Erin Beck

Gov. Morrisey admits the CPS workforce is strained, but his proposal doesn’t solve the problem. West Virginia CPS workers can’t keep all the kids in their care safe. The governor admits understaffing but his bill doesn’t fix it.

A fully staffed, well-qualified CPS workforce is needed to keep kids safe and support families. WV Gov. Morrisey has a staffing bill in play in the Legislature, but researchers say he and lawmakers need to do much more.
mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/02/04/c...

How ICE arrests of immigrants in Wes President Trump’s immigration crackdown has come to West Virginia, prompting ICE raids that threaten to trample the Constitution

WV Gov. Patrick Morrisey said 650 immigrant arrests “have removed dangerous illegal immigrants from our communities and made our state safer for families and law-abiding citizens.” A federal judge says the government hasn’t proved it.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/01/31/i...

As power bills rise, state lawmakers’ efforts to freeze rate hikes seem unlikely to go anywhere Rising electric bills are straining West Virginia households as lawmakers debate whether freezing rate hikes could bring relief.

Lawmakers from both parties consider proposals to freeze electric rates. Important @mtnstspotlight.bsky.social story as West Virginians continue to struggle to afford their bills, by Tre Spencer

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/01/21/p...

Foster care bills offer ‘incremental’ fixes that don’t address roots of West Virginia’s crisis A legislative foster care workgroup unveiled multiple pieces of legislation for consideration this session. Just one addresses prevention.

Republican lawmakers' child welfare proposals won’t fix the roots of the crisis — the reasons so many families end up involved with CPS and kids end up in foster care. One researcher said proposals could result in "incremental" change.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/01/15/f...

A West Virginia program helped kids grow healthy food. Now Congress is pulling out its roots. Congress says it wants a healthier America. But it’s defunding a program that helps West Virginians eat nutritious food.

2025 in review: In June, Erin Beck highlighted that Republicans stripped funding for SNAP-Ed, a federal program aimed at teaching low-income people to eat nutritiously with little money and prevent health problems.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/06/08/s...

Health care costs are increasing. Here are five ways West Virginia lawmakers could help. ACA Marketplace premiums are increasing. So are other health care costs. Here’s how West Virginia lawmakers could help.

While Congress gets most of the attention when it comes to health care costs (see the fight over ACA subsidies), there are steps state-level lawmakers could take to help constituents facing higher premiums and other health care costs.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2026/01/08/w...

West Virginia aims to place abused kids with relatives. But for these kinship families, help is limited. West Virginia officials want abused kids placed with relatives. But for kids to recover, families need more help with the mental health strain.

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.

Morrisey hedges on commitment to spend federal money on former foster children State officials left money for former foster kids unspent. Morrisey officials offer little information on whether the problem is ongoing.

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... via @erinbeck.bsky.social

Morrisey hedges on commitment to spend federal money on former foster children State officials left money for former foster kids unspent. Morrisey officials offer little information on whether the problem is ongoing.

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.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/m...

Millions of federal dollars would have helped West Virginia’s foster kids. The state sent it back. The state has failed to spend nearly $7 million to help kids pay rent, go to college and access other services to help them succeed.

West Virginia got federal money to help foster kids succeed as adults. But it’s helped few kids — so since 2010, the state has returned nearly $7 million for these programs to the federal government. New from @mtnstspotlight.bsky.social by Erica Peterson mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/12/16/w...

A HUD program helped him find housing. Trump’s cuts could put him back on the streets. Hundreds of West Virginians with disabilities are set to lose housing following cuts to a HUD program by the Trump administration.

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...

Join | Mountain State Spotlight Mountain State Spotlight is supported by people like you. Support Mountain State Spotlight today.

If you’re considering a Giving Tuesday contribution, I hope you’ll donate to Mountain State Spotlight. WV is a state I love & that I’ve felt called to serve by holding power to account. And for our readers, the information we share is power.

mountainstatespotlight.fundjournalism.org/donate/?camp...

Help us report: How will health insurance changes affect you? Do you get your health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace through healthcare.gov? We want to hear from you.

Hi everyone! I am reporting on health insurance costs and need your help. Can you fill out this survey for Mountain State Spotlight and tell us how your health insurance costs or coverage are changing in 2026? Thanks in advance!
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/11/07/a...

We asked who Gov. Morrisey meets with. His office stopped keeping track. After Mountain State Spotlight obtained six months of visitor logs from the Governor’s Office, they stopped writing it down.

After @mtnstspotlight.bsky.social requested WV Gov. Patrick Morrisey's visitor logs to see who he was meeting with, the governor's legal counsel said the office was no longer keeping them and that journalists were "abusive about the process"
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/24/m...

West Virginia collected $34 million in cannabis taxes. It hasn’t spent a penny. West Virginia’s cannabis program has generated $34 million for research, addiction help and law enforcement. None of the money has been used.

This astounding piece by Nicole Blevins is what real investigative journalism looks like. WV has been sitting on $34 million in medical cannabis program fees, taxes and interest that was supposed to go to treatment, law enforcement & cannabis research.
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/22/3...

NEW: The rural health fund won’t ease the pain of Medicaid cuts
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/19/h...

A $50 billion rural health fund won’t soften the blow of massive Medicaid cuts Congress added funding to the Big Beautiful Bill and said it would stop health care losses. It’s not enough.

