The formal changing of the guard in West Virginia’s Congressional delegation took place this week in Washington with the “swearing-in” of  U.S. Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV),  incumbent Congressman David McKinley (R-1st District) and freshmen Congressmen Evan Jenkins (R-3rd District) and Alex Mooney (R-2nd District).  Capito is the first woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia and the first Republican in more than 50 years.

West Virginia's longest-serving governor, Arch A. Moore Jr. died January 7th in Charleston at age 91 just one day after his daughter, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, was sworn into office.

Moore, a Marshall County native, launched his life in politics at age 28 and was married for 65 years to the late Shelley Riley Moore, who died in September 2014. The Moores were parents to Shelley Moore Capito, Lucy Moore Durbin and Arch III. 

STRATTON STREET — With Christmas right around the corner, many local military and coal mining families are feeling the pressures of the holidays instead of the Christmas Spirit. However, the Friends of Coal Ladies’ Auxiliary, an organization with about 5,000 members throughout the coalfields that works year-round to promote awareness about the positive aspects of the coal industry, to educate the public about the industry, and to work on projects that support veterans, visited Logan County on Tuesday to act as “Santa’s Helpers.”

The Ladies’ Auxiliary brought toys, clothes and two weeks of food for 13 local families during their Giving Hearts operation. They took base in the Shriner’s Lodge located on Stratton Street. The Shriner’s donated the use of the building for free as their contribution to the project.      

West Virginia’s delegation to the U.S. Senate will be sitting on several key committees when the new Congress takes its seats in January.

Incoming Senator Shelley Capito has been appointed to serve on the all-important Appropriations Committee, as well as the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

According to the latest report from the Energy Information Agency (EIA), coal production in the United States rose by 1.8 million tons for the week ending December 13, compared to the same time last year. Production for the week stood at 19.8 million tons compared to 18 million tons in 2013.  Year-to-date, production was also up slightly, to 944.6 million tons from 939 million tons in 2013.

This increase was reflected in the number of rail car loadings, which saw an increase of 7.5% for the week over the same period last year. Rail car loadings were also up 0.2% year-to-date.