Local News

(Written by Savannah Jones) CHEAT LAKE W.Va – Locals gathered at beloved family-owned restaurant Ruby and Ketchy’s Friday to celebrate its last day of service after a 66-year run in Cheat Lake. The restaurant, which opened in 1958 across from the Morgantown speedway, announced it would close its doors and reside under new management last…

ELKINS, W.Va. Deputies in Randolph County arrested a 31-year-old man after making false crime reports Thursday at the Walmart off Beverly Five Lane. Deputies from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of an attack on a male juvenile in the bathroom that was made by Stephen Mason, 31. At the scene. Mason…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– A contractor working for the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) will completely close Van Voorhis Road from Sunday, July 28 at 5 a.m. through Monday, July 29 at 5 a.m. As part of the state Department of Highways project to widen Van Voorhis Road, crews with the contractor will be replacing 60-feet of…

CAMP DAWSON, W.Va. The West Virginia National Guard and the Irregular Warfare Center are conducting a major exercise with two training goals. On MetroNews “Talkline,” West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General Bill Crane said Ridge Runner trains soldiers on how to conduct operations in potentially contested areas, and Ridge Healer trains soldiers on how to…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. Members of the Preston County Sheriff’s Department were able to diffuse a mental health episode on Wednesday on the I-68 overpass at exit 29 in Hazelton. Deputies responded after several 911 calls describing a male, possibly in mental distress, getting ready to jump from the bridge. Deputies arrived to find the man…

AURORA, W.Va. Deputies in Preston County have arrested a 39-year-old man after he allegedly fired a weapon near his home while a family was inside. On Wednesday, deputies responded to a residence on Brookside Road in Aurora for a shots fired call and observed Donald Nair, 39, of Aurora, with a loaded firearm in his…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police have arrested a 48-year-old Morgantown man after they allege he threatened and yelled racial slurs at a family on Majestic Drive on Sunday, July 14. The family told troopers; they were driving down the street when James Hamlin yelled at them that they did not belong there while…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Schools are looking to fill several teacher openings as the 2024–25 school year approaches. The numbers change frequently, but at press time there were nine elementary school, three high school, and two pre-K/Headstart teaching positions available. Superintendent Eddie Campbell said the district has an engaged board of education and a…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Paving operations in Morgantown on Brockway Avenue are expected to be done in the eveing hours from the intersection of Sruce Street to Hartman Run Road to ease traffic congestion during the day. Beginning Wednesday, July 24 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., crews for the state Department of Highways (DOH) will…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  The 2023 Community Report from Monongalia EMS details accomplishments and challenges over the period and shows the importance of support from the community and elected officials. Executive Director Forest Weyen said the agency responded to 21,440 calls for service and was only able to bill for about 75 percent of the total.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Advanced Placement program at Monongalia County Schools allows high school-level students to take entry-level college courses and earn college credit. Director of Assessment, Accountability, and School Counseling, Courtney Crawford, said in 2024, 718 students took more than 1,400 tests. The program includes seven subject areas with 38 course opportunities to earn…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The NIOSH black lung screening mobile unit is at Mylan Park through Thursday to provide free and confidential screenings for the disease. The unit will be at Mylan Park Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Public health analyst with the NIOSH Respiratory Health Division and field coordinator for the Health Surveillance…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The state Department of Highways (DOH) has announced a four week closure of West Run Road for widening. The closure begins Wednesday, July 24 and will be on West Run Road from the intersection of U.S. 119 and the West Run Apartments and Canvass Townhomes. During this closure crews will be excavating…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In Monongalia County, K–12 students return to the classroom on August 20, and pre-K students return the following day for the 2024–25 school year. Families have about three weeks left to enjoy the summer break, and two Monongalia County Schools employees have ideas to keep your children engaged. On WAJR’s “Ask the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown couple have been charged with child abuse after a juvenile in their care said they used a belt as a form of discipline. Investigators learned the information May 28 during an interview at the Morgantown Child Advocacy Center. The adult who filed the complaint told West Virginia State Police that…

GRANVILLE, W.Va. — A Morgantown man has been charged with third degree sexual assault after an incident with a juvenile Saturday. Police were called to a residence in Granville on Madden Road on a report that Jaysiah Dawson, 21, had been involved sexually with a juvenile despite know the childwas underage. The person who filed…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In Morgantown, downtown property owner Tricia DiCenso is providing first-hand accounts of damage she has suffered and dangers encountered by property owners and visitors. DiCenso, with Red Brick Properties is one of several downtown business owners who have documented damages and have called for action from the city council for at least…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A couple from Pennsylvania faces child neglect charges following an accident investigation on I-79 on Saturday. Troopers from the West Virginia State Police made contact with the driver, identified as Christin Bernhisel, 42, of Waynesborough, Pennsylvania, at the 139-mile marker, who police said showed signs of impairment. She failed field sobriety tests,…

MOATSVILLE, W.Va. A suspect from Moatsville is behind bars after police say he assaulted a woman and fled from police over the weekend. Deputies from the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene in the Arden area Saturday and witnessed Christopher Wagner, 33, slamming a woman to the ground by the throat. When deputies…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  University High School in Morgantown will host the Mathematics Revised Standards Rollout at INVEST (Infuse, Network, Value, Engage, Support, Target) Conference Monday, July 22 through Wednesday, July 24. Academic Support Coordinator Tim Flatley said about 150 teachers from across the state will have two days to review updated standards and get familiar…

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — The body of a 44-year old Morgantown man missing near Summersville Lake has been recovered. Troopers from the West Virginia State Police confirmed the body Scott David Saylor, of Morgantown, was recovered from the lake around 8:20 a.m. Friday in the Battle Run Beach area. Saylor was last seen in the area…

WORTHINGTON, W.Va. Deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department are looking for help from the public to solve a hit-and-run involving an 81-year-old victim. Detectives believe the man was walking along Route 218 near Worthington on Tuesday evening or early Wednesday when he was struck. The impact threw the man into nearby Helens Run Creek,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department detectives have identified the victim and suspect in the July 11 deadly shooting on Mountain Valley Drive. Deputies said Rashad Malik Alton, 21, of Morgantown, was shot by Arnold Johnson, 19, of Montgomery Village, Maryland. Alton died at Ruby Memorial Hospital. Police are looking for Johnson, who is…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. The suspect in the July 16 stabbing at the Fairmont Bowling Center has been arrested. Richard Moore, 39, of Fairmont, faces a charge of malicious assault and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail. Tuesday, around 9:30 p.m. Moore allegedly got into an argument with another male. The dispute moved outside…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mon Power is warning customers about a telephone scam recently reported to them. Spokesman Will Boye said scammers are telling customers they have a past-due balance and their electricity will be shut off if they do not make an immediate payment. Boye said it is not, and it has never been their…

(Written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Metropolitan Theater, in partnership with Morgantown Magazine and Visit Mountaineer Country CVB, wants residents to celebrate the life and career of a local entertainment icon. In commemoration of the 100th birthday of Don Knotts, the annual Don Knotts Festival will be hosted from Saturday, July 20…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Service League of Morgantown will hold the PaperPie Book Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Old Stone House Gift Shop. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” member Gayle Truman said the sale will be at their gift shop at 313 Chestnut Street in downtown Morgantown. The building…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown city council has set aside about $213,000 for the operation of the triage and warming shelter for the 2024-25 winter and transportation. The funds are part of the allocation of $1.3 million in carry over funds. Council approved the transfer of $150,000 for the operation of the triage shelter. That will…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A pedestrian was hit in the parking lot of the Sheetz on Milford Street in Clarksburg Thursday afternoon. First responders were dispatched at 2:45 p.m. and transported the victim to United Hospital Center in Bridgeport. The Clarksburg Police Department is investigating, no arrests have been made. No information on the extent of…

ANMOORE, W.Va. — An Anmoore man is facing a single count of child neglect after police there said he kicked a juvenile out of his house. Police observed a male juvenile on a bike near Joyce Street on a bicycle when they were informed the boy had been reported missing for about three hours. Anmoore…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown businessman, Todd Stainbrook, is weighing in on the homeless situation in Morgantown. The issue has been at the forefront for business owners for several years, and debate is ramping back up following a proposal to expand the organization that governs camping in the city. Third Ward Councilor Louise Michael requested…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Fairmont Police Department is searching for a suspect involved in a stabbing at a Fairmont bowling alley. Fairmont police officers responded to the call reported at 1 Kirkway Drive at around 10:45 p.m. where responding officers found one male, 29, with a single stab wound to the right of his chest.…

(Written by Joe Nelson)  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Morgantown community have voiced their views on a potential camping ban focused on the downtown area. Representatives from Main Street Morgantown, West Virginia University, as well as Morgantown area unsheltered homeless advocates and many others, each expressed a combination of approval and disapproval of the…

SHINNSTON, W.Va. — One person was flown from the scene of motorcycle-car crash in Shinnston Tuesday night. The accident was reported at 9:39 p.m. at the intersection of East Avenue and Harp Lane. Officials have not specified if the motorcycle or driver of the car were flown from the scene. The cause remains under investigation.…

(Written by Joe Nelson) FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State University will receive $6.89 million in federally directed spending to go towards three improvement projects. The offices of United States Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced that the university will receive Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds to support upgrades to the nursing program facilities,…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A former Detroit resident will serve 10 years in federal prison for selling dangerous drugs in Monongalia and Taylor Counties. A jury found Kalen Daevon Lee, 31, of Detroit, Michigan, guilty of using a motel room in Morgantown to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Court documents said Lee went by…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — A Bruceton Mills resident is facing multiple charges related to sexual misconduct with juveniles after an investigation that started in West Virginia and ended in California with the arrest. Stephen David Seeger, 45, has been indicted for coercion and enticement of a minor for sex and child pornography. Seeger allegedly communicated with…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. –– A Clarksburg resident has been sentenced to nearly 30-years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl. Four others have also been sentenced for their roles in the crimes. A jury convicted William Glover in March 2024 of seven counts of drug trafficking and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. The…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Four have been indicted for violating federal firearms laws in northern West Virginia. Todd M. Houston, 35, of Morgantown, and Kayla N. Taylor, 33, of Montrose, have been charged with conspiracy to straw purchase firearms in Monongalia County. Court documents said Taylor falsified documents to purchase firearms for Houston, who is prohibited…

(Written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Work continues to move forward on the West Virginia Department of Highways efforts to include private contractors to address Monongalia County roads. State Senator Mike Oliverio updated the Monongalia County Commission on an agreement reached with the DOH and local contractor Anderson Excavating LLC. to address state run…

HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — Officials in Harrison County expect I-79 southbound to be closed for an extended period due to a recreational vehicle fire. The fire was reported mid-afternoon at mile marker 126, but as of 4:15 p.m. traffic backups were reported by motorists all the way back to the Pleasant Valley area. Three people…

(Written by Savannah Jones)  MORGANTOWN W.Va – Nonprofit legal services firm Mountain State Justice expressed their opposition to a proposed camping ban downtown in a letter to the Morgantown City Council on July 5. Third Ward Councilor Louise Michael proposed expanding the camping ban mentioned in Sec. 941.05(c) of the Morgantown City Code from just…

(Written by Savannah Jones)  MORGANTOWN W.Va – A public ice rink is set to open in late 2025 at Mylan Park, according to Mylan Park Foundation President Ron Justice. The arena’s exact design is still in the early stages, but Justice said the rink will most likely include one sheet of ice with locker rooms…

