Amelia Ferrell Knisely

Amelia Ferrell Knisely

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Amelia Ferrell Knisely is an investigative reporter at West Virginia Watch. Originally from Rand, she started her career in television news in her home state before moving to Nashville and reporting for The Tennessean. Amelia returned to West Virginia in 2019 through Report for America to write about poverty for the Charleston Gazette-Mail, where she documented the state’s 10,000 homeless students and growing child hunger problem. She went on to work at Mountain State Spotlight and West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Amelia’s work, which regularly focuses on child welfare, people with disabilities and social services, has won several national awards. She and her husband, Sean, have three daughters.

Bureau for Family Assistance commissioner latest to exit Morrisey administration
West Virginia

Bureau for Family Assistance commissioner latest to exit Morrisey administration

Oct 01, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Janie Cole is leaving her role as c ommissioner of the Bureau for Family Assistance in the Morrisey administration. Cole has a lengthy career overseeing programs related to children and families and has served as commissioner since 2023. She previously...
WV pays $4.4M in historic child abuse case after CPS didn’t rescue kids from slave-like conditions
West Virginia

WV pays $4.4M in historic child abuse case after CPS didn’t rescue kids from slavelike conditions

Oct 01, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Child victims in a gruesome abuse case have been awarded $4.4 million in a settlement with the state Department of Human Services due to Child Protective Services failures in the case. A white couple living in Sissonville, West Virginia, had...
WV Drug Czar Loyd resigns from Morrisey administration after leading state’s opioid response
West Virginia

WV Drug Czar Loyd resigns from Morrisey administration after leading state’s opioid response

Sep 30, 2026
Lori Kersey Amelia Ferrell Knisely
West Virginia Drug Czar Dr. Stephen Loyd has resigned from his role after about two years on the job, he confirmed to West Virginia Watch Tuesday. “I’m heartbroken,” Loyd said of leaving the role earlier this month. Loyd, an internal...
Children with autism struggling to access therapy; advocates call on WV leaders to address Medicaid
West Virginia

Children with autism struggling to access therapy; advocates call on WV leaders to address Medicaid

Sep 29, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Advocates for West Virginia children with autism are calling on state officials to address a significant shortage of behavioral therapists who provide services. The state’s Medicaid program, which reimburses behavioral therapists, pays providers at the lowest rate in the nation...
Morrisey’s plan for West Virginia Military Hall of Fame faces legal scrutiny
West Virginia

Morrisey’s plan for West Virginia Military Hall of Fame faces legal scrutiny

Sep 29, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Gov. Patrick Morrisey is hoping to finally get the state’s Military Hall of Fame up and running, but his administration’s draft rules for its operation fa ce legal scrutiny. Four years after lawmakers created the special hall of fame, Morrisey...
Former House leader Amy Summers writes children’s book with goal of helping harmed kids
West Virginia

Former House leader Amy Summers writes children’s book with goal of helping harmed kids

Sep 24, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Amy Summers, a former member of West Virginia House leadership, released a children’s book that draws on her personal life on the farm along with her time as a lawmaker trying to reform the state’s troubled foster care system. “Courageous...
WV Supreme Court considers lawmakers’ power over public education rules 
West Virginia

WV Supreme Court considers lawmakers’ power over public education rules 

Sep 22, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
The West Virginia Supreme Court is considering whether the Legislature has the ultimate authority over school board policies that govern public schools. A 2025 Republican-backed bill gave a group of lawmakers the authority to approve or reject education rules approved...
WV Republican House candidate under fire for comments about Black women, Muslims
West Virginia

WV Republican House candidate under fire for comments about Black women, Muslims

Sep 21, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Republican candidate Chris Clagett, who is running in Berkeley County for a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates, posted several racist posts on social media that targeted Black women and Muslims. Clagett is on the ballot in the...
‘Cash flying out the door’: Audit reveals many financial, inventory missteps in WV arts department
West Virginia

‘Cash flying out the door’: Audit reveals many financial, inventory missteps in WV arts department

Sep 18, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
The West Virginia Department of Tourism is correcting widespread financial mismanagement, including inappropriate cash-handling activities, that occurred within the Department of Arts, Culture and History. A new audit from the West Virginia Office of the Legislative Auditor revealed a litany...
Morrisey administration reveals more details on child deaths but key CPS information still missing
West Virginia

Morrisey administration reveals more details on child deaths but key CPS information still missing

Sep 17, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
After the lack of details on child welfare deaths drew sharp criticism from lawmakers, the Morrisey administration released more information about how children are dying in West Virginia. At least one of the children was in the state’s custody through...
Lawmakers told data centers could be key to improving WV water issues
West Virginia

Lawmakers told data centers could be key to improving WV water issues

Sep 16, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
A member of the Morrisey administration told lawmakers Tuesday that data centers can improve the water quality and infrastructure in West Virginia, where brown fluid, chemical smells and more have plagued residents turning on their taps — particularly in the...
State-funded college scholarship successfully tackling WV teacher shortage
West Virginia

State-funded college scholarship successfully tackling WV teacher shortage

Sep 15, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
There was good news at the state Capitol on Tuesday: a competitive college scholarship is having great success at recruiting and retaining passionate public school teachers in West Virginia. The Underwood Smith Teaching Scholarship requires recipients to teach in the...