Trump wants the country to increase coal production, save coal-fired power plants from retirement and reopen closed ones.
President Donald Trump wants the country to use more coal, a fuel utilities have turned away from in recent decades. One exception: West Virginia, which produces and consumes a lot of coal. That’s made electricity more expensive there. Some residents have turned to alternative ways to power and heat their homes.
Mary West is an Army veteran who lives in Beckley, in southern West Virginia’s coalfield. She used to work in the mines locally, in about 1980.
West called it hard and dangerous work. An injury put an end to her brief career in mining.
“They released me to go back to work, and I told them I was not going to go back, because the Lord hid it underground for a reason, and didn’t intend for my crazy butt to keep going down there, finding it,” she said.
Her past in coal isn’t obvious when looking at her red-brick home. The roof is lined with solar panels. Most months, she pays nothing for electricity.
For others, it’s a struggle. Tom Moseley is a retired postal worker.
“Most families in Raleigh County are living to pay bills,” he said. “They can’t go out and enjoy life. They can’t go out and spend money at the movies. Every dollar they make is to pay their bills.”
“We think under this new political leadership and with the industries and government working hand in hand,” he said, “we can get back to that 165 million tons of coal.”
He says with power plants burning more coal, they should become more efficient, which in turn could lower electricity costs.
Other state leaders say coal is needed to power the growth of data centers. West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito was at the White House when Trump championed coal.
“It also helps us with that baseload energy that we so much need when we hear about energy shortages for AI, data centers and the creation of a more electrified economy,” she said.
Utilities plan for the next 40 years, he says, not the next four.
“I do not see a coal plant, a new coal plant ever being built in the United States,” Wamsted said. “They’re too expensive.”
A $500 Bill
The major utility in southern West Virginia, Appalachian Power, is asking regulators to raise rates to make up for inflation and storm repair costs. Residents, meanwhile, are finding ways to save money.
Gary Bolen, a disabled Navy veteran who lives on a fixed income, tries to use power sparingly.
“I keep my thermostat set at 65 so I don’t have a power bill that high,” he said.
And he switched his heating source.
“I had to transfer it over to gas because the electric heat was running way too high,” Bolen said. “At one time, I had a $500 bill.”
West, the former coal miner, says she’d encourage anyone to switch to solar in West Virginia.
“Well, you know, God’s sun is out every day,” she said.
State regulators will consider Appalachian Power’s rate increase this summer.
Mary West has solar panels on her rooftop. Most months, she pays nothing for electricity.
The governor announced Tuesday night that FEMA denied his request for individual disaster aid to residents of Boone, Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe and Summers counties affected by February’s severe flooding.
When flash flooding struck the region in early February, it claimed at least 27 lives between West Virginia and Kentucky, leaving widespread infrastructure damage in its wake.
Nearly two months later, federal aid dollars have been slow to roll out, even as some of the state’s poorest counties continue to feel the flooding’s effect. Now, some residents affected by the severe weather event have learned they do not qualify for federal financial support.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday night that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had denied his request for individualized disaster aid to affected residents of Boone, Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Monroe and Summers counties.
FEMA’s individual assistance program can cover costs for things like housing repairs and immediate emergency needs.
The governor’s office said FEMA also denied a request for public assistance dollars for Cabell and Kanawha counties. FEMA’s public assistance program helps local governments cover repair costs for things like roadways and public infrastructure.
Morrisey said he “will look at all options” to appeal FEMA’s decision in a press release Tuesday.
After the flooding incident, the governor requested FEMA aid for 14West Virginia counties. The funding for seven counties had been approved, but Morrisey said in March he still awaited a response on the remaining counties.
“Despite today’s notification, I am grateful to the Trump administration for their strong support for southern West Virginia’s recovery following the February floods,” Morrisey said in the press release. FEMA aid requests must receive final approval from the president’s office.
Before this week, the agency had already approved individual assistance for residents of Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
Additionally, the agency has granted Boone, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne and Wyoming counties access to public assistance funds.
For residents of these counties, the deadline to apply for individual aid through FEMA is fast approaching. These funds can only be used on costs not already covered by insurance.
Residents of Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh, Wayne and Wyoming counties have less than one week to apply for individual assistance over the February floods. Applications are due April 28, and can be submitted through the FEMA website.
For in-person support, residents can also visit four disaster recovery centers in West Virginia, located in McDowell, Mingo, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties. Visit the FEMA website to learn more.
On this West Virginia Morning, we look at the impact trade tariffs could have on farmers, and hear about a recent poetry book released by a Webster County native.
