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...

Nearly 3 out of 4 readers say losing Mountain State Spotlight would mean losing a source of news they can’t get elsewhere. Your support ensures that doesn’t happen. Help us finish the year strong. mountainstatespotlight.fundjournalism.org/join/?campai...

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.

West Virginians deserve trustworthy local information they can’t find anywhere else. Your year-end gift keeps that coverage free for everyone. Give today and power independent WV news. 💛 mountainstatespotlight.fundjournalism.org/join/?campai...

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...

NEW: How a gun manufacturer accused of marketing to mass shooters helped shape West Virginia gun laws mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/11/d...

The Trump administration’s new homelessness policy ends rental assistance for formerly homeless and disabled people after a set time period, even if they make little money and will end up back on the streets. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/07/h...

The Trump administration is considering cutting federal funding for a project to build a regional network of facilities across West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania that will produce, store, distribute and utilize hydrogen. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/03/a...

Robert Stewart believes he’d likely be dead if not for an anti-homelessness program that helps him with rent, since his disabilities prohibit him from affording housing. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/07/h...

The two-day hearing on the merits of the appeal wrapped up Thursday. Now, the West Virginia Air Quality Board has 60 days to make a decision. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/06/t...

About 850 West Virginians, often seniors, have little or no income due to serious disabilities. They’re set to lose their homes and return to homelessness following a recent HUD cut to a successful housing program. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/07/h...

The Trump administration is cutting funding for an anti-homelessness program that has been effective in keeping people who have been homeless housed. An estimated 850 West Virginians will lose their homes. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/07/h...

The WVDEP gave a proposed Tucker County power plant an air permit designating it as a “minor” polluter. But an air pollution expert said the plant’s emissions could exceed the limit. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/06/t...

NEW: HUD helped this disabled West Virginian get housing. Funding cuts could send people like him back into homelessness. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/07/h...

Dr. Ron Sahu, an expert in air pollution and emissions, testified on Wednesday to the West Virginia Air Quality Board that a Tucker County power plant will likely emit more pollution than it’s currently designated: “This is not a minor source.” mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/06/t...

The Trump administration cut funding for two of the hydrogen hubs earlier this year. The remaining five hydrogen projects, including the Appalachian-based hub, were spared. But the federal Department of Energy is considering canceling them too. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/03/a...

NEW: Air pollution expert says Tucker County power plant would likely exceed emission limits in permit issued by the state mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/06/t...

The Appalachian hydrogen hub is one of more than 600 grants the U.S. Department of Energy is considering cancelling. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/03/a...