AGP Executive Report

FDA Oversight in Brooke County: Barney’s Bakery, Inc. was the only company tied to a city associated with Brooke County to get an FDA inspection in 2025—and it drew a “No Action Indicated” result. Connectivity Pressure: A new push for better broadband keeps resurfacing, with West Virginia still struggling to deliver stable, modern speeds for rural homes and small businesses. Economic “Backyard Brawl”: Gov. Patrick Morrisey is leaning into an interstate competition with Virginia, pitching lower taxes and fewer rules to attract workers and employers. Data Centers & Power: State and developers are again debating the future of data centers in West Virginia, as the Bedington campus plan and broader infrastructure concerns move into focus. Skilled Trades Pipeline: A larger union training center in Nitro is expanding apprenticeship access for construction and welding careers. Public Safety: West Virginia’s Supreme Court is weighing whether the state’s religious freedoms law affects school vaccine opt-outs, while Parkersburg investigators continue a probe into a fatal police-involved shooting. Gas Prices Watch: Week ending May 9 data shows regular gas in Cabell County hitting a low of $4.19 per gallon, with statewide averages still elevated.

Republican Unity Push: U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito is urging West Virginia GOP unity after a nasty primary, saying the negativity has to stop now that the race is moving to November. Voter-List Legal Fight: The DOJ is asking a federal judge to reject a motion to dismiss its case seeking unredacted voter registration files from the state’s election office. Courts & Compliance: A Randolph County man accused of failing to register as a sex offender cleared probable cause and heads to the grand jury. School Health Clash: Families seeking religious vaccination exemptions are arguing the state’s religious freedoms law should apply to the school vaccine rules, pointing to a “kaleidoscope” of other opt-outs. Workforce & Training: A new union training center in Nitro is expanding paid apprenticeship access for construction and skilled trades. Energy & Prices: Gas is still volatile statewide, with recent local lows reported for regular, midgrade, and diesel in multiple counties. Community & Culture: Tom Ott, a Follansbee artist, was featured at Lewisburg’s Carnegie Hall art walk, and WVU wrapped Spring Commencement Weekend with 3,600+ graduates.

Historic Rail Update: A look back at the 1986 Great Dismal Swamp derailment: the steam locomotive 611 left Norfolk with 1,000 passengers and guests, derailed near Suffolk, and injured more than 150 people as responders rushed in to a remote scene. Housing Pressure: A new NAHB analysis says 65% of U.S. households can’t afford newly built homes, with affordability gaps worst in states where more than 80% are priced out. Gas Tax Fight: In Charleston, Democrats are pushing for a special session and a 30-day suspension of West Virginia’s gas tax while prices stay high, arguing Iran-linked conflict is driving costs. Health Watch: WVU Medicine is marking Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, urging West Virginians to recognize symptoms early and get trigger-specific care. Local Business & Training: West Virginia American Water opened a new training facility in Nitro to expand hands-on workforce development. Scam Alert: The WV AG is warning residents about a spike in common frauds, including Medicare scams, phishing, robocalls, DMV text scams, and fake court notices.

Data Center Debate: A West Virginia House candidate lost after an assistant held up a “No Data Center” sign—sparking a push for coexistence and regulation instead of blanket bans, with one argument tying “made in America” production to jobs and national security. Energy & Prices: Drivers saw continued volatility at the pump: Lewis County’s lowest E15 hit $3.33/gal (week ending May 9) and Wood County’s lowest E85 was $3.79/gal; Cabell midgrade bottomed at $4.53/gal. Consumer Watch: The WV AG warned of scam surges in April, led by Medicare fraud, phishing, robocalls, DMV text scams, and fake court notices. Local Business/Health: In Monongalia County, two FDA inspections in April were logged as “No Action Indicated” for a drugs firm and an ice company. Sports/Community: Williamstown’s boys tennis team finished runner-up after a hip injury shifted the championship “what ifs.”

