MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Seasonal flu activity is on the rise, and statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show type “A” and “B” influenza strains are the most reported by health professionals. Dr. Matthew Lokant WVU Medicine’s Dr. Matthew Lokant said numbers are on the rise in the Mountain State but our neighbors are in…
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — West Virginia State Police arrested four suspects in an ongoing drug investigation after a search of a Pleasant Valley home. Troopers arrested Chad McGee, 52, Nicole Fike, 36, Denzil Masters, 50, and Larry Cleliand for their alleged continuing felonious drug activities from the home. Troopers said methamphetamine, fentanyl, illegal and stolen firearms…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The National Weather Service has placed the lowlands of West Virginia under a winter storm watch and the higher elevations under a winter storm warning for Tuesday and Wednesday. A mixed bag of winter weather is in the forecast. (NWS graphic) According to the weather service, “Confidence is low but rising for a…
PHILIPPI, W.Va. — The Barbour County Chamber of Commerce has an information meeting set for Monday in regards to the recent closure of the Leer South Mine in Philippi. Core Natural Resources announced that it would temporarily seal the longwall of the mine due to an underground mine fire in mid-January. Original reports said the mine…
FAIRMONT, W.Va. –– The Marion County school system will increase school safety measures with several new technology updates. One update includes adding facial recognition technology entrances to nearly half of the schools in the county, according to Superintendent Donna Heston. Donna Heston “[We received] a grant from the school building authority for 2.7 million dollars…
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A second suspect has been charged in the November 2023 killing Richard Hall in Morgantown. Damir Smith (WVRJA) Damir Swann, 29, of Detroit, Michigan, has also been charged with conspiracy and first degree murder in the case. Melvin Garth, 28, also of Detroit, was arrested earlier this week and also charged with conspiracy…
PRINCETON, W.Va. — Two West Virginia school coaches no longer have jobs after criminal investigations. Travis Francisco (WVRJA photo) The Mercer County Board of Education fired Princeton High School Wrestling Coach Travis Francisco Tuesday after he was named in seven criminal counts–alleging he had sex with a student. State police started the investigation after receiving a…
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Authorities have identified the human remains unearthed on a piece of property in Harrison County last week. Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said Tuesday the remains are those of Christa Merrill of Fairmont. Merrill, 34, was reported missing last August. The sheriff’s department, working the FBI, excavated the property in the Owings area…
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Morgantown man accused of attempting to buy a child in Mexico will serve 10 years in federal prison for failing to update his sex offender registry before traveling internationally. Scott David Bixler, 43, was arrested in Mexico, where investigators believed he attempted to purchase a 7-year-old girl. Court documents said Bixler…
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Officials from Hope Gas report activities associated with the Sunday explosion in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood have been completed. The blast claimed the homeowner’s life. According to an update from the company, Hope Gas crews have been working around the clock since the incident to get displaced families back into their and…