News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

West Virginia’s Gauley River among the nation’s most endangered, conservation organization says

Published

5 months ago

April 16, 2025

westvirginiawatch.com – Lori Kersey – 2025-04-16 15:08:00

by Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
April 16, 2025

West Virginia’s Gauley River has been named to a conservation organization’s list of the most endangered rivers in the country this year.

The river is 10th on the list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers for 2025. The river is threatened by coal mining pollution in one of its tributaries, the Cherry River, according to the organization.

Each year, American Rivers sets the list of rivers that face a major decision that the public can influence. The list is based on the significance of the river to people and wildlife, and the magnitude of the threat.

The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Appalachian Voices is suing the South Fork Coal Company, which operates more than 3,000 acres of surface mines in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties outside the Monongahela National Forest, over alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

The mines have violated water pollution standards at least 80 documented times since 2019, releasing sediment and toxic heavy metals into the river, according to a news release.

The groups have challenged the U.S. Forest Service decision to grant the company access to use a national forest road as a haul road without complying with environmental protection laws. The company was first granted access to the road in 2013 based on an application that falsely claimed it did not cross into the forest, said Olivia Miller, program director for the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. The access was renewed in 2018 and 2023.

The company has been permitted to operate the Rocky Run Surface Mine, the mine at the center of the lawsuits over pollution, since 2021.

The road was temporarily shut down, but reopened after the company appealed to the Department of Interior, Miller said.

The environmental groups’ lawsuits have been stayed after the coal company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in February.

“We’re waiting to see what happens with the bankruptcy proceedings. So this could be tied up in court for years, and meanwhile, they are still hauling coal,” Miller said.

The Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and and Enforcement (OSMRE) has a public comment period underway now about the coal company’s request for a valid existing rights determination to continue using the road. Mining activity in the national forest is prohibited, exempt for a few exemptions.

“For four years, this company has illegally operated within the Monongahela National Forest,” Willie Dodson, coal impacts program manager at Appalachian Voices said in a news release. “Now, having just declared bankruptcy, South Fork Coal is asking regulators to retroactively validate this activity. It’s unacceptable. If they get away with it, I shudder to think what the next encroachment by the coal industry into our public land will be. Are they going to strip Spruce Knob? Are they going to put a sludge dam at Cranberry Glades? This is the time to draw a line in the sand.”

Miller said the river being added to the endangered list will help alert policy makers and the public of the river’s plight.

“The Gauley’s listing specifically will hopefully draw national attention to ongoing problems that we’re seeing with this company and encourage the public and policymakers to step up before any more irreversible harm occurs in this sensitive area,” Miller said.

“We are asking OSMRE to deny the after-the-fact request that the company can continue using this road,” Miller said. “So right now, we need as much public comment as possible to pressure the OSMRE to deny their valid existing rights request.”

A representative of South Fork Coal Company could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Gauley River draws tens of thousands of white water rafters each year for its world class rapids. The river and its tributaries are also popular fishing destinations. Miller said pollution puts the river’s recreation opportunities at risk.

“The outcome of this valid existing rights determination will reverberate far beyond West Virginia, and I think will really set a precedent for better or for worse on mining and public lands,” Miller said. “And I really don’t believe that the people of West Virginia want to see the Monongahela National Forest impacted or mined. As somebody who grew up in the Mon in Tucker County, that would be just completely devastating and earth shattering for me to see happen in my lifetime.

“So now is the time for people to come together and protect our outdoor recreation economy and activities like rafting, fishing and hiking, hunting that people from West Virginia love, and these are activities that thrive on clean, healthy ecosystems,” Miller said.

The Gauley River listing comes days after President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders meant to bolster the nation’s struggling coal industry. The orders allow some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to keep operating and directs federal agencies to lift barriers to coal mining and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands.

“Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels,” Miller said. “Even though most of our state leaders would like to ignore climate change, we cannot ignore it any longer and this push to ‘bring back coal’ is only going to cause more pain and suffering for people in West Virginia and across the world,” she said. “And I think the recent executive orders really exemplifies the tension between efforts to bolster domestic coal production again and the need to protect public lands and water resources.”

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West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.