Miner Safety Under Fire: A new report says Trump-era cuts at MSHA are leaving active and retired miners facing bigger health and safety risks, including delays tied to a silica-dust rule meant to curb black lung. Consumer Watch: West Virginia AG McCuskey’s Consumer Protection Division is warning residents about a fresh wave of scams—Medicare fraud, phishing, robocalls, DMV text traps, and fake court notices. Gas Prices Check: Drivers in Greenbrier County saw the week’s lowest premium at $4.26/gal (May 9), while statewide averages stayed high—premium at $5.22/gal and volatile fuel markets remain tied to global oil uncertainty. Local Infrastructure: Wheeling’s Downtown Streetscape Project is nearing completion, with final resurfacing work expected to run into late May. Data Center Debate: In the Eastern Panhandle, state and developers discussed the proposed Bedington Data Center campus, focusing on power, water use, and community concerns. Sports & Community: WVU kicked off Spring Commencement Weekend, and a WVU water tower “Flying WV” lighting ceremony marked the campus milestone.

Waste & City Services: Parkersburg will start trash service July 1 under a temporary contract with Waste Management, while a possible referendum over the deal is still unresolved; residents keep the $21 monthly sanitation fee and get a 96-gallon cart at no charge. WVU Commencement: WVU’s May 2026 Commencement Weekend kicked off with more than 600 graduates at Friday ceremonies, and the restored Flying WV water tower lit up as part of the “Welcome Home Tour.” Energy Costs & Rates: Appalachian Power customers are appealing a PSC order that would raise bills via an “experimental inflation-based” rate mechanism, as other coverage highlights how fuel and power prices keep climbing. Opioid Litigation: The 4th Circuit backed Express Scripts’ push for a jury trial in a West Virginia opioid-related case. AI Power Pressure: A new report says wholesale power prices in the PJM region jumped about 76% as AI data centers strain capacity. Local Growth & Training: Greenbrier County Schools won a statewide industry workforce development award, and Greene County approved a CMU-backed grant to expand on-demand transportation.

Utility Rate Fight: Appalachian Power customers have appealed a West Virginia PSC order that would let the company raise bills using an “experimental inflation-based” mechanism and added surcharges, arguing the increases lack clear support and could lead to disconnections. Gas Watch: Prices stayed volatile across the state in the week ending May 9, with regular lows like $4.19 in Clay County and $4.29 in Ritchie County, while midgrade and premium deals ranged from the mid-$4s to about $5-plus. Federal Voting Case: The DOJ is pushing to access unredacted West Virginia voter registration files, setting up a legal fight over federal authority and state privacy rules. Public Health/Policy: A new push for more personalized OPAT monitoring is challenging one-size-fits-all lab testing for patients on long-term antibiotics. Politics: GOP primaries remain contentious, with conservatives battling conservatives as national party support shifts.

Energy & Cost Pressure: West Virginia gas prices stayed jumpy this week, with AAA putting regular at about $5.52 a gallon Thursday and lawmakers tying the squeeze to the Iran-linked oil situation and household hit from fuel, groceries, and power bills. Local Fuel Watch: GasBuddy’s weekly reports show the lowest regular deals in several counties, including $4.19 in Ritchie and Gilmer, $4.29 in Ritchie, and $3.86 in Wyoming—while diesel in Preston County hit $5.58. Workforce Pipeline: Hope Gas and Logan County Schools launched “Hope Pathways,” letting students earn energy-sector certifications at the Ralph R. Willis CTE center starting next school year. Public Safety Funding: Hancock County commissioners approved nearly $900,000 in opioid settlement money for six groups, including ambulances and sheriff’s office upgrades. Politics: GOP “grudge matches” in state races were settled in the latest primaries, with Morrisey-affiliated spending helping some incumbents while others lost. Courts & Tech: Sam Altman’s OpenAI ties are back in focus as court filings show he holds stakes in companies that did business with OpenAI amid conflict-of-interest claims.

