Charlie Roth

Today is my first day as an investigative reporter at @WSAZnews! I’m excited to get started and serve this community. Please reach out with any tips and story pitches – my inbox is always open: charlie.roth@wsaz.com

About to begin — DOE announcement of a new power generation plant and data center at its Portsmouth site in Pike County, in partnership with Japanese company SoftBank. Secretaries Wright, Burgum, and Lutnick set to appear. Live-streaming on @WSAZnews, and story at 5 and 6

After nearly 100 years, CBS News Radio is being dissolved, per a note from Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski to CBS staff today

When it comes to West Virginia's support for drinking water quality improvements, the numbers haven't added up. After West Virginia’s 60-day regular legislative session for 2026 that ended Saturday, they still don’t. wvgazettemail.com/news/legislati…

Gov. Morrisey signed GOP bill increasing penalties for human trafficking and smuggling in WV. The legislation also changes the state definition of human smuggling to penalize transporting and harboring an undocumented person to avoid law enforcement. westvirginiawatch.com/2026/03/19/mor…

Bill adds commissioners to focus on overwhelming number of child welfare cases in WV courts   westvirginiawatch.com/2026/03/19/bil…

Alex Mayer, who just left state government, appears to have started as a director with a company called Guidehouse. Last year, The West Virginia Department of Human Services paid $348,000 for Guidehouse to facilitate a foster care listening tour. buff.ly/uX2wdrT

“It was not a great session,” said Dale Lee, co-president of Education West Virginia. "This was my most disappointing session,” said Senate Education Chairwoman Amy Nichole Grady. buff.ly/Gy8cJMg

BREAKING — Marshall to reinstate swimming, diving team – more tonight at 4, 5 and 6 on @WSAZnews wsaz.com/2026/03/18/mar…

“I think in that moment, I just realized what was going to happen and the ramifications of that for some kids in our state, what could potentially happen while we have to wait another year to try to do something." buff.ly/DSNhTuZ

BREAKING — Cabell County Schools announces new superintendent: Keith Thomas, currently the district’s Director of Health, Wellness, and Student Support Services, and a former principal at several schools in the district. He will begin July 1. More to come tonight on @WSAZnews

As the legislative session wrapped up, senators honored Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel (D-Cabell), one of two Democrats in the Senate, for his 12 years of service as a senator. Woelfel is retiring at the end of his term in December @mawtrout wsaz.com/2026/03/17/wva…

@Lisa_Asillie HB 4001, which would have created the TEAM-WV corporation, died in Senate Finance wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bi…

We just got one of these, didn’t we? Did we think to put some guard rails on the positions?

I did a good deal of affordable housing coverage while covering the town of Princeton for @princetonian for four years. Another side of this: as home values go up, the town’s historically black population has been priced out. My investigation: dailyprincetonian.com/article/2023/1…

New: While House members criticize running clock out on Raylee’s Law, Speaker Roger Hanshaw offers no explanation. I called House members to get their take on the chaotic final hour. "I can't get behind dirty politics like that," said a Republican member. westvirginiawatch.com/2026/03/17/wv-…

Lawmakers were crying and hitting their heads on their desks, as Raylee's Law failed to pass at the deadline after a fiery and chaotic debate wsaz.com/2026/03/17/sha…

Gov. Morrisey on Raylee's Law just now: “I’m a big believer that when you have evidence of a crime you investigate it. I’m also a believer that you need due process. So you don’t make decisions or take away people’s rights before you actually have that evidence of a crime.”

Putnam Del. Kathie Hess Crouse noted on facebook that Raylee’s law was not sent to the House until 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. That is NOT accurate. As Sen. Amy Nichole Grady pointed out, the Senate passed the bill Friday night; the House had it early Saturday morning.

LET’S DANCE! The No. 9 seeded Tigers will take on No. 8 seeded @OSUWBB in the UCLA quad on Saturday! #GetStops 🐯🏀 | @MarchMadnessWBB

ICYMI: Raylee’s Law did not make it across the finish line last night. Bill sponsor @WVUFLU shares his thoughts in a passionate speech.

Lawmakers, in the last hours of the regular session, wound up not having to ramp up to any kind of overrides. buff.ly/w28e1vS