Amelia Ferrell Knisely, a journalist for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, was reportedly told to stop reporting on the Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) in the state after leaders of the agency "threatened to discredit" the publicly funded television and radio network.

Knisely later learned that her part-time position was being eliminated.

Knisely's stories had detailed alleged mistreatment of people with disabilities under DHHR care. After Knisely's departure from WVPB was first reported, both Republican Senate President Craig Blair and Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin called the circumstances around her departure "disturbing."

Pushkin said Knisely's coverage of "the glaring issues at DHHR" was "detailed, in depth, and most importantly true."

Knisely's departure comes amid a tumultuous time for West Virginia media, with three reporters for the Charleston Gazette-Mail being fired after publicly criticizing an editorial decision by their company president.

These departures leave a diminished capitol press corps to cover the upcoming legislative session, which begins on January 11.