CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh gave a presentation on the department’s annual report to state lawmakers Monday afternoon, ahead of the regular 60-day legislative session.
Rumbaugh highlighted key elements of the Department of Transportation, including Parkways, Multimodal, the Division of Highways and the Division of Motor Vehicles, and also provided an update on the department’s budget and operations.
Rumbaugh said 93% of the core

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Gov. Patrick Morrisey has appointed Brian Keith Cochran to serve as Mercer County’s 13th Circuit Court judge.
Cochran fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge William J. Sadler in December. He will have to run in the May 2026 election if he wants to serve the remaining seven years of Sadler’s term.
Prior to his appointment, Cochran has served as Mercer County’s prosecuting attorney since 2020. He brings more than three decades of combined law enforcement and legal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the first time since the mid 1980’s, the Republican Primary election in West Virginia will be closed.
Josh Holstein
“We’ve been preparing for this here at the party for the last several months,” said GOP Chairman and Boone County Delegate Josh Holstein. “Back in 2024 prior to my chairmanship, this decision was made, and it’s been maintained in the last several executive committee meetings, so I wasn’t particularly surprised that it was maintained again this time.”
Members

ELKINS, W.Va. — A Randolph County couple faces charges after state officials say they took their own child out of state custody and crossed state lines.
Darries and Megan Fauntleroy, both 40, of Montrose, W.Va. were arrested Sunday in Kingstree, South Carolina. According to State Police Senior Trooper Anthony Petrella, the couple fled to the Palmetto state with their seven- year old daughter and had no plans to return. Petrella was alerted Friday by the West Virginia Department of Human Services

Democrats don’t have the numbers in the West Virginia House of Delegates, just 9 out of 100 members.
But they say they do have a focus on practical issues that they’ll carry through the coming 60-day session: utility bills, healthcare, childcare and housing.
Sean Hornbuckle
“We’re going to have laser focus and prioritize four different areas: First with utility bills. We’re going to address health care. We’re going to address child care, and then we’re also going to address housing,” said House

WESTON, W.Va. — A Colorado man is in custody after leading police on a pursuit through Lewis and Braxton counties.
Kyle Termin (WVRJA)
Police said Kyle Termin, 27, of Denver, is accused of driving though Weston at speeds of up to 70 mph at around 10 p.m. Sunday.
According to authorities, Termin then fled south on Route 19 at speeds topping 100 mph.
Termin got on I-79 South at the Roanoke exit and damaged several signs when he crashed in the median. He then continued on I-79 south at speeds of up

WINFIELD, W.Va. — The Putnam County community turned out to say goodbye to a man who gave back to the community his entire life.
Funeral services were held Sunday for Chuck Meadows who was a longtime member of the Winfield Fire Department. He had served as Chief of the department for the past four years. He was also a 25-year veteran tow truck driver for Hurricane Wrecker and was known by many for the service he offered them at the worst times of their lives.
“From locked keys in the car to a