Local News

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown now officially has a new city manager. The Morgantown City Council unanimously approved to appoint Jamie Miller as the new Morgantown City Manager, the third for the city over the last five years. Miller follows Paul Brake, who served for a little more than three years, and most…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – Four people were sentenced for their role in a drug trafficking organization that stretched from Philadelphia to Detroit to Morgantown, West Virginia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia announced that three people from West Virginia and one person from Michigan were sentenced for their involvement in the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A student at West Virginia University has been charged in connection with a stabbing reported April 6. Morgantown Police responded to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospitaland found theunidentified victim with multiple stab wounds. Detectives said after learning the incident took place on Forest Avenue earlier that day they obtained surveillance video that showed…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Levy rates for the City of Morgantown appear to have remained unchanged for fiscal year 2025-26. The Morgantown City Council unanimously approved levy rates of $.125 per $100 of Class I property, $.25 per $100 for Class II property, and a $.50 per $100 rate for Class IV property. Morgantown Interim City…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — North Central West Virginia residents were able to have lights by the end of Tuesday night after strong winds knocked out power for most of the afternoon. First Energy subsidiary Mon Power crews addressed calls as early as 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday after wind gusts that reached as high as over 40…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County School System has started to make reductions as part of an impending budget cut. The Monongalia County Board of Education (BOE) moved forward on the reduction of 5 positions within the school system as part of the approval of the levy rates for FY 2025-26 during a special meeting…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A 65-yearold man has been killed in a Fairmont tree trimming accident, according to deputies from the Marion County Sherff’s Department. Monday around 11:30 a.m. the accident was reported on Ridgeview Drive, off Big Tree Drive. Jackie James Hess, Jr., was trimming pine trees when he fell out of the tree. EMS…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Highways will close a portion of southbound Interstate 79 to address the phase one demolition of the Uffington Bridge. Motorists are expected to see minor delays as a result of a lane closure from the southbound Interstate 79 off ramp at Exit 148 onto Interstate 68…

UPSHUR COUNTY, W.Va. — One person was killed in a crash on U.S. Route 33 Moneday afternoon in Upshur County. Deputies from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department at 1:23 p.m. they responded to a report of a single-vehicle over an embankment. Deputies found a truck owned by United Contracting Inc. of Buckhannon, driven by Daniel…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Kingwood resident has admitted to unlawfully possessing a firearm in federal court and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Pedro Antonio Pacheco, 46, was stopped for a traffic violation when the officer observed the firearm laying on the passenger seat. Due to prior felony drug convictions, Pacheco…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Ruby Summer Concert Series has been selected by the USA TODAY 10 BEST Readers’ Choice Awards program as a nominee for Best Outdoor Concert Series. The nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards are selected each year by a panel of travel experts, entertainment journalists, and industry professionals each year. Each venue…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Geno Chiarelli, R, Monongalia, 78, believes this legislative session was more about quality than quantity. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” he said progress was made on important issues, but things like PEIA didn’t get the attention expected after premium and deductible increases. He sponsored House Bill 2422 that sought to align…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– Morgantown general contractor Adelheid Schaupp has earned the 2024 Young Professional award from the National Association of Home Builders. Schaupp was one of 16 being considered for the honor that recognizes hard work, achievements, dedication, and outstanding potential. After graduating with a degree in history, her father urged her to try a…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Two have been charged in connection with the theft of cash from the China One in Clarksburg. Around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 10 Danielle Rinehart can bee seen on surveillance video pulling the drive thru window open, climbing through the window and escaping with a large roll of cash. She can…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The city of Bridgeport has released a statement providing more information on the investigation that resulted in the termination of former city manager Pat Ford. While acknowledging confidential employee information will not be released but said the investigation started after an employee resigned from the City, and threatened litigation due to treatment…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — For the first time in more than a decade, the Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) appears poised to reach the number of enplanements needed to maintain the Essential Air Service status and qualify for the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program. With Southern Airways connecting to Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., the airport shuffled…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County has been announced as the first location in West Virginia that will use the community assistance platform CarePortal. CarePortal is an app and also online that harnesses the power of local churches, organizations, businesses, and private individuals to meet the needs of families in crisis. One of the key leaders…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center is ready to host its annual Walk With Survivors. The 2025 iteration of the event will take place on Saturday, April 12, at the Morgantown Farmer’s Market on Spruce Street starting at 3:00 p.m. RDVIC Victim Advocate Kay Powney encourages Morgantown residents to take part…

ELKINS, W.Va. — An Ohio man has been charged with attempted murder after trying hit a police officer and fleeing the scene. On March 27, Kevin Strickland, 33, of Sunbury, Ohio, was stopped by an officer with the Elkins Police Department for having non-working head light. When Strickland admitted to having marijuana in the car…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Members of Bridgeport City Council have unanimously selected Joe Shuttleworth as the interim city manager. Shuttleworth, the current Director of Parks and Recreation, will take over for Pat Ford, who was terminated by the council last week. He became the director of the Parks and Recreation Department in 2018 after more than…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU Medicine has officially cut the ribbon on a new facility that will aim to train new nurses in the Mountain State. WVU Health System President and CEO Albert Wright, along with Chief Nursing Executive Melanie Heuston and Assistant Vice President of Nursing Education Tanya Rodgers, was on hand for the ceremony…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State legislatures are ready to make a final push on several proposals as the legislative session comes to a close. With less than three days left in the session, Monongalia County Senator Mike Oliverio offered an update on WAJR’s Talk of the Town on Thursday regarding what he expects to see heading…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An 18-month food box program in Morgantown provided more than 1,500 households with food during the period. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” grant writer with the city, Robyn Hess, said there was an opportunity to apply for unspent coronavirus relief funds through the state Community Development Block Grant program Community Advancement…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A local youth focused robotics team has just returned home from competing in Tennessee. Mountaineer Area Robotics (MARS) team 2614, a Morgantown based team made up of 41 students from five different counties, competed in the Smoky Mountains Regional during the first weekend in April. The team competed for three days as…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Attorney General J.B. McCuskey attended the coal-related executive order signing ceremony recently and won extra support for a New York lawsuit directed at the state. On WAJRs “Talk of the Town,” McCuskey said it was an unforgettable experience to witness in-person President start what could become the resurrection of the coal industry.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) has recognized two area schools as Exemplary Practice Schools. Mylan Park Elementary School in Monongalia County and the White Hall Elementary School in Marion County have been honored as members of the 2025 class of West Virginia Exemplary Practice Schools. Mylan Park Elementary School is…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials at West Virginia University have confirmed the visas of seven students have been revoked by the U.S. federal government. Director of News Communications, Strategic Communications and Marketing, Shauna Johnson confirmed as of Wednesday, April 9, one student and three alumni from the Morgantown Campus, and three students at WVU Institute of…

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Morgantown resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of an unregistered firearm. Zachary Vincent Velling, 26, is accused of entering the Pittsburgh International Airport with a MK24 MOD 0,6 bang/flash diversionary hand grenade November 12, 2024. Transportation Security Administration workers noticed a…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Efforts to support military families within Monongalia County Schools have been recognized by the State Department of Education. West Virginia Civilian Aide for the United States Secretary of the Army Frank Vitale was on hand to recognize the school system with a Purple Star Award designation for their efforts to accommodate military…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission will consider an agreement to have Enterprise Fleet Management Services provide vehicles that will be purchased for county use. The commission unanimously approved moving forward with the request for proposal during their regular meeting Wednesday as the only response to the RFP by the county. Commissioner Sean Sikora…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A longtime landmark in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Morgantown has officially made a grand return. The Morgantown Area Partnership took part in the ribbon cutting for the new Sunnyside Superette 2.0 that opened at the same University Avenue location of the former convenience store that was active in the Morgantown community for…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. –– The state police are now completing the investigation into the actions of the mayor of the city of Bridgeport. Troopers from the Bridgeport detachment of the state police said mayor Andy Lang was involved in a verbal altercation with another cuty employee in March. No details of the investigation have been released.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The work to improve West Virginia roadways appears to be an ongoing battle that state leaders hope to try and tackle in 2025. New West Virginia Secretary of Transportation Todd Rumbaugh took part in a presentation of a report issued by national transportation research nonprofit TRIP, where he reaffirmed a “crucial” need…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Board of Education (BOE) will receive some support from the City of Morgantown to support renovations at Morgantown High School. The BOE unanimously approved an agreement with the city to have funds of up to $80,000 be directed towards the Monongalia County School System to support the Morgantown High…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A federally funded nonprofit headquartered in Marion County is ready to try and help West Virginians not covered by health insurance get processed to do so. WV Navigator will host a free, in-person health coverage enrollment event at the Marion County Health Department on Thursday, April 10, at their offices on the…

BUCKHANNON, W.Va – A crash in Buckhannon on April 7 allegedly caused by a man driving high on medical marijuana results in one death, a seriously injury and another person in police custody. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Department arrested 27-year-old Matthew Whitehead after deputies arrived on the scene where he crashed into a sedan at…

DAVIS, W.Va. — A Virginia-based company has announced plans for a 300 acre self-contained power plant between Thomas and Davis for the apparent operation of a data center. The proposed “Ridgeline Facility” would be a natural gas-fired power plant with three 10 million gallon diesel fuel tanks onsite as a back up power source. Environmental…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police have confirmed an active investigation into the conduct of Bridgeport mayor Andy Lang. A city employee filed a complaint with personnel officials regarding language used by Lang during a meeting with former city manager Pat Ford. During a special meeting last week, mayor Lang said Ford was being…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Legislation that would allow for the West Virginia Division of Highways to contract out snow removal in Monongalia and Preston counties has been approved to be considered by the full Senate. The West Virginia State Senate Finance Committee approved that House Bill 2960 will be moved for full consideration on the Senate…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — A portion of the sewer line replacement work along Holland Avenue in Westover is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Thrasher Group Project Engineer Casey Young offered an update to Westover City Council during their regular meeting on Monday, where he announced that the retaining wall portion of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University is ready to highlight the work completed by researchers at the university. The 2025 iteration of WVU Research Week officially kicked off on Monday, where close to two dozen different presentations and showcases will take place across campus until Friday. WVU Research Office Associate Vice President for Creative and…

PARSONS, W.Va – An investigation into an assault Saturday in Tucker County resulted in three arrests. On Saturday, April 5 just after 3:00 A.M., state troopers started the investigation on Overlook Drive in Parsons and learned a suspect, Trenton DiBartolomeo, fled the scene after EMS arrived. Troopers then caught up to and stopped the vehicle…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The 20 recipients of the annual Bucklew Scholarship have been introduced and are set to begin their college careers at West Virginia University. Each year, the Bucklew Scholarship is given to 20 of the most talented and bright West Virginia students who will now also be considered for the WVU Foundation Scholarship,…

BUCKAHNNON, W.Va. — In Upshur County, a truck was left hanging from powerlines after a crash early Monday morning. Around 1:30 a.m. the truck crashed into a tree, mailboxes, a fence and a power pole before being suspended from power lines on Old Elkins Road. Deputies with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department said the driver…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bill that would remove tax subsidies for wind power projects has stalled in the legislature and is not likely to begin moving again before the end of the session on April 12. Senate Bill 439, sponsored by chairman of the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee, Chris Rose, R, Monongalia, 2,…

CHARLES POINTE, W.Va. — Mon Health System, a member of the Vandalia Health network, has begun construction on the latest small-format hospital, similar to the Mon Marion Neighborhood Hospital in White Hall. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Mon Health President and CEO and executive vice president of Vandalia Health David Goldberg said the new…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown City Clerk’s Office will host a special voter registration event ahead of the upcoming municipal election. As part of the deadline to register to vote that will take place on April 7, Morgantown City Clerk Christine Wade announced that a drive-up voter registration event will take place that Monday at…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Monongalia EMS plans a series of public forums to share operating data and get feedback from the public. The Western Monongalia Community Forum is Wednesday, April 9, at Mason Dixon Park at 6 p.m. The Morgantown Community Forum will be Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m., and the Cheat Lake Community…

