Amelia Ferrell Knisely

New Human Services secretary inherited a broken WV foster care system. He promises improvements.

Alex Mayer, 37, says it will be a ‘long road’ to fix the overwhelmed child welfare system. He brings a ‘passion for helping’ to the job, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

WV school board backs superintendent in vaccine policy debate, urges working with governor • West Virginia Watch The WV school board is considering how it will move forward with Gov. Morrisey’s order to allow religious exemptions to vaccine requirements.

The state school board is taking time to consider how it will move forward with Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order to allow religious exemptions to vaccination requirements.

Today is my two-year anniversary at @statesnewsroom.com. I love working for this company full of amazing, smart, talented and kind people. Every day I feel so lucky to get to work with @lorikerseywv.bsky.social, @amelianews.bsky.social and @caitycoyne.bsky.social.

U.S. House panel passes GOP plan that cuts Medicaid by $625B, adds work requirement • West Virginia Watch The U.S. House panel in charge of overhauling Medicaid by cutting billions in federal spending wrapped up debate on its bill Wednesday.

The U.S. House panel in charge of overhauling Medicaid by cutting hundreds of billions in federal spending wrapped up debate on its bill Wednesday, following a 25-hour session, reports @jennifershutt.bsky.social.

So grateful to do this work alongside my newsroom of great women. I will always fight for WV kids.

Thank you!!

West Virginia Watch reporter wins a Dan Rather Medal for her foster care reporting • West Virginia Watch West Virginia Watch reporter Amelia Ferrell Knisely has placed second in the Dan Rather Medals for News and Guts competition.

West Virginia Watch reporter wins a Dan Rather Medal for her foster care reporting westvirginiawatch.com/briefs/west-...

Kudos to my WV colleague whose work I deeply respect.
#journalism #304 #WV #childwelfare
@amelianews.bsky.social

West Virginia school board will pursue lawsuit after lawmakers get authority over education rules • West Virginia Watch The WV Board of Education will pursue litigation over a recently-passed bill that gives lawmakers the ultimate authority over board policies.

The West Virginia Board of Education will pursue litigation over a recently-passed bill that gives lawmakers the ultimate authority over school board policies, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.
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WV governor signs bills eliminating Equal Opportunity office, exempting some teens from work permits • West Virginia Watch Gov. Morrisey has signed dozens of Republican-backed bills, including a measure eliminating the state’s Office of Equal Opportunity.

ICYMI: Gov. Patrick Morrisey has signed dozens of Republican-backed bills into law, including measures officially eliminating the state’s Office of Equal Opportunity and rolling back work permit requirements for some teenagers, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

McDowell residents feel forgotten, overwhelmed as they face flood recovery with limited help • West Virginia Watch Many of McDowell’s residents are unable or unlikely to leave their long-time family homes, resulting in them now sitting in damp structures.

Residents — many of whom are elderly — are waiting for help. They need federal aid. A stove. Volunteers to help them clear the thick mud from their basements.

@amelianews.bsky.social

westvirginiawatch.com/2025/04/23/m...

New: In McDowell County, carpet is still wet. Basements are full of mud. The mold is setting in.
Nine weeks after flooding, residents feel forgotten by state leaders and federal programs. There aren't nearly enough volunteers.
McDowell needs help. westvirginiawatch.com/2025/04/23/m...

Morrisey signs Republicans’ ‘Parents' Bill of Rights’ measure • West Virginia Watch Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill on Monday, April 14, 2025, codifying a “Parents' Bill of Rights” for West Virginians.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill on Monday codifying a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” for West Virginians, reports @amelianews.bsky.social. The bill excludes a parents’ right to access an abortion if their child is pregnant.
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WV poised to nearly eliminate minors’ access to gender-affirming care despite child suicide warning • West Virginia Watch Lawmakers have approved nearly eliminating gender-affirming care for children in West Virginia, removing a narrow exemption in current law.

Lawmakers have approved nearly eliminating gender-affirming care for children in West Virginia, removing a narrow exemption in current state law that allows minors at risk for suicide to access hormone therapy and other medications, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.
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House approves dismantling WV Office of Equal Opportunity, opt to keep its director • West Virginia Watch Lawmakers have signed off on doing away with the West Virginia Office of Equal Opportunity, opting to keep the director role within another state agency.

Lawmakers have signed off on doing away with the West Virginia Office of Equal Opportunity, opting to keep the office’s director role within a state agency that will be tasked with protecting state employees from discrimination, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.
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Doctors concerned after WV lawmakers change newborn care standard that prevents blindness in babies West Virginia law mandates that medical professionals treat newborns’ eyes with an ointment meant to prevent pink eye or potentially blindness if the baby comes into contact with bacteria or a sexuall...