Gas Watch: In the week ending May 9, Hardy County hit its lowest reported E15 price at $3.89/gal (regular hit $4.29 in the same reporting cycle), while Brooke County’s lowest E15 was $3.96/gal—a reminder that prices are still bouncing around as global oil markets react to uncertainty tied to Iran. Food & Weather: A spring freeze is still rippling through the region’s fruit crops, with growers describing a multi-stage cold snap that arrived after misleading warmth and left many buds already too far along. Digital Crime: Police say online child exploitation is spreading fast—so fast they can’t keep up—highlighting how investigators are tracing offenders across platforms. Energy & Industry: Sandvik and Alpha Metallurgical Resources announced a $25M West Virginia manufacturing push expected to create at least 120 jobs, aimed at mining ground-support components. Local Services: Crittenton Services broke ground on two cottage-style homes in Wheeling to expand housing for pregnant teens and young mothers.

OpenAI Conflict Fight: Sam Altman’s reported stake in more than $2 billion worth of companies that did business with OpenAI is back in the spotlight as Musk’s lawsuit and state AG scrutiny continue. Energy & Jobs: Sandvik and Alpha Metallurgical Resources plan a $25 million West Virginia manufacturing facility in Putnam County, targeting at least 120 jobs. Power Plant Progress: Mon Power and Potomac Edison are moving forward with a new combined-cycle gas plant near Morgantown, pending PSC approval. Local Construction Watch: Crews are demolishing a Juliana Street Bridge ramp in Parkersburg as part of a nearly $17.6 million replacement project. Waste Fees: Pocahontas County Solid Waste Authority voted to raise Green Box fees to $260 per year for 2026-27. Community & Health: WVU Extension kicks off statewide listening sessions, and Crittenton Services broke ground on two cottage-style homes for young mothers. Legal/Eligibility: NCAA says a preliminary injunction has mooted WVU players’ eligibility suit. Gas Prices: GasBuddy reports E15 and diesel remain volatile statewide, with some counties seeing sharp week-to-week swings.

Manufacturing Push: Sandvik and Alpha Metallurgical Resources are planning a $25M, 100,000-square-foot West Virginia manufacturing site, targeting rock bolt and resin capsule production and at least 120 jobs—another move to deepen the U.S. mining supply chain. Public Safety & Tech: INL, WVU, and Summit Point Training Facility are teaming up on drone/counter-drone work for national security, using 8,000 square miles of test airspace. Energy Watch: Gas prices stay jumpy—premium and E85 deals were spotted in multiple counties in the week ending May 2, but statewide averages remain higher than last week. Politics: U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito won the GOP Senate nod, while state Senate District 1 incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman also secured her nomination. Community Notes: A federal judge, John T. Copenhaver Jr., died at 100, marking the end of a decades-long West Virginia judicial career.

Election Results: U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito cruised to the GOP Senate nomination Tuesday, with the AP calling the race shortly after polls closed; Capito said voters “sent a clear message” and credited Trump’s endorsement. Local Politics: In the Northern Panhandle, Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman won the GOP nod for Senate District 1, setting up a November matchup with Democrat Shawn Fluharty. Energy & Rates: Appalachian Power’s approved 4% base rate hike takes effect June 1, adding about $4.84 a month for a typical residential customer; meanwhile, the grid operator PJM is already planning for another hotter-than-normal summer. Data Centers & Power: Google announced a 15-year solar deal tied to its Texas data center expansion, as Matagorda County residents keep pushing back. Workforce & Education: West Virginia State University held spring commencement, including its first doctoral graduates. Public Safety/Compliance: West Virginia AG Gentner Drummond urged EPA to tighten security around a proposed chemical facility database.

Utility Rates: Appalachian Power’s approved base-rate hike takes effect June 1, pushing the average West Virginia residential bill up about $4.84 a month (4% residential/commercial, 2.5% industrial). Election Day Buzz: West Virginia voters head to the polls Tuesday in a crowded GOP primary, with turnout reportedly rising in the final days of early voting. Primary Watch: Tuesday’s races also include Nebraska’s high-stakes GOP/independent showdowns, setting up a tougher midterm fight. Health & Courts: A Supreme Court fight over mail-order abortion pills keeps heating up, with multiple states—including West Virginia—backing Louisiana’s effort to restrict remote mifepristone distribution. Tech & Power: Comcast is asking the FCC to step in again, claiming Appalachian Power is violating a pole-replacement order. Energy & Cost Pressure: Gas prices remain volatile as the Iran conflict drags on, while oilfield employment hits its lowest level since 2022. Food Safety: Giant Eagle recalled multiple roasted turkey items due to possible metal fragments.