WORTHINGTON, W.Va. A Worthington resident has been following a series of forensic interviews with juveniles about sexual abuse. Deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department were told by the victim that Tyler Swiger, 33, had performed sexual acts when they were 6 or 7 years old but did not remember the exact date. In one…

FAIRMONT, W. Va. — A Fairmont woman has been charged after state police said she failed to get help for a juvenile female who she knew was being sexually abused. Chelsea Nice, 34, has been charged with child neglect resulting in injury and is being held in North Central Regional Jail on a $200,012 bond.…

MASONTOWN, W.Va. — A Masontown man has been charged after police say he hit a dog on the snout with a shovel and caused a serious injury. On July 12, deputies from the Preston County Sheriff’s Department were called to investigate a report of an injured dog at Plum Hill Terrace. Deputies were shown picture…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Marion County Prosecutor Jeffery Freeman will hold a press conference Tuesday to release information relating to the shooting death of Charles “Duddy” Echols in 2023. The press event comes about one week after the family held a protest at the Marion County Courthouse because no arrests have been made nearly a year…

(Written by Savannah Jones) MONONGALIA COUNTY W.Va – Diane Market Gaston, a first-time Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates seat in District 78, said she wants to take care of West Virginians that often get overlooked if she is elected. “We have all kinds of folks that fall through the cracks, and those are…

(Written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Mountaineer Area Council of Scouting America wants Morgantown area residents to help them celebrate the 70th anniversary of the opening of Camp Mountaineer. Former camp staff, leaders, and attendees are expected to take part in the festivities that are scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 14, starting…

SALEM, W.Va. — Troopers from the West Virginia State Police confiscated a large quantity of methamphetamine and made three arrests in Salem Thursday. Troopers executed the search warrant at an apartment on Main Street and made contact with Clarence Rheinhardt, Jonie Mayle and Raymond Thompson and found a large amount of methamphetamine, about $200 in…

(Written by Savannah Jones)  MORGANTOWN W.Va– The West Virginia Wellness Festival is set for Saturday, July 13, at the Mylan Park Community Center, offering services for mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. The event, hosted by nonprofit organization Forgiven Warrior, will feature 90 exhibitors from all across North Central West Virginia, ranging from medical professionals…

(Written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Local organizations that aim to increase affordable housing options in Monongalia County have received endorsements to apply for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Affordable Housing Program. The Monongalia County Commission approved resolutions to endorse three organizations that aim to use facilities around the Morgantown area to…

(Written by Savannah Jones) PRESTON COUNTY W.Va – The Arthurdale Heritage New Deal Festival is occurring Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., marking the 90th anniversary of the homestead community. Arthurdale Heritage was the first of 100 homestead communities established by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt during the New Deal era in 1934,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A 58-year old Morgantown man is facing charges after a reported sexual assault on July 4. Police the victim alleges Richard Braham Jr. assaulted her throughout the night and into the morning. Police said Braham also sent inappropriate messages and in some of the messages acknowledged the sexual conduct. Braham was charged…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An investigation is ongoing into the cause of a tractor trailer accident that caused parts of Grafton Road outside of Morgantown to be closed Friday afternoon. The accident was reported by Monongalia County Emergency Management at around 1:00 p.m. on Friday, when the tractor trailer crashed just short of the on and…

(Written by Savannah Jones) MORGANTOWN W.Va – Several parties have voiced opposition to the proposal of an expanded camping ban downtown by a Morgantown City Councilor. The proposed ban is an addition to Sec. 941.05(c) of the Morgantown City Code, which prohibits camping in the park without the consent of the city manager. Third Ward…

(Written by Joe Nelson) TERRA ALTA, W.Va. — Members of the Preston County farming community are ready to host the 6th Annual Preston County Farm Crawl. The crawl will kick off on Saturday, July 13 at 10 a.m., when eight locally owned farms will open their doors and show off what is being grown and…

(Written by Savannah Jones) MONONGALIA COUNTY W.Va – Delegate Geno Chiarelli R. Monongalia said his main goal pending his re-election is to improve the quality of life in Morgantown. Chiarelli said he feels Morgantown has taken a steep quality decline since he arrived in 2013 to attend West Virginia University, and he hopes to improve…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Fire Marshal’s Office has begun to investigate the cause of a house fire that occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue early Thursday morning. The fire was reported at around midnight on Thursday, when Morgantown firefighters arrived to find the house engulfed in smoke on both the first and second floors. According to…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is on the hunt for a suspect involved in a deadly shooting that occurred early Thursday morning outside of Morgantown. Deputies responded to a call for a shooting on Mountain Valley Drive at around 1:40 Thursday morning, where a man was found with a gunshot wound as…

(Written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The hiring of a social worker for the Morgantown Police Department has resulted in the discovery of new aspects to help law enforcement. Kelly Rice, who has served as the Morgantown PD social worker for the past year, has begun to reflect on her experiences with the department…

(Written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County State Senator Mike Oliverio made an appearance in front of the county commission Wednesday to offer updates on state efforts to help fund the triage shelter formerly operated by Bartlett Housing Solutions. Oliverio addressed the commission at the end of their regular meeting on Wednesday, where…

HUTTONSVILLE, W.Va. — An investigation into the pedestrian death in the parking lot of the Huttonsville ParMar shows the incident was an accident and the driver will not be charged. Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon said around 1:52 a.m. Debbie Bennett, 41, was walking near Route 250 wearing headphones, using her phone and facing away…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The U.S. Marshals Service is searching for a potentially violent subject and are looking for help from the public. Carl Leon Nicholson, 60, is wanted for failure to update sex offender registry, sexual assault, and domestic violence in Gilmer County. Nicholson ia a white male, 5-feet 9-inches, 150 pounds, with brown hair…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) is moving forward with upgrades to the Cheat Lake Waste Water Treatment Plant. The upgrades would come with the first rate increase since 2014 for Cheat Lake area customers, which could be as much as 90 percent. General Manager Mike McNulty said the project scope includes upgrades…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. The suspect in the Route 7 hit-and-run that killed one person has waived his preliminary hearing. David Blaine Emerson, 28, of Morgantown, is accused of speeding and wearing no seatbelts when state troopers attempted to stop the car. Emerson crossed the centerline with police pursuing and hit an amublance traveling in the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. A shoplifting investigation in Morgantown resulted in the arrest of a Bruceton Mills woman for drug possession. On July 5, Morgantown police were dispatched to the Walmart and observed surveillance footage showing Jessica Bodkin, 28, concealing unpaid items in a bag. After placing Bodkin under arrest, police said they found more than 16…

(Savannah Jones is the author of this story) HAZELTON W.Va – A hiring process change at Hazelton Federal Prison in Preston County is chipping away at the longstanding staffing shortage and looking to improve working conditions for officers. American Federation of Government Employees Local 420 President Justin Tarovisky said the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ recent…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. An Independence Day traffic stop resulted in drug charges for two. Morgantown police stopped a car driven by Robert Kilngensmith, 32, of Morgantown, for a malfunctioning brake light. When police made contact with Klingensmith and passenger Jennifer Downey, 41, of Charleston, each offered false identification. Downey ultimately gave the police her real name…

(Joe Nelson is the author of this story) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Foundation now has three new members on its board of directors. Christine Hayhurst Davis, Erika Cramer, and Dave Gruver were all named to the board after they were formally approved by the WVU Foundation board in July. Each of the…

MORGANTOWN, W, Va. — The effort to reopen the triage shelter in Morgantown is moving forward on several fronts and appears to be gaining traction. On WAJRS ‘Talk of the Town,” Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom said he had just learned that $167,500 that was pulled from Bartlett Housing Solutions earlier this year could be…

THORNTON W.Va – After representing West Virginia for a year, Taylor County native Grace Austin-Trboyevich was named Mrs. Agriculture USA 2024. Miss Agriculture USA, a national nonprofit organization, runs through all 50 states, inviting all ages from two years old and beyond. Austin-Trboyevich started her journey with the organization by applying to be West Virginia’s…

MASONTOWN, W.Va. A fire at the old Masontown School did little damage Wednesday afternoon, but the availability of water to fight the blaze was a concern. In a post on social media, members of the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department said the water system was down for maintenance at the time of the fire, so tanker…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown is ready to welcome area residents to come celebrate Independence Day. A day of family-friendly activities, live music, and 4th of July fireworks will kick off at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park Amphitheater. City of Morgantown Arts and Culture Director Vincent Kitch encourages residents…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An agreement to help improve wi-fi services at Mylan Park will officially move forward. The Monongalia County Commission approved a request from the Mylan Park Aquatic and Track Center to allocate approximately $7,750 towards installing an “advanced firewall” to help upgrade wireless internet capabilities around Mylan Park facilities. This follows the announcement…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Firefighters in Morgantown are concerned as new policies are enacted by the city to comply with Senate Bill 557. The bill, sponsored by Mike Oliverio, R, Monongalia, 13, requires municipalities to pay firefighters during holidays for their entire shift, even if it spans two calendar days or equal time off. Morgantown firefighters…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Fire Department responded to a fire that killed the family dog on Brockway Avenue Tuesday morning. Firefighters were dispatched to 545 Brockway Avenue at 9:58 a.m. and found the family had escaped unharmed. Firefighters did locate a dog that died in the blaze. Investigators believe the fire started in the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Morgantown city council members elected leadership for the coming year and called for action on homeless issues and support for the police department. First Ward Councilor Joe Abu-Ghannam was elected mayor after dual nominations. Abu-Ghannam, Jenny Selin, Dave Harshbarger, and Bill Kawecki voted for Joe Abu-Ghannam. Fifth Ward Councilor Danielle Trumble received votes…

(This story was written by Joe Nelson) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Catholic Charities of West Virginia has offered the City of Morgantown their services to host a year-long emergency triage shelter within city limits. President and CEO of the Catholic Charities of West Virginia, Mark Phillips, presented a request for proposal during Morgantown City Council’s regular…

LUMBERPORT, W.Va. — One person was flown from the scene of a motorcycle accident on Wallace Pike yesterday afternoon. Deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene at 4:37 p.m., about seven miles outside Lumberport. The investigation determined a single motorcycle crashed, injuring the rider, who was flown from the scene. Firefighters…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The University Police Department is looking for help from the public to find the suspects involved in a fraternity house burglary Tuesday morning. A cleaning crew arrived at 633 Spruce Street around 9 a.m. and found three suspicious people in the building owned by West Virginia University that houses a fraternity. A…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police (WVSP) are investigating a crash at the Pennsylvania state line on southbound I-79 reported around 5 p.m. Tuesday. WVSP said the slow lane southbound side of the interstate reopened at 6:57 p.m. No information has been released.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. A Detroit man who was found guilty of a Monongalia County murder will serve consecutive life sentences. Cleotis Eppes was sentenced in Monongalia County Circuit Court Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy in the May 2022 drug debt death of Matthew Moore. The ruling from Judge Paul Gwaltney comes less…

MORGANTOWN, W,Va. –– The ambitious multi-year Richwood Avenue redevelopment project is about to make a major advancement. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” President and CEO of the Morgantown Area Partnership (MAP) Russ Rogerson said the bid date for structure demolition will be July 18, just about three weeks away. “The tearing down of about…

