NEW: West Virginians have a honey-do list for their newly elected officials buff.ly/4fn2fIo

Someone has to hold all of West Virginia’s new elected officials accountable to the people. That’s our job at Mountain State Spotlight. buff.ly/4er5PQe

In our investigation of police officers who sexually abuse kids, we kept noticing a pattern: officers trying to use their positions to intimidate witnesses, destroy evidence & evade consequences. We were still stunned by what happened in Gauley Bridge: wapo.st/3AGXIRK

Thanks to the Charleston Gazette-Mail for republishing this important story. wvgazettemail.com/news/legal_aff…

NEW: Disputes threaten West Virginia’s $1 billion broadband push. Behind closed doors, internet and utility companies consider fixes. buff.ly/49xaCyP

Legendary broadcaster Hoppy Kercheval retires from ‘Talkline,’ remains in other roles wvmetronews.com/2024/12/18/leg…

WV officials approved a $5 million grant for an out-of-state Catholic school and its plans to push anti-abortion and other political measures, taking taxpayer dollars typically used for water and wastewater projects and potentially violating state law: wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/…

After serving as Community Watchdog Reporter since June 2023, West Virginia native Erin Beck is taking on a new beat at Mountain State Spotlight. Read more about the move and why it means more impactful health reporting for West Virginia: buff.ly/428LtZC

Hmmmm .... via ProPublica's Justin Elliott and Robert Faturechi Musk’s affiliates are expected to arrive at Treasury offices in Parkersburg, West Virginia, next week, according to two sources, prompting concern among the staff there. propublica.org/article/elon-m…

NEW: Broadband task force weakens recommendations meant to speed up $1 billion internet expansion buff.ly/4gA1ds9

NEW: How did the Trump administration disembowel USAID in less than three weeks? The first step was seizing control of the agency’s IT system — including the personal data of all its employees. This, we were told, may have violated federal law. 1/

From the Hollerist✊️ who’s helping many people in McDowell. Update from the ground in McDowell County: “Welch is effectively sealed off with no way in or out in any direction. There soon are going to be a lot of cold and hungry people...please pray WVDOT can clear a path

Super important story by Mountain State Spotlight’s Duncan Slade for anyone who cares about West Virginia kids mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/02/24/ele…

NEW: Chemical companies urge West Virginia lawmakers to roll back water protections buff.ly/BJrV0K8

How a well-funded libertarian group pushed West Virginia toward loosening vaccine requirements mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/03/05/lib… via Mountain State Spotlight

In the last four years, a libertarian group has spent more than a quarter of a million dollars to elect candidates who would ax vaccine mandates and oust sitting lawmakers who tried to uphold them.  Good reporting from Henry here. mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/03/05/lib…

NEW: West Virginians voted to keep politics out of schools. Lawmakers are trying to get around it. buff.ly/1L533uu

The disparity has grown even further. New federal data shows that the United States now has: • 41,550 journalists • 280,590 public relations specialists For every reporter, there are now about seven PR people. (data via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)