The county commission unanimously agreed earlier this week to consider the move.

The commission heard more more information at this week’s meeting from groups opposing the project that will encompass parts of three states and cut through nearly half a dozen counties in West Virginia.

Commissioner Tom Bloom read from a letter.

“On behalf of all the residents in the four affected counties, (the commission is asked) to please help us fight the proposed transmission line and consider Mon County becoming an intervener,” said Bloom. “So I did want to put that on the record.”

The approximately 107-mile-long MARL project would be powered in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The 500-kilovolt line would support data center development in Virginia and would also include crossings in parts of Maryland, with the state portion expected to cost approximately $482 million.

According to Monongalia County resident Juliet Marleer, one of many who have vocally opposed the project moving forward, aspects related to costs have continued to change in the negative as well as additional parameters that would make areas affected by the planned power line much worse. Aspects of the project that have been pointed out by organizations like West Virginia Against Transmission Injustice in recent weeks.

“It has gone up from the original $440 million to $1.16 billion (price tag),” said Marleer. “So right now, my question is, how do we find out exactly what’s going on here?”

Bloom said he’s concerned about recent adjustments about the width of property needed for the line.

“That’s the one that bothers me the most, the siding corridor width is 200 to 500 feet, however, with aerial easement blowouts, the maximum width could be 715 feet,” said Bloom.

The county commission plans to make a decision on intervenor status in the near future. The state PSC is expected to schedule public hearings on the MARL application as early as May or June.

“I think that the commission can play a part in helping with that lift in regard to making sure that we have competent legal counsel representing us and our citizens,” said Commissioner Sean Sikora. “It’s been on our list of things to do and something we’ll certainly have a conversation about.”

An informational meeting for those in opposition of the MARL project will be hosted at the Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department sometime later this month. A specific date has not been announced.

The post Monongalia County Commission may intervene in MARL transmission case appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Associate Professor Dr. Joseph Jones said companies such as Meta and Google could be in line to potentially pay a significant financial penalty for knowingly designing addictive products. This comes about after it was announced last week that TikTok joined Snap had reached settlements as part of the lawsuit that also includes 350 families and over 250 school district.

Jones said the movement could result in federal legislation.

“That could open the door for, I mean, literally countless other trials of people who could say they were harmed by this and not just individual school districts are kind of getting in on this, that essentially social media is a public nuisance, so even state institutions and attorneys general around the country will be looking at these cases to see if they will have a lawsuit moving forward themselves,” Jones said on MetroNews “Talkline.”

Jones said the lawsuits are expected to be drawn out due to federal laws related to the level of responsibility social media sites have in regard to the content that is posted on their site.

In the lawsuits filed in California, the plaintiffs alleged that companies made open attempts to make their platforms, such as YouTube and Instagram, more appealing to children, such as adjusting algorithms to increase content focused on ‘divisive’ topics, many of which were confirmed through emails and company messages showcased as part of unsealed court documents. While aspects related to updated statutes as part of the Communications Act of 1934 that were enacted in 1996 are expected to be brought up during proceedings, Jones said that the level of responsibility will be brought into question.

“The only people who can be held accountable are the publishers, so that is social media users themselves,” said Jones. “So even advertisers, people posting on social media are the ones who can be sued for libel, what this case is saying now, and why this is so new, it’s basically saying, ‘No, maybe social media are publishers.'”

Jones said Congress could play a role in determining what reforms need to take place. One example that was brought up was the similar tactics pointed out during the lawsuits against tobacco companies back in 1998, which resulted in settlements that included changes to advertising across several media platforms. With the most recent settlements taking place less than a day after the unsealed court documents detailing the lack of concern over potential harms to children were showcased by the Tech Oversight Project earlier this week, trends are reflecting a more than likely federal reform to at least be discussed at the nation’s capital.

“I don’t think it should just be lawsuits, I think it should be public policy,” said Jones. “We’re not talking about even individual payments out to people who have been harmed individually, let’s make these social media companies invest in media literacy programs for all of the ways they’ve caused harm, let’s actually use that towards public good and not just these private payouts.”