By Savannah Jones BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. — After 23 years of service at Clay-Battelle High School, David Cottrell retired as the school’s principal at the end of the year to take up the role of president of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference. Cottrell came to Clay-Battelle High School as the assistant principal in 2001, moving into…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  A record number of Americans will take to the road for the Independence Day holiday this year, according to a report from the Mid-Atlantic Division of Triple A. Spokesperson Tiffany Stanley said this holiday falls toward the end of the of the week, encouraging people to take the week before or after…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — An Albright woman has been charged after an altercation reported at the Circle K on West Main Street in Kingwood. On Friday, police made contact with the victim who had blood in and around her mouth and holding an ice pack on the right side of her head. The victim told police…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — A Bruceton Mills woman has been charged after troopers from the West Virginia State Police allege she crashed while intoxicated causing injuries to a 4-year old child. On June 22, troopers responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash in the area of Compressor Station Road in Bruceton Mills involving a driver…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Changes proposed to firefighter pay in Morgantown are in step with compliance for the implementation of Senate Bill 557, sponsored by Mike Oliverio, R. Monongalia, 12. The law, which took effect 90 days after passage, dictates that municipalities must compensate firefighters who are required to work holidays for their entire shift, even…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The ongoing dispute between the City of Morgantown and its firefighters over holiday pay is headed in a different direction. According to a memo from City Manager Kim Haws, beginning Monday, a firefighter will be eligible for holiday pay equal to the length of his or her shift. The policy also creates a…

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. Officials with the Bureau of Prisons have announced a significant change to the hiring process that is expected to help relieve staffing shortages at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Hazelton. Reports indicate FCI Hazelton has up to 90 open positions for prison guards. The change comes more than a year after protests and…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. –– The first case of rabies in 2024 has been confirmed on property at the Preston-Monongalia County line. The owner of the property off Gladesville Road in Independence found a racoon fighting with a barn cat. The owner euthenized the racoon and tests at the Office of Laboratory Services in South Charleston…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A Detroit area resident will face multiple drug charges after police said he was caught bringing bulk quantities to Marion County. On Thursday, members of the Three Rivers Drug Task Force raided a home on Morgantown Avenue that Tristan Thomas, 47, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, was staying at and found a large…

CARMICHAELS, Pa. The first annual Officer Zane Breakiron Memorial Ride, presented by Carmichaels Riders and Zane’s parents, Garret and Mindy, will be held on Saturday, June 29. Officer Zane Breakiron died in an off-duty vehicle crash in the early morning hours of June 3 last year near the Pennsylvania state line, three days before he…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  The family of a boy who suffered a medical emergency at the Krepps Park Pool earlier this month is thankful for his recovery and the work by lifeguards and first responders that made it possible. Jason Pauley’s son, Jackson, suffered a medical emergency, and the lifeguards and staff at the pool quickly…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Detroit resident is behind bars after Morgantown said they found 80 grams of fentanyl in the car he was driving. Police saw Deante Hurt, 27, driving a vehicle that was implicated in a hit-and-run from the previous day on High Street. Hurt was standing near the vehicle, but when he saw…

Monongalia County Board of Education President Ron Lytle and longtime member Nancy Walker have officially ended their over decade long runs as part of the BOE. The two longest-tenured members of the BOE were commemorated as part of their final meeting in June, where they were recognized for their roles in helping the county school…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Michigan man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine in Harrison County. Bacarre Curtis, 23, of Eastpointe, Michigan, was sentenced for possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine, but federal officials believe Curtis, also known as “TJ” was responsible for transporting and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown city councilors heard encouraging news about the potential reopening of the triage shelter at Hazel’s House of Hope and the beginnings of talks for transportation for the less fortunate. Fifth Ward Councilor Danielle Trumble announced the triage shelter at Hazels House of Hope could be reopened as a joint venture between…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown mother is facing child neglect charges after a 1-year-old fell and hit her head early Monday. Morgantown police were called to the emergency room at 2 a.m. Monday on a report of a child who had hit her head and made contact with Ashley Bennett, 36. Bennett told police her…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — A Fayetteville woman is facing charges after police allege she rolled her car on I-79 with child in tt while intoxicated. Westover police said Vickie Gay, 52, flipped the vehicle its side on I-79 at the Westover exit and flipped on its side. Gay and the juvenile were briefly trapped inside. During…

This was written by Savannah Jones  MORGANTOWN W.Va. – Governor Jim Justice awarded $1.3 million to fund a SteppingStones inclusive playground for disabled children and adults at Mylan Park Monday, closing the fundraising gap on the project. SteppingStones is a nonprofit organization that offers several recreational activities for children and adults with disabilities, such as…

ELKINS, W.Va The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a high-speed pursuit Saturday night. Deputies were called to Huttonsville Par Mar for reckless driving on Saturday at 11 p.m. The 15-year-old driver fled from deputies on Route 219 into Mill Creek, almost hitting a pedestrian. The pursuit ended when the…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A suspected member of the Pagan Motorcycle Club found guilty in a Marion County murder has been sentenced to life with no mercy. John Wolfe was convicted in April of this year in the Sept. 2022 killing of Henry Silver at an apartment complex in Carolina. The investigation showed Wolfe ordered other…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny has hired the first female deputy in agency history. Kaleigh Wetzel comesfrom Lewis County and is already a certified police officer and can start upon completion of the Field Training Program. Matheny also announced the hiring certified police officer from the city of Dunbar, Roger King. Both…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Governor Jim Justice came to Morgantown Monday to recognize the two newest Distinguished West Virginians. West Virginia University Professors Maura McLaughlin and Duncan Lorimer were co-recipients of the Shaw Prize last year for their work in the discovery of fast radio bursts (FRBs). The two join the list of recipients that includes…

By: Savannah Jones MORGANTOWN W.Va. – The Monongalia County Commission was highly honored by the County Commission Association of West Virginia, earning County of the Year and Administrator of the Year awards. Monongalia County Commissioner Sean Sikora said the county’s awards are a testament to the efficiency of the commission, noting that the county has…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $6.4 million to West Virginia University for renovations to the PRT stations and guideway. The funding was secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending request by U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito during the current fiscal year that ends this month. “Since I came to the Senate,…

  STAR CITY, W.Va. — PACE Enterprises plans to break ground for the one-of-a-kind independent housing facility June 26 at 10 a.m. The 12-unit affordable, independent housing facility for individuals with disabilities will be located at 420 Pleasant Hill Rd. in Star City, the original location of Pace Enterprises. In January of this year Pace…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Great Race, an event featuring pre-World War II automobiles running from Owensboro, Kentucky, to Seal Cove, Maine, will stop in Morgantown on June 24. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Morgantown First Ward Councilor Joe Abu-Ghannam was able to secure Morgantown as a stop with the help of local car enthusiast…

GOOD HOPE, W.Va. Deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a stabbing that seriously injured a person a person on Friday night. Police began the investigation near Puckett’s Processing on Good Hope Pike around 7:26 p.m. Friday. The victim was flown from the scene for treatment. No information about the extent of the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Board of Governors approved a tuition and fee increase and received updates on the presidential search and academic transformation, and selected a new set of officers for the coming year. The BOG approved a $228 per semester tuition increase (4.7%) for resident undergraduate students and $624 (4.5%) per…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Police in Morgantown have arrested a local after he allegedly pointed a gun at a co-workers head Tuesday. Police said the female victim was working at the Burger King on Patteson Drive when the sound of a gun cocking was heard. When the victim turned around she said Daniel Garcia, 23, was…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Great Race, an event featuring pre-World War II automobiles running from Owensboro, Kentucky, to Seal Cove, Maine, will stop in Morgantown on June 24. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Morgantown First Ward Councilor Joe Abu-Ghannam was able to secure Morgantown as a stop with the help of local car enthusiast…

This story was written by Joe Nelson  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A graduate of University High School has pledged to donate up to $1 million towards the funding of a new baseball and softball complex. Nancy Pride Raley, the sister of UHS Athletic Hall of Famer Ronald “Duke” Pride, has agreed to donate $750,000 towards the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In recognition of West Virginia Day, Mountain Line Transit Authority (MLTA) is offering rides on all local routes on Thursday, June 20. Officials said this is an opportunity for former riders to rediscover MLTA or for new riders to try new routes the system provides. Click here for more information about bus…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council approved partial funding to continue subsidizing the Mountainline Transit Authority (MLTA) route to and from Hazels House of Hope and announced efforts to secure a contractor to operate an Extreme Weather Warming Center next year. Free rides started at Hazel’s House of Hope in September 2021 for the less…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department offered a young county resident with muscular dystrophy a chance to see the ins and outs of how a sheriff’s office operates. Young David Burnworth and his mother were shopping at Retail Circle when he saw Monongalia County Court Security Officer David McDougal and struck up conversation.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Beginning in late July or early August, the Mountain Line Transit Authority will test propane-powered buses. General Manager Maria Smith said the many benefits of propane price stability were very attractive. Gasoline and diesel prices are subject to wild swings due to weather conditions, world tensions, and supply and demand influences, none…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –Commissioners in Monongalia County approved a one-time payment to ensure the Bartlett House can meet payroll obligations through the month of June. Commissioners and the city of Morgantown will each allocate a one-time payment of $17,500 as a stop-gap while officials work on negotiations to bring a new operator to the facility. “This…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council has formally passed an increase in compensation for council members as efforts to fund city streetscapes continue. The second reading of an ordinance that would increase per-meeting pay from $250 to $350 for council members and from $350 to $450 for the mayor was passed in a 6-1 vote…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, WV – The state Department of Highways (DOH) is warning motorists about potential delays on West Run Road from the intersection of Stewartstown Road to the intersection of Point Marion Road beginning Wednesday, June 19. Crews will be relocating underground utilities and traffic will one lane through the area controlled by flaggers. Motorists…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Police in Morgantown have arrested a Detroit man who they said had three different types of narcotics in his possession. Members of the Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested Zaeonne Patrick, 19, as he left a home on Kingwood Street in Morgantown. Inside the home, agents seized 100 grams…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The parents of a 9-week-old in Fairmont have been arrested after a welfare check determined the child was starving despite there being ample food in the home. On June 13, Fairmont police conducted a welfare check at the home of Wendie Elicky, 21, and Michael Newlin, 27, and brought CPS workers back…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Retention among employees of the city of Morgantown is raising concerns for at least one member of the city council. Fifth Ward representative Danielle Trumble said when two key members left the Finance Department, she called for an executive session to find out what has caused multiple employees to leave across several…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A 45-year old Fairmont subject is facing charges after police allege he robbed a another man at gunpoint. Raymond Barnett, 45, went to a man’s tent on 9th Street at approximately 1 p.m. Friday, threatened him with a firearm and took two backpacks containing $500 in merchandise. According to the victim, the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senatorial District 13 Republican Senatorial Committee is seeking applications from party members interested in running for the State Senate seat in the the 13th District representing portions of Monongalia and Marion Counties. Jonathan Board was on the ballot for the primary, but has been selected to serve as the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A heat advisory is in effect for the entire listening area through Friday, and MetroNews Accuweather Meteorologist Jeff Nordean said the similar heat wave was six years ago, nearly to the day. “The last time we saw a seven-day stretch of 90-degree weather was back in 2018, specifically between July 4 and…

