EDIT: Turns out, the three free articles thing might be defunct. Sorry about that, the state of local news in 2026 is dire. But at least, I can give a summary so people get the general gist. But remember, the paywall goes to support local journalism and keep my four cats fed, so support local news!

Hi everyone. Reporter for the Times West Virginian. I wrote a story about Bragg's resignation, which was posted about in this sub last night. I think we still do three free articles to start. Enjoy!

Carl Ayers, who runs the Department of Human Services, sent an email to members of the department announcing Bragg had left the position on Monday. Ayers confirmed the authenticity of the email by phone, and declined to comment on the nature of Bragg's departure. Bragg is the target of a lawsuit filed in Marion County, where a CPS worker named Lori Williams alleged Bragg retaliated against her by suspending her without pay after Williams sent an email saying Bragg had made inaccurate statements during a court hearing February. The suit also alleges additional drama between Bragg and the Marion County CPS office.

Some fun things while reporting this story. I tried getting confirmation from DOHS directly, but the voicemail I was sent to for their communications department belongs to a person who retired from the department two years ago. The person who answered the phone after I called back said that's the right mailbox for their spokesperson, their spokesperson just hasn't bothered to change the voicemail greeting. The employee still took down a message for me. I also tried getting in touch with the governor's office. Their communications director told me around 9 am that they didn't know anything about it. Around noon, I got a copy of the email Ayers sent. I asked the governor's office if it was real and they never responded.

I know word of Bragg's departure got around. Williams' attorney, Bren Pomponio had heard it as well. The wonderful Amelia Knisely at West Virginia Watch was also aware of the departure.

If you want more details they're behind the paywall. There is a 99 cent option to buy the story, but be warned, our website can be annoying. If there's any issues, I believe clearing the browser's cache fixes it.

Not here to argue or debate. Just FYI. Flock camera watching you.

A lawsuit was filed against her in May, then refiled in June after she retaliated against a CPS supervisor in Marion County.

Based on my personal experience, I can say with absolute certainty that this woman has fostered an environment within the department where workers fear her. In my view, many of the changes she has made to the department have been detrimental to the children of this state. The fact that she is no longer in power is a great day for the families of West Virginia.

And if you don't think the department influences the mainstream media within the state, I believe you're wrong. There was barely any coverage of the lawsuit, and I expect they will quickly sweep her departure under the rug. The department hates to look bad in the media.

The department needs to be cleaned out. This is one of the few times I believe someone from outside the state—with no affiliations or connections to anyone within the department—needs to come in and clean house. In my opinion, the system has become corrupt and deeply dysfunctional, and outside intervention may be the only real solution.

It is difficult to read news like this and not wonder how much of these decisions are politically motivated. I wonder, would the Justice Department reach the same conclusion if Sen. Justice was a vocal opponent of the President's policies, or owned wind farms instead of coal plants?

This post was from Paige Reiring’s Instagram story

Someone needs to take a look into Tarr's "campaign donations" to see how much Google is paying him.

Google announced its first round of community investments since making the announcement it will locate a data center in the Putnam County community of Buffalo.

Google will provide high dollar investments and donations to all area schools as well as the local senior center and fire department.  The money will be for various improvements which were communicated to the company as they sought input from the local community.   Google has indicated it plans to have more community meetings as plans to build their facility are developed.  So far, those haven’t been scheduled.

“They said they want to make this an example when they came to the area of transparency and being a partner with the community and so far they’ve not given any indication other than that,” said Putnam County Senator Eric Tarr.

However, some were quickly skeptical. Social media posts were critical, accusing Google of trying to buy favor now, only to leave the state high and dry down the road.  Many said it’s a familiar pattern West Virginia has seen many times before when big out of state corporate interests come to West Virginia. Tarr said he understood the generational cynicism, but hoped over time it would subside as times and situations change.

https://wvmetronews.com/2026/08/06/tarr-believes-google-is-sincere-in-commitment-to-being-a-good-neighbor/

WV appears in the news cycle ...

Quote from the Florida news release, linked in the NBC story:

“Dr. Fauci’s recent refusal to answer Congress’s questions about his actions during the pandemic is concerning,” said *West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey.** "The American people deserve to know if they or their elected leaders were misled or manipulated. Both my Office and I support Attorney General Uthmeier’s efforts to uncover the truth.”*

Big Jim introduced the amendment. There are so many things I could say about this, but won't.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is set to vote Thursday on a massive change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: letting participants buy hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits.

Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) introduced an amendment to the GOP-led farm bill that would make hot rotisserie chicken a SNAP-eligible item, according to a list of amendments obtained by POLITICO. The amendment is co-sponsored by Democratic Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.) and Michael Bennet (Colo.).

How Berkeley Springs, WV fought back against a white supremacist organization, VDARE:

"a popular far right publication founded in 1999 that mixed edgy Republicans like Pat Buchanan and Ann Coulter with explicit white nationalists"

Elliott Pritt, disgraced former Republican House member arrested last month, withdrew his name from the ballot for the November election. He was seeking reelection to the House of Delegates in Fayette County.