To get the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed, Congress tacked on a $50 billion fund to divvy among states. It’s no match for massive cuts to Medicaid and health care provider revenue.
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/19/h...

Morrisey wants West Virginians to get healthy. Here are 5 ways the state can make that happen. The Mountaineer Mile is one initiative. Officials could help with nutrition and exercise with several strategies researched for years.

Morrisey says he’ll “make WV healthy” — starting with the Mountaineer Mile.
But if the state is serious about obesity and health, it needs to follow evidence-based, proven strategies — not just slogans.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/10/10/w...

Newly released contract reveals details and timelines for sale of West Virginia hospitals to private company The West Virginia-owned hospitals sale contract says Majestic Care will spend $140 million on three nursing homes on a rebuild timeline.

West Virginia released the contract for the sale of its state nursing hospitals.

🔹 $80M in upgrades pledged
🔹 6 months to find new sites
🔹 Promise to rehire staff “substantially all”… with some loopholes
🔹 No requirement where new hospitals will be located
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/09/29/h...

Delayed CDC guidelines kept people from getting COVID vaccine as cases rose Patients seeking COVID vaccines were told they needed prescriptions. A federal committee voted to remove that requirement.

A federal committee opened up access to this year’s COVID-19 vaccine. But some people have already tried to get it and been turned away.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/09/25/v...

Morrisey sells 4 nursing homes to for-profit buyer whose other hospitals have lower staffing levels State-owned facilities have helped West Virginians with complex health needs. A private owner could trim staff and choose less ill patients.

Tuberculosis. Black lung. Mine disasters. Mental illness. Hopemont Hospital, Jackie Withrow, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center and Lakin Hospital evolved over a century to meet pressing health needs. Last month, they were sold to a private buyer.
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/09/16/w...

Nearly 55,000 West Virginians are set to lose Medicaid. Here’s what to expect, and when. About 55,000 people in West Virginia are expected to lose Medicaid. The biggest drop starts in 2027.

The biggest Medicaid cuts in history are expected to drop 55,000 West Virginians from coverage over the next decade, but not all at once.

This timeline explains when each change hits and which groups of people are affected.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/08/27/m...

Morrisey said he made 'quality' a 'priority' for hospitals' buyer as he sells to a firm accused of discrimination Gov. Morrisey approved the sale of four WV senior care homes to a company accused in a federal disability rights lawsuit.

While Gov. Patrick Morrisey assured West Virginians his administration rigorously vetted the buyer of four state-owned hospitals for vulnerable seniors, the governor's office wouldn't say if he knew the buyer was facing a lawsuit over alleged discrimination
mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/08/19/m...

Medicaid work requirements could strip health care from working, disabled and low-income West Virginians Politicians said work requirements would get people back to work. They’ll actually kick poor and working people off Medicaid.

A new law requires people on Medicaid to push through red tape to prove they're working, but a majority of enrollees are workers, students & people with disabilities.

"You don’t 'save' $326 billion by targeting only a few people supposedly on a couch.”

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/07/31/w...

Congress said they were targeting Medicaid “fraud.” Their cuts hurt patients, not fraudsters. Politicians said Medicaid patients are milking the system and took away their health care. But providers are the ones at fault.

Congress cut Medicaid to stop “fraud.” But patients weren't the ones stealing.

Laura Jones, who runs a Morgantown free clinic that accepts Medicaid, said she doesn't see any patient fraud.

“If you were making tons of money, you’d have insurance.”

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/07/29/f...

West Virginia is seeing fewer opioid overdoses, but Congress’ funding cuts threaten recovery Politicians celebrated a drop in overdose deaths while supporting Trump and Congress’ funding cuts that could cause more casualties.

West Virginia’s state bird, the cardinal, is a symbol a lost loved one is near. They carry messages to grieving people.

A 42% decline in overdose deaths brought us hope. But progress is fragile. 766 people died in a year. Program cuts are looming.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/07/20/o...

Thanks so much

West Virginia is seeing fewer opioid overdoses, but Congress’ funding cuts threatens recovery Politicians celebrated a drop in overdose deaths while supporting Trump and Congress’ funding cuts that could cause more casualties.

West Virginia’s state bird, the cardinal, symbolizes hope, positivity and messages from lost loved ones.

This story is about a sign of hope. But it’s also about how, for grieving people, signs can feel like warnings.

This is why.

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/07/20/o...

Mon County clergymembers ask WV House Speaker for “full investigation” into antisemitic comment • West Virginia Watch Several clergy leaders in Monongalia County are calling on House Speaker Roger Hanshaw to “conduct a full investigation” into how an antisemitic comment was made by a personal Instagram account belong...

“There is a long and terrible history of painting Jewish people as deceptive, power-hungry sub-humans… These stereotypes have been used again and again to justify some of the worst atrocities in human history.”

westvirginiawatch.com/2025/07/08/m...

Judges spoke up for kids in danger. West Virginia’s judicial panel wants to silence them. When WV judges tried to help at-risk kids, they were investigated and told to stay silent. They aren’t giving up.

West Virginia’s child welfare system is in crisis.

Two judges tried to intervene. The state’s ethics panel said they crossed a line.

What does it mean when judges are reprimanded for trying to fix a failing system?

Here’s what happened: 🔗

mountainstatespotlight.org/2025/07/08/a...