Submitted to WAJR MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation invite the public to attend the seventh annual statewide Focus Forward conference on Tuesday, April 22 at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place. Join more than 400 state and regional business, government and education leaders at Focus…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Office of Global Affairs is ready to present a showcase of music and cultures from around the world. Over a dozen different musical acts will perform as part of the International Street Festival that will take place on Sunday, April 6, where international students and Morgantown area residents…

WEST UNION, W.Va. — A March crash that has turned fatal has resulted in charges, according to state police. The two-vehicle crash happened at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 and W,Va. Route 18 on March 18 when Louis Oswalt, 46 ran a red light and hit a car driven by Angie Campbell Capbell was…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Better Business Bureau serving Greater West Virginia will hold their first identity theft protection event in Morgantown Saturday. Laura Blankenship with the Better Business Bureau said residents can have documents shredded and electronics recycled from 9 a.m. to noon at the Monongalia County Center in Mylan Park. “Anything that is paper,…

MORGANTOWN W.Va – West Virginia University saw its highest-recorded freshman retention rate this year with 93.8% of freshmen returning for the spring 2025 semester, according to Interim Provost Paul Kreider. At a Board of Governors meeting Friday, Kreider said this retention rate gives administrators great hope that many current freshmen will continue their journeys as…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University is ready to officially coronate junior accounting major Cade Kincaid as the 71st Mountaineer mascot. The Fayette County native was selected out of four students as part of an official announcement during a WVU men’s basketball game in early March. Kincaid, a WVU student who was born and raised…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The Bridgeport City Council has voted to remove their city manager less than six months into his tenure. The council voted to remove Pat Ford from the city manager position in a 5-1 vote as part of a special meeting hosted on Thursday. The decision was made amidst numerous city employees who…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. – A Preston County woman is in custody for allegedly attempting to shoot her husband in the head on Wednesday. Preston County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Emily Chambers, 26, of Bruceton Mills, after she allegedly shot her husband, Josiah Chambers, during an argument that took place on Route 72 near Lick Run in Kingwood.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown will move forward on budgets related to a half dozen municipal funds for FY25-26. Morgantown Finance Director Jonathan Furgison presented details on funds that account for the Morgantown Municipal Airport, allocations for the Municipal Sales Tax, and the City Opioid Settlement Fund, as well as three separate funds,…

RIVESVILLE, W.Va. – A Marion County man was arrested on one county felony animal cruelty after an incident at an encampment in Fairmont Wednesday. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department announced that Andrew Harrison, 39, of Rivesville, for allegedly abandoning puppies in an apartment on Clayton Street in Rivesville in the fall of 2024. According to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Local officials report no serious damage or injuries following severe storms that included a tornado warning Thursday morning. Just before 5 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the Monongalia County area. The storm started as a very powerful system tracking along the Ohio River when it crossed into…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A vital step to move forward a large-scale highway infrastructure project in Monongalia County has been formally given a green light. The Monongalia County Commission unanimously approved an agreement with the West Virginia Department of Transportation to transfer a $50 million National Infrastructure Project Assistance MEGA grant towards the DOT. The agreement…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Pierpont Community and Technical College is ready to host an on-campus job fair on Thursday, April 3. The job fair will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, with over two dozen different employment opportunities expected to be showcased at the Advanced Technology Center at 500 Galliher Drive on the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown City Clerk’s Office wants to make sure that all potential voters who are eligible to vote in the 2025 Municipal Election are able to do so. Morgantown City Clerk Christine Wade offered some forwarding advice on WAJR’s Talk of the Town Wednesday, where she encouraged those wishing to register or…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Members of Bridgeport City Council have scheduled a meeting for Thursday to potentially terminate newly hired city manager Pat Ford. The meeting is scheduled for this Thursday at 5 p.m. Ford was sworn in as city manager in October of 2024. Ford was directed by councilors to investigate and correct the workplace…

MARTINSBURG, W. Va. — Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) has honored two Assistant United States Attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia and members of the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force for an investigation that dismantled a tri-state drug trafficking operation. Assistant U.S.…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tobacco Free Day at the state capitol will be observed Wednesday, April 2, and the American Lung Association plans to bring 300 to 400 students from across the state. The students are part of a group called RAZE. Raze members said the name reflects the word “raze,” which means to destroy—the same…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Two more convicted in the 2022 Pagan Motorcycle Club murder of Henry Silver in Marion County have been sentenced. Judge Matthew Delligatti sentenced Derek Clem, 30, to life with mercy for first-degree murder and one to five years for conspiracy to commit a felony. Clem was convicted back in September. Dane Hull,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The lineup for the 2025 Ruby Summer Concert Series features 12 free community concerts on Fridays from June through August all show times start at 7 p.m. “Summer is coming and it’s hard to believe the Ruby Summer Concert Series only started three years ago, given all the accolades and community support…

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. — State Bancorp, Inc. has announced the addition of Chase Thomas to the board of directors. Thomas was elected to the board of the locally owned and managed financial services company that serves as the bank holding company for Clear Mountain Bank. Thomas has been with Clear Mountain Bank since 2013 and…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. –– A Michigan man has been ordered to serve nine years in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine in the Clarksburg area. Jason T. (Rock) Scruggs, 42, of Clinton, Michigan, transported large quantities of dangerous drugs from Detroit to Clarksburg. On one trip, Scriggs was caught with 443 grams of methamphetamine and…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Members of Bridgeport City Council have scheduled a meeting for Thursday to potentially terminate newly hired city manager Pat Ford. The meeting is scheduled for this Thursday at 5 p.m. Ford was sworn in as city manager in October of 2024. Ford wrote to councilors and the mayor that he was directed…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — One of six charged in the Pagan Motorcycle Club shooting of Henry Silver in 2022 has been sentenced to 55 years in prison. Austin Mullins, 28, was sentenced to 40 years for second degree murder, 10 years for use of a firearm during commission of a felony, and five years for being…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Intermed Labs partnership with the Mon Health System to develop and market improvements and medical devices has been expanded to include the Vandalia Health System. Intermed Labs started in 2020 as a startup for medical professionals who have concepts, ideas, or devices that improve the patient experience. The president and CEO…

HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — The members of the Clarksburg-based Notre Dame Baseball team are being credited with helping two distressed motorists Saturday afternoon within an hour. The first service was rendered in the parking lot of the baseball diamond, where a family from Pittsburgh had a flat tire. The boys used Fix-a-Flat; the family had…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown-based small business owner hopes to serve in the Sixth Ward seat on the Morgantown City Council. Stephanie Hunt is on the campaign trail as she talks to voters about what they hope to see for the city ahead of the Morgantown Municipal Election on April 29. A Morgantown resident for…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Separate pieces of legislation that could reshape several aspects of how schools operate in the Mountain State appear to be on pace to be heading to Governor Morrisey’s desk for signature. Ahead of the two-week deadline to the close of the legislative session, Monongalia County Delegate and House Education Committee Vice Chair…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — The Preston County Board of Education has officially selected a new member to take over for a recently vacated seat on the board. Beth Noss was selected out of eight potential candidates as part of a special meeting hosted by the Preston County BOE on Wednesday. Superintendent Brad Martin spoke highly about…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A small business owner with a history of local activism wants Morgantown voters to give her consideration for the Second Ward city council seat. Jodi Hollingshead is on the campaign trail as she makes her pitch to voters in the weeks ahead of the Morgantown Municipal Election on April 29. A mother…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Four people were arrested after a fentanyl investigation was conducted by the West Virginia State Police in Clarksburg. Gregory Shipley, 36, Iziah Hill, 30, Jordan Martin, 24, and Burgandy Abner, 33, were all taken into custody on drug charges in relation to an investigation that occurred over the course of a month…

TUNNELTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police arrested a Preston County couple after six children in their care were allegedly found to be living in “disgusting” conditions. Chester Keen, 47, of Grantsville and Brittany Nelson, 28, of Kingwood, were charged with two counts of child neglect after troopers with the Preston County detachment of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for residents along Pennsylvania Avenue. The advisory was issued at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday with 23 customers living between 447 and 580 Pennsylvania Avenue to be affected until service is restored in the area. Once service is restored, affected customers…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — A Kingwood vape store has been accused of selling products to underage customers after a seizure of suspected marijuana and “a large amount of cash” was conducted by law enforcement and state officials. The Preston County Sheriff’s Office announced an investigation found that the King Tobacco & Vape on West Main Street…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission will move forward with a budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 that will see similar declines in revenue seen by other entities in the county. The commission unanimously approved a budget of approximately $43.67 million, which reflects a decline of over $3 million in revenues in comparison to the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of the more well-known active members of the downtown Morgantown community wants city voters to consider him for a spot on the Morgantown City Council. Former Main Street Morgantown President Mark Downs has continued to reach out to voters ahead of the early voting period for the 2025 Morgantown Municipal election,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A Morgantown man is in custody after Monongalia County sheriff’s deputies said they found approximately 450 images of child pornography on different online server accounts in his possession. Anthony Bankers-Beckett, 26, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct after deputies…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A spill on I-79 at mile marker 148 will have all lanes of the northbound side closed at the I-68 split. I-68 westbound traffic is being diverted to southbound I-79 and I-79 northbound traffic is being diverted to I-68 west during the clean up. MECCA 911 Executive Director Jim Smith said the…

GLEN DALE, W.Va. — Former state lawmaker Mike Maroney has been arrested for a reported bond violation and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail without bail. This is the third arrest for Maroney is the last year. On Tuesday, troopers from the West Virginia State Police and membersof the Glen Dale Police…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A former state lawmaker and labor leader is ready to fondly remember the life of former State Senator, West Virginia House of Delegates member and former President of United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Union District 31 Eugene “Gene” Claypole. Former Senator Mike Caputo addressed the passing of Claypole, in which he…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of the oldest Morgantown area landmarks could be accepted by the city to be managed by the Morgantown History Museum. The Morgantown City Council agreed to move a proposal that would accept the Easton Roller Mill property into city possession to a future council agenda as part of the March committee…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. — A Preston County woman has been accused of murdering her mother with a lethal dose of insulin in 2023. Investigators from the Grafton Police Department said Kelly Moore, 61, of Arthurdale, was living with her mother, Ethel Moore, 82, in Grafton in May of 2023 when she injected her with 20…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A Fairmont man is custody for allegedly threatening to kill a victim at gunpoint in Marion County. Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department responded to an incident reported on Colfax Road in Fairmont on Monday where Logan Summers, 22, of Fairmont, allegedly pointed a handgun and made a threating statement towards…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Severe Weather Awareness Week in West Virginia runs from March 24 through 28 and includes a statewide tornado drill this Tuesday at 11 a.m. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Jeff Nordeen said at 11 a.m. Tuesday Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts on local radio and TV stations, and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The owner of a Morgantown-based construction company has admitted to harboring illegal aliens and tax fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia announced on Monday that Hetzon Marroquin Reyes, 40, owner of A&M Homes, LLC, admitted to hiring and harboring illegal aliens to work for his company…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va – An accident involving a school bus was reported in Monongalia County Monday afternoon. Officials with MECCA 911 confirmed that the accident occurred at approximately 4 p.m. on 201st Memorial Highway in front of the Suncrest Towne Centre. It was also confirmed that no injuries reported as a result of the accident. West…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A man was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a home health worker in Morgantown. The West Virginia State Police announced that Pervous Badilishamwalimu, 81, was taken into custody for allegedly groping the victim while she was caring for his elderly sister in the Twin Knobs apartment complex. According to court documents, Badilishamwalimu…

LEWIS COUNTY, W.Va. — Troopers from the state police arrested a 33 year Lewis County resident after passing out from drug use while taking care of an infant. March 16, troopers responded to a residence on High Street in Jane Lew where an infant was in the care of Dylan Sharples. . The person who…

FARMINGTON, W.Va. — The North Marion High School Marching Band has been selected to perform in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade coming up in December. On WAJRs “Talk of the Town,” Band Director Matt Morgan said when he opened the letter and read the news, he was in complete shock. Morgan said the first person…