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify as part of the lawsuit in February.

While Jones expects several pieces of information regarding social media site algorithms and marketing tactics to be placed under the proverbial microscope, he also expects that the long-term solution to the social media platforms is expected to take place over several years. Along with any potential financial blowback from social media companies that are worth trillions of dollars, the addition of 40 state attorney generals filing similar lawsuits could force federal legislation just by sheer numbers. With conversations ranging from content hosting to advertising tactics, Jones also feels that this will be a case that will be something to observe, both on a national level and for what impacts it could have on the state.

“It’s hard for anybody to be the moral police, I am certainly not the one to come along and say, this is good content, this is bad content, and I think that’s where the real issue comes in,” said Jones. “Which is why we need to have a slowdown and have a nuanced conversation about what kinds of content we are talking about.”

The post WVU professors watch possible social media landscape change appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The arrests came near the Donley Street regional office of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito Tuesday afternoon after the protesters refused to move. The second protest was a march from the WVU campus into downtown Morgantown.

Morgantown Mayor Danielle Trumble spoke in favor of those expressing their views at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

“I’m certainly in favor of everyone expressing their constitutional right to free speech and peaceful protest,” Trumble said. “Deputy Mayor (Butcher) and I felt compelled to put out the statement, and things have not been pleasant since.”

The statement, released last week, said in part, “Together, let’s reaffirm our commitment to unity, inclusivity, and the welcoming of a diverse community even whilst we face our darkest days in this nation. The only way to navigate these challenging times is by uplifting one another and cultivating a sense of belonging for all. This is the Morgantown, state, and country that we long to see and work toward each and every day.”

Butcher said Tuesday night it may get worse before it gets better.

“We’ve talked about creative ideas about what we can do to try to protect people at this time, to be frank, it is slim,” said Butcher. “That is largely a function of state code, and if you look at the bills that are going in the state legislature right now, it’s going to be more slim.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed an MOU with he federal government last fall that includes the state’s cooperation with ICE. State Police Superintendent Col. Jim Mitchell reported to lawmakers earlier this week that state police have helped ICE make 250 arrests in West Virginia in recent months.

A bill passed by the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday, HB 4433, that says those convicted of smuggling an illegal could be convicted to spend at least 25 years in prison.

Members of the public who spoke during the Morgantown City Council meeting expressed a combination of frustrations toward council and concerns regarding ICE

“We do not want immigration and customs enforcement operatives in our city, and we ask that every public servant, from council to clerk to police, make our city as inhospitable to these ICE agents as possible,” resident Paige Rearing said.

While actions are limited, city officials also emphasized that many intend to remain vocal and active in finding ways to prevent such operations from taking place within the City of Morgantown.

“The state has made it incredibly difficult, but that does not mean we have to be complacent,” Trumble said. “Voting members of the NLC that come from red states, blue states, local elected officials who were there recognize the need (to call for an adjustment in federal policy).”

The post Six charged with trespassing after ICE-related protests in Morgantown appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Cheyenne Hicks, 31, and Zachary Thornburg, 31, both of Rivesville, were charged with child neglect creating risk of injury after deputies were notified of a CPS referral on January 14 for a 15-month-old juvenile that was filed after they both failed to take the child to the hospital at the urging of a doctor.

According to deputies, Hicks and Thornburg allegedly brought the 15-month-old child to a medical check-up earlier that day, where doctors told them they needed to bring the child to the Children’s ER. Doctors called CPS later when the couple failed to take the child to the hospital.

An investigation of the Rivesville residence where the child was living with Hicks and Thornburg by police and CPS went to their residence, which they reportedly found in disarray with food containers, trash, and dirt throughout.

According to a criminal complaint, deputies found the child in a separate room where the crib was allegedly soaked with urine, the child’s clothes were wet, and he wore a soiled diaper. The child was allegedly found to be severely underweight and was covered in a rash.

EMS transported the child to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where a nurse found he weighed only 14 pounds and didn’t react to food or a bottle.

