CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Secretary of Commerce Matt Herridge is encouraged with West Virginia’s current economic state, but he has an eye for the near future.
Matt Herridge
Herridge spoke before the Joint Committee on Government and Finance during legislative interim meetings earlier in the month.
Herridge, the former state GOP chair, gave lawmakers a look at the state’s improvements with license reciprocity, which allows some professionals to come over to the Mountain State without obtaining another license to work.
“In the month September 2023, there were 69 new contractor licenses approved. In 2024 September, there were 89. In 2025, we’ve had 101 contractors’ licenses approved. It’s a continuing trend — a very big trend — from last year,” Herridge said.
Advertisement
Herridge also noted that the state’s small business development center, which is led by Will Miller, has had a good 2025.
“Over calendar year 2025, we’ve had 73 business starts that we’ve worked with. We’ve served 1,217 clients, created 252 jobs within that small business development center
After giving some statistics, Herridge focused his opening statement to lawmakers towards the future. Like Governor Patrick Morrisey who appointed Herridge to the role of secretary of commerce, Herridge believes that West Virginia is on the verge of being a national leader in energy production.
“I see West Virginians economic development direction as building on our strengths and that is energy, and we are a desirable place to live and to work,” he said.
He says the Mountain State has the resources.
Advertisement
“If we were to draw a 90-mile radius around the city of Wheeling, about 25 percent of the natural gas reserves in the country sit right there,” Herridge said. “As these AI initiatives go forward, as data center investments go forward and the need for that energy, West Virginia stands primed to be a target for those companies and those investments. I’m very excited about that opportunity.”
Herridge says that there’s a big thirst for energy as is, but he sees it only growing.
“The reality is that the future of energy is exponential. Even if we see these data centers and these AI hubs start to become more efficient, what’s going to happen is we’re still going to have more need for energy than what is available right now, so we see West Virginia being in that perfect position to fulfill that need.
During his presentation, Herridge did admit that there are some hurdles, but he’s confident West Virginia can face them head on and become that energy hub.
“We also have our challenges in front of us and that includes housing, making sure that we have a workforce that is trained and ready for those energy jobs, for those engineering jobs, for those welding jobs, and for those skilled labor jobs that are sure to come,” he said
Advertisement
“I truly believe that the future is going to be in West Virginia because of our energy reserves and what we want to do is take those energy reserves, turn those right into those advanced manufacturing right around the site where that energy is coming out of the ground. We want to let companies know that it is just simply wise to not only get your energy here, but to build here and manufacture here,” he continued.
The West Virginia Mountaineers (10-3) welcome the Maryland Terrapins (10-5) to Kendrick Family Ballpark Tuesday afternoon the first encounter between the two programs since 2023 and the first meeting in Morgantown since 2018. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
Advertisement
The Mountaineers captured their fourth consecutive series of the season after taking two of the three games from Columbia over the weekend. West Virginia sophomore Matt Ineich and senior Brodie Kresser both blasted grand slams during the series. Ineich lifted WVU in game two with a walk-off grand slam in the 10th in game two, and Kresser ignited a 16-1 rout, capping a six-run second inning in the series finale.
Advertisement
Gavin Kelly leads West Virginia at the plate with a .436 batting average with a Big 12 leading nine doubles. Ineich and senior Paul Schoenfeld has raked in a team-leading 16 RBI apiece, while senior Matthew Graveline has clubbed a team-high three home runs.
On the mound, West Virginia is expected to start sophomore David Hagen. The right-hander has made four appearances on the season, including one start. He last started in the home-opener against Ohio where he pitched two scoreless innings and recorded a strikeout to collect his first win of the season. He holds a 1.00 ERA with five strikeouts on the season.
After starting 3-4, Maryland is 7-1 in its last eight games. The Terrapins won two of three at UNC Wilmington in the season opening series, followed by a midweek win against Georgetown before getting swept at Louisiana. The Terps bounced back with a pair of midweek wins versus Delaware and swept a one-win Wagner team.
Junior Brayden Martin is batting a team-best .443 to go with four doubles and 12 RBI. Redshirt freshman Ryan Costello leads the Terps in home runs (9) and RBI (21) and is third in batting average at .328, while freshman Ty Kaunus has a team-high seven doubles and has .269 batting average.
Advertisement
Maryland is scheduled to start freshman Nic Morlang. The right-hander has four appearances on the season, including four starts. He allowed five earned runs in his appearances, coinciding with his two starts, in six innings of work. In his last two appearances in relief, He’s allowed one earned run on five hits.
Advertisement
West Virginia leads the all-time series 8-5, including a five-game winning streak over Maryland.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to a series of parties in Morgantown over the weekend.
Morgantown police officers, West Virginia University Police and state police responded to reports of overcrowded parties, underage drinking, physical altercations and multiple injuries.
Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffie said several citations were issued for open containers and underage consumption.
Advertisement
Two large parties were dispersed and six arrests were made without incident.
None of the reported injuries are believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The Morgantown Fire Department assisted in the operations.
Hancock County, WV — A Weir High School senior has been recognized as the 2026 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year.
Hailey Hans was selected for the statewide honor after building a journalism portfolio since her freshman year. She also serves as the staff manager of Weir Student Media, where she oversees articles and is in charge of deadlines.
“When I was a freshman I was placed in the journalism one class, and I actually tried to get pulled from the class. But, then after I sat in the class and I learned a little bit, that’s where my love grew and then from there I continued to take classes, I helped pass a law, and I got to these national conventions. Where it just lit a fire inside me,” Hans said.
Hans is planning to attend West Liberty University in the fall to study education with a minor in journalism, with the goal of becoming a journalism teacher. She will now submit her portfolio for the national-level contest.