CHEAT LAKE, W.Va. — Monongalia County lawmaker Delegate David McCormick, R, 82, is working with state and federal officials to make changes to the operation of the Lake Lynn Power Station. During the drought of 2024, operator of the facility Eagle Creek Renewable Energy released water from the lake in order to increase the dissolved…

FAIRVIEW, W.Va. – The Marion County Sheriff’s Department announced a body was found Sunday morning in Farview with an investigation active into what caused it to get there. According to officials, deputies were called to Jesses Road residence at approximately 10:00 A.M. by a property owner where Benjamin Duncan, 45, was identified. He was found…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board appears to be on pace to complete work on North High Street before the end of March. Senior Engineer Ken Hacker offered an update on the sewer work that has taken place in parts of the North High Street area since February that crews hope to have fully…

MANNINGTON, W.Va. — The Mannington Middle School has been added to the Endangered Properties List; the move is expected to raise awareness and interest in the rehabilitation of the historic structure. project. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Marion County Schools Superintendent Dr. Donna Heston said the designation will lead to more visibility and community…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Harrison County woman has been arrested on murder charges for allegedly stabbing her own mother. The Clarksburg Police Department announced that Shanna Van Norman, 41, is in custody after officers responded to a disturbance call at 128 Laurel Lanes on Saturday, March. 22. Officers arrived on the scene at 8:45 P.M.…

ELKINS, W.Va. — After two attempts to consolidate schools in Randolph County and the uncertainty of state and federal funding, reduction in force (RIF) hearings begin this week in Elkins. Information from BOE agenda shows plans to terminate four school counselors, a special education teacher, and the coordinator of transportation. Earlier this year the BOE…

Morgantown, W.Va. – The Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee (MCREC) has launched a flood relief supply drive for the families in the southern part of the state recovering from recent floods. Residents are asked to bring non-perishable food items, especially children’s snacks and drinks, as well as monetary donations to All-Pro Photo & Framing at…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mountaineer Area Robotics (MARS) team 2614 recently returned from a three day competition at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The team of 41 students from five counties completed nine qualification matches with their robot Marvin XVII with a record of 6 – 3, placing them 12th among 54 teams. As the captain…

SHINNSTON, W.Va – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department has located two of three suspects in a Wednesday shooting in Shinnston. Police have located Cody Earl Hinerman, 27, of Fairmont, and Sierra Brook Huff, 31, of Fairmont, and the two are being interviewed about the incident. Justin Lee Newbrough, 24, of Mannington, remains at-large and is…

ELKINS, W.Va. — A Petersburg woman has admitted to her role in transporting quantities of methamphetamine from Monongalia to Grant County. Court documents said Theresa Marie Lipkey, 43, of Petersburg, was caught with 129 grams of methamphetamine while driving from Morgantown to Petersburg. Lipkey faces up to 20 years in prison for one count of…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police have announced creation of a new task force that will tackle cold cases and violent crime. The West Virginia Violent Crime Task Force )WVVCT) is a partnership with state police, the Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and will be an…

  SHINNSTON, W.Va – The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department has identified three suspects in a Wednesday shooting in Shinnston. Justin Lee Newbrough, 24, of Mannington, and Cody Earl Hinerman, 27, of Fairmont, are wanted in connection with the incident and are considered armed and dangerous. Investigators believe the two suspects are traveling with Sierra Brooke…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Every family has its traditions. For some, it is a particular vacation destination. For others, it is a favorite holiday meal. For the Tallman family, it’s basketball. “When I was a kid, my grandfather, dad’s dad, this was our family vacation. The Tallman’s didn’t go Myrtle Beach, they came to Charleston,” said…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County School System appears to have received positive feedback from students on the new cellphone-focused policy implemented for the 2024-25 school year. Monongalia County Schools Director of Student Support Mike Ryan reported that students and staff have both openly expressed the benefits of having a “smartphone-free” policy as part of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Mon Rivers Trails Conservancy wants to invite Morgantown area residents to hang out downtown on Friday and help support the growth of area recreation. The Co-Op on Pleasant Street will host “Friday for a Cause’ on Friday, March 21, starting at 6 p.m., where specialized drinks will be served by “celebrity…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Officials with the Valley Volunteer Fire Department have offered more information on a car fire on Wednesday that took place on Interstate 79 and spread onto a nearby hillside. The department provided more information as part of a Facebook post on Thursday where it was reported that a hybrid vehicle caught fire…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The City of Fairmont announced that five Fairmont police officers will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Officers Eric Hudson, Adrian Hayhurst, Jack Frost, Tyler Hall and Jared Martin were promoted as part of a ceremony on Thursday based on the recommendation of Fairmont Police Chief Steve Shine and other senior…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Harrison County man has been charged with cruelty to animals after animal control officers found a malnourished dog in his care while taking multiple dogs from a Harrison County residence. Jeremiah Todd, 25, of Harrison County was arrested after deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call on…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Senate Education Committee approved Senate Bill 54 that would require age-appropriate instruction beginning at grade 6 on the Holocaust in public schools. The bill sponsored by Mike Oliverio, R, Monongalia, 13, will now go to the full Senate. Craig Hart, R, Mingo, 6, approved the first portion of the legislation presenting…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Executive Director of Communications April Kaull has announced plans to leave West Virginia University to serve as the associate vice president for strategic communications at Carnegie Mellon University. , According to a Carnegie Mellon release Kaull will begin her duties there on April 7. Kaull came to WVU in 2015 as spokesperson…

WESTON, W.Va. — The driver in an I-79 that seriously injured two children has been charged with child neglect resulting in serious injuries. Troopers from the West Virginia State Police said on March 14 that Fazila Kahn, 41, of Levittown, Pa., was southbound on I-79 at the 88-mile marker when she lost control and crashed,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Parcels of property that are home to the Beechurst Power Plant could be removed from the Sunnyside Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Morgantown City Council unanimously approved a resolution that would consider an application to amend the boundaries of the TIF as part of the original Sunnyside Up Project Plan that would…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission hopes to correct remitted tax errors that involve two local levying bodies. The commission unanimously approved the issuance of letters to the City of Westover and the Monongalia County Board of Education on the need to have approximately $300,000 refunded back to the county due to a TIF…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Northbound traffic of Interstate 79 was shut down near the Marion/Harrison county line for several hours Wednesday while crews fight a brush fire. According to officials with the Marion County 911 Center, crews were alerted to a vehicle fire on I-79 North, near the 130 mile marker south of White Hall at…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Second District Congressman Riley Moore now has an office in Morgantown off Chestnut Ridge Road at 8 Suburban Court. Moore previewed some of the services his staff can help constituents with in front of a crowd of about 60 people Wednesday. “Sometimes it’s so difficult to talk to the federal government about…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A dedicated family of Mountaineer supporters will establish a new professorship at the WVU College of Law with a very important gift. The Deem family, of Bridgeport, established the Patrick D. Deem Professor of Law. The professorship will provide support to aid research, teaching and service and the first preference for the…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — Improvements on Holland Avenue in Westover are underway . Thrasher Group Senior Project Manager Doug Smith said this will start a 90-day timeframe for the work that will include the replacement of both gravity sewer line and storm sewer line along Holland Avenue, as well as an overhaul of the road affected…

GRAFTON, W.Va. — The final report into the fatality at the Leer Mine near Grafton in September of 2024 has been released by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The report said on On Sept. 28, 2024, Colton Walls, 34, of Bruceton Mills, was advancing longwall shields when a nylon rope and hook broke…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. — The state Division of Highways has closed the Bull Run Road Bridge permanently citing deteriorating structural conditions. The 113 year old bridge is in an isolated part of the county accessible mainly to four-wheel drive vehicles is a popular tourist attraction, but there are no homes or business that depend on…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Police Department appears open to re-evaluating aspects of their bodycam policy. As part of a special meeting with the Morgantown Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board on Tuesday, Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell expressed open mindedness into exploring ways to refine aspects of the policy regarding bodycam activation. The consideration…

STAR CITY, W.Va. — The Town of Star City is looking to find more details into whether a portion of the City of Morgantown 2025 pedestrian safety improvements potentially took place on town property with just about no notice. Star City Council unanimously approved for the town to hire an independent surveyor to determine if…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A couple of Morgantown residents were sentenced to over six years in federal prison for their roles in a drug trafficking operation. The United States Attorney’s Office annnounced on Tuesday that Jennifer Clapper, 37, and Jamie Purtee, 33, were setenced for their roles as distributors for a drug organization that originated in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The president of Morgantown Firefighters IAFF Local 313 came to WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” to express deep concerns about a charter change on the April ballot that would allow the city manager to reside outside city limits. The current policy states a city manager must become a resident of the city…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. –– The state Division of Highways has announced an extended traffic restriction on I-79 on the Uffington Bridge. Workers from Triton Construction will begin placing concrete barriers and traffic control measures at mile marker 149 on the Uffington Bridge at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 through mid-November 2025. Tuesday night, March 18,…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. — Officials with the state Dicision of Highways have announced the immediate closure of the Bull Run Bridge until further notice. The bridge is on Kingwood-Kingston Road about two miles east of Bull Run Road. Officlas have closed the bridge to prevent serious damage by vehicular traffic.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Geno Chiarelli, R, Monongalia, 78, is the sponsor of House Bill 2381 that would non-residents of city to vote in a municipal election in the county they reside in if they have paid fees or taxes. Chiarelli used the city of Morgantown and the Municipal Service Fee of $3 that is automatically…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Strong storm swept the northern part of the state Sunday afternoon resulting in more the 40,000 power outages, doxens of trees down, and damaged powerlines. The storm included a record breaking wind gust at the North Central West Virginia Airport of 71 miles per hour at 12:22 p.m. beating the previous record…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Detroit resident will serve more than 12 years in federal prison for selling dangerous drugs in Harrison County. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh sentenced Davonta D. Brogdon, 32, also known as “Tay” or “Zone,” of Detroit, Michigan, to 150 months in federal prison for working with on a larger…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new proposal in the state legislature, Senate Joint Resolution 6, will take a different approach to eliminate the Business Inventory Tax. Lead sponsor Chris Rose, R, Monongalia, 2, said the proposed amendment to the Constitution also eliminates the personal property tax rebate system and provides revenue guarantees to county commissions. On…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The State Senate has passed Lauren’s Law (Senate Bill 584), which will increase penalties in cases involving dangerous illegal drugs. Lauren Cole was a 26-year-old WVU graduate seeking a master’s degree in social work when she died in July of 2020 after unknowingly ingesting a fatal dose of fentanyl. The Cole family…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Highways will conduct bridge inspections in downtown Morgantown this week that will disrupt traffic. From Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21, crews will restrict one lane on the Walnut St. Bridge from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flaggers will be in place to manage the flow…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County GOP Executive Committee is ready to host another public official as part of their weekly update calls during the 2025 legislative session. Committee Chair Dale Sparks announced that West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack will take part in the free Zoom virtual meeting on Sunday, March 16, where he’ll…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia National Guard’s Port Security and Resilience Assessment (PSRA) team is working across the country to assess the security profile of several strategically valuable facilities. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Mackey said the PSRA team, based in the Army Interagency Training and Education Center…

MARION COUNTY, W. Va.— Work during business hours to replace a Marion County bridge will close Buffalo Brink Road next week. Crews will close Buffalo Brink Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, March 17 through Friday,March 21 to relocate a temporary bridge to prepare for construction of a new structure. The detour route…

DAVIS, W.Va. — More details have been released into what cause a skier to die at the Timberline Mountain resort in Tucker County on Wedneday. The Tucker County Sheriff’s Department announced that investigators determined that the out-of-state guest hit a treet while skiing. Life-saving medical attention was given, but the guest was pronounced dead at…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va – A man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly following women around a Monongalia County apartment complex while nude. Tafadzwa Chapoto, 25, was taken into custody by West Virginia State Police for allegedly walking around the Mountain Valley Apartment complex fully nude on multiple occasions. According to court documents, one woman told police that…

