Blog

Army Veteran Joe Earley Launches GOP Primary Challenge Against Senator Ben Queen
State

Army Veteran Joe Earley Launches GOP Primary Challenge Against Senator Ben Queen

BRIDGEPORT — Retired Army First Sgt. Joe Earley officially launched his campaign Thursday for the West Virginia Senate in District 12, pledging to bring “true conservative leadership” to Charleston and challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Ben Queen in the May 12 primary. Speaking at Brickside in Bridgeport, Earley emphasized his military and professional background, including two […]

Legal Experts Say West Virginia Anti-Photoshop Bill Copies Unconstitutional California Law
State

Legal Experts Say West Virginia Anti-Photoshop Bill Copies Unconstitutional California Law

CHARLESTON — Legislation introduced by Del. Bill Flanigan (R-Ohio, 4) would impose sweeping regulations on artificial intelligence-generated, satirical memes, and digitally altered images, a proposal legal experts say is unconstitutional and modeled after a California law already struck down by a federal court. Flanigan House Bill 4496, sponsored by Del. Flanigan, would require individuals, media […]

Controversial House Bill Shifts Prosecutorial Power From Counties to State
State

Controversial House Bill Shifts Prosecutorial Power From Counties to State

CHARLESTON — Del. Gary Howell and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw have introduced legislation that would significantly restructure prosecutorial authority in West Virginia, a move critics say would erode local control, weaken voter authority and centralize power in state offices. House Bill 4496 (2026), sponsored by Howell (R-Mineral, 87) co-sponsored by Hanshaw (R-Clay, 62), would allow […]

Senator Tarr Proposal Raises Concerns Over Limits on Toxic Exposure Lawsuits
State

Senator Tarr Proposal Raises Concerns Over Limits on Toxic Exposure Lawsuits

CHARLESTON — Legislation introduced by Sen. Eric Tarr (R-Putnam, 4) would significantly limit when plaintiffs can recover damages for future medical monitoring in civil lawsuits, drawing criticism from consumer and labor advocates who say it could restrict access to early disease detection. Senate Bill 93 (2026) would bar courts from awarding damages for increased risk […]

Del. Scot Heckert Introduces Bill Restoring Voting Rights to Convicted Felons
State

Del. Scot Heckert Introduces Bill Restoring Voting Rights to Convicted Felons

CHARLESTON — Del. Scot Heckert (R-Wood, 13) has introduced legislation that would explicitly restore voting rights to individuals convicted of felonies once they are released from incarceration. Del. Heckert introduced House Bill 4406 (2026), which would amend state law to clarify that people become eligible to register to vote and cast a ballot upon release […]

Senator Rucker Introduces Bill to Recognize Gold and Silver as Legal Tender
State

Senator Rucker Introduces Bill to Recognize Gold and Silver as Legal Tender

CHARLESTON — Sen. Patricia Rucker (R-Jefferson, 16) has introduced legislation that would recognize gold and silver as legal tender in the state and establish a framework for their use in private and public transactions. Sen. Rucker introduced Senate Bill 413 (2026) titled the Transactional Gold and Silver Act, would allow gold and silver specie to […]

State Senator Tom Willis Files U.S. Senate Bid, Challenges Capito
State

State Senator Tom Willis Files U.S. Senate Bid, Challenges Capito

CLARKSBURG — Republican state Sen. Tom Willis formally entered the race for U.S. Senate, filing his candidacy with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office and immediately drawing a sharp contrast with incumbent Sen. Shelley Moore Capito during remarks in Clarksburg. Willis, who represents Senate District 15 in Berkeley County, said his decision to run […]

Toby Heaney Announces Candidacy for West Virginia State Senate in District 2
State

Toby Heaney Announces Candidacy for West Virginia State Senate in District 2

CLARKSBURG — Toby Heaney officially filed paperwork at the Secretary of State’s Clarksburg Office to run for the West Virginia State Senate, representing District 2. Speaking at a press conference following his filing, Heaney described his candidacy as a commitment to public service and focused on economic issues he says are vital to the state’s […]

House Bill Seeks to Eliminate Standardized Testing in All Schools
State

House Bill Seeks to Eliminate Standardized Testing in All Schools

CHARLESTON — Legislation introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates would end statewide standardized testing in both public and private schools. House Bill 4077, sponsored by Del. Kathie Crouse, was introduced during the 2026 regular legislative session and calls for eliminating all standardized exams administered by the State Board of Education. Under the proposal, […]

WVGOP Rejects Effort to Reopen Primaries After Procedural Dispute, Illegitimate Appointments
State

WVGOP Rejects Effort to Reopen Primaries After Procedural Dispute, Illegitimate Appointments

CHARLESTON — An effort to reopen the West Virginia Republican Party’s closed primaries for the 2026 election failed Saturday after a contentious State Executive Committee meeting marked by procedural challenges, disputed committee appointments and vocal objections from party members. The meeting, held Saturday, January 10, followed earlier action by the party’s resolutions committee, which met […]

Manchin Presses WVGOP to Reopen Republican Primaries as Party Weighs Decision
State

Manchin Presses WVGOP to Reopen Republican Primaries as Party Weighs Decision

CHARLESTON — Former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is pleading with West Virginia Republicans to allow independent voters to participate in GOP primary elections. Manchin made his case as Republican Party leaders prepare to meet this weekend to determine whether the party will continue limiting primary participation to registered Republicans. The longtime Democrat said closed primaries […]

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