Brad McElhinny
@bradmcelhinny.bsky.social
statewide correspondent for West Virginia MetroNews
Lawsuits over control of the historic hotel were swiftly dismissed at both the county and federal levels. And a new deed of 53 pages was filed to reflect the financial agreement. buff.ly/L6Ktgsb
As part of Greenbrier deal, court conflicts are dismissed and a new $500 million deed is filed - WV MetroNews
Lawsuits over control of the historic hotel were swiftly dismissed at both the county and federal levels. And a new deed of 53 pages was filed to reflect the financial agreement.
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West Virginia lawmakers who heard an explanation of the Morrisey administration’s approach to clothing vouchers still have questions. buff.ly/ho4qmgM
Lawmakers still have questions about disruptions to school clothing voucher program - WV MetroNews
Lawmakers questioned the state's human services secretary for more than an hour over disruptions to the state’s clothing voucher program for needy families.
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The deal completed today represents a joint venture with the New York financial firm Kennedy Lewis Investment Management and puts to rest, at least temporarily, a long saga of debt related to the hotel. buff.ly/W5sGfb5
Justices complete half-billion dollar joint venture on The Greenbrier - WV MetroNews
The deal represents a joint venture with the New York financial firm Kennedy Lewis Investment Management and puts to rest, at least temporarily, a long saga of debt related to the hotel.
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Lawyers for The Greenbrier Hotel say they would welcome flexibility about keeping the casino open during a half-billion financial transaction. buff.ly/bpB1oAQ
Greenbrier describes potential to keep casino open while financial transaction closes - WV MetroNews
'We would of course be very pleased to be able to close our refinancing and continue to operate the casino for a brief period while Lottery approval remains pending.'
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Lawyers for The Greenbrier say the closure of a $500 million financial deal requires Lottery to sign off on how it would affect the resort’s casino license. The Greenbrier lawyers say they can’t wait any longer and will have to go without it. buff.ly/GlQXEPX
Greenbrier threatens to close casino rather than continuing to wait on review that's key to crucial refinancing - WV MetroNews
Ninety Greenbrier casino workers would face layoffs amid shutdown.
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The state school board declared a state of emergency for Wyoming County, moved ahead with a correction plan for Marion County and heard an update on Logan County, which continues to face challenges after a state takeover. buff.ly/rOR015w
State board reviews problems and progress in Logan, Wyoming and Marion schools - WV MetroNews
Three counties were under review during a state Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.
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The Public Employees Insurance Agency continues to get out the message that its finances are stable. buff.ly/FvyUn0K
PEIA again describes its finances as solid, this time to lawmakers - WV MetroNews
PEIA Director Brent Wolfingbarger told state lawmakers that PEIA is $67 million ahead of fiscal year 2026 projections because of lower claims and higher investment income.
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Lawmakers grilled West Virginia’s new secretary for human services for more than an hour over disruptions to the state’s clothing voucher program for needy families. buff.ly/2enFUEj
Lawmakers question curtailed clothing vouchers and basis for 'beer and cigarettes' claim - WV MetroNews
Carl Ayers, who was named secretary for the Department of Human Services on July 20, testified for just short of an hour and a half before lawmakers.
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Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s administration and some members of the Legislature laid out broad principles for how West Virginia will deal with data centers. buff.ly/uhzyHnM
West Virginia officials describe pillars for data center development - WV MetroNews
Much the framework the governor laid out is intertwined with the Power Generation and Consumption Act that was passed into law in 2025.
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The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has filed liens amounting to more than $8 million against The Greenbrier Hotel’s owners. buff.ly/Vyh46LC
IRS files $8 million in liens related to payroll taxes against The Greenbrier - WV MetroNews
The Greenbrier Hotel is owned by U.S. Senator Jim Justice and his family.
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The director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy told lawmakers the state is improving in several key measurements of its long battle against drug addiction. buff.ly/KCu7qWk
Drug control policy director highlights improvements in West Virginia's addiction battle - WV MetroNews
Dr. Stephen Loyd highlighted a 41.6% decline in overdose deaths from pre-pandemic levels and a 44.2% reduction in neonatal abstinence syndrome rates.
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West Virginia lawmakers got a primer on controversial cameras that capture images including license plate numbers, vehicle make, model, color and unique features like bumper stickers or temporary tags to create a searchable digital database of vehicle movements. buff.ly/2apOI4l
Lawmakers press Flock on sharing, hacking and warrants - WV MetroNews
West Virginia lawmakers grilled representatives from civil-liberties group Institute for Justice and license-plate reader vendor Flock Safety over how far automated surveillance should go.
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The recent acting secretary of the state Department of Human Services elaborated on the findings of an audit that had highlighted potential annual savings of up to $68.6 million for the agency. buff.ly/RnKCVgJ
Out-of-state placements and inefficient computer systems top list of agency's challenges - WV MetroNews
Christina Mullins addressed the high cost of out-of-state child placements and the urgent need to modernize the department's outdated computer system.
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Whatever happened to West Virginia’s push to let needy West Virginia families use food stamps for hot, healthy foods? buff.ly/mcFyypT
What happened with West Virginia's SNAP waiver for hot, healthy foods? The trail got cold - WV MetroNews
A year ago, state officials expressed excitement about hot, healthy food options for needy families. Does anyone even remember?
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“We have lots on our plate,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito said. buff.ly/h3kOUyf
As Senate races to pass funding bill and nominations, Capito expresses confidence - WV MetroNews
Lawmakers prioritize budget stopgap, nominations, Attorney General vote.