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. The state Department of Highways has announced plans to close an entrance ramp on southbound I-79 in Marion County beginning Monday, June 17. The closure will begin at the entrance ramp at mile marker 135.6 at 6 p.m. and continue through Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m. for bridge cleaning and sealing.…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The city of Fairmont is preparing to demolish the largest industrial dilapidated structure in the city and build a section of local trail that will also be part of the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh (P2P) corridor and the Industrial Heartlands Trail Corridor. “A lot of work in the last couple of years has…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Delegate Joey Garcia, D, Marion, 76, and candidate for the State Senate in the November election has concerns about what direction leaders might take with state-run nursing facilities. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Garcia talked about his recent visit to the John Manchin Snr. Health Care Center in Fairmont with members…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  A film maker and Morgantown native, Sharon Lee, is hopeful the recent passing of Jerry West will renew interest in a film project about the woman referred to as the” the woman behind WVU’s golden age of basketball,” Ann Dinardi. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Lee said a commitment to tell…

SALEM, W.Va. — One person is in custody following an attempted robbery in a store on East Main Street in Salem. Deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department said John Livingston walked into the Broken-In Treasures store where the victim was checking out. Livingston approached the victim with two knives and hit him in the…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. A 10-year-old Clarksburg boy is being called a hero after saving his family from carbon monoxide poisoning this week. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, the boy was awake playing video games while six other family members slept. The young man heard ringing, which he thought was part of the game, but…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police are investigating a single vehicle crash Friday that injured one person. The crash was reported on the I-79 southbound side of the I-68 split around 2:30 p.m. Witnesses said the vehicle rolled multiple times. There is no word on the extent of injuries. No names have been released.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Members of the West Virginia National Guard will celebrate the 149th birthday of the U.S. Army across the state on Friday, June 14. Public Information Officer Bo Wriston said the day will start with a U.S. Army tradition at the Capitol Complex in Charleston. Units that are unable to celebrate in Charleston will…

This story was written by Joe Nelson MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Main Street Morgantown is ready to celebrate the 161st birthday of West Virginia with a family friendly festival that will take place on Saturday, June 15. The annual celebration will take place on High Street starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with fun activities planned…

This story was written by Joe Nelson MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The highly anticipated Marilla Park Aquatic Center is on track to be completed by the projected December 2024 finish date. BOPARC Executive Director Melissa Wiles offered an update on the construction of the approximately $14.6 million project, where she reported that the construction of the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– Lifeguards at Krepp’s Park Pool are credited with saving a young child’s life who suffered a medical emergency on Saturday, June 8. According to a report from the Dominion Post, the 11-year-old son of Jason and Elizabeth Pauley had a medical emergency that caused him to fall into the water. BOPARC lifeguards…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — One person is facing charges after allegedly setting a car on fire near a Clarksburg apartment complex Tuesday. Clarksburg police said Sarah Dehaven, 42, intentionally set a 1999 Buick Century on fire in front of the apartment building on Maple View Drive. The investigation determined Dehaven disbaled a “Ring” doorbell system before…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested a Detroit, Michigan resident and confiscated a large amount of fentanyl in Morgantown. Task force members confiscated 60 grams of fentanyl, cash, scales, and packaging materials from Lance Harris, 31, during a raid on a home on Statler Street. Officials…

This story was written by Joe Nelson MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Scott’s Run Settlement House has begun the recovery process after flood damage affected their old headquarters. Almost a week after a water line at the charity organization’s long-time Osage location caused a flood in the basement and thousands of dollars worth of damage, Scott’s…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia State Police have charged a Morgantown woman with embezzlement after an alleged theft from Cheat Lake area business. Catherine Kinsey, 32, is accused of taking $11,104 during her employment at Spa Roma between February 12, 2024 to May 10, 2024. Troopers initiated the investigation after the owner contacted them May…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. Less than 24-hours after the robbery of the MVB Bank on Main Street in Clarksburg police have arrested a suspect. During a traffic stop at 10:30 Wednesday morning Clarksburg police arrested Chantal Skinner, 38, of Clarksburg for robbery of a banking institution. Police Skinner fled the bank Tuesday with $1,147. Skinner has confessed…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) continue their dialog with the Monongalia County Commission on behalf of employees in the county assessor’s office. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” UMWA Director of Communications Erin Bates said in recent weeks the back and forth has included questions about pay, benefits,…

This story was written by Joe Nelson  MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An agreement is in place to have Pierpont Community and Technical College host surgical technician classes for students at the Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC). The Monongalia County Board of Education unanimously approved the contract that will be one-year long as part of their…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Police in Clarksburg are searching for a female suspect in connection with a bank robbery in downtown. Police said they responded to a panic alarm that was triggered at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon from the MVB Bank on Main Street. The white woman displayed a gun and ordered the teller to put the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board heard a presentation about a study into developing a water feature on Deckers Creek and adopted the budget for the 2024–25 year. President of Main Street Morgantown Mark Downs and downtown business owner L.J. Giuliani told the board they’re working with Lyons, Colorado-based S20, a well-known creator of…

MAIDSVILLE, W.Va. — Deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department have arrested and charged a Maidsville woman with malicious assault after allegedly hitting a woman with a metal pipe. Early Tuesday morning, deputies were called to the home on Mason Dixon Highway after a report that Holly Hinerman, 48, hit another woman with a 23-inch…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. One person was killed in a Monday afternoon crash on Grafton Road. Deputies were called to Grafton Road near the intersection of Horseman’s Trail at 3:45 p.m., where a northbound vehicle was making a pass and hit an ATV head-on. The ATV rider died at the scene. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department…

DELAWARE, Oh. — A former city manager in Morgantown has been named to the same position in the community of Delaware, Ohio. Paul Brake served ascity manager in Morgantown from 2017 to 2020 before taking the same post in Royal Oak, Michigan. Brake left the job in Royal Oak in November of 2023. In Delaware,…

ELKINS, W.Va. An Elkins man is facing multiple charges following a dispute over drugs at a home in Randolph County Tuesday. Deputies from the sheriff’s department responded to a home on Gun Dog Road on a report of a physical altercation. While responding to the scene, deputies were informed that the suspect, Nathan Yokum, 34,…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. A Masontown man is facing drug charges after a routine traffic stop with troopers from the West Virginia State Police. On Thursday, troopers stopped a car driven by Terry Sanders, 49, on Route 7 for not using a turn signal. Troopers said Sanders appeared nervous and sweating and refused to make eye…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Monongalia County magistrate has sentenced the former chief of police in Monongah to six months in jail after being convicted on a harassment charge. Gregory Knight, 57, of Core, was sentenced to six months in jail recently following his April 2 conviction. Knight was following a woman in Monongalia County. He…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Commissioners in Harrison County will consider a 15-year extension of the Charles Pointe Tax Incremental Tax District (TIF) this week. The Charles Pointe TIF District expires in 2035, and a measure passed during the 2023 regular legislative session allows a 15-year extension. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Harrison County commissioner Patsy…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown man has been arrested after allegedly fleeing the scene of a fatal accident on Route 7 in Richard Friday. Troopers attempted stop Daniel Emerson, 28, and a female passenger for not wearing seatbelts just before 11 a.m. Friday. Emerson crossed the centerline and struck an ambulance killing a female passenger…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. –– Multiple departments responded to a small fire at Liberty High School Monday morning. Around 10:30 a.m. crews were performing maintenance on apiece of equipment at the back of the building that caught fire. Some smoke did enter the building, but firefighters were able to quickly ventilate the area. Firefighters from Clarksburg, Bridgeport…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. The West Virginia Medical Examiner is working to identify remains found in the Monongahela River by a fisherman Friday afternoon. Officials reported the body was so badly decomposed they were not able to confirm a gender or age. The Fairmont Fire Department, Marion County Rescue Squad and Fairmont Police Department responded to the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Night work operations on Brockway Avenue are planned next week and motorists should expect some delays, according to the state Department of Highways (DOH). Mountaineer Contracting will conduct milling, paving, and shoulder work at night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Monday, June 10. Crews will be working from Spruce Street…

GRAFTON, W.Va. The EMS director in Taylor County has been charged with falsifying records after a state police investigation into ambulance repairs funded by the county commission. West Virginia State Police have arrested Gavin Watkins, 28, of Grafton, for allegedly forging a receipt for $28,945 for the work done by Atlantic Emergency Solutions in the…

CLARKSBURG, W. Va. — A Meadowbrook man has pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges and faces up to ten years in prison. Brock Corel Pearson, 42, admitted to illegally possessing an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. At sentencing, Pearson could be ordered to federal prison for up to 10 years. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and…

RICHARD, W.Va.— West Virginia State Police have reopened Rote 7 in the Richard area following a serious crash Friday morning. One person was killed in the multi-vehicle crash and there are unconfirmed reports that one person involved in the accident fled on foot from the scen. No other details have been released.      

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Fayette County man is behind bars after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman outside a Morgantown nightclub in March. The investigation began on March 3 when Morgantown police were alerted by the victim in downtown. Police learned Jordan Gray, 25, of Scarborough, met the victim, who was reportedly a highly…

This story was written by Savannah Jones  MORGANTOWN W. Va. – In honor of the WVU Mountaineer Baseball team reaching the NCAA super regionals for the first time in program history, Mylan Park is hosting a live viewing of the team’s debut on June 7 at 6 p.m. at the Track and Field Complex. The…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Vandalia Health will soon celebrate the second anniversary of the merger between Mon Health and the Charleston Area Medical Center. Now, the health system has 14 hospitals, from the far south in the state to the full service offerings in Charleston, the Davis Health System, Mon Health facilities in Morgantown, and affiliations with…

This story was written by Brad McElhinny The executive director of the board overseeing charter schools in the state today described concluding an investigation of practices at West Virginia Academy, one of the state’s original charter schools in Morgantown. James Paul The review and some corrective actions generally focused on whether West Virginia Academy has appropriate…

ELKINS, W.Va. — Detectives with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department have made three arrests following a multi-week theft investigation. The initial breaking and entering report came on May 14 in the Mingo area, where multiple structures on the property had been broken into. Richard McCune, Patrick New, and Eric Robinson have been charged with felony…

Story written by Joe Nelson MONTROSE, W.Va. — A Randolph County man was arrested for allegedly trying to murder a woman by giving her drugs. Brian Broseker, of Montrose is in custody on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, retaliation against a witness and conspiracy after he allegedly gave a woman a line of methamphetamine and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A group of workers in the Monongalia County Assessor’s Office say they have no confidence in the Monongalia County Commission and that’s why they want to join a union. A member of the Monongalia County Assessor’s Office addressed county commissioners Wednesday about their efforts to organize with the United Mine Workers of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Union workers at WVU Hospitals have approved a new contract. Members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 814 have ratified the deal with WVUH that will be in place through March 2027. LIUNA Local 814 Business Manager Kristi Snider said the contract was ratified by a vote of 369-235. Approval…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A woman is accused of stabbing her daughter in Morgantown. On Tuesday, at 9:04 p.m., Morgantown Police officers were dispatched to a stabbing report on Cobun Ave. When police arrived, an adult female immediately admitted to stabbing her 17-year-old daughter. The child was transported to WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital for treatment. The…

SHINNSTON, W.Va. — One person was flown from the scene of an ATV accident in the Shinnston area Tuesday. Harrison County EMS and the Shinnston Fire Department responded around 7.p. m. and called HealthNet to evacuate the victim. The accident remains under investigation. No information has been released about the extent of injuries.