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. – A Marion County man is in custody for allegedly choking a woman and then striking a dog that was defending her with a shovel, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department arrested Geoffrey Anderson, 32, of Worthington, on Wednesday after the domestic incident that…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The first steps towards the demolition of the soon-to-be replaced Suncrest Middle School appears to be ready to move forward. The Monongalia County Board of Education unanimously approved a contract valued at around $115,000 to City Construction for the partial demolition of a non-active portion of the school. Monongalia County School Superintendent…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office asks for the public’s help in locating teenager who is reported as a runaway juvenile. Samira Perry, 16, of Morgantown was reported missing as a runaway on Wednesday at 4:57 P.M after she was last seen in downtown Morgantown. She was last seen in the area…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm after a carjacking in Monongalia County. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Michael McHenry, 23, was sentenced for leading police on a high-speed chase after carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Police Department has chosen to offer more details into what prompted officers to use crowd-dispersing tactics at a North High Street house party the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day. Morgantown Police Chief Eric Powell discussed the decision to use the tactics on WAJR’s Talk of the Town on Wednesday, where…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Firefighters from three counties battled a fire in southern Monongalia County for about six hours Wednesday. Firefighters were called to a report of a trailer and barn on fire at 2:44 p.m. on 4H Camp Road. The fire spread to a nearby field and ultimately to a third structure. The trailer…

DAVIS, W.Va. — A skier has died at the Timberline Mountain resort in Tucker County. Via social media, the resort said the skier died on Wednesday, the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and no further information will be released. The full statement is here: We are heartbroken to share the news of a fatality…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Utility and service providers in the Morgantown area have started to adjust to the recent increases in rates for the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). After officials with the agency reported that rates will increase as much as 16 percent across several different plans, representatives with the Mountain Line Transit Authority as…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission has approved a tri-party agreement involving the old MECCA 911 call center and has offered an update on a tri-county partnership related to the West Virginia First Foundation. The commission unanimously approved an agreement between themselves, Monongalia Health System Inc., and the Monongalia County Building Commission to allow…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An Alaskan woman has been charged for allegedly hiding a juvenile from being taken into state custody in Monongalia County. According to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, Laura Jensen, 42, of Anchorage, Alaska was arrested on a kidnapping charge after the juvenile was found at a Grafton Road hotel. According to a…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va – The Greater Harrison County Drug & Violent Crime Task Force announced that they have arrested seven Clarksburg residents Tuesday following a federal indictment of ten individuals on fentanyl charges. Kimberly Goings, 44, along with Rebecca Keiper, 38, Roxanne Parker, 34, Caleb Hudkins, 30, Chad Mullooly, 40, Aaron Viglianco, 40 and William Russell,…

FAIRMONT, W.Va — A woman was arrested after Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies said her neglect of her incapacitated sister resulted in a brain bleed. Karen Hanson, 65, of Fairmont, was arrested for allegedly removing her incapacitated sister from medical care against medical advice and neglected to provide adequate care for her and leaving her health…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police announced that Sandra Kay Murray has been located after a Silver Alert was issued on Wednesday. The Silver Alert was issued Wednesday afternoon after she was last seen at a Sheetz on Beverley Pike in Elkins before traveling in a 2013 white Buick Lacrosse. According to the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The man charged with negligent homicide in relation to Kevin Lataille’s death in Cheat Lake, will remain in California, after he was arrested last week. In a press release sent out Tuesday night, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office announced that Singh Sukhjinder, has refused to waive his extradition regarding his negligent homicide…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) appears ready to accept another municipal utility into their coverage map. MUB board members unanimously approved a proposal from the Town of Star City to take over the town’s water utility after a presentation was shown to the board during their regular meeting Tuesday. Star City Mayor…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Morgantown business owner has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for fraud associated with a local broadband provider. Timothy Chad Henson, 35, former owner of Clearfiber, Inc., received $1.96 million in funding through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide high-speed internet services in Monongalia and…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Former Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny has announced plans to run for the office of mayor in Bridgeport. Matheny is a life-long Bridgeport resident and has served in law enforcement since the 1980’s for multiple state and local agencies. His experience includes work at the National White Collar Crime Center and Chief…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University Medicine Children’s is ready to kick off a popular local fundraiser with the help of local restaurants. The 2025 iteration of WVU Medicine Children’s Restaurant Week kicked off on Sunday, where over a half dozen local businesses across the Morgantown area will host exclusive lunch and dinner specials with…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police have begun an investigation into what lead a vehicle to cause multiple accidents going in the wrong on direction on Interstate 79. The accidents were reported on I-79 northbound at 1:50 p.m. on Monday between the Clarksburg and Meadowbrook Mall exits near mile marker 120. According to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown Police Department released a statement after a video showing officers dispersing a large crowd at a St. Patrick’s Day house party showed up on social media over the weekend. According to the press release, officers responded to a residence on North High Street at approximately 2:40 p.m. on Saturday, March…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Clarksburg police officer who assisted in the evacuation after a neighborhood gas explosion is being honored by the department. Via social media, Clarksburg Police Department Chief Mark Kiddy awarded the Meritorious Service Award for his actions on Kramer Driver after a gas explosion killed one resident, leveled a home and damaged…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Coal Association believes the First Energy plan to add natural gas to two power plants is not a good value for taxpayers or residents of Harrison and Monongalia Counties. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” President Chris Hamilton said they hope their decision will change over the five-year implementation…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Pittsburgh man accused of kidnapping a woman and bringing her to Monongalia County in January was arrested in West Virginia on Wednesday. Rashaad S. Hairston, 28, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody for allegedly driving a female victim out of Pittsburgh toward Monongalia County while threatening her and brandishing a gun…

By Savannah Jones MORGANTOWN W.Va — Singh Sukhjinder, the suspect in an I-68 eastbound fatality on Jan. 19, was misidentified and arrested earlier this week by the Phoenix Police Department, per a Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department press release on Friday. A man falsely believed to be Sukhjinder was arrested during a traffic stop on March…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Multiple agencies, mostly led by the Fairmont Police Department of the Three Rivers Violent Crime Task Force, arrested 30 this week on 87 different counts of drug activity during operation “Spring Cleaning.” Eighty-one of the charges were related to the sale of the deadly drug fentanyl. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,”…

  WESTON, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, with the help of U.S. Marshals, has arrested a kidnapping suspect in Weston. Rashaad S. Hairston, 28, of Pittsburgh, is accused of kidnapping a female from Pittsburgh on January 23. An exhaustive investigation developed critical evidence pointing to Hairston as a prime suspect. Because of the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The eighth suspect involved in the February 9 attack at a downtown Morgantown pizza shop has been identified. Travis Crutcher, 19, of Pennsylvania, has been charged with misdemeanor battery for his alleged involvement in the assault that took place at the Casa Di Amici restaurant where the victim was forced into a…

MAIDSVILLE, W.Va. — Investigators have started work into finding the cause of a residential trailer fire in Monongalia County on Wednesday that killed several animals. Firefighters responded to the call at around 4 p.m. on March 5 with first reponders finding the trailer full engulfed in flames when they arrived. The elderly woman who lived…

GRAFTON, W.Va. — A Grafton man has been charged for allegedly attacking a woman with a knife over the weekend. Officers with the Grafton Police Department arrested Steven Barker, 29, of Grafton after they responded to a call on March 1 where an individual requested a domestic violence prevention order due to a fight. According…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials have announced the resumption of the Morgantown Police Department’s (MPD) Safe Streets Initiative as of March 1. The program was implemented in August of last year and extended through the holiday season to increase the visibility of police and safety of the public. “With St. Patrick’s Day and warmer weather coming…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Delegate Geno Chiarelli, R, Monongalia, 77, is one of several sponsors of legislation that would add more oversight to harm reduction programs across the state. House Bill 2378 in its current form would require harm reduction programs to have some form of regular local oversight. Chiarelli was also a sponsor of a…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown has released details into their capital improvement plans and the budget of capital escrow expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year. City Finance Director Jonathan Furgison presented details of the City of Morgantown Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2030 where he detailed approximately $60 million in projected capital…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Police officers in Fairmont have arrested 30 people as part of a joint operation today called “Spring Cleaning.” In a release from the City of Fairmont, officers with the Fairmont Police Department, in collaboration with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and five other law enforcement entities took part in 30 arrests in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown man is in custody after a Wednesday morning shooting in the Evansdale neighborhood left one person injured. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department arrested Herbert McDonald, 48, of Morgantown, shortly after the shooting tha occured at 725 Chestnut Ridge Road across the street from Ruby Memorial Hospital. Deputies responded to the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Monongalia County Commission have begun to take steps towards working with other counties to discuss future goals for the West Virginia First Foundation. Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom announced in the closing minutes of the commission’s regular meeting Wednesday that representatives from three counties have reached out to see…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Monongalia County Sheriff Todd Forbes has reported the truck driver involved in the fatal I-68 eastbound crash on I-68 has been arrested in Arizona. Singh Sukhjinder’s arrest in Phoenix, Arizona, was the result of coordinated efforts by multiple law enforcement agencies. He is currently in custody. The Monongalia County Prosecutor’s Office…

WESTON, W.Va. — A 3-year-old child is in critical condition, and the parents are facing neglect charges after an incident with a gun in February. Troopers from the West Virginia State Police say on February 17th they responded to a report of a 3-year-old who had suffered a gunshot wound. The investigation showed the parents,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The first reading of the City of Morgantown’s General Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 has been approved by Morgantown City Council. The general budget projected at approximately $45.31 million for the FY 25-26 was approved in a 5-0 vote during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday (Morgantown Deputy Mayor Jenny Selin and Councilor…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Michigan man has been found guilty of murdering two Harrison County residents in 2022. Allen Leon Schaffer, II, 43, was found guilty on two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Chasity Wilkinson Romeo, 33, and Corey Steven Snider, 43, after the jury deliberated for about four hours on Tuesday.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two more suspects involved in an attack at a Morgantown pizza shop have been identified. According to documents filed in Monongalia County Magistrate Court, Cameron Diggs, 18, and Keith Cushenberry, 21, both of Pennsylvania, have been charged with malicious assault and conspiracy to commit malicious assault. They are charged for their alleged…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Grafton Road/U.S. 119 in Monongalia County experienced delays south of Morgantown following a reported mortocycle wreck Tuesday afternoon. Monongalia County Emergency Management Agency confirmed a post on their Facebook page that stated that Grafton Road was closed for close to a half hour in front of the West Virginia Division of Highways…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A fifth person has been arrested in connection to a Harrison County murder that happened in early 2024. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office announced that Taneil Thompson, who turned 18 on Tuesday, had his case moved from juvenile to adult status and has been charged with murder in connection to the kidnapping…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Any future law enforcement career for former Monongah Chief of Police Nathan Lanham will be determined by an administrative law judge. Lanham stopped Beth Delloma for an expired registration sticker on Aug. 7. The interaction, caught on video, spiraled out of control when Delloma asked for identification and Lanham refused. Lanham pointed…

WEST MILFORD, W.Va. –– Multiple departments responded to a structure fire in the West Milford area Monday afternoon. Firefighters from West Milford, Lost Creek, Mount Clare, Nutter Fort, Jane Lew and Anmoore responded to the home on Richman Lane at 2:45 p.m. None of the residents was home at the time of the fire. No…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Court documentation has revealed the charges against three of the men involved in an attack at a Morgantown pizza shop. According to documents filed in Monongalia County Magistrate Court, Daniel Hudock, 20, Eric Adonis Hill, 21, and Darryl Ray, 18, all from Pennsylvania, have been charged with separate robbery and malicious assault…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Federal employees at Federal Correction Complex (FCC) Hazelton have appeared to have started leaving their posts with concerns that more will follow them. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 420 President Justin Tarovisky offered an update on the current status of morale for employees at the prison on WAJR’s Talk of…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — The City of Westover now has an official starting date for the long-awaited Holland Avenue sewer line replacement project. Thrasher Group Senior Project Manager Doug Smith reported to the Westover City Council during their regular meeting Monday that the approximately $2.96 million project will officially begin on March 24. This will start…