Hicks and Thornburg are currently in the North Central Regional Jail, both with bonds set at $30,000.

The post Marion County parents charged in malnutrition case appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department said the two were found on Thursday night after they were reported missing that afternoon by the boat ramp located at the intersection of Mont Chateau and Cheat Road.

According to a sheriff’s department news release, the pair was reported missing at around 5:45 p.m. after they missed a designated meet time to return from a two-day kayaking trip to an island near Raven’s Rock. Deputies said the two reportedly left on the trip on Tuesday with plans to return sundown on Thursday.

They were were found safe Thursday night near their original destination on the island near Raven’s Rock. Both parties were transported from the area without further incident.

The sheriff’s department, state police, Morgantown police, DNR police, the Brookhaven Fire Department, the Cheat Lake Fire Department and the Mountainside Area Rescue Group all took part in the search.

The post Monongalia County search ends with positive results appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Jonathan Ramirez, 25, was sentenced Friday in Monongalia County Circuit Court to life in prison with no chance for parole for the January 2024 stabbing death of Jacob Lough.

A 12-member jury convicted Ramirez on charges of murder, burglary and larceny last August. It took the panel less than 30 minutes to reach its decision. It was also took about a half hour to decide Ramirez should receive no mercy.

Lough’s mother, Terri Lough, credited the jury for its work when speaking with reporters after Friday afternoon’s sentencing hearing.

“It came down to August 28 and 29 where that was the sentencing and they got it right- he deserved life in prison,” Jacob Lough’s mother Terri said.

Lough said her family and many others will remember Jacob, 24, for the loving family member and good friend he was.

“He would give his shirt off his back- everyone says that’s so cliché, but he truly was everybody’s friend. ” Terri Lough said. “Just the best son and brother as well.”

Ramirez came to West Virginia in January 2024 to meet with a girl he had made contact with on the internet. The get-together in Wayne didn’t work out so he made his way to Morgantown. He checked in the Hampton Inn located in the Suncrest area. He began checking for open hotel rooms to burglarize and then made his way into the Suncrest community where video showed him casing residences for possible crimes. He was able to make his way into Lough’s residence where he attacked him in his sleep, stabbing him more than 200 times.

Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Perri Jo DeChristopher sentenced Ramirez life in prison and also to 1 to 15 years for burglary and and additional 1 to 10 years for grand larceny, all to served consecutively.

Ramirez appeared virtually for Friday’s hearing. He remains in the North Central Regional Jail awaiting his transfer to state prison.

The post Life in prison for Texas man convicted in brutal Morgantown murder appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Solar Holler Founder and CEO Dan Conant said solar may be an option for Mountain State residents who may be looking to use solar power as an energy source for their property ahead of the expiration of the 30 percent federal clean energy tax credit Dec. 31. The recommendation was made as his company continues the installation of dozens of 5-kilowatt solar panel systems designed for residential use, along with larger systems for properties that host nonprofit organizations and commercial businesses ahead of the deadline.

“If folks want to take advantage of that tax credit that covers 30 percent of the costs of the project, it has to be installed this year,” Conant said recently on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “And then next year, it goes away.”

According to Conant, the cost for an installation varies depending on the size of the property, with most 5 kW solar panel systems expected to cost just over $10,000 to fully integrate into an average four-bedroom household. Once everything is installed, homeowners can then incorporate up to 30 percent of the total installation costs of the system towards their federal tax payment. This will also be separate from a new process that residents can take part in where usage of the solar panels can be incorporated into monthly energy bills.

“We actually tie it into the power grid, so when you’re not home and it’s a sunny day, the solar will spin your meter backward,” said Conant. “And then you’ll build up credits that you can apply against your bill.”

Conant said not only is there expected to be a direct cost benefit for individual consumers but also investment in solar panel-based energy sources that directly affects the West Virginia economy.

According to Conant, a wide variety of solar panel pieces of equipment are produced and sold in various parts of the Mountain State. Added with the use of contractors with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Solar Holler hopes the immediate investment into an industry that has over 700 people employed across West Virginia will also entice new users alongside the tax credit and energy bill benefits that can be negotiated with service providers.