WESTOVER, W. Va.. — A former Westover city councilman is facing domestic assault and battery allegations after an incident reported Sunday evening. Westover officials said a woman made the report at the police station around 6:50 p.m. Sunday and wanted to press charges against her husband, Ralph Mullins, 58. His wife woman told police during…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A pair of contractors are set to begin work on the 2024 Street Improvement Plan in Morgantown. Morgantown-based Anderson Excavating, LLC will begin work on the $792,000 2024 Street Improvement Plan Wednesday, June 5. The scope of work includes milling and repaving Harding Avenue, Country Club Drive, portions of Oakland Street and…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — The Preston County teacher accused of using duct tape on a student during class has been indicted by a grand jury. Cassandra Sisler, 43, of Terre Alta, was a teacher at Central Middle School when she was charged with four counts of child abuse last October. Sisler allegedly used duct tape from ear-to-ear…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Officials from the City of Morgantown are looking to try to address the low number of enplanements at the Morgantown Municipal Airport. Morgantown City Manager Kim Haws announced that the city and carrier Southern Airways are in the process of beginning to subsidize flight costs in order to increase the number of…

Written by Savannah Jones MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When Hope Crichigno was born, her parents were unsure that she would ever breathe on her own, let alone graduate from high school nineteen years later. Born at merely 24 weeks, Crichigno spent the first six months of her life in the hospital and was ultimately diagnosed with…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Police Department announced that an investigation is underway into the death of a young child on Collins Ferry Road on Wednesday. According to a press release by MPD, the young child was found by EMS personnel in a parked SUV at 3610 Collins Ferry Road on Wednesday afternoon. The officers…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police are searching for a missing woman who was last seen in Morgantown. Kimberly Osborne, 47, was last seen on Sunday, May 12 on River Road wearing a bright pink shirt. She’s described as 5’2″ weighing 120 pounds. Anyone with information about Osborne is asked to call the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Despite being massively outspent, Chris Rose defeated two-term state senator Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, in the May primary election by more than 2,800 votes in his first run for political office. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Rose said the campaign was won on hard work and face-to-face contact with voters in the district…

WESTOVER, W.Va. — The city of Westover hes settled the lawsuit brought against the city by former councilman Ralph Mullins. U.S. District Judge Thomas Kleeh dismissed seven of the nine counts filed against the city, former mayor Dave Johnson, attorney Tim Stranko, clerk Sandy Weiss and five current and former members of council. The remaining…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) is conducting a community health survey to inform the public about the services they provide. MCHD Executive Director Anthony DeFelice said the department is in the implementation phase of a strategic plan developed with the help of Morgantown-based Forge Business Solutions. MCHD services touch many aspects of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Monongalia Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization (MMMPO) will be a part of a committee to meet with DOH officials to get an update on the scheduling of the Transportation Improvement Plan. The motion to establish the committee was approved by a near unanimous vote after discussions related to the planned…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. Police in Fairmont have arrested a 25-year-old who allegedly attacked a group of people in an apartment while high on LSD. On Thursday, when police arrived at the apartment on Ridgely Avenue, residents were fleeing, and police found Tyreese Files inside with a gun fighting with other occupants. Police said the basement door…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) dedicated what leaders are calling the most important piece of infrastructure after former slave and African-American entrepreneur John Edwards. More than 20 family members from all over the country came to the dedication ceremony on Don Knotts Boulevard on Thursday. The four-mile, 30-inch raw water line from…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. During press availability on Thursday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito offered her thoughts on the outcome of the recent primary election. Her son, Moore Capito, finished second in voting totals to Patrick Morrisey in the race for the Republican nomination for West Virginia governor. Moore Capito served in the West Virginia House of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —The Clay-Battelle Cee Bees have hired their next head football coach. The Monongalia County Board of Education has hired Aaron LaPoe. He takes over for Ryan Wilson, who has served as the head coach for the past 29 years. LaPoe has been on various coaching staffs, but this will be his first time…

SALEM, W.Va. An argument while hanging a star on a barn in Doddridge County that led to a domestic dispute has a Salem man behind bars. On Monday, deputies from the Doddridge County Sheriff’s Department were called to the residence on Elkhorn Road and found William Fragmin, 49, mowing the grass. When deputies asked Fragmin…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Police in Morgantown have arrested a 20-year-old subject after allegedly throwing nearly 100 grams of marijuana out of a car during a traffic stop in downtown. On Tuesday, police observed a vehicle with an expired registration on Spruce Street near the intersection of Willey Street. Police attempted to stop the vehicle near…

KINGWOOD, W.Va. — Commissioners in Preston County have named James Fields the interim sheriff following the sudden passing of Preston County Sheriff Paul Pritt Monday. Fields has served as Preston County Sheriff in the past and was once hired by Pritt. No other information has been released. Efforts to reach Fields have been unsuccessful. Pritt…

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — State police arrested a subject in Buckhannon after he allegedly stabbed a man sitting on his front porch eating a cheeseburger Monday. Troopers arrived at the home Little Sand Run Road and found the victim with a stab wound in the chest and two more in the back by a suspect identified…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As part of National Police Week, Morgantown and the Monongalia County community came together Wednesday for Peace Officer Memorial Day. A formation of officers stood at attention while Monongalia County Commission President Sean Sikora read a proclamation recognizing the sacrifices of those who have lost their lives and conducted a wreath-laying. As…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Voter turnout for the May 2024 primary election in Monongalia County was slightly over 28 percent. Of the 62,829 registered voters, 17,651 participated in the election. By party, Republicans cast 8,741 ballots, Democrats cast 8,143 ballots, 725 ballots were cast by the Mountain, and 15 nonpartisan ballots were cast. Steven Neuenschwander cast his…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — Thanks to House Bill 3332 Monongalia County now has six total magistrates. The last time there at least five magistrates in the county was 20-years ago, that fifth judicial official was moved in the early 2000’s to Mercer County. Since that magistrate was moved case loads in Monongalia County increased to…

Shawn Smith and Christina Fattore Morgan were elected to the the school board Tuesday night.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The proposed Monongalia County Schools Renaissance Academy $142.6 million bond call failed to pass the muster with voters and failed by a nearly two-to-one margin of 11,578 against and 5,404 for. The facility was billed as the first comprehensive high school in the county devoted to a career-focused delivery system that offered…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Local attorney Michael Simms has been elected as the next Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge in the Division 1 seat on the 21st West Virginia Judicial Circuit. Simms won the race with 6,324, incumbent Paul Gwaltney finished second with 5,196, and Natalie Sal finished third with 3,645. Gwaltney was appointed in 2023…

KINGWOOD, W.Va.-– Preston County Sheriff Paul “Moe” Pritt passed away Monday night at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital due to complications from an infection. Capt. Thomas Mitter told WAJR News,” All we know is that he had an infection of some sort, and it kept progressing and got worse.“ Pritt was a lifelong resident of the…

WASHINGTON — The inmates charged in the 2018 prison killing of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger have reached plea deals with prosecutors. Plea deals for Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero and Sean McKinnon were announced Monday, six years after the 89-year old was bludgeoned with a padlock on the end of a belt.…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — An inmate at Federal Correctional Institution Gilmer serving a 125 month sentence for mailing threatening communications to officials has been sentenced to additional time for the same charge. Stephen Elbert Boykin, 52, has been sentenced to an additional 52 months for mailing threatening letters to President Barrack Obama and Michelle Obama, Florida…

ELIZABETH, Pa. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Pittsburgh District plans a public information meeting to provide an update on the Lower Monongahela River Project as it nears the final phase. The meeting will be held Thursday, May 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Elizabeth Forward High School at 1000 Weigles Hill…

MANNINGTON, W.Va. — A Mannington woman is facing charges after police allege she reported her child missing while she was under the influence of drugs. Cheyenne Carr, 29, allegedly told operators she had woken up approximately 20 minutes ago and could not find her child and had no idea where could be, but that the…

CHALRESTON, W.Va. — A former West Virginia University student from Charleston was arrested over the weekend for an on campus assault back in November 2023. Shawn Higginbotham, 19, of Charleston, allegedly choked, punched, and slapped a female who attempted to wake him up when he was intoxicated. The West Virginia University Police Department was called…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The end of the widening and bridge repair project on I-79 from Harrison County to the Pennsylvania state line is nearing an end, according to state Department of Highways officials. Widening on southbound I-79 will wrap up later this summer and operations on the northbound side are expected to be completed in…

BRUCETON MILLS, W.Va. –– One person was flown from the scene of a crash into a home in Bruceton Mills early Monday. Members of the Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department were called to the scene off North Preston Highway at 12:21 a.m. Volunteers had to stabilize the structure before the vehiclecould be removed. One person…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. A suspect wanted for multiple warrants has been taken into custody following a recent pursuit in Fairmont. On Tuesday, April 30, officers with the Fairmont Police Department observed Sidney Walker, 50, in the driver’s seat of a parked maroon Chevy Trailblazer in the 400 block of Quincy Street with two women in the…

Over 6,000 voters came out for early voting this year, according to Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney.

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is searching for the suspect in a Sunday afternoon robbery on Mid-Atlantic Drive. The robbery was reported at the tobacco, vape, and cigar shop at 3:09 p.m. The suspect allegedly grabbed two jars of Venera THC valued at $1,200 and fled the store. Information about the incident…

WHITE HALL, W.Va. — A Fairmont Senior High School teacher has been charged after allegedly paying a 17-year old student for sex. Police said, on Tuesday, May 7 around 8 p.m., Ernest Yeager, 33, of Mannington, met a 17-year-old male Fairmont Senior student at the parking lot of the Walmart on Tygart Mall Loop and…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. May primary voters in Monongalia County will have three choices in the race for the Board of Education on Tuesday. Each candidate has children in the school system and includes one incumbent, BOE President Ron Lytle; Christina Fattore Morgan, a WVU professor; and industrial engineer Shawn Smith. The district remains one of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Over 3,000 West Virginia University students are now among the ranks of Mountaineer alumni. West Virginia University President Gordon Gee, the heads of the thirteen WVU colleges, and several honorary degree recipients were on hand as part of nine ceremonies that were hosted as part of Spring Commencement Weekend. Tens of thousands…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. About 80 people attended a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest that started on the West Virginia University (WVU) Morgantown campus at the Mountainlair and marched down to the Monongalia County Courthouse on Saturday. Vice President of the WVU Muslim Student Association (MSA), Omar Sabbagh, said the top priority of the group is an immediate ceasefire…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) is conducting a community health survey and plans two town hall meetings to inform the public about the services they provide. “We touch the community in so many different areas—inspecting restaurants, providing health care, and training food workers,” said Anthony DeFelice, MCHD’s executive director. In addition…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Health (DH) is thanking the public for cooperation in successfully containing the first case of the measles in 15 years. All first-degree contacts cleared their monitoring period for the disease Friday, May 10th, 2024. The case in Monongalia County has been linked to international travel and was…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. West Virginia State Police made two drug-related arrests at the Petty John/Royal Inn in Fairmont after an alleged drug sale to a confidential informant on Wednesday. Troopers from the Marion County Detachment of the state police said the informant bought $20 worth of crack cocaine from Michael Holloway, 29, of Fairmont. The informant…

GRAFTON, W.Va. The Pennsylvania man facing multiple charges in a Memorial Day shooting at the Grafton Walmart last year has agreed to plead guilty to all charges. William Jenkins, 24, of Friendsville, Pa., pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder, wanton endangerment involving a firearm, use or presentation of a firearm during a commission of a…

BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. The Blacksville area was pounded with storms that the National Weather Service (NWS) and MECCA 911 officials are calling straight line winds. NWS spotters began to report tree damage as early as 6:50 p.m., and by 7:21 p.m., the storm was in full swing based on calls to the new Mon County 911…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has announced the recipients of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars are from Morgantown High School in Monongalia County and Wheeling Park High School in Ohio County. Lauren Jiayi Shen from Morgantown High School and Grant Carter Kenamond from Wheeling Park High School were named along…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Morgantown Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board plans to begin a data analysis of arrests and traffic stops conducted by the police department. Board Chair Rich Burks said the disproportionate number of African-American arrests over the years has been blamed on drug dealers that don’t reside here, and this is an…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The members of Region 4 of the West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF), the organization created to distribute nearly $1 billion in opioid settlement money, have selected Jon Dower as the next representative. The initial selection was Jonathan Board, who was selected to serve as Executive Director of the WVFF after being elected…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Health Sciences Center-North building was evacuated Thursday morning due to a localized gas leak. WVU Safety and Wellness released a statement at 11:20 a.m. giving the all clear to reenter the building. “The evacuation is out of an abundance of caution and to allow utility crews to more…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown Fifth Ward Councilor Danielle Trumble came to the Monongalia County Commission asking for a meeting with county municipalities and agencies to review recent challenges that have developed in the social services network. In addition to the potential closure of the Bartlett House due to financial issues, Trumble, who is also a…

For the third straight meeting homeless advocates implored council to take action.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  The 100-year-old Morgantown City Hall officially reopened Tuesday night following the completion of a two-year, $3.5 million renovation project. Director of Engineering and Public Works Damien Davis said the renovation was long overdue, and now the building is historic yet prepared to serve the 21st century mission of serving the Morgantown community.…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — An inmate formerly at United States Penitentiary Hazelton has been sentenced to 6 1/2 years for assaulting a correctional officer. Dwight Foster, 50, was convicted following a two-day of assault of a correctional officer involving physical contact and possession of a weapon. Documents said Foster hit the officer with a fist after…

ELKINS, W.Va. Witnesses to a shooting in Elkins Monday told officers during the investigation they were being harassed by the victim shortly before he was shot and killed at the Heavener Acres Trailer Court. Melvin Phillips Jr., 62, was charged with murder after he admitted to shooting Mark Wirth, 67. At the scene, a witness…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —  Researchers from West Virginia University (WVU), Marshall University, and Florida International University are exploring the cybersecurity needs of artificial intelligence technologies with a $1.75 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Professor and Chairman of the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in the Lane Department of Computer…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — The United States Marshals Service is looking for a suspect known to frequent Randolph, Barbour, Monongalia, and Harrison Counties and hopes members of the public can help. Officials said Jason David Davis, 34, is wanted for a federal bond violation related to an original charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.…

GRAFTON, W.Va. An alert Taylor County Sheriff’s Department deputy arrested a woman with three children who had an assortment of drugs and an open container over the weekend. Deputies say they stopped a car driven by Malissa Sampson, 32, after smelling a strong odor of marijuana. Sampson admitted to smoking marijuana in the car earlier…

SHINNSTON, W.Va. West Virginia State Police arrested a Lumberport man in a suspected road rage incident on Friday. Troopers said Ernest Leggett, 67, was driving on Route 20 near the Harrison Power Station when he thought another motorist had cut him off and was driving too slowly. Leggett allegedly shot a semi-automatic pistol out the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown man accused in the April 19 shooting of his, Rick Allen Cordes, 49, has waived his preliminary hearing in Monongalia County Magistrate Court. Cordes has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of his wife Jennifer L. Hribar, 39, of Morgantown, at their home on Falling Water…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– The West Virginia University Board of Governors met Monday and approved the rule that will govern the search for a new WVU president. The rule was approved following a 30-day comment period. Stephanie Taylor “We appreciate the comments that were submitted and each one was carefully reviewed. Several resulted in revisions, including…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The financial troubles for Bartlett Housing Solutions developed over the last few years, and it will take time and the work of multiple entities to reverse them. The situation first came to light in a letter to commissioners in Monongalia County from Bartlett Housing Solutions Board President Nick DeMedici asking for $300,000…

HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. Deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department believe the recent fire reported at the recycling center was arson and have arrested and charged a Clarksburg man. Deputies believe Richard Coffman, 29, set the blaze at the Harrison County Recycling Center Sunday afternoon and is being held in the North Central Regional jail…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Fairmont woman will serve 10 years in prison and serve another three years of supervised release for a federal weapons violation. Rachel Sara Hardesty, 39, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm following a home visit while she was on parole supervision in which police found a pistol, drugs, and…

ROCK CAVE, W.Va. An 81-year-old in Upshur County was one of three people killed in fires across the state over the weekend. The elderly male died in a fire reported in Rock Cave around 2 a.m.Saturday in the 2100 block of Gaines Road that is believed to be accidental, according to the West Virginia State…

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. — Due to the continuing widening project on I-79 in Marion County motorists can expect more lanes closures beginning Monday, May 6. The lane closure will affect both the northbound and southbound sides at mile marker 135, the Millersville/Pleasant Valley exit, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday, May 6 through Wednesday,…

WESTOVER, W.Va. The West Virginia Department of Highways has announced plans to close the I-79 exit ramps to Westover for night work operations beginning next week. Crews will be milling, paving, and conducting shoulder work at exit 152 beginning Wednesday, May 8 through May 31 from 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. that I-79’s Exit 152…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The state Department of Highways will close the Caperton Rail Trail for shoulder work next week. Beginning Monday, May 6 the trail will be closed from the Arboretum to just north of the University Commons Parking Lot through Friday, May 17. Work operations are scheduled between 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday…

BEVERLY, W.Va. — A Beverly resident faces multiple charges after threatening to shoot two people at a Randolph County apartment complex on Tuesday. Troopers with the West Virginia State Police made contact with Justin Lewis, 35, who had allegedly pointed a handgun and threatened to shoot two people at an apartment on Main Street in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Bartlett House Board of Directors has sent a letter to the Monongalia County Commission asking the community for an immediate financial bailout of $300,000, or it could be forced to close their facilities on Scott Avenue and West Run within 60 days, where 81 people are currently sheltering. Board President Nick DeMedici…

PRESTON COUNTY, W.Va. A West Virginia State Police search for a wanted subject led troopers to a stash of dangerous drugs in Preston County. On Wednesday, troopers served an arrest warrant for a resident of a home on Hielman Road in Bruceton Mills and encountered a vehicle in the driveway occupied by two people. When…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Crews from the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) will begin a $115,000 waterline replacement project on North High Street that will close a portion of the street for about four weeks May 6. MUB Senior Engineer Cory Jones said the work is in response to a customary review of facilities prior to street…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A subject wanted on an outstanding warrant for sex crimes has been arrested in Monongalia County and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail. Police got a tip Jacob Hammer, 23, was in the area of a home on Community Drive and had an outstanding warrant from Wichita, Kansa for…

MARION COUNTY, W.Va. — Marion County Schools have been named one of 16 districts in the state to earn the Purple Star Award given by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and Common Ground Partnership. The award recognizes districts and schools that dedicate support and services to military families. Superintendent Donna Heston said this…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It’s donation time for the 2024 Blue and Gold Mine Sale. The “rummage sale” repurposes household items for new owners, and the proceeds benefit local non-profits. The event is hosted by the WVU Office of Sustainability and the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. Marissa Earle is the graduate assistant in…

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — Detectives from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department have made four drug-related arrests after serving a search warrant at a home on Randolph Street. Detectives and members of the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested Crystal Blankenship, 38; Eric Bellomy, 34; Joseph Lane, 34; and Jordan Sines, 27, for possession…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Through a team effort between the Morgantown Area Partnership (MAP) and the Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA), the area is now included in the BUILD WV territory to incentivize the construction of affordable housing. President and CEO of MAP, Russ Rogerson, said qualifying housing development projects within a 20-mile radius of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Appointed Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Paul Gwaltney continues to speak to voters as part of his bid for a full term on the Division 1 seat on the 21st West Virginia Judicial Circuit. Gwaltney, a long-time attorney who has served on the bench since he was appointed by Governor Jim Justice…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County voters will be asked to approve the Additional Fire Services Levy in the May primary election. From 2025 through 2029, the levy would generate about $3.4 million for 12 Monongalia County volunteer fire departments: the Monongalia County Hazardous Incident Response Team, the Monongalia County Brush Fire Team, the Monongalia County…

MANNINGTON, W.Va. — Acting on a tip, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Mountain State Fugitive Task Force arrested a wanted subject in Mannington. Jason Lee Barr, 50, of Mannington, was arrested at 3 p.m. Wednesday at a residence on Highland Street. Barr was wanted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department for possession of a concealed…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown could see the implementation of new permits in blue curb parking neighborhoods and a rate increase in parking garages within city limits. Morgantown Parking Authority (MPA) Director Dana McKenzie presented proposals in front of Morgantown City Council during their monthly committee of the whole, where they requested permission…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Muslim Student Association (MSA) led a protest and march Sunday from the Mountainlair to the Monongalia County Courthouse calling for lasting peace for the Palestinian people. President of the MSA, Omar Ibraheem said Palestinian people have been suffering at the hands of the Israelis for decades and they…

MANNINGTON, W.Va. A Mannington man has been arrested and charged with violating state marriage laws. Deputies from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department allege Christopher Carpenter, 28, was already married to a woman in Maryland when he tied the knot with another woman in Marion County in March of 2021. The couple now lives in Taylor…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The proposed Renaissance Academy in Monongalia County came from planning discussions with local leaders to address changing academic needs in a digital world and to broaden the curriculum to prepare students for the future. Voters will be asked to approve a bond request on the May 14 primary ballot for $142.6 million…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Detectives in Morgantown are looking for those involved in a shooting outside the Liquid Lounge early Saturday that injured two people. Police responded to a shots fired call at 2:51 a.m. and found a female with a graze wound at the scene. She was transported to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital for treatment. Another…

RANDOLPH COUNTY, W.Va. –– A Randolph County resident is facing multiple felonies after firing a weapon to “scare cats away.” Police responded to the East Dailey area of Randolph County and made contact with Seth Dewitt, 33, who told them he had no knowledge of shots being fired in the area. The police then went…

