West Virginia’s 2026 Primary Election wrapped up on Tuesday night. WVOW followed the votes as they came in from Logan and Mingo counties. West Virginia's 2026 Primary Election wrapped up on Tuesday. In Logan and Mingo counties, WVOW followed along with the results in those local races, some of which were highly contentious. Robert Fields | WVOW News LOGAN In Logan County, the voter turnout was low: 18.66% of the county’s 20,091 registered voters. This was also the first elec

Tuesday is Election Day for West Virginia’s 2026 Primary. Last week, WVOW hosted an election access event with 17 candidates in races ranging from the local school board to the U.S. House of Representatives. LOGAN The first two candidates in the studio were sitting state Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Dan Greear and challenging candidate Jim Douglas. The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals is still a relatively new arm of the state judiciary. This July will mark

Over the past few weeks, listeners have heard from candidates on several levels posting their advertisements, speaking at events or even knocking door to door, and in all of those cases, you might get a sense for the platform that candidate is running on. However, something that doesn’t often get discussed is what the campaign trail looks like for a candidate. For many considering running for a political office, whether a younger candidate running for the first time or an exp

Kanawha County Judge Richard Lindsay has denied a writ of mandamus that sought to remove Logan County Commissioner Diana Barnette from the May primary ballot. Kanawha County Judge Richard Lindsay denied a writ of mandamus filed in March by Greenville resident Chris Trent that sought the removal of Logan County Commissioner Diana Barnette's name from the May primary ballot. WVOW News | Robert Fields, Shana Nelson & AM Stone CHARLESTON Greenville resident Chris Trent filed th

A Kanawha County judge is fast-tracking a lawsuit that seeks to remove Logan County Commissioner Diana Barnette from the May Primary ballot. Another hearing is set for Monday as the election approaches. Logan residents Shirley Baisden and Becky Nagy enter the courtroom Wednesday. Both ladies and Logan County Clerk John Turner attended the hearing and are respondents in their capacity as Ballot Commissioners in Logan County. WVOW News | Robert Fields, Shana Nelson & A.M. Stone

The West Virginia Board of Education and Raleigh County Board of Education filed a response last week in the state Supreme Court of Appeals in a case that could permanently change the state’s school vaccine policies. The justices of the 2026 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals are pictured in this photo sourced from the state judiciary's website . Seated from left to right: William (Bill) R. Wooton, Thomas H. Ewing, Chief Justice C. Haley Bunn, Gerald M. Titus, III, and Ch

It's still a long road ahead before West Virginia municipalities are required to align their election schedules with state elections, but officials in Logan County are already debating how to comply. Logan City Council members (from left to right) Donna Willis, Mayor Serafino Nolletti, Jay Mullins and Ken Lee were part of discussions on Tuesday, March 24, of how the city should proceed with aligning its elections with the State of West Virginia's elections during their budget

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is defending its oversight of a Boone County coal mine permit that federal regulators have been reviewing for months. State officials are defending their handling of violations at the Twilight Surface Mine after a federal review was launched over environmental concerns. The state says it has taken enforcement action and argues the state, not federal regulators, has authority over the permit. WVOW News TWILIGHT State o

The U.S. Department of Education plans to move out of its headquarters in Washington as the Trump administration continues efforts to scale back the agency. The U.S. Department of Education will move out of its Washington headquarters, with the space going to the U.S. Department of Energy. Officials say the largely empty building costs too much to keep open, and the move could save millions. WVOW News WASHINGTON, D.C. Officials announced Thursday the department will vacate

A lawsuit filed in Logan County Circuit Court challenges Commissioner Diana Barnette’s eligibility for the May ballot, alleging she does not reside in the district she filed in. Greenville resident Chris Trent is seeking her removal through a writ of mandamus, naming county election officials as respondents. LOGAN A lawsuit in Logan County seeks to omit a candidate for Logan County Commission from the ballot this May. Filed in Logan Circuit Court on Thursday (3/19/26), Gre