“A lot of panels from around the country are actually being made out of West Virginia sand, and we’ve got batteries being made up in Weirton, and steel and all kinds of stuff so  the solar industry as a whole is construction but also manufacturing.”

The expiration of the federal tax credit is expected to be fully applied at the start of 2026, with the credits for nonprofits, farmers, and commercial businesses allowed to be safe harbored until 2029. The credit for safe harbored projects can only be applied if the solar panel installation is locked in place by the end of this year. With projects taking place in homes all the way to religious centers from as far south as Flatwoods and as far north as Monongalia County, Conant encourages West Virginians to give solar power a shot.

“Depending on what you’re looking for, it can either just be a price hedge to make sure you’re protected from the utility increases, or it can also be a security for power to run,” said Conant. “For power to run the freezer and fridges and everything you need.”

Solar Holler currently employs 105 people.

The post Some alternative energy tax credits end this week appeared first on WV MetroNews.

DOH officials reported to the Monongalia County Commission that the bidding process is officially underway for the project aimed to support development around the Morgantown Industrial Park following the approval of an intersection justification report that took place in November.

“The Harmony Grove exit we mentioned, the IRJ came through, so that project is full speed ahead,” Monongalia County Commission President Jeff Arnett said. “The state has already sent out a request for bids for the engineering, which is an incredibly quick turnaround after that.”

The exit will directly serve the Morgantown Industrial Park. Based on studies supported on a state level, up to 100 trucks that support businesses ranging from distribution to waste disposal will make use of the interchange, in turn alleviating an ongoing concern for city residents who live near state roads around the downtown Morgantown area. This will also support developments such as the Mountaintop Beverage facility and other contributors to the approximately $1.1 billion in economic impact provided by the industrial park determined back in 2023.

“I hate to use the term, everybody uses it, but to me that exit can be a real game changer and really make that industrial park expand even further, and that’s just going to bring good-paying jobs, so appreciate them that work on that,” Arnett said.

The completion and approval of the IJR, along with the starting of the bid process, completes a close to half-decade process just for establishing financing and design work alone for the county leaders.

“Would like to thank the DOH for jumping on that and keeping that project moving forward,” said Arnett.

Along with financial support from Morgantown Industrial Park developer Enrout Properties to pay for the feasibility study, around $1.5 million in federal funds were allocated for the project on behalf of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito back in 2023, with support offered on a state level in 2022 by then-Gov. Jim Justice before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2024.

The post Monongalia County Commission excited about next step for Harmony Grove exit project appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Sixty-five cadets walked the podium and shook the hands of Academy Director Dianna Reese and MX Sports Director and Morgantown area businessman Tim Cotter, who attended as the keynote speaker. The cadets now join more than 6,000 graduates of the 22-week program that has helped support growth of at-risk youth since 2012.

“I’m very proud of him, I’ve seen a definite change he’s grown, and he’s got big plans for the future,” said Berkley County parent Kylie Ashby after the ceremony, speaking about her son.

During the 22-week stay at Camp Dawson, the cadets are brought into a quasi-military environment where they are trained on attention to detail, respect, self-discipline, and a chain of command. With a one-year post-residential phase also a part of the program, parents and family members of the cadets noted the immediate change of the person that was at the camp.

“Her discipline has changed dramatically, her grades—she was failing out of high school, and she (now is) almost completed up here for her GED,” said Tucker County parent Randall Tuttle, speaking about his daughter. “It’s night and day compared to high school, it’s amazing what they do with the children here.”

As part of the awards portion of the ceremony, Cadet Christian Patricola was awarded the Robert C. Byrd Distinguished Cadet Award as well as the Adjutant General’s Award for Academic Excellence and the Espirit De Corps Award for his leadership shown during the program.

Cadet Michael Echols was presented with the Leadership Award, Cadet Anthony McKenzie was presented with the Citizenship Award, and Cadet Dakota Toothman was presented with the Academic Challenge Award. All of the cadets are either working towards or will complete their high school diploma or get a GED, with all of them planning to immediately enter a trade or continue their education once they return home.