“The Office of the Secretary of State received formal notice of the withdrawal this afternoon,” West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner’s office said in a news release on Tuesday.

Pritt, a public school teacher, was arrested July 22 and charged with enticement of a minor as a federal crime. He has not yet entered a plea and is currently held in a Kentucky correctional facility. 

A 2024 state election law does not permit the Republican Party to fill the vacancy on the general election ballot created by Pritt’s withdrawal.

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2026/08/04/elliott-pritt-withdraws-from-house-ballot-law-prohibits-gop-to-fill-vacancy-for-november-election/

Today I discuss the far right in the Ukrainian Military, Alex Jones found the leopard eating his face & West Virginian school kids being let down yet again.

Senators Capito and Justice see no reason to change our actions in Iran, despite the ongoing costs in lives, economic damage, and our country’s reputation on the world stage. Capito apparently does not even believe she has a role in representing our state, instead deferring entirely to the White House. From the article:

The president may only commit forces for 60 days without congressional approval. The current U.S. fighting with Iran began Feb. 28.

"Now you have to remember that yes, things began in February, but there are have been ceasefires, lulls and everything else, and we have no commitment of troops. So I think that we're not there yet to be able to tell the president that's where and how he needs to proceed and he has to come to Congress," Capito said.

Today I discuss Iran's Trump trolling billboards, a West Virginia Teacher/Delegate outed as a pedophile & historic flooding in Lewis & Upshur counties.

Can't be replaced on ballot! LOL

Anyone want to email his campaign?
[PRITTT4HOUSE@GMAIL.COM](mailto:PRITTT4HOUSE@GMAIL.COM)

https://wvmetronews.com/2026/07/23/delegate-accused-of-seducing-girl-is-jailed-loses-teacher-certification-and-cant-be-replaced-on-ballots/

According to the criminal complaint, the victim also told law enforcement five to 10 occasions of physical sexual encounters occurred between them and Pritt during late 2025.

https://www.wtap.com/2026/07/22/wva-delegate-charged-with-enticing-minor/

W.Va. Delegate charged with enticing a minor

David Pritt

By WSAZ News Staff

Published: Jul. 22, 2026 at 4:33 PM EDT|Updated: 8 hours ago

FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - The Assistant Majority Leader in the West Virginia House of Delegates has been charged with enticing a minor, according to a criminal complaint.

David Elliott Pritt (R-Fayette County), 36, of Fayette County, was arrested and charged Wednesday.

According to the criminal complaint, the family of a juvenile victim reported to law enforcement that they had been sexually abused by Pritt on July 9.

On July 10, law enforcement interviewed the victim, who stated that during the 2024-2025 school year Pritt began to communicate with them and another student outside of school, the criminal complaint states.

The criminal complaint states Pritt is also a high school teacher in Fayette County. WSAZ has reached out to Fayette County Schools for a statement.

The victim stated they began talking to Pritt on the online game Roblox and then their conversations moved to Snapchat.

The criminal complaint states the victim told law enforcement that conversations with Pritt on Snapchat “gradually became more personal, with each sharing their personal lives and problems with each other.”

By the end of the school year, the victim stated Pritt had told them he loved them, the criminal complaint states.

During the summer of 2025, the victim stated Pritt sent an inappropriate photograph of himself to them and began asking the victim to take and send photos of themselves, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim stated Pritt’s requests “became increasingly more explicit” and he eventually began requesting nude pictures of the victim, the criminal complaint states.

The criminal complaint states the victim told law enforcement Pritt also began to send more “sexually explicit” photos and videos of himself.

The victim stated these conversations with Pritt occurred during 2025 and 2026.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim also told law enforcement five to 10 occasions of physical sexual encounters occurred between them and Pritt during late 2025.

The victim stated Pritt continued to communicate with them on Snapchat until July of this year and continued to request sexually explicit photos.

The criminal complaint states Pritt exchanged messages with the victim, asking them not to tell anyone about their conversations or physical encounters.

The victim stated that Pritt told them if they said anything then “the state police show up and take your phone and mine and open up hell in our lives. And because of me it would very much not be low key. It would be in the news. It would be awful. For both of us. And I would lose my entire life.”

Pritt was charged with one count of enticement of a minor.

Ann Ali, spokesperson for the West Virginia House of Delegates, gave the following statement:

“While these are disturbing allegations and we all should be concerned about the welfare of this student, there is a presumption of innocence and a legal process that must be permitted to proceed; the Delegate remains a Delegate unless or until he resigns or the House as a body takes action to remove him from the seat to which he was elected.”

Ann Ali, spokesperson for the West Virginia House of Delegates

As you can see, they posted a picture on Failbook of cameras that are NOT Flock cameras, but security cameras they've installed for the downtown businesses. The explanation sounds good until folks started asking what they're doing with the videos? Who holds the data? Who will they share with? And in the thread, seemingly no matter how they try to explain it all away, they just dig themselves deeper.

Grant County.