ROANOKE CO., Va. — A former Morgantown city councilman and upstart lawyer arrested in connection with a series of commercial burglaries in northern Virginia was granted a continuance in his arraignment. Ryan Wallace, of Roanoke County, Va., had his initial arraignment hearing on Monday, according to the Roanoke County General District Court online database for…

MASONTOWN, W.Va. — A Kingwood man is in custody after allegedly leading deputies on a high-speed chase through Preston and Monongalia counties in early February. Richard Brandau, 41, was arrested on Sunday for the incident on February 2nd where he allegedly left the Circle K in Masontown and was followed by a deputy who was…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — An aide at the North View Elementary School in Clarksburg has been arrested after a juvenile was allegedly exposed to sexually explicit materials in her home in Clarksburg. Troopers began an investigation after a domestic incident was reported at the home of Teresa Stutler, 45, of Clarksburg, November 1 when a juvenile…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown firefighters extinguished a fire in the apartments above the Phoenix Bakery at the intersection of Brockway Avenue and Kingwood Streets Sunday. The fire was dispatched just after 6 p.m. and was reported to be under control around 6:30 p.m. No damage estimate is available and the cause is under investigation. The…

MONONGALIA, COUNTY, W.Va. — Detectives from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department have concluded the investigation into a fatal crash January 19 on the I-68 eastbound bridge over Cheat Lake. January 19 deputies from the sheriff’s department responded to a report of a jack-knifed tractor-trailer driven by Sukhjinder Singh, of New York. Singh told deputies he…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Mine Rescue team continues to stand out on both a national and international level. WVU Director of Mining and Industrial Extension Josh Brady announced that the team has once again won the Intercollegiate Mine Emergency Rescue Development competition, making it the third straight time the team has won…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mylan Park will soon add hockey to the long list of sports offered to the community when construction of the new hockey facility is complete. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” executive director of the Mylan Park Foundation Ron Justice said the estimated cost is $15 million and the Hazel Ruby McQuain…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Harrison County Sheriffs Office Tax Division is proud to acknowledge the the efforts of staff to collect more than $12 million in delinquent taxes from January of 2017 through December of 2024. Under the leadership of retired Chief Tax Deputy Jim Terango and former Sheriff Robert Matheny Sr., collections totaled $12,007,897.65…

BEDFORD CO., Va. — Former Morgantown city councilman and upstart lawyer was arrested in connection with a series of commercial burglaries in Virginia. Ryan Wallace, of Roanoke County, Va., was arrested at his home Thursday after police found items linked to several burglaries in his home as part of the investigation, according to a report…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University will host Merit Badge University for members of Scouting of America from six states this weekend. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” the first female President of the Mountaineer Area Council Executive Council Amy Garbrick said the scouts will be trained by the staff and faculty from WVU which…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The trial for a Michigan accused of a double murder in Harrison County extend into next week. Allen Leon “Unc” Schaffer, II, 43, of Carson City, Michigan, is on trial formurders of Chasity Wilkinson Romeo, 33, and Corey Steven Snider, 43. In June of 2022, firefighters responded to a fire in a…

GYPSY, W.Va. — Deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department made one arrest after a pursuit involving a side-by-side Thursday in the Gypsy area. Deputies said James Short, 35, was operating a side-by-side on the Gypsy Bridge with a headlight out and no registration when they attempted to make a traffic stop. When deputies activated…

TAYLOR COUNTY, W.Va. — An unknown number of students were evaluated at the Grafton City Hospital after an accident involving a school bus Friday morning. Unconfirmed reports indicate a passenger car hit the side of a bus carrying students to class causing minor damage. All of the students on the bus and the driver were…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office announced that they have made multiple arrests in connection to a series of telecommunication cable thefts that have occurred over the past year. Garrett Weeder, 35, of Gans, Pennsylvania, Jeffrey Howell, 38, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania and Saviour McDonald, 25, of Morgantown, each face multiple charges for allegedly…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va – An employee has filed a lawsuit against the City of Morgantown that alleges that they failed to protect employees from persistent sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The complaint was filed by Sarahlin Duley, an engineering technician in the city’s Engineering and Public Works Department, which details allegations of unwanted physical…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown and Anthony Rowand, through legal counsel from Mountain State Justice, have agreed to settle a class action lawsuit involving the city’s now-repealed panhandling law. According to a filing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia Wednesday, the proposed settlement would stipulate that the…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. — The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has notified members of government plans to cut special recruitment and retention pay. The move will affect 23,000 employees, and the union has asked the Trump administration to reconsider the decision. National AFGE president Brandy Moore White released a statement saying in part,” These…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Fairmont State University Board of Governors has announced plans to hire a consultant to conduct a presidential assessment for Dr. Michael Davis, who is under contract through June 30. Davis, the 27th president of the institution, began work as president in July of 2023 after serving as the chief of staff…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown is ready to move forward with an approximately $45.31 million city budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. City Finance Director Jonathan Furgison presented the proposed budget in front of the Morgantown City Council during their monthly committee of the whole Tuesday night, where he reported that revenues and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — he Morgantown Utility Board announced that the quality of the water used by their customers has surpassed regulation standards. Chief Operator of the Morgantown Utility Board’s Robert B. Creel Water Treatment Plant, John Smerka, reported that the testing of the water supply that pumps nearly 3.7 billion gallons of water to MUB…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Funding allocations towards a Morgantown Utility Board infrastructure project will be allowed to be transferred over to another MUB-focused project. The Monongalia County Commission approved that approximately $300,000 in remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated for sanitary sewer upgrades to the Morgantown Industrial Park can be transferred over to the…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – A deadly accident involving a dirt bike is under investigation in Harrison County. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office reported a two-vehicle accident involving a dirt bike took place on Langtown Road in the Bridgeport area on Wednesday which resulted in at least one fatality. The accident reportedly occurred at around 11:30 a.m.…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Three men, which included a key witness in an ongoing murder trial, have been charged after officers found a loaded firearm and fentanyl during a traffic stop in Clarksburg. The Clarksburg Police Department reported that officers observed a vehicle in the area of E Main Street “with a brake light that was…

MORGANTOWN, WVa. — The director and two members of the world-class WVU Esports team visited the students at South Middle School to talk about careers Wednesday. Director of WVU Esports Competitive Josh Steger and WVU Esports professionals Noah Johnson and Jarrett Birch talked to the 7th graders about video games, the WVU program, and career…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. –– The Fairmont State University Day of Giving is a 24-hour event to encourage alumni and the community to support the many programs at the institution. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” President Mike Davis said this year he’ll be engaged for the entire 24 hours and will skip the three-hour nap he…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown doctor has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for filing false tax returns. Dr. David Anderson, 64, filed false tax returns that understated his taxable income and falsely claimed a business loss of $143,599 over a four year period to the Internal Revenue Service. Anderson will also serve…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A capital improvement project to build a new athletic complex at University High School has reached a financial milestone. Co-Chairs of the Sports Complex at UHS Committee Heidi Metheny and her husband Greg announced to the Monongalia County Board of Education that over $2.6 million has been contributed by a combination of…

GRAFTON, W.Va. —  A Pennsylvania man will serve up to 20 years in prison for charges related to a shooting at the Grafton Walmart in 2023 and a pursuit that followed. William Jenkins, 24, of Friendsville, PA, was sentenced on Monday to 14-20 years in prison for firing multiple shots inside the Grafton Walmart on…

WASHINGTON COUNTY, W.Va. — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a fatal tree cutting accident in Washington County. James Krapp, 71, was killed at the scene of the accident in a wooded area off Meadow Road in Hanover Township. Investigators believe the accident happened Monday sometime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Krapp was pronounced dead…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Maryland man has been charged with making terroristic threats after an incident in the Mon Health Medical Center emergency room Sunday. Deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department said John Carbaugh, 71, of Frostburg, Md., was being discharged when he became agitated and threatened to kill workers and police. Carbaugh was…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University announced that current president of Coastal Carolina University, Michael “Mike” T. Benson, will be the 27th president of the university. WVU made the official announcement on Monday after the WVU Board of Governors approved moving forward with contract negotiations with Benson in a 15-2 vote. WVU Board of Governors…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  A Mercer County-based nonprofit will host a donation drop-off in Morgantown to help those affected by severe flooding in the southern part of the Mountain State. Bluejay Rising will host ‘Hauling Hope’ on Tuesday, February 25, at the Morgantown Farmers Market Pavilion starting at 8 a.m., where trucks intended to travel to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The longtime winter tradition in the City of Morgantown has once again found multiple ways to contribute to the community. Organizers with the Morgantown Urban Archery Deer Hunt announced that 143 deer were harvested as part of the 2024 iteration of the hunt, which resulted in over 1,300 pounds of ground venison…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A Fairmont resident has been charged after an investigation into animal cruelty. David Griffin, 57, was charged with five counts of animal cruelty after an investigation found four dogs and a deceased dog were left in a Gilboa Street home. The investigation began when deputies responded to a report of a dog…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Titan Roofing and WVRC Media will host a donation collection event at the Suncrest Towne Centre for flood victims in southern West Virginia. Trucks will be located across from the Five Guys and Jimmy John’s location from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, February 21 to collect relief supplies. Staff will be…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  The Mountain Area Council of Scouting America has entered into a partnership with West Virginia University Rifle. Scout Executive for the Mountain Area Council, Scott Hanson The arrangement will be an exciting opportunity for the scouts, and WVU rifle members will have a place to practice closer than the Pennsylvania location that has…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Board of Education (BOE) has reached out to state legislatures to discuss their priorities heading into 2025. Less than two months away from the 2024 general election and less than a month from the start of the special session in Charleston, representatives from the West Virginia House of Delegates,…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Chairman of the West Virginia Academy, Jon Treu, testified before the House Educational Choice Subcommittee Friday and talked about two concerns—money and oversight. Treu said they receive the opposite in both areas compared to traditional public schools across the state. Traditional public schools have access to funds from property taxes, funds through…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Traffic restrictions on North High Street are scheduled to begin Monday for sewer work. Monday, February 24 through Friday, February 28 crews from the Morgantown Utility Board plan to begin the process of re-lining sewer pipes between Fife and Prospect Streets between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists should expect traffic disruptions…

Written by Savannah Jones MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With temperatures consistently below freezing this winter, many members of the unhoused community are left without shelter for several hours of the day due to staffing issues at the city’s emergency shelters. Morgantown is home to several shelters for the homeless, including Hazel’s House of Hope. The facility…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After an executive session lasting nearly seven hours the West Virginia University Board of Governors has confidentially selected their top candidate. BOG Chairman Richard Pill said the members had robust discussions about a range of topics but did not take any action, but did decide on their top candidate in the search…

