LEAH WILLINGHAM

FILE - West Virginia Capitol with its dome framed by turning sugar maples leaves in Charleston, W.Va., Monday Nov. 3, 2014. West Virginia's Republican-led House of Delegates greenlit a bill Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, that would cut and gradually phase out the state income tax on social security benefits. (Tom Hindman/The Daily Mail via AP)
West Virginia House OKs bill to phase out Social Security tax
West Virginia’s Republican-led House of Delegates has approved a bill that would cut and gradually phase out the state income tax on Social Security benefits. Eliminating the tax is a key priority for GOP Gov.
 
West Virginia Republican Del. Dave Foggin speaks during debate on the House of Delegates floor at the State Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Foggin spoke in support of a bill that would allow K-12 teachers and other school staff with training to carry firearms and other weapons on public school grounds. (Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography via AP)
West Virginia House OKs bill to allow teachers with training to carry guns, other weapons in schools
West Virginia’s Republican-controlled House of Delegates has voted to allow teachers and other school staff who undergo training to carry guns in K-12 public schools. Republican Del.
 
West Virginia advances bill that would require age verification for internet pornography
People in West Virginia would need to present some form of state-sponsored identification before accessing internet pornography under a bill advancing in the Republican-dominated state House of Delegates.
 
FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers the State of the State address in Charleston, W.Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. A bill that passed Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, which would decriminalize all strips used to test deadly drugs in West Virginia, the state with the nation's highest overdose rate, is headed to the desk of Gov. Justice. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)
Bill decriminalizing drug test strips in opioid-devastated West Virginia heads to governor
A bill that would decriminalize all strips used to test drugs for deadly substances now goes to West Virginia’s governor.
 
West Virginia resident Jeff Smith holds up the book "Let's Talk About it: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being Human" as an example of obscene material that should not be legally protected by public libraries and schools during a public hearing on proposed obscenity legislation at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative via AP)
West Virginia GOP majority pushes contentious bills arming teachers, restricting bathrooms, books
West Virginia’s Republican-dominated Legislature is pushing forward a slate of contentious bills. The bills would arm teachers, allow people to sue libraries over books that offend them and restrict where transgender kids can use the bathroom at school.
 
FILE - A sign notifies customers that EBT can be used at a store in Sioux Falls, S.D., Aug. 26, 2011. A committee of lawmakers in West Virginia’s Republican-majority Legislature is advancing a bill that would require low-income residents who qualify for government assistance buying food to provide a photo identification card before making purchases. (Jay Pickthorn/The Argus Leader via AP, File)
West Virginia advances bill to add photos to all SNAP cards, despite enforcement concerns
 
West Virginia's newly refinished Capitol dome is shown Friday, Oct.1 4, 2005, in Charleston, W.Va. County education boards in West Virginia could contract with military veterans and retired law enforcement officers to provide armed security at K-12 public schools under a bill passed by the Republican-controlled state Senate. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)
West Virginia Senate OKs bill to allow veterans, retired police to provide armed security in schools
Republican Sen.
 
West Virginia Democratic Del. Mike Pushkin speaks in support of an opioid bill during a House Health and Human Resources Committee meeting on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. The bill would require the private foundation in charge of distributing the majority of the state’s $1 billion in opioid settlement dollars to hold open meetings. (Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislature via AP)
West Virginia advances bill requiring foundation distributing opioid money to hold public meetings
The private foundation in charge of distributing the lion’s share of West Virginia’s hundreds of millions of opioid-settlement dollars would be required to make its proceedings public under a bill advancing in the state Legislature.
 
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice waves prior to delivering the State of the State address in Charleston, W.Va., on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson)
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, known for quirky speeches, gives his final one before US Senate run
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice is bringing a close to one avenue for his quirky speeches with his final State of the State address. He delivered the speech Wednesday night.
 
West Virginia GOP delegate resigns to focus on state auditor race
A 24-year-old Republican state lawmaker in West Virginia is resigning to focus on his campaign for state auditor. Del.
 
FILE - West Virginia House Judiciary Chairman Moore Capito presides over a public hearing at the West Virginia state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Feb. 2, 2023. Capito announced Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, he is resigning from the state Legislature to focus on his gubernatorial campaign (AP Photo/Leah Willingham, File)
Republican Moore Capito resigns from West Virginia Legislature to focus on governor’s race
Moore Capito, son of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, is resigning from the West Virginia Legislature to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.
 
