West Virginia
W.Va. Gov. Morrisey announces another mining-related death
MARSHALL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey made an announcement Friday about another mining-related fatality in the state within 24 hours – the latest in northern West Virginia.
The governor released the following statement:
“Denise and I were deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Darin Reece, who passed away following an accident at the Ohio County Mine. We extend our condolences to his family, his fellow miners, and all those who knew him. He served as a Continuous Miner Section Supervisor and was part of a workforce that takes on difficult and dangerous work every day.
“The impact of these events reaches far beyond the job site. It is felt by families, coworkers, and entire communities. That weight is even greater today, as this marks the second loss of life in West Virginia’s mining community in less than 24 hours.
“The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training is on site and conducting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“We ask West Virginians to keep Darin’s loved ones and the entire mining community in their thoughts during this difficult time.”
Earlier on Friday, Morrisey announced another mining-related death in Raleigh County in the southern part of the state.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — State officials announced Tuesday the West Virginia Capitol Complex will hold a four-day celebration to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
The event will be held July 2-5 and include a Ferris wheel, inflatables, games, food vendors, live music and tours, according to a news release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s Office.
The release said a free shuttle will connect the celebration with the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta.
A light show inspired by the Washington Monument will be projected onto the State Capitol at the end of each evening, the news release said.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
For additional updates, click here or follow along on Facebook.
West Virginia politics have taken on a distinctly DC-style edge, brought in by Gov. Patrick Morrisey. While this approach may offer short-term gains for the governor and his allies, the long-term effects of the 2026 Republican Primary could extend well beyond another election cycle with fewer people willing to put their name and reputation on the line.
This year’s GOP Primary Election in West Virginia was the culmination of weeks of Republican on Republican battles that featured unprecedented public involvement by the chief executive and spending from Political Action Committees aligned with him. The strategy closely mirrored that of President Donald Trump, the tactics used to challenge incumbents with whom he disagrees.
President Trump inserted himself into the legislative primary in Indiana after the lawmakers in the Hoosier state rejected calls to redraw congressional districts to favor Republicans. The president’s allies spent $8 million on legislative primary races in Indiana, and of the seven challengers endorsed by Trump, at least five won.
Here in West Virginia, Metronews tracked seven Political Action Committees that spent a combined $5 million on legislative races leading into the election. Gov. Morrisey boasted on social media that candidates he endorsed scored 33 wins in House and Senate races. Conservative groups, such as Americans for Prosperity, went on the offensive to recruit candidates to run against more moderate legislators.
Kanawha County Senator Tom Takubo also recruited a slate of candidates, many of whom were targets of the PAC attack ads. PAC spending totaled nearly $1 million in Takubo’s race alone, with much of that spending used to attack his character and reputation.
During a conversation on Metronews Talkline, Senator Takubo predicted that finding quality candidates for legislative races will become increasingly difficult.
“I think it’d be incredibly difficult to get anybody of any caliber to run in 2028 or anytime, if this is, this is the kind of nonsense politics that they dragged into the state of West Virginia,” Takubo said.
“You know, they talked about us being a shiny city in the mountains, but this is sludge and mud that they dragged in on the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. It’s saddening, and it’s disgusting.”
Politics is not for the faint of heart, and a certain amount of public scrutiny is expected. Citizens who are successful professionals, who possess a wealth of knowledge and experience, are not going to be willing to put their neck on the line if one disagreement with the governor’s agenda means their reputation and character will be attacked, and their positions will be misrepresented.
In a social media post, Gov. Morrisey said he looked forward to working with anyone, regardless of party, to lift up West Virginia and deliver results to citizens.
The introduction of DC-style politics by Gov. Morrisey has changed the landscape of West Virginia politics, raising serious questions about the long-term consequences for the state. The true cost of these tactics may extend far beyond one election cycle, as the willingness of qualified citizens to serve and the potential for genuine collaboration in government are now in doubt.
The path forward for West Virginia depends on whether its leaders choose lasting unity or continued division.
-
News4 minutes agoRead the Indictment Against Raúl Castro
-
Politics10 minutes agoVideo: How Rubio Is Driving the U.S. Pressure Campaign on Cuba
-
Health28 minutes agoShe Started Her Own Treadmill Workout for Weight Loss—and Shed 270 Pounds!
-
Lifestyle46 minutes agoAfter the Kars4Kids ad is banned in California, we check in on nostalgic jingles past
-
Education52 minutes agoVideo: Testing Men’s Tees So You Don’t Have To
-
Technology58 minutes agoI’ve tested the latest Switch 2 controllers, and this one is the best
-
World1 hour agoMamdani won’t attend Israel Day Parade, breaking decades-long mayoral tradition amid antisemitism surge
-
Politics1 hour ago‘Hunter Biden’ X account debuts with eyebrow-raising claim as GOP lawmakers pile on