West Virginia lawmakers approved a bill making it optional for providers to treat newborns' eyes with an ointment that can protect them from pink eye and blindness, @amelianews.bsky.social reports. www.newsfromthestates.com/article/doct...

Hope Scholarship’s accelerating price tag sparks debate in WV House, $97M in funding approved • West Virginia Watch The Republican-led House of Delegates approved $97 million in funding for the Hope Scholarship, the state’s education voucher program.

The Republican-led House of Delegates approved $97 million in funding for the Hope Scholarship, but not before numerous lawmakers rose to question the rapidly increasing price tag of the state’s education voucher program, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Doctors concerned after WV lawmakers change newborn care standard that prevents blindness in babies • West Virginia Watch West Virginia law mandates that medical professionals treat newborns’ eyes with an ointment meant to prevent potentially blindness.

Newborns in West Virginia automatically receive eye ointment after birth to prevent medical pink eye, which can cause blindness. A bill approved by the Senate and House of Delegates repeals that medical mandate, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Photos: Hundreds show up to Hands Off rally to protest Trump administration at WV’s Capitol • West Virginia Watch On Saturday, April 5, 2025, more than 1,200 Hands Off rallies were held across the nation to protest the actions of the Trump administration.

On Saturday, more than 1,200 Hands Off rallies were held across the nation to protest the actions of the Trump administration. Check out photos from the Charleston rally.

Lawmakers consider dismantling WV Office of Equal Opportunity, but it appears to already be gone

A Senate bill would do away with the Office of Equal Opportunity, saying its functions are being carried out by another state agency. But the office no longer has any employees or a website, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Legislation considers what steps to take if a local government is down bad financially - WV MetroNews Bill  introduces a system for identifying and addressing local fiscal emergencies and gives the state Auditor authority to declare fiscal watches and emergencies.

Delegates are in line to pass legislation that would lay out how to handle what would happen if a West Virginia county were in catastrophic financial condition.

Thank you!!!

Family caregivers in WV would be eligible for a tax credit, bill sits in Senate Finance

Family members caring for aging parents, spouses, veterans and others in West Virginia would be eligible for a tax credit, according to a bill in the Senate, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

I worked on this story for 3+ months — hope you’ll read it!

West Virginia House passes stricter voter photo ID law • West Virginia Watch At the urging of the Secretary of State, West Virginia could tighten laws on acceptable forms of photo identification that can be used.

At the urging of the Secretary of State, West Virginia could tighten laws on acceptable forms of photo identification that can be used at polling places, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

West Virginia House of Delegates considers changes to public records access • West Virginia Watch The House is considering a bill that would allow the Legislature to write its own rules for disclosing public records.

The West Virginia House of Delegates is considering a bill that would allow the Legislature to write its own rules for disclosing public records, but House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said the intent is not to hide records, reports @amelianews.bsky.social
& @lorikerseywv.bsky.social.

WV House passes bill to stop ‘unnecessary moves’ of foster kids; child welfare experts critical • West Virginia Watch Grappling with a troubled foster care system, the House of Delegates passed a bill on Wednesday some lawmakers say will minimize children bouncing from home to home. As part of the measure, the state…

Grappling with a troubled foster care system, the House passed a bill on Wednesday some lawmakers say will minimize children bouncing from home to home. As part of the measure, the state could more quickly terminate parental rights, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

Morrisey signs ‘MAHA’ bill banning a list of colorful artificial dyes in food sold in West Virginia • West Virginia Watch Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill that will ban some artificial food dyes from being included in food items sold in West Virginia.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill that will ban a list of artificial food dyes from being included in food items sold in grocery stores or in school lunches, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

WVU would have to operate ‘center for civics’ overseen by political appointee, bill says • West Virginia Watch WVU would be required to operate a civics learning center focused on constitutional studies according to a bill approved by the House.

New: WVU would be required to operate a civics learning center focused on teaching constitutional studies and “great debates of Western civilization” overseen by a governor’s appointee, according to a bill approved by the House. westvirginiawatch.com/2025/03/24/w...

Paris Hilton urges WV senators to pass bill to protect minors in residential treatment facilities • West Virginia Watch A Senate bill that aims to prevent abuse of minors in West Virginia’s residential treatment programs has backing from Paris Hilton.

A Senate bill that aims to prevent abuse of minors in West Virginia’s residential treatment programs has backing from Paris Hilton, who sent a letter to state lawmakers urging them to pass the legislation, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.

WV lawmakers don’t want foster kids living in hotels, campgrounds; DoHS pushes back on their plan

House of Delegates members want the state to build at least two centers that could briefly house foster children when there’s no home or facility available, reports @amelianews.bsky.social.