawsuits. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/d...

Anybody can make a public records request — you don’t have to be a journalist. Here’s how one of our Freedom of Information Act requests revealed the gun industry’s influence in our Capitol: mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/f...

Marty Daniel built his fortune selling AR-15s. After his rifles were used in mass shootings from Uvalde to D.C., he faced lawsuits and testified before Congress. In West Virginia, lawmakers welcomed him — and passed laws to protect the gun industry. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/d...

Daniel Defense, a Georgia-based AR-15 manufacturer, has been at the center of lawsuits in Washington D.C., Nevada and Texas. West Virginia officials, including Gov. Patrick Morrisey, welcomed him to the Capitol. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/d...

The HUD said a new homelessness policy will increase “self-sufficiency” and end rising homelessness. It will result in even more of it. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/07/h...

West Virginia has the highest obesity rate in the country. State officials could help reduce the number, and they’ve had a plan to do it since 2016. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/10/w...

Calls for accountability for the gun industry have risen as the death toll from mass shootings has mounted. West Virginia passed legislation to prevent that from happening here — with the help of a YouTube personality and a gunmaker. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/d...

NEW: How a public records ‘fishing expedition’ exposed the gun industry’s influence in Charleston mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/f...