Observer Weekly

Observer Weekly February 5, 2026 Jefferson County, WV news & events The state legislature is chugging away in Charleston. This week we’re highlighting changes to the rules that will guide the new data projects that the state hopes to attract. According to several state legislators, we should expect to hear announcements about several projects in the next couple of months (none that we’ve heard of in Jefferson County so far). Closer to home, the Department of Homeland Security reported that...

Observer Weekly January 29, 2026 Jefferson County, WV news & events The snow and cold certainly slowed things down this week in Jefferson County. The winter weather hit Charleston too, but it slowed the legislature down for just one day, with a flurry of bills filed this week that propose updates to the microgrid and data center legislation passed last year. By the end of the week the Governor was on the road as well, making another move in the battle over cuts to the personal income tax...

Observer Weekly January 22, 2026 Jefferson County, WV news & events We’re preparing, along with everyone else, for the big snowstorm heading across the country this weekend. If you’re looking for weather information or need to contact local government agencies or utility companies, we’ve published a helpful list on our website. In this issue we’re introducing our first Charles Town Snapshot - a focused look at what’s happening in our county seat. Stay safe and warm. — Steve Pearson If you...

Observer Weekly January 15, 2026 Jefferson County, WV news & events The 2026 legislative session started yesterday in Charleston and we’ve started to look at the legislation that’s being introduced (it’s a long list). The news this week reminded me of how long The Observer has been covering some of these stories — the Middleway bottling plant since 2024 and the Birdhill Meadows subdivision since 2021. We’re also trying something new this week with our “Shepherdtown Snapshot.” Let us know if...

Observer Weekly January 8, 2026 Jefferson County, WV news & events The Governor and state legislators are heading to Charleston next week to open the 2026 legislative session. The House of Delegates wants to talk about investing for job creation and the Governor wants to talk about tax cuts. Nobody wants to talk about funding cuts. We’ll be following these conversations over the next two months, so stay tuned. In the meantime, stay healthy! — Steve Pearson If you value local journalism,...

Observer Weekly January 1, 2026 Jefferson County, WV news & events For our first story of the year, we take a look at the key issues likely to dominate the County Commission’s discussions as it works on next year’s budget. We’ve also been tracking several local utility rate cases now under review by the WV Public Service Commission. In today’s story, we break down how two different methods of setting water and sewer rates work — and what they could mean for customers’ monthly bills. — Steve...

Observer Weekly December 24, 2025 Jefferson County, WV news & events In today’s issue, we look back at 2025 and share ideas for local, last-minute gifts. For The Observer, a 2025 highlight was being voted Best Small Local Newspaper in WV Living’s Best of West Virginia awards. If you enjoy our weekly publication, consider forwarding it to a friend or two — it’s free, thoughtful, and a personal recommendation from a reader is one of the best ways to support independent local journalism. Warm...