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West Virginia set to receive approximately $55 million from Sackler, Purdue Pharma settlement – WV MetroNews

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1 year ago

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West Virginia set to receive approximately million from Sackler, Purdue Pharma settlement – WV MetroNews


CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia looks to receive as much as $55 million from the announced $74 billion dollar settlement between 13 states and the Sackler Family that ran the drug company Purdue Pharma that produced Oxycontin.

J.B. McCuskey

West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey said while the lives of West Virginians were being destroyed by the opioid addiction the Sackler Family and its company were cashing in.

“The destruction they caused not only our state, but our nation, is an evil that is hard to put into words,” McCuskey said.

The money West Virginia receives will flow through the West Virginia First Foundation.

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In announcing the settlement Thursday, New York state Attorney General Letitia James said those responsible are finally going to pay up.

“The Sackler family and their company Purdue who helped spark the opioid crisis decades ago have for years avoided accountability for the immense cause that they have caused all of the victims all of the loved ones who have died all of those who are in the throes of addiction right now,” James said.

The Sacklers will personally pay up to $6.5 billion and an additional $900 million will come from Purdue the company that they started.

“This will help communities heal from the devastating losses brought by addiction,” James said. “And this will support treatment and recovery programs across New York and the nation.”

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the original settlement amount.

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New York Attorney General Letitia James

West Virginia originally sued Purdue Pharma in 2019 when current Gov. Patrick Morrisey was attorney general. McCuskey said the fight continues.

“West Virginia has suffered enough from the opioid epidemic, and we will continue to fight for the communities that have been shattered by this scourge,” Attorney General McCuskey said. “We have held those responsible accountable; our fight now is to see to it that that future generations will have the tools they need to prevent this crisis from ever happening again.”

The West Virginia First Foundation has begun to distribute approximately $1 billion in opioid settlement money.



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West Virginia

West Virginia town’s entire police force fired after ex-sergeant claims evidence room was broken into

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July 8, 2026

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West Virginia town’s entire police force fired after ex-sergeant claims evidence room was broken into


A tiny West Virginia town has been left without a police department after every officer was fired following a dispute over an apparent break-in at the department’s evidence room.

The Barrackville Police Department announced in a Facebook post Tuesday that, effective immediately, every member of the department had been relieved of duty by the Barrackville Town Council and Mayor Tom Straight.

A former sergeant, identified only as Sgt. Hunt, told 12 News he arrived at the department Tuesday morning and found the evidence room had been broken into.

Barrackville, W.Va., was left without a police department after the town relieved every officer of duty. Barrackville Police Department / Facebook

Hunt said he immediately called a meeting with Straight and the town council.

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According to Hunt, council members had previously said they wanted to inventory the department without any officers present.

He also claimed a council member admitted to taking a set of police keys.

After accusing members of the town government of breaking into the evidence room, Hunt said he and the department’s only other officer were immediately removed from active duty.

Hunt said the department’s police clerk also resigned, leaving the town with no police staff. He said he informed the mayor and council that he would be seeking whistleblower protection.

The mass firing came less than a week after Barrackville Police Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned. Hunt said the chief quit over what he described as repeated clashes with the town council over how much control it had over the department.

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Zachary Freeburn, Chief of Police in Barrackville, wearing a police vest with his name tag, badge, and body camera.
Former Barrackville Police Chief Zachary Freeburn resigned before the town’s entire police department was fired. Barrackville Police Department / Facebook

Marion County Sheriff Roger Cunningham told the station that deputies will continue responding to calls in Barrackville while the town of 1,288 people is without a police department.

Resident Isabella Pham said she hopes the turmoil comes to an end.

“I just think that the town right now is in a little bit of a mess,” Pham told the West Virginian Times. 

“We’ve gone through a lot of different people, and I’m just hoping that at the end of this, we can get a little bit of stability, transparency and security, and get back to having a stronger community versus a town of pitchforks and torches.”



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West Virginia

Morrisey appoints Shane Stack to House District 4 seat – WV MetroNews

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11 hours ago

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July 7, 2026

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Morrisey appoints Shane Stack to House District 4 seat – WV MetroNews


Governor Patrick Morrisey (Photo/MetroNews)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Governor Patrick Morrisey has appointed a new member of the state House of Delegates.

Shane Thomas Stack, of Triadelphia, was appointed Tuesday to represent District 4. Stack replaces former Delegate Bill Flanigan who resigned to join the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia following his election to the Division 2 seat.

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“Shane Stack is an outstanding choice to represent the families and communities of the fourth district,” Morrisey said in a release. “With his deep roots in the local community, his background as a business owner, and his proven experience managing municipal finances, Shane understands what it takes to support economic growth and advocate for working West Virginians. He will serve his constituents well in Charleston.”

In Morrisey’s release, it said that Stack has a diverse background in small business ownership, municipal finance, and higher education administration. Stack currently is the owner, licensed auctioneer, and certified appraiser for Frio Stack & Associates, as well as the owner of Island Pawn & Gun.

Stack previously worked as the Town Treasurer for West Liberty.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in General Business from West Liberty University.

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West Virginia

Sentencing for man convicted of murdering West Virginia State Trooper; other top stories

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22 hours ago

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July 7, 2026

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Sentencing for man convicted of murdering West Virginia State Trooper; other top stories


MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Sentencing is underway for Timothy Kennedy, the man convicted of murdering West Virginia State Police Trooper Cory Maynard.

Trooper Maynard was shot to death in June 2023.

The jury found Kennedy guilty on all counts: first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree disarming a law enforcement officer, and two counts of first-degree attempted murder.

Shannon Litton has has that, plus your other top stories for Tuesday, July 7th.

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Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.



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