CHARLESTON — With the Senate no closer to a deal to keep the federal government funded and the shutdown wrapping up its second week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said West Virginia is willing to foot the bill to keep its two national parks open until at least Oct. 31.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Morrisey said a deal with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to extend the state’s donor agreement to operate the visitors centers and services at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve would be announced in the next couple of days.

“The political gridlock in Washington, it’s hurting a lot of people, but we took swift action in one area where we felt we could mitigate the effects of the shutdown, and that’s

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