Mountain State Spotlight

Will Morrisey’s foster care plan fix a broken system? Here’s what our investigation found. For many West Virginia foster kids, the issue isn’t that they’re out-of-state. It’s that they’re institutionalized in the first place.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s foster care plan would affect fewer than 400 of the 6,000 West Virginia kids in that system. And our investigation shows that focusing on shuffling those kids in out-of-state group care into in-state group care misses the point.

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Lawmakers repeatedly block efforts to return data centers control to local communities Throughout the session, lawmakers have protected data center development by blocking attempts for more transparency and input from communities.

West Virginians hoping legislators would give them some control over data centers are disappointed in actions so far, calling them more of the same – legislators turning a blind eye because of money interests.

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Will Morrisey’s foster care plan fix a broken system? Here’s what our investigation found. For many West Virginia foster kids, the issue isn’t that they’re out-of-state. It’s that they’re institutionalized in the first place.

Mountain State Spotlight investigated Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s “Bring Them Home” foster care plan. Here’s what we found.

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Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era changes to child care funding support Federal officials want to roll back child care funding rules designed to stabilize providers and lower costs for families.

After years of child care advocates across the country pushing for changes to the federal system, the Biden administration made changes intended to support providers and families. Now, the Trump administration is preparing to undo some of those changes.

Gov. Morrisey’s big child welfare proposal focuses on renovating buildings to bring foster kids in out-of-state group homes back to West Virginia. But data shows what would really help is getting kids out of institutions in the first place.

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Lawmakers repeatedly block efforts to return data centers control to local communities Throughout the session, lawmakers have protected data center development by blocking attempts for more transparency and input from communities.

Despite a promise to constituents to revisit data centers, Senate President Randy Smith did not introduce a bill to do so. And so far, a bill in his chamber that would fix it has not been placed on an agenda.

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WV lawmakers face a decision as federal child care funding rules may be rolled back Child care providers are warning that a federal rollback could cut funding and force closures.

One lawmaker wants to lock stable child care payments into state law, arguing that it costs less to keep centers open instead of reopening them later to protect providers as a federal repeal looms.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/24/c...

Will Morrisey’s foster care plan fix a broken system? Here’s what our investigation found. For many West Virginia foster kids, the issue isn’t that they’re out-of-state. It’s that they’re institutionalized in the first place.

NEW: Will Morrisey’s foster care plan fix a broken system? Here’s what our investigation found.

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Lawmakers repeatedly block efforts to return data centers control to local communities Throughout the session, lawmakers have protected data center development by blocking attempts for more transparency and input from communities.

More than 40 days into the 60-day West Virginia legislative session, lawmakers haven’t addressed local control and transparency issues surrounding data centers. Instead, they’ve actively blocked attempts to do so.

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WV lawmakers face a decision as federal child care funding rules may be rolled back Child care providers are warning that a federal rollback could cut funding and force closures.

West Virginia has about 1,100 providers serving 40,000 kids. A proposal to change federal child care rules that helped pay providers is on the table and state lawmakers have just a few weeks to help.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/24/c...

Lawmakers repeatedly block efforts to return data centers control to local communities Throughout the session, lawmakers have protected data center development by blocking attempts for more transparency and input from communities.

NEW: West Virginians asked for more local control over data centers. Lawmakers have rejected efforts to restore it.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/25/l...

Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era changes to child care funding support Federal officials want to roll back child care funding rules designed to stabilize providers and lower costs for families.

The new federal proposal would repeal the requirements that helped pay providers more fairly and helped families afford child care. Here’s how it would impact West Virginia’s child care system.

WV lawmakers face a decision as federal child care funding rules may be rolled back Child care providers are warning that a federal rollback could cut funding and force closures.

Thousands of West Virginia families rely on child care subsidies, and providers rely on stable payments to stay open. Federal rules that keep funding predictable may soon be rolled back, but state lawmakers can still step in.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/24/c...

NEW: Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s signature foster care proposal won’t fix West Virginia’s troubled child welfare system

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Proposed cap to Hope Scholarship won’t keep costs from ballooning to over $200 million A House proposal to cap the Hope Scholarship sparked pushback as lawmakers grapple with a projected $230 million cost.

