West Virginia

West Virginia House Rejects Vaccine Exemption Bill

Published

11 months ago

March 24, 2025

West Virginia House Rejects Vaccine Exemption Bill

The West Virginia House of Delegates on Monday rejected a bill that would have allowed parents to seek out religious and philosophical exemptions for school vaccinations.

The House, which is composed of 9 Democrats and 91 Republicans, voted 56-42 against the bill, meaning parents and guardians must continue to get their children vaccinated if their children attend West Virginia schools. Two lawmakers were not present or did not vote.

The bill would have mandated that public schools accept the exemptions while private and religious schools have the option to do so. The state Senate voted in favor of the bill. However, the Senate’s version of the bill would’ve mandated that all schools — including public, private and religious ones — accept the exemptions.

Regardless, the House vote blocks a January executive order from West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) that would have allowed families to claim “religious or conscientious” exemptions for their school-aged children.

According to West Virginia’s News, some lawmakers celebrated the bill not passing and called on Morrisey to rescind his executive order.

“Today, members of both parties stood together to prioritize the safety and well-being of West Virginians,” said Del. Anitra Hamilton (D-Monongalia). “We’ve sent a clear message that the health of our children and communities must always come first.”

“Governor Morrissey must now immediately rescind his ill-advised, dangerous, and deadly executive order, respecting the clear voice of our constituents,” said Del. Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha). “This administration cannot continue to put political pandering ahead of the health and safety of West Virginia families.”

Monday’s vote comes after a group of former state health officers wrote a letter warning lawmakers about “non-medical exemptions” on Friday.

Dr. Matt Christiansen, Dr. Ayne Amjad and Dr. Cathy Slemp argued the financial implications of loosening vaccine requirements, leading to an outbreak, are substantial.

“The cost of a measles outbreak is estimated at $33,000 per case (Pike, et al. 2020),” they wrote. “In West Virginia, the vast majority of these costs would fall to already strained systems ― Medicaid, PEIA, CHIP, the Bureau for Public Health and Local Health Departments. And there are broader societal costs: lost work days, childcare closings, business losses, and days out of school.”

They also added that “strong immunization laws protect our freedom to live without fear of preventable diseases.”

“They protect children with cancer, newborns too young to be vaccinated, pregnant people and the elderly. Weakening these laws will not return us to the rampant disease rates of yesteryear, but will result in some fully preventable illness, birth defects, outbreaks and, yes — on rare but devastating occasions — death,” the letter continued.

Currently, all states and Washington, D.C., allow for medical exemptions for school vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 30 states and Washington, D.C. allow for exemptions for religious reasons while 13 states allow religious or personal exemptions. (Two states don’t specify whether the nonmedical exemptions can be religious or personal.) Finally, just five states, including West Virginia, don’t allow any nonmedical exemptions.

The topic of vaccinations has been a polarizing topic for many, as seen in the decline of child vaccination rates in recent years.

As such, a measles outbreak across multiple states has led to hundreds of people contracting the vaccine-preventable disease.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is notably anti-vaccine and has spread numerous false claims about vaccines, was confirmed to his role as Health and Human Services secretary earlier this year. But experts warned ahead of time that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine standpoints could lead to a public health crisis.

Then, two weeks after his confirmation, an unvaccinated 6-year-old child died after contracting the measles amid an outbreak in Texas. The child is the first person to die from the disease in over a decade.

At least one other person has died amid the outbreak this year, according to the CDC.

Kennedy has downplayed the measles outbreak, telling reporters in February that the outbreak is “not unusual” and “we have measles outbreaks every year.”

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This past week, the parents of the child who died, who are anti-vaccine, said that they still hold those views.

Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), a pediatrician, slammed Kennedy for the measles outbreak and for his response to the 6-year-old’s death.

“I do blame him and others like him who, for the past 20 years, have been spreading lies about vaccines, which are safe and effective. And that has been proven time and again,” Schrier said. “This is settled science.”

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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Daily 3, Daily 4 on Feb. 26, 2026

Published

5 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on Feb. 26.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

1-1-7

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

3-8-8-2

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Feb. 26 drawing

02-03-09-11-13-19

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.

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

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala raises $2 million for West Virginia’s kids and families

Published

17 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala raises million for West Virginia’s kids and families

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s raised more than $2 million at its annual gala, an event dedicated to expanding care for children and expectant mothers in West Virginia and the surrounding region.

Approximately 1,300 guests enjoyed the “Celestial” themed event on Saturday (Feb. 21) as they helped little stars shine bright at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.

Donations from the community will go toward the greatest needs of WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, helping to ensure all families in need receive world-class care in a compassionate environment when they need it.

“Our community continues to show up in extraordinary ways for our patients and families,” Amy L. Bush, B.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., C.N.O.R., chief administrative officer for WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, said. “The generosity we witnessed at this year’s gala ensures we can continue growing our programs and enhancing the care we provide. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who believes in our mission.”