REYNOLDSVILLE, W.Va. — A man was rescued and taken to the hospital after trying to save a dog that fell into a frozen pond Wednesday morning in Harrison County. The Reynoldsville Volunteer Fire Department and EMS crews responded to a call on a remote spot by Water Slide Road just before 8:45 a.m. on Feb.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown woman is behind bars after police allege she was using methamphetamine and hallucinating while taking care of a toddler. Casey Wiles, 33, called 911 around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday and reported that someone was trying to get into her home. When troopers from the West Virginia State Police arrived Wiles began…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An unidentified driver suffered unspecified injuries in a crash into the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place late Thursday morning. Around 11:25 a.m., the driver was northbound on Don Knotts Boulevard (heading into Morgantown) when officials believe he may have suffered a medical emergency. The vehicle went across the median and southbound lanes…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Titan Roofing and WVRC Media will host a donation collection event at the Suncrest Towne Centre for flood victims in southern West Virginia. Trucks will be located across from the Five Guys and Jimmy John’s location from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, February 21, to collect relief supplies. Staff will be…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Virginia woman will serve 30 years in prison for a 2022 Morgantown murder. Tracey Hamby, 33, was convicted of second-degree murder in October of 2024 in connection with the 2022 shooting death of Matthew Vaughn at an apartment on Van Gilder Avenue in Morgantown. Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Cindy Scott…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The popular talent show hosted by students at Morgantown High School is ready to take place on Saturday. The 17th Annual Mohigan Idol will take place on Saturday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Theatre in downtown Morgantown, where 20 students from elementary school all the way up to high…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Another step towards the completion of the Longview Power pipeline project has been given the green light by the Monongalia County Commission. The commission unanimously approved a Measuring and Regulation Station easement as part of the project at the behest of Hope Gas during their regular meeting Wednesday. Monongalia County Commissioner Sean…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University announced that four finalists will compete in a cheer-off to see who will become the 71st West Virginia University Mountaineer. Senior marketing major Justin Waybright, Senior marketing major Rachel Morgan, Junior accounting major Cade Kincaid and third-year medical student Thaiddeus “Ted” Dillie were selected as finalist by the Mountaineer…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — The Preston County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Newburg woman on charges of gross child neglect. Rita Osorio, 45, of Newburg, is in custody after deputies responded to an emergency medical services call to a residence on Foggy Bottom Lane in Newburg. According to the criminal complaint, Osorio was allegedly identified by authorities…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A former coach for West Virginia University’s football team who was arrested last year shortly after Halloween has had the charge against him dropped. Jordan Lesley, 44, was arrested on Nov. 9 on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge and was placed in the North Central Regional Jail with bail set at $5,000.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Firefighters in Morgantown responded to two calls for help Tuesday night during very cold conditions. The first call just after 9 p.m. to the 100 block of Hoffman Avenue ended up being a malfunctioning furnace. Just after 11 p.m. firefighters got the secnd call to the 1200 block of Richwood Avenue. Firefighters…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown has a new candidate eligible to run for city council in the upcoming municipal election as the call for more police officers to join the force continues. Morgantown City Clerk Christine Wade announced during Morgantown City Council’s regular meeting Tuesday that Jason Reed has been approved to be…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown City Council has approved revisions to two separate city funds to account for health insurance benefits along with three projects and programs. The council unanimously approved adjustments to the City of Morgantown General Fund and the City Capital Escrow Fund that will be used to assist with insurance payments for…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown man has been charged with animal cruelty after officers found a “severely emaciated” dog while responding to a dispute. Jerome Williams, 55, of Morgantown, was arrested after officers with the Morgantown Police Department were called to assist with a dispute at a residence on Maryland Street involving three people on…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Police Department has arrested nine people in connection with an assault that took place in downtown Morgantown in early February. According to criminal complaints found in Monongalia County Magistrate Court, Eli Marva, 22 of Uniontown and Rylan Rock, 18 of Clarksburg have each been charged with felony malicious assault after…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. – A former Hopemont Hospital registered nurse who has been charged with malicious neglect of an incapacitated adult causing death will have her case heard in Preston County Circuit Court. Delilah Clyburn-Hill was determined by Preston County Magistrate Bo Ward to have probable cause to move the case over to circuit court as…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Geno Chiarelli, R, Monongalia, 78, has introduced two pieces of legislation that make major changes and settle a controversial issue. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Chiarelli said House Bill 2382 would ban camping in municipal and public areas. Similar efforts have been attempted in other cities across the state, and in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown area appears to have avoided serious flooding and ice-related damages after intense winter storms over the Presidents’ Day weekend. MECCA 911 Executive Director Jim Smith offered an update on WAJR’s Talk of the Town Monday, where he reported that no serious injuries were reported as first responders assisted just over…

MONONGAH, W.Va. — Two former officers of the Monongah Elementary School Parent Teacher organization have been charged with fraud in connection with spent funds from the organization. Former officers, President Kayla Davis and Treasurer Megan Colisino have been arrested by state police for several counts of fraud. Investigators sais the pair used funds from the…

MORGANTOWN, W,Va. — After eight years as auditor, J.B. McCuskey is prepared to transfer those skills to continue helping counties and municipalities across the state. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” McCuskey said he’s very much accustomed to working with local government units. His efforts to establish WVCheckbook.gov and work with the Public Integrity and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Small business confidence in West Virginia is reserved based on a report from the National Federation of Independent Business. Director of the West Virginia chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Gil White, reported on WAJR’s Talk of the Town Friday that the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell by…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Delegate Geno Chiarelli, R, Monongalia, 78, is the lead sponsor of House Bill 2382 that would ban camping in municipal areas. The bill by Chiarelli, Vice Chairman of the House Public Health Committee, makes camping on municipal property a misdemeanor. A first offense is punishable by a fine of up to $100,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown area teens are prepared to compete in the 2025 Miss Morgantown Pageant for a chance to win scholarship prizes. The pageant is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 15, at the South Middle School Auditorium, where eleven contestants will compete for six titles as part of the Miss Morgantown and…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Harrison County Board of Education has released details on their investigation into a recent cyber attack on their computer network. In a post on social media, officials said it is likely that the information of some current, and past employees was likely compromised. The BOE acknowledges the importance in determining the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– West Virginia University Police and the campus community searched for a missing Berkley County teen Friday. A Community Notice was issued after Jason Busse, 19, was reported missing after last being seen entering the Core Arboretum near the Coliseum around noon. Hours later officials reported the second-year criminology major had been found…

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. — North Central West Virginia farms and small businesses are ready to welcome guests inside their establishments to see how all things with maple sugar are created. The 10th Annual Mountain State Maple Days will take place on Saturday, February 15, where farms across the Mountain State will offer free tours and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee wants to increase public engagement with their state leaders as part of the 2025 legislative session. Committee Chair Dale Sparks announced that they will host weekly legislative update Zoom calls starting on Sunday, February 16, as part of an effort to reach out to voters as…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Students from Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC) will showcase their work at Career Technical Education (CTE) Day on Friday, February 14, in Charleston. MTEC Principal Greg Dausch said the students will be joined by several other programs in the state to advocate for CTE. “We’re gonna be sending 50 students down…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –One of the few elected Democrats a part of the West Virginia House of Delegates is prepared to have a contentious legislative session at the state capitol. Monongalia County Delegate Evan Hansen discussed some of his early struggles to pass basic legislation on WAJR’s Talk of the Town on Thursday, where he described…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of the largest economic developments in Monongalia County is on track to be expanded. The Monongalia County Commission unanimously approved an application to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development that would expand the Harmony Grove TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District by 85 acres. This was approved at the request of…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – A Pennsylvania man a part of a year long child sexual abuse investigation was arrested by authorities at the Meadowbrook Mall. Members of the U.S. Marshals Mountain State Fugitive Task Force arrested Mark Wills, 60, in Bridgeport on Thursday Wills on charges of manufacturing and dissemination of child sexual abuse materials to…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – A West Virginia resident has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy operating in the northern part of the state. Joshua Noel, 42, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Noel was found guilty of his role…

TERRA ALTA, W.Va. — A 37 year old Terra Alta has been charged with felony hit-and-run after a January incident that injured a pedestrian. The investigation began January 17 on Gregg’s Memorial Drive when deputies responded and found the pedestrian suffering from extensive injuries. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Kenneth McRobie, 37, of…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — A Kingwood resident has been charged after an investigation into child pornography by the Preston County Sheriff’s Department. On Wednesday, deputies arrested Oscaldo Ramirez, 63, after detectives determined he had downloaded numerous images of child pornography. Ramirez has been charged with distribution and exhibition of child pornography and is being held on…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Voters in the Morgantown municipal election will have more ballot issues than candidates to decide in April. Wards 2, 4, and 6 are on the ballot, but the only contested race is in the Sixth Ward between Mark Downs and Stephanie Hunt. Voters will decide the fate of Morgantown’s camping ban legislation…

HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — One person was hospitalized with injuries suffered in a Wednesday night house fire in Harrison County. Firefighters were called to the fire on Maken Road off U.S. 50 at 8:20 p.m. and found a working fire. One person was transported by ground ambulance from the scene with unspecified injuries. Firefighters from…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials from the Privacy and Security Center at Mon Health are cautioning residents about scammers trying to get personal information from current and former patients. Members of the community have received calls from scammers using a number spoofing technique to make it appear as if they are an official from Mon Health.…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –– New state senator Chris Rose, R, Monongalia, 2, and chairman of the Senate Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee, has yet to chair a meeting but already has ideas to promote West Virginia energy options on a world stage. On MetroNews “Talkline,” Rose said regulations should be examined and policies should promote our…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — A malfunction in a piece of machinery in a maintenance building on the Pratt & Whitney Engine Services campus in Bridgeport early Wednesday was quickly extinguished by multiple fire departments. Bridgeport Fire Chief Phil Hart said they received the dispatch at 4:50 a.m. Wednesday. “We conducted a quick attack on the fire…

AUDRA, W.Va. — Police in Buckhannon have arrested a 44 year old Audra man after he allegedly strangled a child. Woodie Cole, II, 44, is accused of kicking down a door Monday, smacking the child in the face and slamming him against a wall. Cole then took the child to the ground and started strangling…

RIVESVILLE, W.Va. — State police have charged a Rivesville man with child neglect causing injury after he fled the scene of a crash and did not seek treatment for injuries suffered in a traffic crash. Troopers were called to the accident scene on Fairmont Road on January 15 and learned Samuel Borelli, 32, fled the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The final candidate list of who is running for Morgantown City Council in the upcoming municipal election has been officially released. The Morgantown City Clerk’s Office announced that four of the six individuals who submitted candidacy packets to run for council have been verified by City Clerk Christine Wade and will be…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) is ready to start the next phases of two multi-million dollar infrastructure projects after a brief delay to start in 2025. After nearly two weeks of delays caused by winter weather and sub-zero temperatures, MUB General Manager Mike McNulty announced that piping for the approximately $14 million…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The city of Fairmont is in the process of transferring ownership of up to 50 lots in the city as a result of recent blight removal efforts. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” City Manager Travis Blosser said the program was boosted by $468,000 received through the state Department of Environmental Protection…

PHILIPPI, W.Va. — The Barbour County Sheriff’s Department announced that one of their deputies has passed away. According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, Deputy Todd Deffet was reported to have died with no details released on the circumstances of his death. In the post left by the department, Deffet leaves behind a…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police arrested four suspects in an ongoing drug investigation after a search of a Pleasant Valley home. Troopers arrested Chad McGee, 52, Nicole Fike, 36, Denzil Masters, 50, and Larry Cleliand for their continuing felonious drug activities from the home. Troopers said methamphetamine, fentanyl, illegal and stolen firearms were…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Faculty Senate continues to express concerns over the changes to federal funding that could affect the long-term future of sponsored research. Less than two days after an executive order was issued by President Donald J. Trump that would cap the indirect costs for grants issued by the National…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Seasonal flu activity is on the rise, and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show type “A” and “B” influenza strains are the most reported by health professionals. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Dr. Matthew Lokant from WVU Medicine said numbers are on the rise in the Mountain State,…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are looking for tips to find the person responsible for a power plant break in in December of 2023. Agents said a white male in his late 20’s or early 30’s, 5-feet 9-inches or 5-feet 10-inches tall, about 170 pounds is seen on surveillance video…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A homeless man engaged in a lawsuit against the city of Morgantown claiming his First Amendment rights have been violated is caught police body cam video saying his attorney told him he needs more citations. The exchange happened in October of 2024 in the middle of Route 119 at the intersection of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Commissioners in Monongalia County and across the state line in Greene County, Pennsylvania, are building a relationship that could erase that border and increase economic development opportunities. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Chairman of the Greene County Commission, Jared Edgreen, said meetings between the two elected bodies are ongoing in an…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Motorists were greeted Friday with a surprise closure of I-68 westbound for most of the day. The closure was first reported around 6 a.m. and extended until approximately 2 p.m. The closure resulted in some traffic taking to the I-68 median to reverse course or diverting to northbound I-79. Traffic diverted to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A second suspect has been charged in the November 2023 killing Richard Hall in Morgantown. Damir Swann, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, has also been charged with conspiracy and first degree murder in the case. Melvin Garth, 28, also of Detroit, was arrested earlier this week and also charged with conspiracy and first…