On this West Virginia Morning, some farmers in neighboring Kentucky are worried about the impact tariffs spearheaded by President Donald Trump could have on their earnings. As Lily Burris with member station WKMS reports, that is because trade wars cost the state’s farmers nearly $3 billion in revenue during Trump’s first term.
Plus, Torli Bush is originally from Webster Springs, but his writing has reached well beyond Webster County. The rising voice in the Black Appalachian poetry scene released a new book this winter, “Requiem for a Redbird,” and gave Bill Lynch with Inside Appalachia the details.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
The governor signed off a bill setting the state’s budget for fiscal year 2026, but cut some funding allocations that lawmakers had approved earlier this month.
After extensive review during this year’s legislative session, the state budget for fiscal year 2026 — beginning July 1 — received the governor’s stamp of approval Thursday.
But the version Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law strikes several funding allocations that lawmakers agreed upon when passing House Bill 2026. The governor gets a final review on bills before they become law, during which he can sign them into effect, veto them or let them pass into law by default.
Shortly after taking office in January, Morrisey’s office projected the state would experience a roughly $400 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, a figure they said could rise in future years.
Morrisey has attributed this to his predecessor, former Gov. Jim Justice, using one-time funding sources for ongoing expenses like Medicaid instead of finding long-term funding sources. Justice has denied the existence of a budget shortfall.
In a letter to Secretary of State Kris Warner outlining his objections to the legislature-passed budget, Morrisey repeatedly cited a need for “conservative budget planning” and “fiscal responsibility” in his reasoning for cutting certain areas of funding.
“It is imperative that we take steps to limit new spending,” Morrisey wrote.
In his final version of the state budget for fiscal year 2026, Morrisey changed budget amounts approved by the West Virginia Legislature as follows:
Economic Development Project Fund: eliminated new funding entirely, which would have totaled $75 million.
Road maintenance through the State Road Fund: reduced by $25 million to a final figure of $675.2 million new funds.
Division of Highways surplus fund: reduced by $25 million to a final figure of $100 million new funds.
Water Development Authority: eliminated new funding entirely, which would have totaled $10 million.
West Virginia Department of Health, current expenses: cut by $3 million, more than half its funding provisions.
Ronald McDonald House of Morgantown: cut by $3 million.
A new computer science education program: cut by $1.4 million, removing most of the $2 million allocated to it by lawmakers.
Court-appointed special advocates for youth experiencing alleged abuse or neglect: reduced by $800,000, leaving just $300,000 allocated from the bill next fiscal year.
Public transit federal funds/grant match: reduced by $500,000.
Ongoing library expense funds: reduced by $500,000, or roughly one-third of their allocated dollar amount.
Martinsburg Berkeley Public Library: reduced by $500,000, or one-third of their allocated dollar amount.
Military College Advisory Council Fund, which aimed to take steps toward establishing a military college in West Virginia: eliminated all $293,500 in funding. Morrisey said this should fall under capital projects overseen by the Higher Education Policy Commission.
Safe Schools program: reduced by $200,000, with an additional $200,000 cut for “school mapping services.”
Mountain State Digital Literacy Program: reduced by $300,000.
Tourism industry development: reduced by $300,000.
Green Acres Regional Center in Cabell County: had $300,000 in funding eliminated entirely, as Morrisey said no supporting documentation was included to justify this expense in the legislature’s bill.
Mountwood Park in Wood County: had $300,000 in funding eliminated entirely, as Morrisey said no supporting documentation was included to justify this expense in the legislature’s bill.
Lily’s Place, a residential treatment center for substance use disorder in Cabell County: $250,000 to be provided through the Cabell County Commission eliminated entirely.
West Virginia University College of Law: new funding of $250,000 eliminated entirely.
LPN to BSN nursing program at West Virginia State University: new funding of $250,000 eliminated entirely.
Tuition contract program from the Higher Education Policy Commission: reduced by $208,000.
Nursing homes for veterans under the Department of Veterans’ Assistance: reduced by $187,650.
Trooper classes for West Virginia State Police: reduced by $161,172 after “consultation” with the agency.
In-home family education services funding for the West Virginia Division of Human Services: reduced by $100,000.
Local economic development assistance: reduced by $100,000. Morrisey said this funding source had money left over from previous years, and that executive-branch funding resources should share the weight of budget constraints for the coming fiscal year.
