A structure stands in a rural area of Leager, West Virginia, following flooding. Photographed by MSGT Lawrence Pierce.
Charleston Gazette-Mail
“WV flood resiliency support greatly limited under Morrisey and lawmakers’ direction”
Although Gov. Morrisey stressed his plans to address flood resiliency in his second State of the State address earlier this month, lawmakers’ measures thus far fall short of the financing the Flood Resiliency Trust Fund needs. Mike Tony reports more on the issue in “WV flood resiliency support greatly limited under Morrisey and lawmakers’ direction,” published this week.
“WV bill offering tax break for data centers, tech firms drawing heavy opposition”
HB 4013 was removed from the House Finance Committee agenda this week after public pressure mounted. The Mountaineer Flexible Tax Credit Act of 2026 would give data center developers a large tax break as an incentive to come to West Virginia. It could potentially amount to millions of lost revenue from just a single data center project. Mike Tony broke down the numbers in “WV bill offering tax break for data centers, tech firms drawing heavy opposition” yesterday.
Mountain State Spotlight
A lack of potable water poses issues for residents across the southern coalfields. Photo courtesy of the WV Faith Collective.
For decades, the southern coalfield communities have struggled with clean water access. The United Nations recognises safe and affordable drinking water as an international human right and global goal, yet it’s still not guaranteed in places like Wyoming County. From Below, a coalfield justice organization based in southern West Virginia, is working hard to get the Coalfield Clean Water Act passed this legislative session. Mountain State Spotlight reporter Henry Culvyhouse wrote about the bill in “Southern West Virginians have waited decades for clean water. A bold $250 million proposal could help.”
West Virginia Watch
“Two bills aim to change how flood recovery money is given in WV, but funds remain nonexistent”
If you read our 2026 Policy Briefing Book, then you probably know how crucial it is that West Virginia lawmakers invest in flood resilience. Communities around the state desperately need funding to prepare for the next flooding event. A study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Allstate, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that for every $1 spent on resilience and disaster preparedness, $13 is saved in costs towards economic impact, damages, and cleanup.
This week, a journalist for West Virginia Watch, Caity Coyne, covered flood resilience legislation moving in the House and Senate. Read “Two bills aim to change how flood recovery money is given in WV, but funds remain nonexistent” here.
“Garbage Wars 2.0: More false promises of economic development in West Virginia”
WVEC Vice President, Morgan King, wrote about the falsehoods of “advanced recycling”. Read more about the greenwashed term and why it isn’t what it’s built up to be in “Garbage Wars 2.0: More false promises of economic development in West Virginia”.
New York Times
“How Does Climate Change Affect Winter Storms?”
Much of the country was blanketed in snow and ice as Winter Storm Fern moved across dozens of states. Storms like Fern are a climate change reality born from increased precipitation due to a warming atmosphere. Read more about it from Sachi Katajima Mulkey’s article in the New York Times this week.