COOPERS ROCK, W.Va. — Snow or no snow, the Coopers Rock Winter Fest is planned for Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Coopers Rock Foundation Board member for more than 30 years Adam Polinski said the activities are free, proceeds from concession sales, and donations will…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Texas man convicted of leading a Morgantown-based drug operation has been sentenced to more than 15 in federal prison. Anthony Allen, 38, had drugs shipped to the Morgantown area from California and Texas. Investigators said Allen maintained dealer-level quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and crack cocaine. Allen maintained a storage unit in…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — West State Police have arrested a 63 year old man in connection with an attempted kidnapping at a Clarksburg bus stop last fall. Troopers said Kenneth Arnett grabed the girl’s wrist in October of 2024 at 6:30 a.m. and tried to pull into bushes as she walked to her East View bus…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. — Deputies from the Preston County Sheriff’s Department recovered a stolen car and arrested a suspect in an attempted murder investigation in Maryland Wednesday. The vehicle was reported stolen from the Cuzzart area and had been spotted just across the state line in Maryland in Cranesville. When deputies spotted the car, the…

CHEAT LAKE, W.Va. — Detectives from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department report they are examining the role a semi-truck may have played in a fatal accident on I-68 eastbound on the Cheat Lake Bridge January 19. The driver of the passenger car, Kevin Lataille of Smithfield, Pennsylvania, 59, was killed in the accident. Sheriff Todd…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown area avoided most of the severe weather conditions overnight Wednesday but set a rainfall record. The Morgantown area received 1.59 inches of rain Wednesday, topping the record of 1.41 inches recorded on the same day in 1955. MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Jeff Nordeen said areas to the east received significant amounts…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Marion County School System will increase school safety measures with several new technology updates. One update includes adding facial recognition technology entrances to nearly half of the schools in the county, according to Superintendent Donna Heston. [We received] a grant from the school building authority for 2.7 million dollars to undertake…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Two Maryland men are behind bars following a pursuit that originated in Ohio and ended in Monongalia County. Troopers with the West Virginia State Police identified a car associated with a felony theft report in Logan, Ohio and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on I-79 northbound near the Goshen Road.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown City Clerk’s Office has officially presented an updated list of candidates running for city council in the upcoming municipal election. Less than a week before the deadline to file as a candidate for council for the April 29 election, Morgantown City Clerk Christine Wade announced that five candidates from the…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The suspect in a November 2024 bar shooting in Fairmont has been indicted on multiple counts connected with the incident. Anya Taylor, 32, allegedly shot a male victim twoce at TG’s Bar and Lounge during an altercation. The victim, identified as Joseph Douglas was later flown to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown firefighters responded to a two-story blaze in a single family home Wednesday morning. Firefighters were dispatched to the home on Montrose Avenue with flames showing through the roof at 7:05 a.m. and arrived in four minutes, 30-seconds. The fire was under control in less than 13 minutes. All occupoants in the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– A Detroit man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in the 500 block of Brockway Avenue in November of 2023. Melvin Garth, 28 has been charged with first degree murder and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail. According to police, Richard Demoan Hall, 39, was found…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A fire on a railroad trestle in Clarksburg is under investigation. Units from Clarksburg police and fire were called to the bridge near Peck Street over Elk Creek at 3:30 a.m. and quickly put the fire out. Officials believe the fire may have been started by a person staying under the bridge.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One of the longest-tenured members on Morgantown City Council will not seek another term in office. Less than a week before the deadline to file as a candidate for council in the 2025 Morgantown Municipal Election, Second Ward Councilor Bill Kawecki announced at the end of the council’s regular meeting Tuesday that…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A lease that would move forward on the development of the largest hangar at the Morgantown Municipal Airport has been given the initial green light by the city officials. The Morgantown City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an agreement between the airport and Shaft Drillers International, where the contracting company…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department made four arrests in an ongoing fentanyl investigation Monday. Deputies said they found evidence of drug use, paraphernalia, packaging materials, and 13 grams of a white powdery substance suspected to be fentanyl prepared for sale. Deputies arrested Mirranda Godrey, 44, Samantha Sease, 32, Jeremy Markley,…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Morgantown man accused of attempting to buy a child in Mexico will serve 10 years in federal prison for failing to update his sex offender registry before traveling internationally. Scott David Bixler, 43, was arrested in Mexico, where investigators believed he attempted to purchase a 7-year-old girl. Court documents said Bixler…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A 15-year-old reported missing from Kanawha County could be headed to the Morgantown area, according the St. Albans Police Department. Isaiah Kurtis Hawes, 15, was reported missing Jan. 29 and was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, dark gray sweatpants and brown/tan Air Jordan shoes. The juvenile’s mother told police he…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny has released the identity of remains found in the Owings area on January 29. The joint operation between the FBI and Harrison County Sheriff’s Department recovered remains now identified as Christa Merrill of Fairmont. Merrill had been reported missing in August of 2024. Additional testing is required…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Tracy L. Rose has been found after not being heard from for more than a week. Officials with the sheriff’s office announced in a Facebook post Monday night that Rose was found alive after she made contact with the office at around 4 p.m. that…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — The City of Westover is still on track to start on two large-scale infrastructure projects following the West Virginia Department of Highways maintenance work on Holland Avenue to start the month of February. As DOH crews continue work on addressing potholes just north of the Westover Bridge near downtown Morgantown, Westover Director…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Warm Up Wednesday (Feb. 5) will be held in downtown Morgantown to help raise money for the Monongalia County Warming Shelter operated by Catholic Charities West Virginia. The night of music, comedy, food, and drinks runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Co-Op at 131 Pleasant Street. On WAJR’s “Talk…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown woman has been charged after witnesses told police she strangled a 15-year-old and hit a 12-year-old in the lower back, causing visible injuries. Thursday, Morgantown police responded to a domestic incident on Glenn Street and made contact with Shanna Rice, 37, and a 15-year-old. Witnesses told police Rice was arguing…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — TheMonongalia County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a 57-year old female who has last had contact with her familys about a week ago. Tracy L. Rose is dewscribed as a white female, 5-feet 5-inches tall, 136 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes. According to family members, they last spoke to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Student Government Association (SGA) has called for more collaboration with the City of Morgantown to address sidewalk safety around campus. WVU SGA Local Governance Liaison Mimi Ferguson and SGA Senator Kate Magrogan presented details to city officials on their most recent biannual Safety and Accessibility walk that took…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The board that allocates opioid settlement funds to areas of the Mountain State affected by the crisis has plans to improve the application process for local organizations. West Virginia First Foundation Executive Director Jonathan Board and Board Chairman Matt Harvey discussed some of the changes that are set to be implemented by…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The 2025 legislative session will start February 12 and run through April 12 in Charleston. Monongalia County Delegate Joe Statler, R, 77, wants to increase school safety, give more discipline tools to teachers, and find new funding sources for fire and EMS units in the state. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,”…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — The state Division of Highways plans a pothole blitz on Holland Avenue next week that is expected to disrupt traffic. From Monday Feb 1 through Friday, February 7, 2025 crews will work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to repair potholes that have resulted from severe winter weather. Next month, construction on…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Officials from Hope Gas report activities associated with the Sunday explosion in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood have been completed. Crews are replacing a section of pipeline on South Chestnut Street that was not associated with the Sunday events. According to an update from the company, Hope Gas crews have been working around…

KINGMONT, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police and the State Fire Marshal are investigating a fire in a vacant Fairmont building. Firefighters from the Valley Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched 9:05 p.m. Thursday to a fire of unknown origin at a location in Pleasant Valley that was unclear. Firefighters then located an abandoned house on…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Greer Industries has announced plans to open the Greer Asphalt plant on Feb. 4, 2025, to support ongoing road repair efforts. The opening will help the state Division of Highways address damage caused by harsh winter conditions. “We recognize the immediate need for quality asphalt to repair and improve our roads following…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council will consider an amendment to the city’s charter that would replace masculine pronouns with non-gendered language. For example, current language in Section 3.04, Powers and duties of the city manager uses the pronoun “he,” saying, “He” shall appoint, and when “he” deems it necessary for the good of the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mylan Park is ready to host their first indoor activity event as part of their annual “Keep Your Kids Movin’” event series. The Mylan Park Indoor Field Day will take place on Monday, January 20, at the Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center starting at 11 a.m., where a variety of activities…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The southbound side of I-79 in Marion County reopened around 5:45 p.m. after at least four accidents Friday afternoon. Accident reports began coming in around 4:30 Friday afternoon and by 5 p.m. the southbound side was closed. No information has been released about the accidents as of 6 p.m. Friday.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The front entrance to the Mountainlair has been closed due to falling ice, according to a social media post from WVU Safety & Wellness. Officials are asking students to use the side door beside the Mountaineer statue, or the ADA entrance by the Student Engagement and Leadership offices. No other information is…

WHITE HALL, W.Va. — One person was transported after being hit by a vehicle in the Fairmont Walmart parking lot Friday morning. The incident was reported at 12:12 p.m. and the unidentified patient was transported with unspecified injuries. The White Hall Police Department, deputies from the Marion County Sheriffs Department responded and membersof the Valley…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The beleaguered crews clearing roads for the state Department of Highways (DOH) are preparing for yet another winter weather event. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Chief Engineer for Special Projects Jacob Bumgarner said the workers have been working 24-hour shifts at least for the last four weeks. So far, the feedback…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Beginning this fall, West Virginia University is launching WVU Guarantee, a new last-dollar-in program that will provide funding to cover the costs of tuition and university fees for incoming and current in-state students. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management Steve Hahn said this is a very…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Thursday afternoon multiple vehicle crash on Cheat Road caused an extensive backup onto the Mileground Thursday. The four-vehicle crash was reported around 2:40 p.m. and there is no information about injuries. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department and firefighters from Brookhaven, Cheat Lake, and Morgantown responded.

WESTON, W.Va. –– The Lewis County Sheriff’s Department is searching for a missing 31-year old male who has not been in contact with his family for an extended period of time. Jeremy McCartney is described as a 31 year old white mal, 5-feet 9-inches tall, 165 pounds, Brown hair and eyes with neck tattoos. Information…

MORGANTOWN,W.Va. — The latest winter weather system is expected to bring accumulating snow to the region Thursday into Thursday night, followed by another blast of very cold air. MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Jason Caterina said he expects snowfall to begin around mid-morning Thursday and continue into the evening. He said the existing ground conditions will likely…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Progress continues to be made on the installation of new traffic lights at the University Town Center in the Town of Granville. Granville Mayor Patty Lewis offered updates during the Monongalia County Commission’s regular meeting Wednesday, where she reported that light pole infrastructure has been built for one of the two University…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission appears to have a positive reaction to the new person appointed as the State Secretary of Transportation. Newly sworn-in Governor Patrick Morrisey submitted a letter received by the commission where he announced the appointment of Department of Highways Chief Engineer Stephen “Todd” Rumbaugh as the new State Transportation…

