(A News and Sentinel Op-Ed – Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

It has been the honor of my life to serve West Virginia as your United States Senator, fighting for the concerns of our communities and making sure the voices of West Virginians are heard loud and clear in Washington, D.C. As a lifelong native of the Mountain State, I know how diligent and determined the people of our state are, and they deserve representation that works as hard as they do. I’m proud to announce that I’m running for reelection in 2026 to continue my hard work on behalf of West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.

With President Trump’s endorsement of my reelection, it is my goal to continue working with him to deliver on America First policies that strengthen our country and state, ensuring that West Virginia always has a seat at the table.

Since I first came to the Senate, we’ve made significant strides in areas that matter most to West Virginians: strengthening our economy and lowering taxes, securing our borders, providing support for our veterans and law enforcement officers, connecting our communities with broadband access, unleashing American energy through our state’s vast natural resources, and fighting to protect the values, rights, and freedoms that matter most to our people. While these are important successes that I’m proud we’ve accomplished together, I believe there is much more work to be done.

I have risen in the ranks of Senate Republican leadership to the fourth highest position in the U.S. Senate and have never been in a better place than I am now to serve our state and to deliver for West Virginia. Through my leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee, we have seen tremendous progress in responsibly delivering resources for West Virginia that strengthen our families, authorize critical research, and help local projects reach completion. As Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I have led the charge on investments into our state’s roads, bridges, and drinking water infrastructure, and fought for American energy dominance and those in West Virginia who power our state and our nation.

Every decision I make is steered by the perspectives and stories I hear from constituents along our main streets, in our classrooms, at small businesses, and around kitchen tables. Your concerns shape my priorities, and your resilience inspires my determination. As we move forward, I remain committed to hard work and transparent leadership that ensures your voice is always heard in the halls of Congress, and that West Virginia’s priorities are always put first.

The road ahead is not without challenges, and West Virginians can trust that I will continue to display proven, conservative leadership that meets our country’s most pressing issues head-on. I am dedicated to continuing the fight for solutions that reflect our shared values and protect the principles that matter most to our people, our families, and our communities.

I ask for your support once again, not just for my campaign, but for the work we can do together to build the future that West Virginians deserve. I have never taken for granted the trust that the people of our state have placed in me, and I look forward to earning your vote and continuing our work together in the U.S. Senate.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WTAP) – Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Friday that the state has requested that the Purple Heart be awarded to the two National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C.

The Governor requested the Purple Heart to be awarded posthumously to U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed in the incident, and be awarded to Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was critically injured.

“Their actions on that tragic day meet the highest and clearest standards for the Purple Heart, a decoration that recognizes those wounded or killed in action against an enemy or during a hostile or terrorist act,” Morrisey said. “I could not think of two servicemembers more deserving of this award.”

Gov. Morrisey also reviewed broader work by the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance during 2025.

The National Guard carried out overseas missions, including deployments to the Middle East and Europe, and operations along the U.S. Southwest border. The Guard also responded to two major flooding events in the state. In February 2025, more than 350 service members were mobilized across 14 counties, conducting swift-water rescues, distributing nearly 340,000 bottles of water and clearing more than 17,000 tons of debris.

A separate response to flash flooding in Ohio and Marion counties in June 2025 involved nearly 200 Guard members who cleared an additional 12,000 tons of debris.

When the federal government shut down in October, the National Guard helped ensure families had access to meals. One hundred sixty-four service members distributed more than 1 million pounds of food to over 400 food pantries.

The governor highlighted work by the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance. Services officers secured $5.4 billion in federal benefits for West Virginia veterans in 2025, an increase of $500 million from 2024.

The department also advanced facility modernization projects. The Veterans Home in Barboursville received upgrades to the kitchen, infirmary and HVAC systems.

Major renovations are underway at the Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, including construction of a new kitchen and installation of a modern nurse call system.

“Taking care of the common, everyday issues can make a huge difference in our everyday lives, and that’s just what Veterans Assistance is doing with these upgrades. Our veterans are fantastic people who don’t ask for much, and it’s great to see this great work being done on their behalf,” Gov. Morrisey said.

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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — A large portion of the Mountain State saw storms with gusty winds last night, which has resulted in several trees coming down across roads, thousands of power outages and schools being delayed and closed.

As of Friday morning, the WV 511 website displays multiple warnings of fallen trees and debris in roadways, including several in north-central West Virginia. Both Harrison and Marion County 911 logs show crews responding to several reports of trees down.

The First Energy website also shows that a total of 36,688 of its customers are currently without power, with many still waiting for an estimated restoration time.

Due to these power outages, multiple schools throughout West Virginia have been delayed or closed for the day, including those in Barbour, Gilmer, Lewis, Marion, Ritchie, Taylor, and Upshur counties.

Regular trees weren’t the only ones forced down due to the winds. Christmas decorations, including the Bridgeport Christmas tree, were knocked over as well.