FILE - West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice delivers his annual State of the State address in the House Chambers of the state Capitol, Jan. 11, 2023, in Charleston, W.Va. On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Justice appointed a member of his cabinet to a circuit judge position and replaced him with one of his senior advisors. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)
West Virginia GOP Gov. Justice appoints cabinet secretary to circuit judge position
West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice has appointed a member of his cabinet to a circuit judge position and replaced him with one of his senior advisers.
 
FILE - A sign advertises free pregnancy tests and abortion information outside the Woman's Choice Pregnancy Resource Center in Charleston, W.Va., on June 17, 2022. A West Virginia coalition that helps support a network of anti-abortion pregnancy centers in the state is receiving $1 million in taxpayer dollars to distribute to organizations committed to encouraging people not to end their pregnancies. (AP Photo/Leah M. Willingham, File)
West Virginia places anti-abortion pregnancy center coalition at the helm of $1M grant program
A West Virginia coalition that helps support a network of anti-abortion pregnancy centers in the state is receiving $1 million to distribute to organizations committed to encouraging people not to end their pregnancies.
 
FILE - The Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, W.Va., is seen in this undated photo. Five former correctional officers in West Virginia were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in connection with the 2022 death of an incarcerated person who was beaten while handcuffed and restrained in an interview room and later a prison cell at the jail. (Rick Barbero/The Register-Herald via AP, File)
Several former correctional officers indicted after death of man in West Virginia jail
Five former correctional officers in West Virginia have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the 2022 death of a man at a regional jail.
 
FILE - In a Friday, Aug. 3, 2018 photo, solar panels line the roof of Harmony House as part of a project by Solar Holler in Huntington, W.V. An entire county school system in coal-producing West Virginia is going solar, representing what developer Solar Holler and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin's office called Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, the largest-ever single demonstration of sun-powered renewable electricity in Appalachian public schools. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP, File)
Coal-producing West Virginia is converting an entire school system to solar power
An entire county school system in coal-producing West Virginia is going solar. The project in Wayne County Schools represents what a developer and U.S. Sen.
 
Members of the West Virginia Public Employee Insurance Agency Finance Board listen to public comment on proposed premium increases for fiscal year 2025 at the Charleston Culture Center in Charleston, W.Va. on Monday, Tuesday Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo /Leah Willingham)
Years after strike, West Virginia public workers push back against another insurance cost increase
The West Virginia agency managing health insurance for government employees is facing pushback over proposed premium increases.
 
FILE - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., right, listens at right as then-President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Senators on his Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch, Feb. 9, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Manchin said Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, that if voters give Trump another term in Washington, “he will destroy Democracy in America.” (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Sen. Joe Manchin says Donald Trump would destroy US democracy if he wins second term as president
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin says if U.S. voters give former President Donald Trump another term in the White House, “he will destroy democracy in America.”
 
FILE - West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin is introduced to speak at the 35th Annual West Virginia Mining Symposium Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008 in Charleston, W.Va. Manchin announced Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, that he is not seeking reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)
Sen. Manchin is the last in a line of formidable West Virginia Democrats who promoted coal interests
Joe Manchin’s impending departure from the Senate marks the end of an era for powerful West Virginia Democrats who wielded considerable power as advocates for the state’s coal interests.
 
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., chairs a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the health of the electrical power grid, at the Capitol in Washington, June 1, 2023. Manchin announced he won't seek reelection in 2024, giving Republicans a prime opportunity to pick up a seat in the heavily GOP state. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin won’t seek reelection, giving GOP a key pickup opportunity
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia says he won’t seek reelection in 2024, giving Republicans a prime opportunity to gain a seat in the heavily GOP state.
 
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, left, speaks about the inaugural meeting of the West Virginia First Foundation alongside foundation board chair Matt Harvey and vice chair Matt Christiansen at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
Local governments in West Virginia to start seeing opioid settlement money this year
Local governments in West Virginia will start seeing opioid settlement money by the year’s end. Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey says around $73.5 million will be deployed to municipalities and counties this calendar year in the state most hard-hit by the opioid epidemic.
 
