West Virginia

Allowing the rusty MVP to go into service puts West Virginian lives and the climate at risk • West Virginia Watch

Published

1 year ago

June 21, 2024

Allowing the rusty MVP to go into service puts West Virginian lives and the climate at risk • West Virginia Watch

West Virginians are at greater risk of pipeline explosions, environmental pollution, and climate catastrophe than we were a week ago. Last week the Federal Regulatory Commission approved the Mountain Valley Pipeline to go into operation after a decade of community resistance, six years of delayed and costly construction, and numerous violations along the construction route.

The approval comes only one day after the developer, Equitrans Midstream, stated that the project was “mechanically complete.” By the end of the week, the developer turned on the pipeline to begin transporting the fracked gas. The $7.85 billion, 303-mile and 42-inch diameter pipeline resulted in costing more than double the initial proposal of $3.5 billion. A pipeline of this length and diameter has never been tried in our mountainous region. Yet, the present and future cost of this pipeline goes far beyond finances.

The federal green light comes just a year after so-called “climate” President Joe Biden signed legislation to raise the debt ceiling. Stemming from a deal with Democratic Senate leaders, the bipartisan debt ceiling agreement included a congressional mandate to expedite the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline despite environmental compliance issues and associated legal setbacks. Beyond being a quid pro quo to advance Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito’s fossil fuel interests, this legislation demonstrated the fragility of our country’s government in both executive and legislative overreach of its regulatory and judicial decisions.

The Mountain Valley Pipeline poses unique risks to local communities and ecosystems going into service this summer due to the steel pipes used and then neglected in development. Steel pipes are particularly prone to corrosion when exposed to oxygen, sunlight, and water even coated with epoxy. Equitrans Midstream left sections of pipes out to the elements for years increasing concerns of explosion potential.

This safety risk is not theoretical — during hydrostatic testing on May 1 in Virginia, a section of the pipeline installed in 2018 ruptured and released water and sediment into local streams and properties. Residents near the burst shared that there is a lack of communication from federal and state agencies about the pipe failure. If the pipeline fails this standard pressure test mere weeks before requesting to go into service, can it truly be safe to transport highly flammable fracked gas through the places where West Virginians live, play and work?

Even more, the pumping of fracked gas through corroded pipelines poses an additional risk of groundwater infiltration of methane and radioactive materials produced in fracking, along with significant greenhouse gas emissions. This environmental pollution threatens the air and water of local residents, landowners, farmers, and business owners.

At a national and global scale, we know that climate change is not just a distant threat but happening now. It is well established science that extracting and burning fossil fuels are the source of human caused climate change. The only way to avoid even worse impacts is to stop approving and advancing fossil fuel projects. Even the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization created in response to the 1973-1974 oil crisis and with deep roots in the oil and gas industry, made clear in 2021 that new oil and gas projects must stop immediately.

It should not be controversial to say that people residing along the Mountain Valley Pipeline deserve to live without fear of a pipeline explosion or the leakage of methane and radioactive waste, and we all deserve a livable future in the face of climate change. It is not too late for the federal government to remedy their rash decision to circumvent judicial review, dismiss the separation of powers, and expedite permits for a pipeline proven to cause harm.

The fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline and fossil fuels, in general, is far from over. While the Biden Administration has taken more climate action than any president in American history, the bar of success is as low as the depths of the Marcellus and Utica Shale, where gas from the Mountain Valley Pipeline is said to be sourced.

By declaring climate change the emergency it is and following through on his commitment to address climate change as the “number one issue facing humanity,” President Biden has a responsibility to answer for his detrimental decisions shaped by fossil fuel interests. If he doesn’t, young voters, like myself, will ensure that his administration pays that price through this November’s election.

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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Daily 3 on Dec. 16, 2025

Published

5 minutes ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Are you looking to win big? The West Virginia Lottery offers a variety of games if you think it’s your lucky day.

Lottery players in West Virginia can choose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Daily 3, Daily 4 and Cash 25.

Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.

Here’s a look at Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

20-24-46-59-65, Mega Ball: 07

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

0-7-5

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

3-0-0-1

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing

02-05-06-08-23-24

Check Cash 25 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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West Virginia

State officials look to limit number of W.Va. youth in out-of-state placement facilities

Published

12 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

State officials look to limit number of W.Va. youth in out-of-state placement facilities

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia is trying to bring home more than 300 children placed in expensive out-of-state treatment by the child welfare system.

Tuesday Gov. Patrick Morrisey revealed plans to create what the state is calling a home base initiative fund. It would allow for renovations and repairs to existing state buildings if it helps keep from sending troubled children to out-of-state placement facilities.

Out-of-state placements – now serving about 380 youth – cost about $156,000 per child and are undesirable due to separating families.

“We want to create a new revolving investment fund in order to make sure we’re building our existing state-owned facilities,” Morrisey said. “Those dollars are going to be used to renovate and repair existing state property by providing high acute psychiatric, neural-developmental and trauma services for kids in West Virginia.”

Morrisey said the details still have to be worked out with the Legislature on this program which is aimed at limiting the number of West Virginia youth kept out-of-state. The governor appears ready to commit $6 million in surplus money toward the effort.

“It’s a huge problem, an expensive problem,” Sen. T. Kevan Bartlett, R-Kanawha, said. “It’s a problem that’s not reflective of our values to send kids away. We’ve got to come up with better answers to take care of kids. It’s the best that we can do. Then we’ve got to come up with something much better. I think that’s what the governor wants to do and I support that completely.”

Morrisey noted children in foster care have at least dropped a little below 6,000. While that number still seems high, Child Protective Services’ backlog has been cut by 50%. Numbers show children removed from a home for substance abuse is down 37%.

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“These are the statistics but we shouldn’t be beating our chests,” Morrisey said. “We have a lot more work to do.”

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West Virginia

As expected, buck harvest down significantly for 2025 – WV MetroNews

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

As expected, buck harvest down significantly for 2025 – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia deer hunters killed 33,775 bucks during the recently completed two week buck firearms season.

According to information released Tuesday by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Greenbrier County was the top county in the state for bucks in 2025 with 1,730 killed during the gun season. Second was Preston County with 1,349, Randolph County 1,198, Hardy County 1,165 and Pendleton at 1,135. The rest of the top ten counties in order were Pocahontas, Monroe, Grant, Fayette, and Hampshire Counties.’

Click here to see county-by-county buck firearms season harvests for the last five seasons.

As predicted by the DNR prior to the season, the total harvest was 18.5 percent below 2024. All of the DNR’s districts registered a decrease in harvest, with the exception of District 4 which experienced a 7.5 percent increase compared to last year. The DNR predicted the lower harvest because of a major abundance of mast in the state. The conditions were such that deer didn’t have to travel far to find adequate food and therefore were not as exposed to hunters.

The agency acknowledged several counties along the Ohio River and central West Virginia experienced an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease in the early fall which also impacted hunter success especially in western counties of the state.

Several deer hunting opportunities remain for 2025. The state’s archery and crossbow season runs through Dec. 31, the traditional Class N/NN antlerless deer season will be open in select areas on public and private land Dec. 11-14 and Dec. 28-31, the muzzleloader deer season will be open Dec. 15-21 and the youth, Class Q and Class XS season for antlerless deer will be open Dec. 26-27 in any county with a firearms deer season.

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