Willow Bend Agricultural Innovation Center in Monroe County: stripped of the entire $100,000 set aside by lawmakers because Morrisey argued this funding was needed by Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt. Morrisey instructed Leonhardt to help the center identify other funding resources, he said.
Math Counts educational program: had its entire $50,000 allocation eliminated.
These dollar amounts refer to the difference in budget allotments lawmakers had set aside for each program and the final figures Morrisey approved Thursday. They may not indicate an actual loss in money for each program, but rather a reduction in how much new funding each program will receive.
“I am hesitant to add funding to programs when the future challenges of West Virginia’s budget make it imperative that a cautious and prudent approach be taken,” Morrisey wrote in his letter to Warner.
Morrisey also struck language that would have prohibited the West Virginia Department of Human Services from transferring general revenue dollars between certain funding pools within the department.
The governor wrote that he was advised this would be “overly burdensome and restrictive” for the department, and that striking the language would help it more “efficiently allocate resources.”
Check back to our live blog for the latest updates from the West Virginia Legislature throughout the day and night on April 12. And follow along with our live TV coverage from 8 p.m. to midnight on our WVPB live stream.
Watch our live TV broadcast from 8 p.m.-midnight April 12.
Scroll further down this page to see our live updates.
Another regular session of the West Virginia Legislature ends on April 12 at midnight. All evening, the West Virginia Public Broadcasting newsroom will follow along as the House of Delegates and the Senate work to even out differing approaches to legislation and the state budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
This year, legislators introduced 2,460 bills, a fairly typical number for a legislative session. But only about 10 to 12% of those bills become laws. The final number for this session remains unknown until the final call, but both chambers approached this session intending to move forward with greater deliberation.
The House of Delegates, under House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, implemented another step this year in the committee process to attempt to increase discussion and public comment on pending legislation. The Senate didn’t make structural changes, but under new Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, senators seemed to take more time to work on bills, rather than rushing them through to the finish line.
Vaccine Exemptions, DEI And The Budget
Major bills up for discussion included creating exemptions for childhood vaccine schedules for children entering schools in the state. That bill died in the House of Delegates but senators tried to bring it back by amending it into other legislation. Finally, the amendment was pulled from the unrelated legislation and the effort to change vaccine requirements for school aged children died for the 2025 session.
Another major bill was the effort to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs from state government. Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed an executive order on his first full day in office to remove those programs. The legislation reinforced his moves. Over protest from minority groups, including women, the bill has continued to move forward.
Most importantly is the budget bill. As soon as Morrisey took office, he said the state was facing a $400 million budget shortfall. Finance leadership quickly disputed that claim. After the governor introduced his budget, both chambers set to break it apart and make changes to it.
The budget is the only piece of legislation lawmakers are constitutionally required to do. They don’t have to finalize it during the regular session, but can come back into a special session later if necessary.
The House introduced its version of the budget first. The Senate then took the House’s version and overwrote it with a budget of its own — called a strike and insert amendment. The budget bill completed the legislative process Friday night and now goes to the governor’s desk for his signature.
Live Updates
Check back to this live blog for the latest updates from the West Virginia Legislature throughout the day and night on April 12.
And follow along with our live TV coverage from 8 p.m. to midnight on our WVPB live stream.
In Eleventh Hour, Senate Republicans Suspend Rules To Pass DEI Ban
With minutes left in this year’s legislative session, the West Virginia Senate fell into chaos over a late-night technical error.
Senate Bill 474 — ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives statewide — has been one of the most hotly contested pieces of legislation set forth this year, shepherded by Gov. Patrick Morrisey. But procedural confusion threw the state’s upper legislative chamber into a scramble Saturday night, casting doubt over the bill’s fate.
The Senate ultimately passed the bill, but ranking members say they are unsure whether the steps taken were entirely legal. Some even say the debate over Senate Bill 474 could spill into the courtroom.
A bill that would restrict public schools from teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation passed the Senate. It would also obligate teachers to “out” transgender students to their parents or guardians.
The bill requires teachers and other school employees to report to parents when a student requests for an accommodation that is intended to affirm a student’s gender identity.
For example, if a male student asks to be called a name that is generally considered to be a female name, then teachers would be required to inform the student’s parents. If a teacher fails to do so, they could be written up and suspended without pay or fired.
The bill was passed the house on Friday, and the Senate concurred Saturday with changes made.
Some of those changes include protecting teachers from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity in specific circumstances.
Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-Randolph, said these protections would be for instances of instruction or to address specific interpersonal situations.