Engineer, TV host, and 100th woman to fly to space, Emily Calandrelli, served as emcee for the evening. The West Virginia University alumna is passionate about space exploration and inspiring children to pursue STEM careers.

Calandrelli spent time visiting patients at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s before the gala.

“As a Morgantown native who is passionate about science and children, I’m thrilled to play a small part in this beautiful evening that raises crucial funds for the lifesaving work WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital is doing right here in my hometown,” she said.

“The amazing doctors, nurses, and staff aren’t just healing sick kids, they are inspiring the next generation of curious explorers and adventurers who are one day going to change the world.”

Entertainment was provided by Party on the Moon, whose high-energy performance capped off the night’s festivities.

A highlight of the celebration was the recognition of inspiring patients and dedicated teams who care for kids across the state.

Carter Casey from Sod in Lincoln County was introduced as the 2026 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Champion Child for West Virginia. He received care at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals in Charleston and WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s for life-threatening injuries after a go-kart accident.

Pavithra Ellison, M.D., M.M.M., F.A.S.A., associate chief quality officer and vice chair of anesthesiology, was presented with the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital Award for her leadership, service, and lasting impact on pediatric healthcare.

The Community Service Award was presented to Little General, Inc. The company’s generosity has provided vital support to the children and families who turn to WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s for care. The Little General team across the state is committed to creating a better future for West Virginia’s families.

More than 80 sponsors contributed to the gala’s success. Leading sponsors included Iron Senergy, Dr. Christopher and Beth Mascio, Hope Gas, Infinity Electric & Service Co., CJL Engineering, HED Design, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Trilogy Innovations, Mark Carter and Amy Wildasin, PJ Dick, Triple H Enterprises, Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, Prolacta Bioscience, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Daniel’s Men’s Store, and StudioKat Photography.

David A. Rosen, M.D., Michelle Rosen, and the Rosen Family Foundation served as presenting sponsors and helped spearhead fundraising efforts. Dr. Rosen, a pediatric anesthesiologist at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s and professor and vice chair of research in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology, emphasized the importance of continued investment in pediatric care.

“I am proud to continue my support of the WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s gala. This commitment is deeply personal — not only as a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist who has had the privilege of serving WVU Medicine for more than 30 years, but also as someone who was personally affected by polio as a child,” Dr. Rosen said.

“That early experience shaped my lifelong appreciation for the critical role compassionate, specialized pediatric care plays in changing lives. Supporting WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital reflects both my professional dedication and my personal mission to advancing exceptional care for children with complex medical needs and supporting the families who rely on it.”

All gala contributions were made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities. Visit Childrens.WVUMedicine.org/Giving to make a gift to WVU Medicine Children’s.

For more information on WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, visit WVUKids.com.

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West Virginia

Instant Takeaways from WVU’s Second Half Thrashing of UCF

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Instant Takeaways from WVU’s Second Half Thrashing of UCF

The Mountaineers earned their second win over the UFF Knights by a score of 74-62 on Wednesday night in Orlando at Addition Financial Arena. The Mountaineers went into the half trailing, but battled back for a comfortable win.

Here are some instant takeaways from West Virginia women’s hoops’ 23rd win of the season.

West Virginia Proves They Can Overcome Slow Starts

It was a very slow first half for the Mountaineers. West Virginia trailed 27-25 at halftime, but came out in the third quarter firing on all cylinders. Within the first minute of the third quarter, the Mountaineers had regained the lead off of a Gia Cooke layup and a tough finish inside by Carter McCray.

West Virginia went on to have a 31-9 run in the third quarter, leading by as many as 21 to propel them to victory. The way that the Mountaineers were able to regroup and go on a run in the second half shows that this team is built to win in many ways. They have depth at guard in particular that can keep them in the game against almost any team in the nation.

The Mountaineers Have Depth Everywhere

When the Mountaineers came out of the second half, it ended up being guards Gia Cooke and Jordan Harrison who led the way, scoring the ball. Harrison, who scored 16 points against UCF, in particular, has displayed through her three seasons at West Virginia that she fits perfectly into head coach Mark Kellogg’s defensive style of basketball. Harrison has also been molded into a solid offensive player. Cooke leads the team in points per game and leads the team with 19 points tonight. When the Mountaineers need a bucket, they can count on the experience of Cooke and Harrison down the stretch.

Meme Wheeler and Carter McCray had nearly identical stat lines that included 12 points and 7 rebounds each. Having Wheeler and McCray capable of rebounding with just about anybody in the Big 12 is part of what West Virginia has been missing during Kellogg’s tenure. This truly does feel like the most complete team of the Kellogg era thus far.

The win moves West Virginia to 14-4 in Big 12 play and 24-6 overall. The Mountaineers sit behind only TCU in the Big 12, with Baylor a game back and WVU owning the head-to-head victory over the Bears. Kellogg and his crew will finish their 2025-26 regular season campaign on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Hope Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

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