PHILIPPI, W.Va. A high-speed chase in the city of Philippi resulted in two arrests on Sunday. Police clocked four motorcycles traveling at 78 miles per hour in a 45-mile per hour zone on US Route 50 in Philippi. Police began to pursue with lights and sirens at speeds reaching 90 miles per hour. As the…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. After more than 100 years serving the county and 97 years in their Osage location, the Scott’s Run Settlement House has announced plans to move to the Cheat Lake area. Executive Director Michael Richard said their new home is the former location of the Cheat Lake United Methodist Church at 750 Fairchance…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A retired West Virginia University Police Department K-9 officer has died due to complications from cancer. Ginger was a golden retriever who served for 12 years in explosives detection and security at large events in Milan Puskar Stadium and the Coliseum. Giner retired and passed away in April. She was named the…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A Monongah woman is accused of being involved in a crash that injured a 7-year-old while under the influence of alcohol over the weekend. On Saturday, officers from the Fairmont Police Department responded to a crash at Mary Lou Retton Drive for a single vehicle. At the scene, police determined that Amanda…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown Arts and Cultural Development Department has released the line up for the 2024 Ruby Movie Series. Films will be shown Saturday nights at the Ruby Amphitheater in Hazel Ruby McQuain Park from June 8 through October 26. Each Saturday a family-friendly movies will begin at 5 PM and…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. Twenty-five years ago, the Mylan Park vision began with 30 acres of abandoned mine land, and today the park spans about 400 acres with the most diverse mix of activities in the state. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Mylan Park Foundation Board President Ron Justice said the park has grown with…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The state Department of Agriculture is working to increase food production, maintain forests and waters and create jobs. State Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt said they have used abandoned mine lands in many cases to establish businesses like Buzz Foods in Charleston. The company operates the Appalachian Abattoir, distributing locally produced meats…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison are proposing a customer refund, including interest, due to miscalculated costs from a previous base rate case and misapplied overhead costs. The proposed $2.5 million refund is for a misallocation of costs from the 2013 test year in the last base rate case filed by…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The American Lung Association has released the 25th annual State of the Air report. While on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association Aimee Van Cleave said the Clean Air Act is to thank for the level of clean air in our area. “The Clean Act,…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – In May, Marion County residents will be asked to support the animal shelter program. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” President of the Marion County Humane Society Executive Board Donna Long said the organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping abused, abandoned, neglected, and owner-surrendered dogs and cats. The shelter, located…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department has identified the person killed in a Wednesday evening truck crash as Bradley Fairman, 57, of Fairmont. Deputies were called to Smithtown Road near the intersection with Smithtown School Road at 7:21 p.m. and found a truck had struck a large culvert. When the first responders got…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A jury has found a 39-year-old Morgantown man has been convicted of possessing and receiving child pornography in federal court. FBI agents identified the IP address of Christopher Harp active in sending and receiving illegal images via a peer-to-peer network. A subsequint search located hundreds of illegal images and videos, some with…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at several locations across Monongalia County. Spokesman for the United States Drug Enforcement Agency Kevin McWilliams said nationwide they expect to collect hundreds of thousands of pounds of unused or expired medications. In West Virginia, that number…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The largest and most complex international live-fire cyber defense exercise in the world has wrapped up in the West University Coliseum. Locked Shields 24 involves 40 countries, 3,000 participants, 193 in West Virginia and is presented by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence. Vice President for Economic Innovation at West…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – On Thursday, detectives from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department arrested Rick Allen Cordes, 49, of Morgantown for first-degree murder in connection with the shooting on Fallen Water Lane on Friday, April 19. Detectives said the victim, Jennifer Hribar, 39, of Morgantown, died of an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –– State and local leaders broke ground for a $11 million KOA campground and officially opened the new turf fields and pickleball courts on Wednesday. Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Tourism Chelsea Ruby celebrated the day as a win for local residents and a win for the growing state tourism industry.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University Athletics has entered into a deal with the North Central West Virginia Airport (CKB) that designate the facility as the “The Official Airport of WVU Athletics.” The agreement will last through 2027. “We are pleased to welcome the North Central West Virginia Airport to our team as the Official…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Joint Force Headquarters – Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN) are holding Locked Shields 24 at the West Virginia University Coliseum. Locked Shields 24 is considered the most complex live-fire cyber exercise and includes 40 nations and 3,000 people from around the world participating in real time. In Morgantown, 190 cyber experts,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. During a special meeting on Tuesday, Morgantown City Council made decisions on the replacement of Jonathan Board as Region 4 Representative to the West Virginia First Foundation and added public safety to their list of federal grant requests. The West Virginia First Foundation, tasked with distributing hundreds of millions in opioid settlement money,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia University Police Department has issued a Community Notice following the sighting of a black bear at the Core Arboretum Tuesday afternoon. Officers immediately responded and searched the area but could not find the bear. Police ask anyone who sees the bear to call 911. Experts from the West Virginia…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Morgantown High School Team 1 won the Academic Showdown championship Tuesday and Bluefield High School was the runner-up at the West Virginia Culture Center. Students received questions in the areas of math, science, history, fine arts, general knowledge, pop culture and more through intense, fast-paced rounds of questions. Teams consisted of students…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Morgantown native and veteran attorney Natalie Sal is one of three candidates for Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge in Division 1. Natalie Sal is a Morgantown native and WVU College of Law graduate. Her law firm, Sal, Sellaro, and Culpepper Legal, won the West Virginia Legal Aid 2021 Pro Bono Law Firm Award.…

HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — A Harrison County man is facing charges after an investigation into a domestic incident. West Virginia State Police responded to the home on Monday with a report that David Buckhannon, 51, was trying to kill the victim and had hit her so hard that one of her teeth had been dislodged.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Mountain State Justice has filed a lawsuit against the city of Morgantown on behalf of a homeless resident that has been arrested several times for panhandling. The lawsuit accuses the city of “ramping up efforts to criminalize panhandling” that have resulted in the arrest of her client seven times since June of…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A former inmate from United State Penitentiary Hazelton has been sentenced in the death of another inmate in December of 2023. Stephen C. Crawford, 45, has been sentenced to 188 months in prison for voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily harm. Crawford was convicted in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University (WVU) and Fairmont State University are finalizing rules and working toward the implementation of the Campus Self Defense Act on July 1, 2024. During a meeting of the WVU Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Dean of Students Corey Farris said the University Police Department is offering training and the administration…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — An Ohio man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for selling dangerous drugs while in possession of a firearm. Tyler Jordan Sands, 23, of Akron, Ohio, admitted to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and unlawful possession if a firearm. Court documents said Sands was under…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Morgantown police made one arrest following an investigation into a knife-point robbery over the weekend. On Saturday, officers were asked to file a report against a subject known as “bald-headed Vinny” about a robbery that allegedly occurred on Spruce Street at an apartment. The victim told police he and another were at…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Dr. Steve Feldgus announced $140 million from fiscal year 2023 from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to address dangerous and polluting abandoned mine lands (AML) in Morgantown Monday. The plan is expected to create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs, and catalyze economic opportunity in…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Morgantown resident will serve more than five years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm. Jaja Kiambu Fitzpatrick, 51, has ordered to serve 63 months in federal prison being found in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun after a previous armed robbery conviction in Michigan. The judge also ordered…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU Medicine officials have confirmed a patient in Monongalia County has tested positive for measles. According to a press release, the unidentified Adult patient came to an out patient clinic last week and the positive test was confirmed Monday, April 22. The patient did not require hospitalization and is recovering at home.…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Clarksburg resident will serve ten years in federal prison for selling dangerous drugs within 1,000 feet of a playground. Antwann Terrance Horton, 29, will serve 121 months in federal prison and another six years of supervised release for selling methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a public playground in Clarksburg. The Greater…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Green Bag Road improvement project is moving forward despite some opposition to the roundabouts included in the design. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom responded to a claim that 17 school bus drivers have protested the addition of roundabouts at Mississippi Street and Kingwood Pike. “Let’s be…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a Friday fatal shooting in the Cheat Lake area. Deputies went to the Falling Water Lane area at 8:30 p.m. and found a female with a fatal gunshot wound. The female was pronounced dead at the scene. Monongalia County Sheriff’s Detectives are conducting the investigation.

UNIONTOWN, Pa. Thanks to a $750,000 Area Development Grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the labor and delivery unit at the WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital will reopen in January 2025. WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital President, CEO, and executive vice president of health system integration and business development said the ARC money will be used to…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A team from Morgantown High School will be one of 14 competing in the 2024 West Virginia Academic Showdown Finale on Tuesday in the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. The welcome ceremony begins at 8:15 a.m. and will reflect the festive atmosphere of the championship competition. The festive welcome for the…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Fairmont State University’s Police Academy will end the basic officer academy in FY 2024-25 and transition to offering continuing education courses. “Among our primary focus is to provide learning opportunities that benefit the state of West Virginia in addition to our students,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr.…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. The expanded Mon County Classic, now the Mon County Baseball and Softball Classic this weekend, will feature wall-to-wall action at Dale Miller Field in Mylan Park and at the Kendrick Family Ballpark. Morgantown High School head baseball coach Pat Sherill are hosting the event Friday and Saturday. “We have four top-10 teams…

Simms is one of three candidates seeking the seat on the bench.

GRANVILLE, W.Va. The Granville Police Department investigated a report of a car crashing into the main gate at the Kenfrick Family Ballpark at the Monongalia County Baseball Complex. Granville Police Department Lieutenant Brian Hill said units responded to the incident around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday and found the car off the road and into the gate.…

HOUSTON, TX.  A Trinity High School group has been selected as a NASA App Development Challenge (ADC) Top Team and spent the last week with NASA engineers in Houston. Team Spaghetti is made up of Carmelo Kniska and Ben Lohmann, juniors Lucas Kniska and Ethan Tomlinson, and sophomore Marcos Kniska were in Houston from April…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. During a special meeting of the Morgantown Utility Board on Wednesday, all bids for the demolition of the Dinsmore Tire facility were rejected, and the project will be rebid. The project had been awarded to Parrotta Paving for $291,000 on April 11. The project, a demolition on a contaminated site, is not typical…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council has approved the city levy rates for Fiscal Year 2025 and has officially approved the amended Private Outdoor Designated Area (PODA) ordinance into city code. Levy rates for Class I, II, and IV real estate, public utilities, and personal property were unanimously approved by the council, which is projected…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Morgantown City Council heard a procession of comments calling for changes to policies and better treatment of the homeless community. Sarah Hutson explained that a tent could be the first step to transitional housing. Allowing existing camps in the city to be removed forces those residents to lose important documents they need to…

COALTON, W.Va. A student from Coalton Elementary School was struck by a car in the school parking lot and injured Tuesday. Deputies from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department said the incident happened when a motorist traveling in the parking lot looked left to turn onto Broadway Avenue when the student came from the right and…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. A suspect in a 2023 murder in Clarksburg has died of unspecified causes. Ulices Pineda was charged with first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm in June 2023 after allegedly shooting Clarksburg resident David Mazza in the back four times. Detectives identified Pineda through surveillance that showed a confrontation…

KINGWOOD, W,Va. – The Preston County Sheriff’s Department has earned about $20,000 windfall from the sale of unclaimed firearms through the office of State Treasurer Riley Moore. “Since 2021, my Office has raised more than $588,000 for the men and women who work tirelessly in law enforcement to keep our communities safe for West Virginia…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Ukrainian Mountaineers Association and the Ukrainian Community of Morgantown, in collaboration with the Vovk Foundation, will host ” The Future Political Landscape in Ukraine by Oleh Medunytsya on Thursday, April 18, from 5 to 7p.m. in the Mountaineer Room in the Mountainlair. Khrystyna Pelchar, born and raised in Ukraine and a…

STAR CITY, W.Va. A Morgantown man has been arrested and charged in connection with vandalism to facilities in front of the rail trail bathrooms in Star City. Star City police said Ralph David Miller, 56, set fire to a bike rack located in front of the rail trail bathrooms in Star City, causing damage worth…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney and her staff are preparing for the May primary election, and she recommends registered voters get ready for the expansive ballot that awaits on May 14. In addition to non-partisan races for magistrate, judge, board of education, and conservation district supervisor, there are also four levy renewals…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The state Department of Highways will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed bridge over the Monongahela River to the Morgantown Industrial Park this week. Chief Development Engineer for the DOH, Jason Foster, said the meeting will be Wednesday, April 17, at Westwood Middle School from 5 to 8 p.m. The preliminary…