“This prohibition cannot be construed to prohibit a teacher responded to student questions during class regarding sexual orientation and gender identity as it relates to any topic of instruction referring to sexual orientation or gender identity of any historical person, group or public figure, when the information provides a necessary context in relation to any topic of instruction and referring to sexual orientation and gender identity if necessary to address a disciplinary matter, such as an incidence of bullying,” Coop-Gonzalez said.
House Reviewing Numerous Amendments To Proposed DEI Ban
The West Virginia House of Delegates is now reviewing Senate Bill 474, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the state government — plus entities it funds, like public universities.
Abolishing DEI is a central administrative priority for Gov. Patrick Morrisey, and an objective he shares with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party at large. But the bill has been a wide source of contention among Democratic lawmakers, and has even garnered pushback from the governor’s own party.
That debate manifested on the House floor Saturday, where delegates set forth a total of 24 amendments to the controversial bill from members of both parties.
One of Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s signature pieces of legislation was completed with four hours remaining in the regular legislative session.
House Bill 2014 would expand the number of microgrids in the state to support data centers and artificial intelligence.
On Saturday evening, the Senate gave final approval to the bill by the same total as it voted on Friday. On Friday evening, the state Senate passed House Bill 2014 by a vote of 32 to 1.
Sen. Rupie Phillips, R-Logan, was the only no vote on both days. Phillips has been a critic of the bill throughout the session, saying it would do little to lower electricity costs for most West Virginia residents.
A microgrid is a self-contained facility that generates its own power and doesn’t receive any from the electricity grid that powers homes, schools and businesses around it.
The data centers within them take up a lot of land and consume vast amounts of water and electricity. House Bill 2014 largely exempts such facilities from local zoning ordinances.
On Saturday, the House of Delegates approved the amended Senate version by a vote of 82 to 16. All nine Democrats joined several Republicans in opposition.
Morrisey told WVPB at the Capitol Friday that he was pleased lawmakers in both chambers got the bill closer to the finish line.
“Look, I think this is an incredible opportunity for West Virginia,” he said. “I’m very hopeful that this could lead to very good things for West Virginia.”
Earlier in the week, multiple county officials testified to the Senate Economic Development Committee that the bill diverted nearly all the local property tax revenue from the facilities.
They said that structure could squeeze county budgets and services and discourage local communities from seeking microgrid projects.
The committee agreed to carve out 30% of the revenues for the counties with the microgrids.
The bulk of the property tax revenue – 55% – would go to the state for the purpose of further reducing its personal income tax.
Legislation To Allow Pharmacists More Prescribing Power Passes With Slim Authorizations
A bill that originally aimed at widely broadening pharmacists prescribing authority in West Virginia was approved by both chambers after being amended about five times since its introduction on Feb. 19.
Senate Bill 526’s lead sponsor, Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio, said she is disappointed with the final version of the bill and said the House of Delegates “gutted the bill” during its Friday floor session.
“This Act would give access to our citizens for testable, minor illnesses like strep throat,” Chapman said on the Senate floor on Saturday, April 12. “The house has essentially made it so that our citizens are only able to obtain medication for the common flu. Pharmacists have doctoral degrees. They are probably the most versed medical professionals in pharmaceutical drugs and their interactions.”
The bill was amended on the floors of each chamber and in committees to curtail the pharmacists authorization to treat patients, a measure included in the bill proponents of the legislation argued would have eased access to health care throughout West Virginia’s rural terrain.
“How many times do we hear that our citizens cannot get an appointment with their doctor in a timely manner,” Chapman said. “How many stories do we hear of our constituents who have no local access to medical care? This common sense bill was destroyed yesterday because of protectionism at the expense of patients. It is a bad day for our citizens and their health care and mark my words, we will be back on this issue.”
The introduced version would have authorized pharmacists to prescribe low-risk medications within their scope of practice, specifically addressing conditions like minor injuries, pain, or patient emergencies.
Legislators Pass Bill To Fully Ban Gender-Affirming Care, Scrapping Exemption For Suicidal Teens
In 2023, the West Virginia Legislature banned gender-affirming care for minors with narrow exceptions for specific hormone therapies and puberty blockers.
If Gov. Patrick Morrisey signs Senate Bill 299, which the legislature passed today, then that gap will be closed, and gender-affirming care for all minors will be outlawed.
Currently, if a minor is diagnosed with severe gender dysphoria and it is the opinion of two doctors that gender affirming care is medically necessary, then a minor could be a candidate to receive such care. The minors parents would also have to consent to the treatment.
