Local News – WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business | Charleston, WV
- Affordable Care Act enrollment trending down as deadline closes in January 15, 2026CHARLESTON, W.Va. – With the open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act healthcare insurance drawing to a close, experts are seeing changes to signup trends in West Virginia. Higher rates for ACA programs mean people are choosing to change their coverage or drop it entirely, according to ACA navigator Jeremy Smith with First Choice Health…daniel.woods
- Eshenaur says flu is tough this year January 14, 2026Story by Chris Lawrence CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County’s Chief Health Officer said this year’s strain of the flu has turned out to be worse than expected. “It has been a real butt-kicker as some of the patients have told me. I’m talking some really young, healthy men are telling me they hurt all over…[email protected]
- Hardesty calls for changes to school aid formula as legislative session begins January 14, 2026CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the 2026 regular legislative session underway, West Virginia School Board President Paul Hardesty wants lawmakers to do something about the state’s school aid formula. Paul Hardesty During the state Board of Education’s meeting on Wednesday, Hardesty took aim at the formula’s “1400 rule,” which sets a minimum for the funding that county…daniel.woods
- State Supreme Court of Appeals to decide Cabell County election fraud case January 13, 2026CHARLESTON, W.Va – The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will make the final decision in an election fraud case that goes back more than three years. Justices heard oral arguments on Tuesday in the state’s case against Jan Hite King and Kimberly Maynard, two former candidates for the Cabell County Commission accused of conspiring…daniel.woods
- Businessman Chris Miller making play for state senate after gubernatorial run January 13, 2026CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Huntington businessman Chris Miller is making another play for political office, announcing his candidacy to replace Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, as the state senator for West Virginia’s fifth district. Miller, who ran for governor in 2024 and finished third in the Republican primary, does not like what he sees in the state’s financial…daniel.woods
- Winfield says good-bye to community servant January 12, 2026Story by Chris Lawrence 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…[email protected]
- Fatality alert issued in connection with November coal mining death of Kanawha County man January 12, 2026WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a fatality alert Monday in connection with the November mining accident in Nicholas County that claimed a coal miner’s life. Steve Lipscomb Steve Lipscomb, 42, of Elkview, died on Nov. 8 shortly after the Rolling Thunder Mine was inundated with water. Lipscomb, whose body…[email protected]
- St. Albans Vice Mayor Page joins race for Kanawha County Commission January 12, 2026CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The race for an opening Kanawha County Commission seat is on, and St. Albans Vice Mayor Jared Page wants it for himself, formally filing to run for Commissioner Lance Wheeler’s position in the May Republican primary. With Wheeler set to run for a spot in the state senate, Page saw an opportunity…daniel.woods
- DeVault resigns from House of Delegates days before legislative session January 12, 2026CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber will sit vacant when Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, gavels in the 2026 regular legislative session. Delegate Michael DeVault, R-Marion, released a letter announcing his resignation on Monday. DeVault represented the 74th district and was first elected in 2022, defeating Republican incumbent Guy…daniel.woods
- Kanawha County Budget Timeline Takes Shape for 2026–2027 January 11, 2026KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. –There are several key dates approaching for the Kanawha County Commission’s 2026–2027 budget During a meeting last week, Deputy Manager and Director of Finance Kim Fleck said the county should receive preliminary numbers from the county assessor’s office around Jan. 20. Fleck said that once those numbers are received, she will ensure the…Morgan Pemberton