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.

Morrisey administration will expand childcare subsidy eligibility to include parents with LLCs
West Virginia

Morrisey administration will expand childcare subsidy eligibility to include parents with LLCs

6:00am ET
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
West Virginia will soon allow eligible parents who operate small businesses through an LLC to qualify for the childcare assistance program. The Morrisey administration’s change to a long-standing policy comes after West Virginia Watch detailed how the rule prevented low-income...
WV House, Senate Democrats want AG opinion on Auditor Hunt’s actions after WV Watch investigation 
West Virginia

WV House, Senate Democrats want AG opinion on Auditor Hunt’s actions after WV Watch investigation 

Nov 10, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate have jointly requested that West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey issue an opinion on whether state Auditor Mark Hunt followed the law in executing deeds for delinquent tax properties. In their request...
Childcare providers, lawmakers frustrated as department hasn’t followed new law; funding a concern
West Virginia

Childcare providers, lawmakers frustrated as department hasn’t followed new law; funding a concern

Nov 10, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Lawmakers’ hallmark childcare bill still hasn’t been implemented, drawing frustration from childcare providers and legislators. The state Department of Human Services is more than three months behind on some key deadlines put in the legislation by lawmakers, calling it an...
$410 million needed to stabilize WV public school finances, education officials tell lawmakers
West Virginia

$410 million needed to stabilize WV public school finances, education officials tell lawmakers

Nov 09, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
The West Virginia Department of Education says it will take a $410 million increase in state aid for public schools to meet needs in special education, enrollment stabilization, personnel and more. Almost half of that dollar amount would be put...
WV Democratic Party calls for immediate investigation of Auditor Mark Hunt
West Virginia

McCuskey pushes back on Auditor Hunt’s claim; WV Democratic Party calls for immediate investigation

Nov 09, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
JB McCuskey, former state auditor, said he “won’t sit idly by” and allow current Auditor Mark Hunt, under scrutiny for his actions, to disparage employees in the state’s land division. A West Virginia Watch investigation published Sunday found that Hunt...
WV Auditor raises eyebrows after signing tax deeds for a friend 
West Virginia

WV Auditor raises eyebrows after signing tax deeds for a friend 

Nov 08, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely Henry Culvyhouse
Two state lawmakers are raising questions after the state auditor appears to have stepped in to fix a deed issue for a friend. The West Virginia state auditor is the state’s bookkeeper and responsible for rooting out fraud, waste and...
Changes for WV childcare subsidy program likely in 2027 as Morrisey, lawmakers eye pricetag
West Virginia

Changes for WV childcare subsidy program likely in 2027 as Morrisey, lawmakers eye pricetag

Nov 06, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
A program used by thousands of working parents in West Virginia to pay for childcare could see changes next year. The state pays for the childcare subsidy program through federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families dollars, an anti-poverty program under...
Democratic women gain 8 seats in the House, moving the needle in the male-dominated chamber
West Virginia

Democratic women gain 8 seats in the House, moving the needle in the male-dominated chamber

Nov 05, 2026
Lori Kersey Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Democratic women made strides in West Virginia on Election Day, winning eight seats in the House of Delegates. West Virginia’s Legislature has the fewest number of women lawmakers, with just 12 Republican and Democratic women serving in the House. In...
Sen. Justice, mulling WV governor run, will soon be in Senate minority caucus after election results
West Virginia

Sen. Justice, mulling WV governor run, will soon be in Senate minority caucus after election results

Nov 04, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., wasn’t on the ballot this election, but the blue tsunami that blew out midterm elections will put him in the minority party in the Senate. Democrats ousted Republicans and seized control of the U.S. Senate on...
GOP stronghold remains in WV Senate, but Democrats flip seats to gain 4 members
West Virginia

GOP stronghold remains in WV Senate, but Democrats flip seats to total of 4 members

Nov 04, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
While the state Senate remains firmly under GOP control, Democratic candidates won three seats in the Upper Chamber. Their wins included flipping two seats to Blue in areas with West Virginia’s last Democratic strongholds. Nineteen Senate seats were on ballots...
Shelley Moore Capito secures third term as US Senator on Election Day 
West Virginia

Shelley Moore Capito secures third term as US Senator

Nov 03, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will continue serving in the U.S. Senate after the election was called by the Associated Press in her favor about an hour after polls closed. Capito secured 57% of the votes counted, according to the...
Former delegate to plead guilty in child rape case
West Virginia

Former delegate to plead guilty in child rape case

Nov 03, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely Henry Culvyhouse
A disgraced, former assistant majority leader in the House of Delegates is expected to plead guilty in federal court to charges relating to the sexual assault of a teenager. Lawyers for David “Elliott” Pritt, 36, filed Tuesday for motion to...