In the state, currently, the only form of gender-affirming care available to minors is hormone therapy and puberty blocking medications.
Senate Bill 299 would close those exemptions. Health care providers who provide hormone blockers or hormone therapy for the purpose of gender transitioning could be disciplined by their governing medical board, and have their license to practice suspended or revoked.
House Bill 2755 passed the West Virginia Legislature Saturday. The bill allows the legislature oversight on rules created by the West Virginia Board of Education. When the board creates rules, they will now have to first go before the Legislative Oversight Committee on Education (LOCEA) and then be voted on by the full legislature.
When the state board of education was created in 1958, it was given the power to control it’s own rules. Voters didn’t want the legislature involved in education. In 1988, the state Supreme Court of Appeals supported this position, saying the board of education enjoys “a special standing” in the state constitution.
Senate Bill 280: Displaying ‘In God We Trust’ At Schools
Senate Bill 280, which would require public schools across the state to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” has completed legislation. The display will be “poster-sized” and will be inside school buildings.
Hope Scholarship Supplemental Appropriations
The Senate concurred on two Supplemental Appropriations bills, House bills 3356 and 3357, which add more than $62 million to the Hope Scholarship Fund. Earlier this year, budget reports indicated the scholarship would cost more than $100 million in the next fiscal year and more after that.
Changes To Higher Ed Boards Of Governors
House Bill 3279, relating to requirements for West Virginia University (WVU) and West Virginia State University (WVSU) board of governors, changes the makeup of the board of governors for all public institutions in the state. It removes voting membership of the board from the student government and the faculty senate. The House of Delegates concurred with Senate amendments 59-38 making it completed legislation.
Law To Increase Criminal Penalties For Drug Offenses In W.Va. Passes Both Chambers
In a unanimous vote on the final day of the regular legislative session, the Senate concurred with changes made to Lauren’s Law by the House of Delegates.
The bill increases penalties for drug offenses in West Virginia and now awaits Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s signature.
Senate Bill 196 would raise criminal penalties for drug trafficking offenses, and is named after Lauren Cole, a 26-year-old Morgantown resident who died after ingesting drugs laced with fentanyl.
The bill was amended earlier this week in the House’s Judiciary Committee to add clarifications around what constitutes drug delivery and to more explicitly target wide-scale drug traffickers.
Lauren’s Law targets six drugs: fentanyl, methamphetamine, PCP, LSD, cocaine and heroin.
For the six targeted drugs, the penalty would be increased for the manufacture, delivery, possession with intent to deliver, transportation of drugs into West Virginia, and conspiracy to do any of the above. Other drug penalties are also increased, as well as limitations to probation authorization for certain offenders.
Anyone guilty of transporting one of the six listed substances into the state would also face stricter penalties if this law is enacted, up to 30 years for more than five grams of fentanyl.
New ‘Western’ Civics Center At WVU Passes Legislature
State lawmakers have paved the way for a new center at West Virginia University for civics education, which would focus on “classical western history and culture.”
On Saturday, members of the West Virginia House of Delegates convened for the final day of this year’s legislative session. They voted to approve changes set forth by the West Virginia Senate to House Bill 3297, which would require the state’s flagship university to open the Washington Center for Civics, Culture and Statesmanship.
Current state law lets West Virginia youth begin working at age 14. Those teens may soon qualify for employment without a work permit, pending final approval from state officials.
West Virginia teens may soon qualify for employment without a work permit, pending final approval from the state legislature and governor.
Current state law allows West Virginia youth to begin working at age 14. But 14 and 15-year-olds must first obtain a permit from their school superintendent. These permits outline the nature of employment, plus verify a teen’s age, school enrollment status and parental consent to work.
Senate Bill 427 would eliminate the permitting process for West Virginia teens seeking jobs. Under the bill, 14 and 15-year-olds would instead only need a certificate confirming their age from the state commissioner of labor or another “authorized” official.
The West Virginia House of Delegates passed the bill Thursday without discussion by a vote of 91 to 9. Just one Democrat — Del. Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha — voted in favor of the bill. Just one Republican — Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette — voted against it.
The bill now crosses the rotunda for a final review from the West Virginia Senate, where it passed with no votes in opposition on Feb. 28. If they grant the bill approval, it will be sent to the governor’s desk, where it could be signed into law.
The House passed a nearly identical bill during last year’s legislative session, but it never passed the Senate. Proponents of the bill then said it removed an overly onerous step toward employment for teens, but opponents worried it could expose minors to risks in the workplace.