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The state board overseeing West Virginia charter schools reviewed how laws recently passed by the Legislature will affect the system. buff.ly/TiJPGwQ
Charter schools board reviews how recent changes to state law will affect system - WV MetroNews
Changes include path for closing rural schools to transition to charter schools, allowance of 'charter micro schools.'
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Representatives of The Greenbrier Hotel say a possible $500 million financing deal remains on track for closure by late this week, although major hurdles still remain. buff.ly/xsSUJqW
Lawyers for The Greenbrier say $500 million deal is on track but with big hurdles remaining - WV MetroNews
To-do list includes reaching agreement with debtholder and passing Lottery review of effects on casino license.
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A federal judge overseeing a court fight over control of The Greenbrier Hotel has allowed Senator Jim Justice and his family more time to work on a financial deal while also setting deadlines and hearings that could rev up the case again.
Judge grants delay for Justices to work on financial deal, but then sets deadlines - WV MetroNews
Volk set a prehearing conference date of 10 a.m. Sept. 3 in Charleston, a deadline to submit findings of fact and conclusions of law by Sept. 9 and an evidentiary hearing at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 in…
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"...the transaction is not merely a loan but a joint venture, which required the negotiation and delineation of the terms of the relationship between the transacting parties.”
Greenbrier financial deal in the works is 'not merely a loan but a joint venture' - WV MetroNews
Justice and his family have been pursuing a financial arrangement with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, a New York-based private credit and alternative asset firm.
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“Defendants opacity throughout this process — and the Justices’ long history of litigation to avoid paying their debts — tint WSSH’s view with judicious skepticism,” wrote attorneys for the Omni affiliate White Sulphur Springs Holdings in a new court filing.
Omni affiliate agrees to a little more time on Greenbrier deal, pushes for hard deadline and rolls eyes - WV MetroNews
'The Court should give Defendants a firm deadline of August 7, 2026, to close and fund their transaction.'
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House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, acting on behalf of a majority of legislators, is formally requesting Gov. Patrick Morrisey convene a special session specifically to remove Delegate Elliott Pritt from office following sex crime allegations. buff.ly/OPl7nhD
House speaker requests special session to remove delegate from office after sex crime charges - WV MetroNews
Roger Hanshaw sent a letter requesting the special session on August 10 'for the limited purpose of considering and acting upon a resolution to expel Delegate D. Elliott Pritt from membership in the…
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@heyspirits.bsky.social Please let the human Captain Sunshine know about this area dog www.facebook.com/share/p/19KL...
“I voted no, and the reason I voted no is that the president, I believe, has the right and and the authority to proceed as he has,” Capito said in response to a MetroNews question during a briefing today.
West Virginia senators oppose resolution limiting president's Iran war powers - WV MetroNews
Capito supports military funding while defending president's war authority.
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Elliott Pritt, the state delegate and school teacher charged with seducing a 15-year-old girl, is being held in jail, had his teaching certificate suspended, faces calls to resign from the House of Delegates and probably won’t be able to be replaced on general election ballots.
Delegate accused of seducing girl is jailed, loses teacher certification and can't be replaced on ballots - WV MetroNews
Elliott Pritt, the state delegate and school teacher charged with seducing a 15-year-old girl, is due in federal court for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday.
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Lawyers for Senator Jim Justice and his family are asking a judge overseeing a case over control of The Greenbrier Hotel to allow until August 7 to work out complexities like a casino license review, but it's not clear it will happen by then
Lottery reviews how big transaction could affect Greenbrier license, but might not hit court timetable - WV MetroNews
The casino license is under review because of a proposed $500 million financing transaction between the Justice family business network and the New York firm Kennedy Lewis Investment Management.
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A state delegate who is also a school teacher is being accused in federal court of seducing a 15-year-old girl. buff.ly/V5bD2Uq
State delegate who works as a teacher faces federal charges of seducing 15-year-old girl - WV MetroNews
A state delegate who is also a school teacher is being accused in federal court of seducing a 15-year-old girl. Delegate Elliott Pritt, a Republican from Fayette County, was charged with enticement…
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A federal judge hasn’t yet made a decision about a request by lawyers for The Greenbrier for more time to work on a potential $500 million deal to pay off debt, but the judge has asked the current debtholder, an affiliate of the Omni Hotels chain, for its take.
Judge asks Omni affiliate to respond to The Greenbrier's request for more time in court dispute - WV MetroNews
U.S. District Judge Frank Volk entered an order today directing the Omni affiliate White Sulphur Springs Holdings to submit its written response by Monday.
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The attorneys for The Greenbrier say more time is necessary to work through complications like the sheer size, regulatory oversight of the casino license and the finer details of a resulting joint venture.
Lawyers for The Greenbrier ask court to allow work toward $500 million deal's completion into August - WV MetroNews
Judge Frank Volk, who is overseeing a federal lawsuit over control of The Greenbrier, ordered a filing about where the financing deal stands by 8:30 a.m. today.
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Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that Carl Ayers, a veteran human services administrator with nearly 30 years of leadership experience, is starting as secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services.
Morrisey names a new secretary for the Department of Human Services - WV MetroNews
Carl Ayers, a veteran human services administrator with nearly 30 years of leadership experience, is starting as secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services.
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U.S. District Judge Frank Volk of the Southern District of West Virginia entered a show cause order Sunday telling lawyers for The Greenbrier to put in writing why the court should not move ahead with proceedings that have been delayed more than a month.
Federal judge orders an explanation of where $500 million financing deal stands in Greenbrier battle - WV MetroNews
Judge Frank Volk had indicated that any delay beyond July 16 would cause the court’s patience to grow thin.
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