Last week, the House Finance Committee rolled out a bill that would tighten and cap the Hope Scholarship. School voucher supporters say the proposal “guts” the program, but the changes would only save a small percentage of the program’s cost.

WV lawmakers face a decision as federal child care funding rules may be rolled back Child care providers are warning that a federal rollback could cut funding and force closures.

NEW: Time is running out for lawmakers to address the federal child care funding rule change

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/24/c...

Proposed cap to Hope Scholarship won’t keep costs from ballooning to over $200 million A House proposal to cap the Hope Scholarship sparked pushback as lawmakers grapple with a projected $230 million cost.

“I don't want to be able to have to come back here in the next couple years — ‘boys, we've run out of money on Hope Scholarship, and we're going to have a tax increase just to pay for Hope,’” said House Finance Chair Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood.

Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era changes to child care funding support Federal officials want to roll back child care funding rules designed to stabilize providers and lower costs for families.

West Virginia’s child care system already struggles with closures, low staffing and long waiting lists. A new federal proposal could make it worse for parents and providers.

Proposed cap to Hope Scholarship won’t keep costs from ballooning to over $200 million A House proposal to cap the Hope Scholarship sparked pushback as lawmakers grapple with a projected $230 million cost.

Republicans in the House of Delegates have offered legislation to curb the Hope Scholarship by about $20 million. School voucher supporters are outraged, but program costs are projected to hit $230 million in 2027.

Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era changes to child care funding support Federal officials want to roll back child care funding rules designed to stabilize providers and lower costs for families.

The Trump administration is considering rolling back a Biden-era child care funding rule aimed to make funding more stable for providers. Critics say the rule would put at risk centers and the kids they serve.

Proposed cap to Hope Scholarship won’t keep costs from ballooning to over $200 million A House proposal to cap the Hope Scholarship sparked pushback as lawmakers grapple with a projected $230 million cost.

Republicans in the House of Delegates have offered legislation to curb the Hope Scholarship by about $20 million. School voucher supporters are outraged, but program costs are projected to hit $230 million in 2027.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/23/h...

Proposed cap to Hope Scholarship won’t keep costs from ballooning to over $200 million A House proposal to cap the Hope Scholarship sparked pushback as lawmakers grapple with a projected $230 million cost.

NEW: Proposed cap to Hope Scholarship won’t keep costs from ballooning to over $200 million

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/23/h...

Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era changes to child care funding support Federal officials want to roll back child care funding rules designed to stabilize providers and lower costs for families.

The Trump administration announced a proposal to repeal Biden-era child care rules that stabilized funding for providers and helped families afford care. Here’s what to know about the changes.

Here’s what to know about West Virginia’s marijuana laws Mountain State Spotlight explains the state’s cannabis laws, how they’ve changed and what impact they have on the health of West Virginians

From 2024: What are West Virginia’s marijuana laws?

Local communities rely on state support to ready land for business, but money is running low State grants help local agencies prepare land for development, but most of the funding is already committed. Morrisey didn’t budget for more support.

State site readiness grants helped communities compete for projects. But nearly half of the funding has already been dispersed, and no new money has been proposed by the governor.

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NEW: Trump administration seeks to undo Biden-era changes to child care funding meant to support providers and families

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/22/t...

Less than half the session remains. Here are 5 things lawmakers could do to help West Virginians. Five steps West Virginia lawmakers could take on schools, water, housing, child care and electric bills.

West Virginia lawmakers could put more money into education and clean drinking water. So far, they haven’t.

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West Virginia’s Rainy Day Fund, explained The state has nearly $1 billion in an emergency fund created in 1994. Here’s what to know.

From 2023: Here’s what to know about West Virginia’s Rainy Day Fund

Less than half the session remains. Here are 5 things lawmakers could do to help West Virginians. Five steps West Virginia lawmakers could take on schools, water, housing, child care and electric bills.

Halfway through the legislative session, many of the things West Virginians said they needed haven't been addressed, from child care to clean water. Here are 5 ways lawmakers could help.

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Local communities rely on state support to ready land for business, but money is running low State grants help local agencies prepare land for development, but most of the funding is already committed. Morrisey didn’t budget for more support.

Preparing land for businesses takes environmental reviews and engineering planning, and state grants helped local developers compete for projects. But no more new money has been proposed for the state’s program.

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