GRAFTON, W.Va. — In Taylor County, the director of the Office of Emergency Management has been arrested after admitting to using marijuana before driving to a Emergency Medical Services Board meeting last week. Officers from the Grafton Police Department responded Jan. 9 on a report of a DUI at the Taylor County Court House. There,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Schools has exhausted the balance of their Snow Days for the 2024-25 school year and continue to watch winter weather forecasts that provide no relief. Superintendent Eddie Campbell said transporting about 12,000 students to and from school buildings throughout the county requires a different set of considerations than parents experienced…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Contractors working with the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) projects appear to have been affected by the recent winter weather. MUB General Manager Mike McNulty offered updates on the Cheat Lake Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) project and the Westridge/Chaplin Hill Water and Sewer infrastructure project to the MUB Board of Directors during…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The addition of extra security at Monongalia County Schools has just been given another green light. The Monongalia County Board of Education (BOE) unanimously approved the hiring of five school safety officers (SSOs) less than a month after the Monongalia County Commission approved employment conditions to allow for the new positions in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Visit Mountaineer Country Convention and Visitors Bureau (VMC) has announced a groundbreaking project to transform the region into a premier destination for gravel cycling and outdoor adventure- Mountaineer Gravel. The project is the largest taken on by VMC in the last eight years and Mountaineer Gravel is expected to be a key…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Three new West Virginia-made electric school buses and the charging infrastructure will be unveiled in Morgantown Wednesday. Monongalia County Schools will add three Green Power Motor “BEAST” buses to their fleet. Green Power Motor plans to have their buses in almost every county of the state following a purchase approved by the…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — One person was killed in an accident on Blue Horizon Drive in Monongalia County Tuesday morning. Deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department said at 5:25 a.m. an SUV traveling northbound crossed the centerline and struck a semi-truck head on. The driver of the SUV was declared deceased at the scene.…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Bridgeport pursuit reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour ended with a car through a Clarksburg home and one person behind bars. Bridgeport police observed Daylin Antonio Smith driving 93 in a 70 mile per hour zone on southbound I-79 on Jan. 5 around 2:28 a.m. When police attempted to stop…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Fairmont man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after admitting to his role in selling fentanyl laced pills in the area. Emmanuel D. Gibson, 34, fled from Westover police when they tried to make a traffic stop. Police recovered fentanyl laced pills, other controlled substances, and two firearms after…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It is municipal election season in the city of Morgantown. Election day in Morgantown is Tuesday, April 29 and the polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The application deadline for an absentee ballot is April 23, 2025 and the last day to register to vote is April 7,2025.…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two local lawmakers from opposing parties are attending the inauguration of Patrick Morrisey today. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Democrat State Senator Joey Garcia, Marion, 13, said it is important to show his support regardless of party affiliation. “As a person duly elected by the citizens of Marion and Monongalia Counties,…

BARBOUR COUNTY, W.Va. — An early morning fire at a Barbour County coal has been been extinguished and no injuries have been reported. The fire was reported at 1 a.m. at the Leer South Mine just outside Philippi. Unconfirmed reports indicate the fire was minor and the cause is under investigation. Operations at the mine…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Catholic Charities Grace Warming Shelter has had about 25 residents in recent days as the bitter cold temperatures briefly move out of the area. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Director Dr. Jessica Thompson said they have yet to hit capacity since the shelter was expanded to 30 with approval from…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — The Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department led a water rescue Friday afternoon at the Cooper’s Rock Trout Pond. Firefighters responded at 12:28 p.m. and quickly recovered the patient from the icy water and put him in the care Monongalia EMS who also responded to the scene. The Brookhaven Volunteer Fire Department,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown will receive federal funding to support the Multimodal Morgantown Project planned for the Dorsey Avenue area. The Office of Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Morgantown city officials each made announcements that the city has been awarded $8 million to the city as part of the United States Department…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Commissioners in Monongalia County elected leadership, approved the hiring of five school safety officers, and answered questions about residency questions at the Catholic Charities Grace warming shelter at Hazel’s House of Hope. Commissioners unanimously elected Jeff Arnett as president and Tom Bloom as president pro tem for 2025. Commissioners also approved five…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the State Senate are selecting leadership as part of Organization Day in preparation for the 2025 legislative session. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Mike Oliverio, R, Monongalia, 13, said members of the senate are selecting leadership and officers to include a new Senate President, Randy Smith, R, Tucker, 14.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Sixth Ward representative on the Morgantown City Council will not seek another term in office. Councilor Dave Harshbarger announced that he will not seek a third term ahead of the start of campaigning for the 2025 Morgantown Municipal Election. Harshbarger, who is the third longest-tenured member on the council, made the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The current pension plans for the City of Morgantown firefighters and police officers are now closed for future hires, as allocations will be made to account for the insurance funds of city employees. The Morgantown City Council voted 6-0 (Councilor Louise ‘Wheez’ Michael was not in attendance) to formally close the city-supported…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) is reminding residents about the dangers of freezing pipes in cold weather and some simple steps to avoid it happening in your home. Some steps to take before the cold arrives are to wrap pipes with insulated covers, foam rubber, or heat tape. Heat tape can be…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL) received $360,000 during the first round of grant awards from the West Virginia First Foundation to expand the transitional housing program. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Executive Director Jonathan Dower said there are many people in regional jails and state prisons that need a place to…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an apparent fatal crash near River Road and Lower Hilderdbrand Road. Deputies responded Monday after witnesses observed a 2003 Ford pickup truck on fire in the ditch. Deputies arrived to find the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The River Road Volunteer Fire Department extinguished…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A winter storm warning continues for the Morgantown area through 7 p.m. Monday. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Jeff Nordeen provided overnight accumulation totals for Morgantown’s surrounding areas and said another three inches could fall during the day Monday. “We’re sitting around 2 to 4 inches in Morgantown…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A former member of Morgantown City Council continues to make steps towards recovering from a near-fatal bicycle accident. Monongalia County Republican Committee member and former city councilman Wes Nugent has returned home after an over six-month hospital stay in a Georgia-based hospital and is officially on the long road towards recovering from…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The Morgantown area is bracing for a major winter storm that will usher in bitter cold temperatures for the next week. According to MetroNews AccuWeather, a winter storm watch goes into effect Sunday at 1 p.m. and continues through 7 p.m. Monday. A low-pressure system moving out of the Rocky Mountains will…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The rescheduled mercy phase portion of the murder trial for a Fairmont man convicted in the murder of a WVU student will begin next week. Shaudarius Reeder and accomplice Terrell Linear were convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting of Eric Smith at the College Park Apartments in February of 2020. The…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The Catholic Charities West Virginia Warming Shelter at Hazel’s House of Hope is ready for the frigid temperatures and winter weather in the region. Shelter Director Jessica Thompson said the facility on Scott Avenue first opened on December 11 and will operate through March 15. Those in the shelter have access to…

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. — I-79 has reopened in Marion County after crews removed a powerline that had fallen across the roadway. The closure lasted for about 30 minutes at mile marker 130 until crews from Mon Power were able to repair the line. The Valley Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — City Councilors will consider a transfer of funds from the Financial Stabilization Fund to the Life and Health Fund in order to maintain healthcare benefits for city staff. The city uses a self-funded insurance plan for benefit eligible employees. The plan allows the city to tailor benefits to meet the specific needs…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two winter weather makers are inbound to the northern West Virginia area. A winter weather advisory is in effect for the Morgantown area from 4 a.m. Friday through 4 a.m. Saturday. MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Kerry Schwindenhammer said the first system will arrive in the Morgantown area with snow showers around 3 to…

FAIRMONT, WV — Gov. Jim Justice delivered a $2 million investment to expand the Fairmont State University Aviation Center of Excellence Thursday. The money will be used to purchase two new planes, a used Cessna, a new engine, engine rebuilds, and allow an increase in enrollment capacity to 100 students. The investment will enable students…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The man accused in a Morgantown law office standoff has been charged with misdemeanor brandishing. On December 16, Jeremy Harp, 32, went to the Cranston Edwards Law Office to provide a statement regarding the recent conviction of his brother Christopher Harp, 39, for possessing and receiving child pornography. Cranston & Edward attorneys…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — More than 100 people attended a memorial ceremony for Preston County athlete Lane Sines. The nine-year-old died unexpectedly Monday, according to the state police. Sines was active in wrestling and football and was coached by Devin Taylor for the last five years in the Preston County Youth Football Program. “I was a…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The new year will likely see increased activity at the social service hub on Scott Avenue in Morgantown. Catholic Charities West Virginia continues to establish their triage and warming shelter operations; Milan Puskar Health Right is expected to relocate their downtown Morgantown operation to the area, and the remaining partners continue to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — End-of-year storms damaged structures, toppled trees and powerlines, and left thousands without power in Monongalia and Marion Counties on Tuesday. MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Bill Deger said the storm passed between Lumberport and Mannington at about 1:45 p.m. with high winds and isolated reports of pea-sized hail. “Producing wind gusts anywhere between 40…

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. — A New Year’s Eve storm knock about 8,000 Mon Power customer in the dark in Monongalia and Marion Counties. The latest information on the status of power outages is here. The storm passed between Lumberport and Mannington at about 1:45 p.m. with heavy rain, wind gusts of 50-miles per hour and…

ELKINS, W.Va. — Officials in Elkins are working with owner of a troubled property to close it down. The Four Seasons Motel on Harrison Avenue has been cited several times for code violations, and the residents have been accused of nuisance behavior and criminal activity. Last year, members of Elkins City Council authorized Mayor Jerry…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Governor Jim Justice will deliver a $2 million check to Fairmont State University this week to fund an expansion of the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration program. The grant is coming from the Economic Development Authority and will help enhance the first FAA-approved (14 CFR Part 141) flight program in the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Police Department will be on patrol through the New Year’s holiday looking for the possibility of impaired or aggressive drivers to prevent traffic crashes, according to Chief Eric Powell. “They’re definitely mindful of that and paying particular attention to that and paying close attention when they are out doing their…

WASHINGTON D.C. — Second District Congressman-elect Riley Moore has been appointed to the House Appropriations Committee. On MetroNewsTalkline,” Moore said he’s looking forward to getting funding for important projects in West Virginia while trying to cut government spending. His aunt, Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and did so for many…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Commissioners in Monongalia County have approved nearly $1 million in additional broadband expansion and a grant for a new road in Mylan Park to access the new KOA Campground. The most recent broadband expansion effort will be done with Frontier, according to commission president Sean Sikora. A total of 11 miles of…

ELKINS, W.Va. — Deputies from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department are looking for tips from the public to find those responsible for a single vehicle crash Friday on Georgetown Road. Deputies and emergency crews arrived to the accident scene early Friday and found the drive and passenger fled the scene. Any information about the crash…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Commissioners believe 2024 was a year of relationship building, problem solving, and accomplishment. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” all three commissioners, President Sean Sikora, Commissioners Tom Bloom, and Jeff Arnett, said their staff has carried the load of their vision during the year and have performed admirably. The Commission…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Commissioners in Monongalia County are pleased with recent infrastructure accomplishments and spending strategy for money received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Commission President Sean Sikora and commissioners Tom Bloom and Jeff Arnett reviewed projects and spending highlights for the year. Sikora said fellow commissioner…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The next phase of holiday weather is being influenced by a series of low-pressure systems that will produce rain and the possibility of wind gusts and thunderstorms. MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Mike Kennedy said Saturday will be mostly dry, and the unsettled weather begins to arrive in the overnight. “When the front comes…

WESTON, W.Va. — Lewis County Sheriff David Gosa has released a statement regarding the recent child abuse investigation that resulted in two arrests. Gosa said his office and the West Virginia State Police office of Crimes Against Children have working the case since they were first notified on December 7, 2024. Gosa released the statement…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Broadband expansion in Monongalia County is advancing on multiple fronts, leveraging federal coronavirus assistance money to get the most value for the county taxpayer. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” President of the Monongalia County Commission Sean Sikora provided a basic overview. “We have five projects that are now in execution…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The City of Morgantown and the Engineering & Public Works Department will operate the annual Christmas tree pickup and drop-off program from December 30, 2024 through January 10, 2025. The trees must be free of all decorations and lights to be eligible for drop-off or pickup. Pickups will be scheduled by ward…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The weather of 2024 will be remembered for high temperatures, drought, and a record number of twisters on the ground. The current weather system bring warmer air and the chance of precipitation to the area is courtesy of trough of air from the south. MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said in the…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department have arrested and charged on suspect in a Christmas Eve knife attack. Deputies found a knife outside the residence Christmas Eve and found Robert Snell, 41, of Clarksburg, in the kitchen area with blood on his pants. Deputies said the victim, Jason Bell was located…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Agreements have been finalized to move forward with broadband expansion projects in Monongalia County. The Monongalia County Commission approved two separate contracts between the county and Comcast to support broadband infrastructure improvements in three parts of the county. The work will be completed at a combined cost of approximately $1.6 million with…