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.

Child abuse case involving Hope Scholarship students illuminates oversight challenges in WV
West Virginia

Child abuse case involving Hope Scholarship students illuminates oversight challenges in WV

Oct 20, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
A Kanawha County child abuse case involving students using the Hope Scholarship poses questions about how public schools can follow up on thousands of students using the program, including children missing school and in potentially dangerous situations. Public schools like...
WV native teaching next generation about products made in state, bringing supply chain back home
West Virginia

WV native teaching next generation about products made in state, bringing supply chain back home

Oct 19, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
A West Virginia native with expertise in trade operations is taking his passion to state college campuses, hoping to connect the upcoming workforce with skills to bring supply chains back home. There’s a goal, too, of keeping more students in...
Judge disciplined for speaking about harmful CPS staffing shortage takes case to WV Supreme Court
West Virginia

Judge disciplined for speaking about harmful CPS staffing shortage takes case to WV Supreme Court

Oct 15, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
West Virginia Supreme Court justices heard arguments Wednesday about a judge who pushed back on his discipline for speaking out about critical Child Protective Services shortages in his judicial district. Third Circuit Judge Tim Sweeney was admonished by the West...
WV school leaders unveil new school funding formula with hope Legislature will consider it
West Virginia

WV school leaders unveil new school funding formula with hope Legislature will consider it

Oct 14, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
As more schools across West Virginia say they’ll close their doors, the state school board unveiled a robust school funding formula overhaul that they hope lawmakers will consider. Debate over the school funding formula is expected to be a leading...
PAC linked to Senate President Smith spends against Democrats challenging ‘Team Randy’ members
West Virginia

PAC linked to Senate President Smith spends against Democrats challenging ‘Team Randy’ members

Oct 14, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Three weeks ahead of Election Day, a political action committee linked to Senate President Randy Smith is spending big opposing two Democratic candidates who could knock off Republican members of “Team Randy.” The Senate is in a precarious place after...
WV House Democrats again ask Morrisey, GOP colleagues to suspend gas tax after no movement on issue
West Virginia

WV House Democrats again ask Morrisey, GOP colleagues to suspend gas tax after no movement on issue

Oct 13, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
West Virginia House Democrats are again asking Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Republican lawmakers to address high gas prices by suspending the state’s gas tax. So far this year, the minority party’s attempts to work with Republicans on the fuel tax...
Drug testing of TANF recipients will continue in WV; low number of positive screenings
West Virginia

Drug testing of TANF recipients will continue in WV; low number of positive screenings

Oct 13, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
West Virginia will continue drug testing adult recipients for a federal welfare program that helps low income families pay for food, utilities and other day-to-day necessities. Less than 1% of the 23,351 people who applied for Temporary Assistance for Needy...
Todd Johnston, head of WV energy development and competitiveness, exits Morrisey administration
West Virginia

Todd Johnston, head of WV energy development and competitiveness, exits Morrisey administration

Oct 08, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Todd Johnston is no longer with the Morrisey administration. He had served under the governor in two roles: deputy chief of staff and director of the state’s energy, infrastructure and competitiveness. Johnston confirmed his exit on Thursday in a phone...
Parents in Wallback work to open Clay County’s only childcare center
West Virginia

Parents in Wallback work to open Clay County’s only childcare center

Oct 08, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Clay County now has its only childcare center after parents worked together to get a facility certified and opened. The rural county lost its only childcare center four months ago, leaving families with no local options. Some parents were forced...
Mothers told they can’t receive WV childcare assistance and operate an LLC
West Virginia

Mothers told they can’t receive WV childcare assistance and operate an LLC

Oct 07, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Melissa Pearson owns and operates a cleaning business in Wheeling, West Virginia, where her team focuses on customer satisfaction while scrubbing and tidying homes and commercial properties. A mom of two daughters, Pearson built Ready Set Clean from the ground...
New polling shows Morrisey at 31-45% approval; it could affect Republican candidates this fall
West Virginia

New polling shows Morrisey at 31-45% approval; it could affect Republican candidates this fall

Oct 05, 2026
Amelia Ferrell Knisely
Election polling time is hot, and while Gov. Patrick Morrisey isn’t on the ballot this year, numbers in some key Senate districts reveal the governor is underwater in popularity. Morrisey, a Republican, has been in office for roughly 21 months...
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...