radioNOVO News WV News Roundup for July 27, 2026

Good morning. Leading off in state political news, Fayette County Delegate Elliott Pritt is due in federal court in Charleston today following his arrest on federal child exploitation charges. Governor Patrick Morrisey announced he will meet with House and Senate leaders to formally call a special session to expel Pritt from the legislature. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw has already delivered a petition to the governor signed by more than eighty delegates requesting the August session.In disaster recovery news, Governor Morrisey is formally petitioning the federal government for a Major Disaster Declaration following last week's severe storms, tornadoes, and flash flooding. The request covers seven hard-hit counties—including Barbour, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, and Upshur. State authorities have also released the identities of the two flood victims found inside a submerged vehicle in Stonecoal Lake, identifying them as fifty-nine-year-old Judy Young and sixty-one-year-old James Harper.In infrastructure news, state transportation officials report that ongoing resurfacing on the Chester Bridge has been temporarily halted. Crews discovered unexpected structural defects under the roadway, forcing engineers to pause paving operations on the bridge, which has now been closed for over a year. In traffic and infrastructure news, drivers traveling near Institute should prepare for delays starting today. The State Department of Transportation is closing the eastbound slow lane of Route Twenty-Five near the Interstate Sixty-Four entrance ramp for up to sixty days. Crews are relocating utility lines to make room for a new five-point-four-million-dollar roundabout project.In Kanawha County, law enforcement is investigating an act of criminal sabotage at an Optimum network facility in Saint Albans. Thieves severely damaged critical infrastructure, triggering a widespread weekend internet outage for thousands of local residents.And in Cabell County, an overwhelming show of community support flooded the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter after a Facebook plea for dog treats generated thousands of donations from local residents and online supporters within hours.For complete news coverage across the Mountain State, download the radioNOVO app. I’m Codi Gaboff, radioNOVO News, a service of Seven Mountains Media.