WEST UNION, W.Va. State police have arrested an Ohio man after he allegedly attacked another person with a shovel on Sunday. Troopers from the Doddridge County detachment were called to a residence on Orchard Street in West Union on a call for assistance. Troopers said when they arrived, they found the victim, who had a…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. – The state Department of Highways (DOH) has announced a total closure of County Road 17/1, Happy Road in Monongalia County for culvert replacement. The closure will be from Tuesday, April 16, 2024, through Wednesday April 17, 2024. Work operations are planned from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Total closure means there…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Utility work that will reduce Van Voorhis Road to one lane will begin Monday, April 15 and last for two weeks between the U-Haul location and Northside Hills. Contractor for the Morgantown Utility Board, Snider & Son will install about 400-feet of 8-inch waterline as part of Phase I of the state…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Two of the 18 projects valued at about $150 million approved by the School Building Authority (SBA) and Governor Justice this week will benefit Monongalia County Schools. The Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC) will get a Science, Technology, and Math (STEM) addition and a safe school entrance valued at $4,430,544; and…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Members of the Monongalia County Commission are encouraged by the addition of a state Department of Highways (DOH) employee to address local road maintenance issues. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Commissioner Tom Bloom said that employee, J. David Vaughn was on Owl Creek Road assessing some serious and urgent repairs that…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The annual West Virginia University International Street Festival will be held on Sunday, April 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. om the Monongalia County Courthouse Plaza. In addition to cultural displays, groups will also highlight foods from different nationalities represented on campus, according to Rebecca McDaniel is an advisor with the…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. The western end of Monongalia County has again felt the brunt of spring storms and rain. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” MECCA 911 Execution Director Jim Smith said the rainfall totals from Morgantown to Wadestown tell the story. “We have only had.82 inches of rain in Morgantown,” Smith said. “We haven’t…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Friday, 20/20 Investigates on ABC will air a special two-hour program about the murder of Skylar Nesse in 2012. Neese vanished in July of 2012, and after months of searching, her two best friends admitted to the killing. Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy, then 18, admitted to stabbing their university high school classmate…

GRAFTON, W.Va. One person was transported following a garage fire in Grafton on Thursday. Firefighters from Boothsville, Flemington, Bridgeport, and Taylor EMS responded around 4:45 p.m. and said the fire started when wind blew a transformer onto the garage. Officials said the person transported from the scene was being treated for smoke inhalation. No other…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Morgantown Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board plans to move forward with a community survey to better understand the perceptions of policing in the community, which could cost about $10,000 or less. Vice Chair Rachel Fetty said they want to have a clear understanding of what the community wants, not one specific…

BELINGTON, W.Va. Deputies from the Barbour County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Belington woman for drugs after a search of her home on Wednesday. While executing a search warrant at the home of Heather Poe, 43, on Centre Avenue, deputies said they found paraphernalia with fentanyl residue, 3.5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, a large amount of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Monongalia County Clerk Carye Blaney is making a push for poll workers and alternates as the May 14 primary election nears. A list of names is being assembled now in advance of the required training scheduled for next week. This May, voters will have several non-partisan races and levies to vote on in…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Commissioners in Monongalia County are thanking Senator Mike Oliverio, R. Monongalia, Delegate Joe Statler, R. Monongalia, Governor Justice, and state Department of Highways leadership for the recent contract awarded to Anderson Excavating LLC. After years of debate and requests, the DOH has agreed to use a private contractor for some core maintenance…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Two Michigan residents have been arrested after being found with controlled substances in downtown Morgantown early Monday. Deputies with the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle with a Pennsylvania registration driving on Chestnut Street with no taillights at 12:30 a.m. Deputies identified the driver as Quantrez Gibson, 26, of Sterling Heights,…

MILL CREEK, W.Va. Deputies from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department have arrested and charged a teacher at Tygart Valley High School with possession of methamphetamine. Deputies were deployed to the school parking lot with a K-9 unit to perform free air sniffs on Tuesday, April 9, after they received tips that a teacher at the…

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. A business-class 30-passenger jet made an emergency landing Tuesday afternoon at the North Central West Virginia Airport due to a suspected landing gear issue. Airport Director Rick Rock said around 1 p.m. in the afternoon they were alerted there could be a problem. At that point, the airport staff developed a plan to…

Longtime assistant coach Eric Snyder takes over for John Kelley who announced his retirement earlier this year.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Christina Fattore Morgan is running for Monongalia County Board of Education and wants to defend teachers and get more parents involved in public education. Fattore Morgan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the John D. Rockefeller IV School of Policy and Politics. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,”…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) is preparing for their role as part of the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) Fire Hydrant Maintenance and Testing Task Force and receiving updates on several major projects. MUB General Manager Mike McNulty and engineer Cory Jones will join 13 individuals and groups, including the Commission Legal Staff,…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – A Fairmont woman is facing felony drug charges after police made contact with her ude to multiple warrants. Monday, Fairmont police oberserved Angela Tresize, 47, walking in Hull Alley and knew she multiple warrants for her arrest. When police made contact with Tresize she threw her purse and attempted to prevent police…

UPSHUR COUNTY, W.Va. – A commercial truck crash in Upshur County on Route 20 near Hodgesville could have been caused by excessive speed. Deputies from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department said the truck carrying scrap metal failed to negotiate a curve and rolled. The driver was treated forminor injuries at St. Joseph Hospital in Buckhannon.…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –  Two people have been charged in Monongalia County in connection with a deadly overdose in January 2023. Deputies were called to an apartment at Viewcrest Village for a cardiac arrest but found four overdose victims upon arrival. Police thought the group was using suspected cocaine, but a lab test determined the substance…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. A suspect from Alabama is accused of setting brush fires in Monongalia County. Firefighters from the River Road Volunteer Fire Department and West Virginia State Police were dispatched to the intersection of Wiseman and Glory Barn Roads at 5:15 p.m. Monday on a report of a fire. While responding, first responders received…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – Lieutenant R. A. Titchenal has announced his retirement from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department. Lieutenant Titchenal began his law enforcement career as a patrolman for the city of Nutter Fort and was hired by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office on February 17, 2003. During his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, Lieutenant Titchenal…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department announced that the body found in the Monongahela River on March 27 has been identified. Arthurdale resident James Weaver, 48, was found dead about a month after he was reported missing to the Westover Police Department on February 14. Monongalia County Sheriff Perry Palmer reported that the…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. In an effort to relieve some of the core maintenance work load for state Department of Highways workers, bids have been received to complete ditching in Monongalia, Preston, and Harrison Counties, according to Senator Mike Oliverio, R. Monongalia. The apparent low bidder for the work in Monongalia County is Anderson Excavating LLC…

MASONTOWN, W.Va. — A new faith-based alternative school in Masontown is accepting K–12 registrations for the fall of 2024. The free Hope Scholarship-funded school is operated from the Preston County Youth Center, has room for 160 K–12 students and 100 students in grades 7–12, and will offer free lunches to students. Principal Glenn Larew said…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Through a team effort including West Virginia Sober Living (WVSL), the Monongalia County Health Department’s Quick Response Team (QRT), and Wise Path Recovery Center, the first naloxone vending machine in the state has been relocated. WVSL Executive Director Jon Dower said when the Hope Hill Sobering Center closed, they needed to find…

PLEASANT VALLEY, W.Va. Due to weather concerns, the Dave McRobie Fly-in Memorial at the Fairmont Municipal Airport has been postponed until April 13. The event was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 6. The Fairmont State University Aviation Center of Excellence (ACE) will host the event on April 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. David…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC) wants to invite Morgantown area residents to participate in their annual Walk With Survivors. The event will take place on Saturday, April 20, in downtown Morgantown, where members of the West Virginia RDVIC will be joined by survivors of domestic violence, local…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown man has been charged after being caught in bed under the covers with a child in Monongalia County. On March 10, deputies from the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department were called to a River Road home on a report of a sexual assault of a child in progress. Upon arrival, deputies…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following a two day trial a jury in Monongalia County has found Anthony J. Williams, guilty of strangulation and domestic battery. Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Paul Gwaltney presided over the trial and will sentence Williams at a later date. Williams faces 2 to 6 six years behind bars at sentencing. This…

STAR CITY, W.Va. – Star City police are investigating vadalism to the bathrooms along the rail trail. Police said the vandals kicked in doors and set a fire. Investigators with the Star City Police Department is reviewing surveillance video and is also looking for tips from the public. Information about the crime can be left…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A new scholarship program in memory of George W. Longenecker has been approved by the board of directors of the West Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (WVNLA). The scholarship is an incentive for high school seniors to apply and enroll in the Landscape Architecture or Horticulture programs at West Virginia University’s Davis…

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. –  A Waynesburg man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for failing to update his sex offender registration. Police were called to a Morgantown apartment complex where a resident believed Larry Collins Bryan, 65, inappropriately touched her child. Bryan was convicted of statutory rape in 1992 in Greene County, Pennsylvania,…

FAIRMONT, W.Va. The 27th President of Fairmont State University will be inaugurated Thursday in the Falcon Center at 4 p.m. in a public ceremony. Dr. Michael Davis officially began serving as president on July 1, 2023, after serving as the Chief of Staff at James Madison University. In the nine months since taking office as…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. Storms in Monongalia County forced the closure of two schools and a few roads due to high water, but no injuries have been reported. Classes at Clay Battelle High School and Mason Dixon Elementary School were cancelled Wednesday due to rising water and continued rain. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” MECCA…

FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. Upshur County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested two, including a convicted felon, during a warrant service as part of a wanton endangerment investigation. During a search of the home on Route 20 South Road, deputies found marijuana plants and nine firearms on Tuesday. Deputies made contact with John Cathell III at the home,…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that amends the license and liability aspects of the new Private Outdoor Designate Areas (PODA). The ordinance was approved unanimously as part of an effort to have a full rollout of the economic initiative by May 15. The amended changes to the…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Several speakers at the regular meeting of Morgantown City Council on Tuesday called for new and improved partnerships within the community to help people struggling with homelessness. Resident and non-profit worker Dani Ludwig told council members the policy of removing camps has forced homeless people into abandoned homes, where she said four…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust has made a $50 million gift to WVU Medicine for the construction of a new cancer hospital to serve as part of the WVU Cancer Institute. Trustee Stephen Farmer said the gift is seed money for a new, state-of-the-art cancer treatment center to be called the…

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. Volunteer firefighters extinguished a blaze in a single-wide trailer at Healthy Heights Village Tuesday morning. Triune-Halleck Volunteer Fire Department chief Josh Morgan said the fire was reported to MECCA 911 just after 8 a.m., and a firefighter confirmed the blaze who was nearby in his personal vehicle. “One of the Clinton District…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Retired West Virginia Air National Guard General and Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in the Second District, Chris “Mookie” Walker, reports robust fund-raising efforts with the May primary a little more than one month away. On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Walker said he has been in the race for Congress for…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Monday afternoon, House Democrats presented what they wanted and didn’t want in the proposed May special session. House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D. Cabell, 25, said the special session should not be a second attempt for Republicans to pass measures related to their cultural agenda. Hornbuckle said too much time was wasted debating…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The leader of the foundation designated to distribute nearly $1 billion in opioid settlement money, the West Virginia First Foundation, believes the task at hand is generational in nature. West Virginia First Executive Director Jonathan Board said Monday this distribution is a single opportunity to make a positive impact in one of…

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Public Service Commission of West Virginia has approved the Hope Gas Inc. acquisition of two smaller gas utilities and the service to customers of two gas suppliers. As a result of the deal, Hope Gas will add an estimated 530 customers. The approval is the final step in the acquisition of…

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – MetroNews Accuweather advises residents in northern West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania to prepare for the possibility of severe weather through the end of the week. Meteorologist Kerry Schwindenhammer said heavy rainfall is expected before a cold front enters the picture, bringing with it the chance for severe weather. Creeks, streams, and poor…