West Virginia
Gov. Justice Appoints His Wife, First Lady Cathy Justice, to West Virginia Board of Education
photo by: Steven Allen Adams
First Lady Cathy Justice, Gov. Jim Justice, and Babydog celebrate Tuesday night at the Greenbrier Resort following Gov. Justice’s U.S. Senate victory.
CHARLESTON — Saying she was “covered up in qualifications,” Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday that he had appointed his wife, first lady Cathy Justice, to the West Virginia Board of Education.
“I had to do a whole lot of selling and talking to Cathy about this,” Justice said Thursday during his weekly administration briefing from the State Capitol Building. “I’m honored to announce the appointment of our first lady, Cathy Justice, to the West Virginia Board of Education. She will do an amazing job. Really and truly, Cathy loves kids beyond good sense.”
Cathy Justice is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Raleigh County in 1970, where she met Gov. Justice. Both went to Marshall University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. She also worked as a substitute teacher in the Raleigh County School system.
As first lady, Cathy Justice has become the face of the Communities in Schools program, which works to connect at-risk students and their families to resources, such as academic assistance and tutoring; basic needs, such as clothing and food; behavior intervention and modification; career preparation; community service, crisis intervention, life skills, mental health services, and more.
According to the state Department of Education, Communities in Schools was first introduced in Greenbrier County in 2004, but the program began expansion in 2018 during Justice’s two four-year terms as governor. Now, the program serves all 55 counties, with 298 site coordinators between 285 schools, benefiting more than 117,000 students. Through Communities in Schools, Cathy Justice has also placed 42 therapy dogs in schools.
“They work that they’ve done with Communities in Schools in all 55 of our counties and all the good stuff that Cathy has done, it’s amazing,” Justice said. “She has surely earned her stripes as far as the good stuff she is doing for kids. I’m really proud. In the beginning, I couldn’t get Cathy across the finish line on this, but I think she will do an amazing job. She’s fired up now and ready to go and to do the job.”
Cathy Justice will succeed Dr. Daniel Snively, whose term expired on Monday. Snively, the director of the Heart Center at Huntington Internal Medicine Group, was appointed by Gov. Justice in 2019 to fill the remaining term of Elkins attorney Joseph Wallace, whom the governor appointed in 2017.
This is not the first time a governor has appointed their spouse to the state Board of Education. Then-governor Joe Manchin appointed first lady Gayle Manchin to the state board in 2007. She continued to serve after Manchin won election to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2012, serving twice in the rotating position of state board president before resigning in 2015.
Now the co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Gayle Manchin has education bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University and Salem International University. She taught school in Marion County and was on the faculty of Fairmont State University.
Nine of the 11 members of the state Board of Education are appointed by the governor. Appointed members serve overlapping nine-year terms and no more than five of the appointed members can belong to the same political party.
Addressing questions about her qualifications and whether the appointment represented nepotism, Justice said First Lady Justice was more than qualified. Gov. Justice – who is wrapping up the final two months of his second and final four-year term — won election to the U.S. Senate Tuesday night.
“How could you possibly think that Cathy is not just covered up in qualifications,” Justice said. “The job she has done is off the chart. She’s very, very qualified. She has a secondary (education) degree from Marshall University. There is no way I could find someone no matter where they are who is more qualified than Cathy Justice for this job. I think she will do great.”
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WTAP) – Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Friday that the state has requested that the Purple Heart be awarded to the two National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C.
The Governor requested the Purple Heart to be awarded posthumously to U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the incident, and be awarded to Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was critically injured.
“Their actions on that tragic day meet the highest and clearest standards for the Purple Heart, a decoration that recognizes those wounded or killed in action against an enemy or during a hostile or terrorist act,” Morrisey said. “I could not think of two servicemembers more deserving of this award.”
Gov. Morrisey also reviewed broader work by the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance during 2025.
The National Guard carried out overseas missions, including deployments to the Middle East and Europe, and operations along the U.S. Southwest border. The Guard also responded to two major flooding events in the state. In February 2025, more than 350 service members were mobilized across 14 counties, conducting swift-water rescues, distributing nearly 340,000 bottles of water and clearing more than 17,000 tons of debris.
A separate response to flash flooding in Ohio and Marion counties in June 2025 involved nearly 200 Guard members who cleared an additional 12,000 tons of debris.
When the federal government shut down in October, the National Guard helped ensure families had access to meals. One hundred sixty-four service members distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to over 400 food pantries.
The governor highlighted work by the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance. Services officers secured $5.4 billion in federal benefits for West Virginia veterans in 2025, an increase of $500 million from 2024.
The department also advanced facility modernization projects. The Veterans Home in Barboursville received upgrades to the kitchen, infirmary and HVAC systems.
Major renovations are underway at the Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, including construction of a new kitchen and installation of a modern nurse call system.
“Taking care of the common, everyday issues can make a huge difference in our everyday lives, and that’s just what Veterans Assistance is doing with these upgrades. Our veterans are fantastic people who don’t ask for much, and it’s great to see this great work being done on their behalf,” Gov. Morrisey said.
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Copyright 2025 WTAP. All rights reserved.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — A large portion of the Mountain State saw storms with gusty winds last night, which has resulted in several trees coming down across roads, thousands of power outages and schools being delayed and closed.
As of Friday morning, the WV 511 website displays multiple warnings of fallen trees and debris in roadways, including several in north-central West Virginia. Both Harrison and Marion County 911 logs show crews responding to several reports of trees down.
The First Energy website also shows that a total of 36,688 of its customers are currently without power, with many still waiting for an estimated restoration time.
Due to these power outages, multiple schools throughout West Virginia have been delayed or closed for the day, including those in Barbour, Gilmer, Lewis, Marion, Ritchie, Taylor, and Upshur counties.
Regular trees weren’t the only ones forced down due to the winds. Christmas decorations, including the Bridgeport Christmas tree, were knocked over as well.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A miner died Thursday after an incident at a coal mine in Wyoming County, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said.
The governor said it happened at the Lower War Eagle mine.
Morrisey released the following statement on Thursday evening:
“Denise and I were deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a coal miner today at the Lower War Eagle mine in Wyoming County. Our hearts go out to his family, loved ones, and coworkers during this sorrowful time.
“The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training responded immediately and is conducting a full investigation.
“Each day, West Virginia miners perform difficult and demanding tasks. They do this to provide for their families, to build the communities, and to forge a better future for the next generation of West Virginians. It is that work, their strength, and their dedication that defines our state and our nation.
“I ask that all West Virginians lift this miner’s family, friends, and community up in your prayers and keep them in your thoughts through the difficult days ahead.”
The victim’s name has not been released.
Copyright 2025 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
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