The post West Virginia’s Gauley River among the nation’s most endangered, conservation organization says appeared first on westvirginiawatch.com

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News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

National Grandparents Day (9-7-25) and the special bond shared with their grandchildren

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – WOAY TV – 2025-09-06 14:02:11

SUMMARY: This Sunday, September 7th, is National Grandparents Day, honoring the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. In Milton State, many grandparents become primary caregivers due to their children’s substance abuse disorders. Presley Ridge highlights the vital role grandparents play in foster care, offering training and support to become certified foster parents. West Virginia leads the nation in child removals, resulting in many grandparents raising grandchildren full-time. Services aim to reunify families by supporting parents’ recovery. Children thrive better in familiar grandparent homes, providing love and stability. Senator Brian Hilton emphasizes improving treatment programs to help families heal and support grandparents effectively.

National Grandparents Day is a time to appreciate the joy and wisdom they bring to our lives. Mountain State grandparents often take on another role, stepping in to become primary caregivers when their children have substance abuse issues.

~ Newswatch reporter Jillian Risberg (https://www.facebook.com/JillianRisTV) found out how much love, guidance, and stability grandparents can provide.

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News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

WV Supreme Court will hear BOE’s appeal in vaccine lawsuit — but not right away

Published

3 days ago

September 5, 2025

Staff Editor

westvirginiawatch.com – Lori Kersey – 2025-09-05 09:21:00

by Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
September 5, 2025

West Virginia’s highest court will take on a legal battle over the state’s school vaccination requirements, but it denied a request by state school officials that it do so quickly.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday set a deadline of Dec. 12 for the West Virginia Board of Education to prepare its appeal of a Raleigh County judge’s July ruling against it. That ruling was in regards to a lawsuit brought by three Raleigh County families over the board’s refusal to accept religious exemptions to the state’s mandatory school vaccine requirements.

Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble in July granted a preliminary injunction in the case that allows students in the case to attend class with a religious exemption to the vaccination requirements.

The school board had filed notice of appeal and asked the high court to both expedite a review of the appeal and temporarily halt the proceedings in the lower court.

In the scheduling order Thursday, the court denied both motions. Justices also set a deadline of Jan. 26 for the plaintiffs in the case to respond to the board’s appeal. The board will then have until Feb. 16, 2026 to write a reply, if necessary.

After the Feb. 16 reply brief deadline, the court writes, the appeal will be ready for review.

The Raleigh lawsuit is one case in a legal battle over religious freedom and the state’s strict school vaccination requirements. Every state requires school students to be vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases including polio, chicken pox and measles. Florida officials announced this week plans to eliminate its vaccine mandates.

West Virginia has been one of only five states that have not allowed students to opt out of the shots because of their religious or philosophical objections to them.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order on his second day in office requiring the state to allow religious exemptions. His order is based on the 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. He argues that the religious freedom law, when read alongside the vaccination law, calls for the religious exemptions.

Morrisey has not rescinded that executive order, even though the state Legislature earlier this year rejected a bill that would have established those religious exemptions in state code.

Raleigh County Circuit Judge Michael Froble has scheduled a two-day hearing next week on a permanent injunction in the lawsuit, which he recently consolidated with a lawsuit brought against the state health department by two parents of immunocompromised students over its issuance of religious exemptions. Plaintiffs in that case are represented by the ACLU of West Virginia and Mountain State Justice.

The hearing is set for Sept. 10 and 11 at the Raleigh County Judicial Center. During that hearing, the judge has said he wants to consider issues that include whether the state’s vaccination law is constitutional without religious exemptions and the authority of Morrisey’s executive order.

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The post WV Supreme Court will hear BOE’s appeal in vaccine lawsuit — but not right away appeared first on westvirginiawatch.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Centrist

The content presents a factual and balanced overview of the legal dispute surrounding vaccine exemptions in West Virginia without evident partisan language or framing. It reports on actions taken by government officials, court decisions, and ongoing lawsuits from multiple perspectives, including those of the state board, families, and advocacy groups. The neutral tone and focus on legal developments suggest a centrist approach, aiming to inform rather than persuade toward a particular political viewpoint.

News from the South - West Virginia News Feed

Christian’s Morning Forecast: Strong to Severe Storms Incoming

Published

4 days ago

September 4, 2025

Staff Editor

www.youtube.com – WOAY TV – 2025-09-04 06:46:25

SUMMARY: Storm Watch meteorologist Christian Boler reports strong to severe storms approaching West Virginia, especially McDow, Tazewell, and Wyoming counties during the morning commute. Temperatures will remain in the upper 60s to low 70s with southwest winds around 5-10 mph. A marginal severe weather threat exists across the region, mainly involving winds and flooding, but no tornadoes or hail expected. Rainfall of a quarter to half an inch is likely over 48 hours with isolated downpours. Storms will arrive in two waves before clearing Friday. Another front may bring showers Saturday, but high pressure will clear skies for the weekend and beyond.