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Jeremy Slinker speaks to members of the media about the rescue operation underway for a worker trapped inside a collapsed coal preparation plant in Martin County, south of Inez, Ky., on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Officials said one worker died. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)
2nd worker trapped under collapsed Kentucky coal prep plant has died, governor says
Gov. Andy Beshear says the second of two workers trapped under a coal mine preparation plant that collapsed earlier this week in eastern Kentucky has died. The governor made the announcement Friday.
 
Kentucky Emergency Management Director Jeremy Slinker speaks to members of the media about the rescue operation underway for a worker trapped inside a collapsed coal preparation plant in Martin County, south of Inez, Ky., on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Officials said one worker died. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)
Crews removing debris amid ongoing search for worker trapped after Kentucky coal plant collapse
Crews began the arduous process of removing layers of rubble and debris from a collapsed coal mine preparation plant in eastern Kentucky Thursday.
 
A sheriff's vehicle blocks a road leading to the area where a rescue operation is underway for two workers trapped inside a collapsed coal preparation plant in Martin County, south of Inez, Ky., on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says a man has died after he and a coworker were trapped beneath a collapsed 11-story building being demolished at an abandoned mine’s coal preparation plant. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader via AP)
Collapse of Kentucky plant being demolished at abandoned mine leaves 1 worker dead, another trapped
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says a man has died after he and a coworker were trapped beneath a collapsed 11-story building being demolished at an abandoned mine’s coal preparation plant.
 
Utility clerk appointed to West Virginia Legislature as GOP House member
Republican Gov. Jim Justice has appointed a city administrative clerk from central West Virginia to the state Legislature. Erica J.
 
FILE - Huntington High School senior Max Nibert holds signs he plans to use during a walkout students are staging at Huntington High School in Huntington, W.Va. on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. The protest follows an evangelistic Christian revival assembly at the school that some students were mandated by teachers to attend – a violation of students' civil rights, Nibert says. The West Virginia school district has passed a policy banning “proselytizing” or “denigrating” over faith as part of a lawsuit settlement after an evangelical preacher held a religious revival assembly during the school day in 2022 that some students were required to attend. (AP Photo/Leah M. Willingham, File)
West Virginia school system mandates religious training following revival assembly lawsuit
A West Virginia school district has passed a policy mandating annual religious freedom training as part of a lawsuit settlement. The settlement was finalized Thursday.
 
FILE - U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on gun violence, June 8, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sarbanes will not seek reelection in 2024, choosing to depart his seat after 18 years in office, the nine-term Democrat announced Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Democratic US Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland says he will not seek reelection in 2024
Democratic U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland will not seek reelection in 2024, choosing to depart his seat after 18 years. Sarbanes has represented Maryland’s traditionally blue 3rd congressional district since 2007.
 
West Virginia pathologists perform twice as many autopsies as industry standard amid shortages
Forensic pathologists in West Virginia are being asked to perform twice as many autopsies as the national best practice standard, resulting in significant delays.
 
West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin speaks with reporters outside the newly renovated Amtrak train station in Charleston, W.Va. on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 (AP Photo/Leah Willingham)
Sen. Joe Manchin considers independent 2024 run, warns party system could be nation’s ‘downfall’
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has benefited from waiting to reveal where he stood as the swing vote in a chamber closely divided between Democrats and Republicans.
 
Staffer Mackenzie Hunt smiles as a child raises her hand to answer a question during a lesson on shapes and colors on the playground at Living Water Child Care and Learning Center in Williamson, W.Va. on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. (AP Photo / Leah Willingham)
Child care programs just lost thousands of federal dollars. Families and providers scramble to cope
 
FILE - People gather at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 31st Street (U.S. 60) in Huntington, W.Va., Jan. 1, 2023, for a candlelight vigil after a 13-year-old girl was struck and killed there days earlier by a vehicle driven by an off-duty Cabell County sheriff's deputy. On Monday, Sept. 25, the family of the 13-year-old who was struck and killed filed a civil suit in federal court against the now-resigned officer and other county officials. Opal Slone, the mother of Jacqueline “Laney” Hudson, is requesting a jury trial against former Cabell County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffrey Racer, accusing him of speeding when he fatally struck her daughter in December 2022 with his marked cruiser, among other allegations. (Ryan Fischer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP, File)
Family of West Virginia 13-year-old who was struck, killed by off-duty deputy demands jury trial
 
Load More