Court Fight: Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s attorneys urged the West Virginia Supreme Court to uphold his executive order creating a religious vaccine-exemption pathway, arguing state religious-freedom law controls even if the exemption process isn’t spelled out in code. Election Watch: West Virginia voters headed to the polls Tuesday, with early voting up more than 8% statewide versus 2022 after a slow start. Healthcare & Construction: Wheeling’s planning commission approved the final site plan for the $122M WVU Cancer Institute St. Joseph Regional Cancer Complex, clearing the way for construction soon. Energy & Schools: Ohio County Schools’ energy upgrades are projected to have saved $4.6M over six years, beating guaranteed savings. Legal/Business: Attorneys for Sen. Jim Justice asked a federal judge to pause a Greenbrier Resort dispute while related state litigation plays out. Energy Prices: Gas prices stayed volatile as oil markets react to the Iran conflict, with local reports showing some counties’ lowest premium and diesel deals hovering around the high-$4s and mid-$5s.

Middle East Tensions: Iran says it has deployed domestically built Ghadir-class midget submarines in the Strait of Hormuz, a move meant to pressure shipping and complicate U.S. Navy operations. Gas Prices Watch: In West Virginia, E85 and diesel deals are still popping up in pockets—Mineral County’s lowest E85 hit $3.38 (week ending May 2) and Marshall County’s lowest diesel was $5.36—while statewide averages remain elevated as oil-market jitters tied to the Iran conflict keep volatility high. Energy & Utilities: A new regional coalition is forming to hold AEP accountable over repeated rate hikes and profits, with groups across Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and California pushing for affordable power and less monopoly control. Local Business: Mountain Table is expanding with a mobile food truck, “Wild Vittles,” bringing its farm-to-table model to festivals and events. Science Spotlight: The NSF Green Bank Telescope is getting a critical repainting/maintenance milestone this summer, with West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito calling it a cornerstone for U.S. space science. Health Care Cost Pressure: A new report says West Virginia hospitals charge commercial insurers among the highest rates in the country.

Over the last 12 hours, West Virginia coverage was dominated by practical, local “cost and community” items rather than a single breaking statewide event. Multiple reports used GasBuddy data to highlight where drivers could find the lowest fuel prices in specific counties during the week ending May 2—covering premium, regular, midgrade, and diesel in places including Fayette, Braxton, Cabell, Preston, Brooke, and Mingo. The underlying theme across these price posts is that statewide averages remained elevated (e.g., West Virginia’s premium average reported at $5.01 for the week ending May 2), with an explanation tied to volatile global oil conditions and shipping risk.

The same 12-hour window also included local civic and public-service updates. Wheeling’s Downtown Streetscape Project is moving into its final phase, with paving of remaining sections expected to begin next week (including work around 16th, Eoff, and Chapline streets). In education and health, coverage pointed to efforts to support students’ behavioral health needs through teacher-focused training/partnerships, and to West Virginia University’s academic momentum: four WVU students received National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, with one recipient’s work focused on climate resiliency for farmers using data science.

Politics and governance appeared in the last 12 hours as well, but in a more routine election-prep format. One story described a three-way race for the West Virginia House of Delegates District 14 nominations (three Republicans and three Democrats competing in primaries). Another profile covered a contested Republican House seat race in Weirton (District 2), contrasting incumbent Mark Zatezalo’s experience with challenger Tony Viola’s priorities around infrastructure and jobs.

Looking beyond the immediate window, the broader week’s coverage shows continuity in two areas: energy and federal policy impacts. Several items in the 3-to-7-days range and earlier discussed how national decisions could affect West Virginia industries and costs—for example, House action that would criminalize greyhound racing nationwide (with West Virginia’s remaining tracks potentially affected), and ongoing attention to electricity/grid and fuel-cost pressures. However, the most recent evidence in the provided material is sparse on any single major West Virginia-specific policy shift, so the current news cycle reads more like localized updates and sector-by-sector developments than one overarching turning point.