Logan County Board of Education appointee Craig Marcum says he won't continue to run for the seat in the upcoming Primary Election. Craig Marcum's name will appear on the ballot for the Logan County Board of Education, but he's asking his supporters to back another candidate for the position. Robert Fields | WVOW News LOGAN In a release issued Thursday, Marcum said the decision follows recent changes in his personal and professional life, as well as increased family obligat

The Town of Chapmanville says its elected officials will give up 6 months of their terms in office when the town moves its municipal election this year. The Town of Chapmanville is working with Logan County to align its municipal elections with the General Election cycle starting November 2026. Robert Fields | WVOW News CHAPMANVILLE On Monday, Mayor Joel McNeely signed an agreement at the Logan County Commission’s regular meeting, saying that the county will work with the t

City Council members in Logan once again have tabled an ordinance that would require landlords to obtain a license to operate in city limits. Logan City Council members (left to right) Donna Willis, City Attorney Kendal Partlow, Mayor Serafino Nolletti, Donsil Jay Mullins, Basil Ken Lee and BJ Picklesimer Robert Fields | WVOW News CITY OF LOGAN Special Counsel Paul Ellis recommended tabling the issue again until proper conversations can take place between the city and the H

House Bill 4504, which would have required the second buck hunted in a season to have at least three points on one side before being legal for hunting, failed in committee this week. Robert Fields | WVOW News CHARLESTON A bill failed in the West Virginia House of Delegates that would have changed the rules around deer hunting. House Bill 4504, introduced by Grant County Delegate John Hott, would have required the second deer harvested in any given season to have at least th

The Logan City Council on Tuesday passed the first reading of ordinances that would require landowners to get a license to rent out properties and would facilitate the city's efforts to collect on delinquent municipal fees. Robert Fields | WVOW News LOGAN Discussions continued this week in the City of Logan as officials debate how to secure delinquent fire protection and garbage collection fees. The Logan City Council had its first reading of two ordinances Tuesday afternoo

Incumbent Diana Barnette (left) and challenger Deborah Mendez (right) both filed Monday morning at the Logan County Courthouse to run for Barnette's seat on the Logan County Commission. Robert Fields | WVOW News LOGAN Political candidate filing for West Virginia opened on Monday. One local race for political office that will see some competition is that for the Logan County Commission. Incumbent Commissioner Diana Barnette previously confirmed her intention to file for reel

Governor Patrick Morrisey (right) and state HHS Secretary Alex Mayer (left) announced a plan on Tuesday to push for West Virginia phasing out CPS removals. CHARLESTON Governor Patrick Morri sey and the state’s Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Mayer say they want West Virginia’s childcare system to move away from its reliance on Child Protective Services. Mayer said on Tuesday that the administration plans to focus on prevention, with the goal of reducing and eventua

The school vaccine debate in West Virginia has made it all the way to the state Supreme Court of Appeals while flu cases have reached record numbers and the CDC continues to step away from childhood vaccine requirements. WEST VIRGINIA One issue potentially headed back to the Legislature following court action involves the relationship between West Virginia’s religious freedom law and long-standing school vaccination requirements. The state Supreme Court is expected to revie

Back in March, Governor Morrisey announced his proposal that lawmakers take up legislation to open West Virginia's doors to the data industry, rolling out the red carpet for artificial intelligence companies to come into the state with decreased oversight and regulation. Robert Fields | WVOW News WEST VIRGINIA Natural gas is expected to play a major role as West Virginia works to expand electricity production to meet Governor Patrick Morrisey’s goal of reaching 50 gigawatts

Town of Man Mayor John Fekete (center) told council members on Monday that the town's Halloween festivities were a rousing success, and he hopes to carry that momentum into the Christmas season. Robert Fields | WVOW News MAN The Town of Man has announced plans for its upcoming Christmas season and is asking for the public's help. During Monday's Town Council meeting, Man Mayor John Fekete said the town will have its tree lighting ceremony and Christmas parade on Thursday, D