West Virginia

Patrick Martin, 31, in line to be youngest West Virginia Senate majority leader – WV MetroNews

Published

2 years ago

December 19, 2024

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Patrick Martin, 31, in line to be youngest West Virginia Senate majority leader – WV MetroNews

Patrick Martin, 31, of Jane Lew is set to be the West Virginia Senate’s youngest majority leader.

The incoming Senate president, Randy Smith of Preston County, has announced that Martin will be his wingman.

“Patrick is a bright and talented individual. I have said for a while that he is the hidden gem in our chamber and everyone is about to find out how gifted this young man is,” Smith said in the announcement.

“I have full confidence that he will no doubt be one of the most effective majority leaders in our state’s history.”

While Smith will typically preside over floor sessions from a dais, the majority leader regularly makes procedural motions. The majority leader also plays a big role on the Senate’s leadership team and promotes the majority party’s agenda.

Patrick Martin

Martin, R-Lewis, was elected to the Senate in 2020 and was re-elected this year, when he was unopposed in both the primary and the general. He served in the House of Delegates starting in 2017.

The Senate leadership is changing because the current president, Craig Blair of Berkeley County, was defeated in a primary election. So Blair is set to leave.

The Republican majority in the Senate met earlier this month and selected Smith to be the next president. He defeated two members of the outgoing leadership team, senators Tom Takubo and Eric Tarr.

Smith is now in line to be formally nominated and elected as president when the Senate gathers Jan. 8 for an organizational session.

Smith is likely to make significant changes across the leadership roles and committee chairs. Martin is the first that he has publicly announced.

“I am honored to serve under Randy Smith as he becomes Senate President and excited to work alongside all my colleagues in the Senate,” Senator Martin stated.

“Randy is a Godly man whose dedication to faith, family, and the people of West Virginia sets a strong example for us all. As the youngest Majority Leader in West Virginia Senate history, I’m eager to bring fresh energy to our work and help guide our state toward a brighter future.”

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West Virginia

6-year-old boy dies in motocross crash in West Virginia, officials say

Published

6 hours ago

June 23, 2026

Press Room

6-year-old boy dies in motocross crash in West Virginia, officials say

June 22, 2026 / 8:24 PM EDT
/ CBS Pittsburgh

A 6-year-old boy died in a motocross crash in West Virginia over the weekend, officials say.

The boy died during practice runs at Mason Motocross in Mason County on Sunday morning, CBS affiliate WOWK reported. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. at the track in Point Pleasant.

Officials reportedly said a medical helicopter was called to the scene of the crash, but the child was not stable enough to be flown to the hospital, so instead he was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The boy later died from his injuries at the hospital. He has not been identified as of Monday night.

The Mason Motocross races on Sunday were canceled after the crash, WOWK reported. They were scheduled to start at noon. According to a Facebook post from Mason Motocross, practice runs began around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.

In a separate Facebook post on Monday, Mason Motocross asked for prayers for the boy’s family.

“Let’s lift them up in prayer during this unimaginable time,” the social media post said. “Our community. Our support. Our prayers.”

No other information about the crash was released on Monday.

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West Virginia

Over 26,000 West Virginia students have applied for full Hope Scholarship funding – WV MetroNews

Published

16 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Press Room

Over 26,000 West Virginia students have applied for full Hope Scholarship funding – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 26,000 West Virginia students submitted applications for full Hope Scholarship funding for the next school year.

State Treasurer Larry Pack and his office announced the latest application numbers in a release Monday. Pack’s office said 26,617 students applied during the first application period from March 2 to June 15. The estimated cost for Hope Scholarship funding, as it currently stands, is $155 million.

The first window for students to apply for 100-percent funding closed last Monday. The state treasurer’s office said the cost for this year will rise as students submit applications. Students can apply for 75 percent of the full funding amount until September 15.

The release said around $277 million was allocated by the West Virginia Legislature and Gov. Patrick Morrisey for Hope Scholarship funding during the 2026 Legislative Session.

Larry Pack

“We are so excited to welcome thousands of new families into the Hope Scholarship Program. Seeing the Education Savings Account nearly double in participation is a true indicator of the impact and popularity of the program,” Pack said. “Now our team turns their attention to helping these students get the resources they need to tailor their education towards their unique needs. Our goal is for West Virginia will continue to lead the nation in education innovation as we continue to build the program.”

The state treasurer’s office said the 2026-27 full scholarship amount is $5,435.62 per student, with those funds distributed quarterly.

More students are eligible for Hope Scholarship funding this year with more flexibility offered for school choice. The state treasurer’s office said that private school and traditional homeschool students can apply to the Education Savings Account program for 2026-27 academic funding.

The state treasurer’s office broke down each applicant’s eligibility for funding based on when applications are submitted.

June 16 — September 15, 2026: 75% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
September 16 — November 30, 2026: 50% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.
December 1, 2026 — February 28, 2027: 25% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.

Students can apply online here.

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