“Next for me, I’m planning on getting a job and then going to Job ChalleNGe,” said Cadet Mason Keisel on what’s next for him. “Then I plan on going to UNHO, the University of Northwestern Ohio, for construction equipment technologies.”

Of the 65 cadets that graduated, Berkeley County has the largest representation by county, with 21 in total represented from across the Mountain State. Forty-two of the graduating cadets will have high school diplomas, with 22 completing GED programs and one planning to immediately enter college. There will also be four cadets planning to enter military service, with 11 scheduled to enter a trade school program starting next year. For the cadets, it’s a reflection of both the discipline and positive relationships built at the academy for those that might be considered too far gone in a regular learning environment.

“There’s definitely an authority aspect to it, but there’s also, like, a we’re-all-family aspect to it,” said Keisel. “I think that’s what I took away from it the most.”

The post ChalleNGe Academy North graduates latest class appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Close to 1,000 people gathered around Woodburn Circle early Tuesday night despite temperatures reaching near below freezing, where they celebrated the lighting of Woodburn Hall, which took place for the first time in over a decade.

WVU President Michael T. Benson was on hand for the ceremony, where he was joined by a patient from WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, to take part in the ceremony.

Hundreds of students who were not even in middle school the last time holiday lights covered Woodburn Hall were in attendance, as well as Morgantown area families that brought their children to the ceremony like their parents did for them in the past.

“I just love it, I’m born and raised in Morgantown, been here for 27 years, and seeing these lights tonight just made me tear up a little bit,” said resident Reagan Haines. “Thinking of growing up in Morgantown and my dad taking me here, and it brought back a lot of emotion.”

Representatives from Huntington Bank and community partner Northeast Natural Energy were on hand to serve cookies and hot cocoa during the evening. For Morgantown residents in attendance, it was a perfect way to celebrate the start of the holidays with their families.

“I’m pretty excited, it’s been a while since it’s been lit up, it’s actually special now that the snow fell this morning,” said resident Rob Kelch. “I’m here with my wife and my daughter, some family and friends, just here to have a good time.”

The installation of the lights themselves took place over the course of a couple weeks, with the finishing touches taking place just before the end of November. This also ends the decade-long miniature LED light showcase that began in 2011, with the ceremony itself not taking place during that time. WVU students in attendance also expressed appreciation to be a part of something that was only talked about or shown in pictures when they were younger. A tradition they also hope to see continue.

“It’s really pretty, and I love how so many people came together to see it,” said WVU student Allison Lamb. “It just makes the holiday season a little bit more special, I think.”

To showcase the Mountaineer spirit before the ceremony, dozens of students and some select Morgantown area youth participated in an impromptu snowball fight along with the forming of snowmen using the four inches of snow covering the area from early Tuesday storms. All the things that people felt highlight the best of the WVU community during the holidays.

“I’m so shocked by the amount of people here tonight, I really am, I think it just goes to show that, know, once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer,” said Haines. “You know, we have people here who are bringing their own kids tonight, so it’s definitely really cool to see this big of a turnout.”

Woodburn Hall will stay illuminated until mid-January 2026.

The post WVU, Morgantown community celebrate the lighting of Woodburn Hall appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Northeast Natural Energy and Huntington Bank will team with WVU to host the Woodburn Hall Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, December 2, starting at 6 p.m. at Woodburn Circle right in the heart of the downtown campus.

Northeast Natural Energy President and CEO Mike John will be in attendance along with employees that work in operations from around the Morgantown area as well as representatives with Huntington Bank and WVU President Michael T. Benson.

“We have a lot of projects that we’ve worked with WVU on over the years, and we’ve done a number of research projects, particularly in the Morgantown Industrial Park,” said John on what prompted his company to be a part of the ceremony. “So as this project took legs, we were approached, and we jumped on the opportunity to be a part of it.”

To start the ceremony, Benson will be joined by 9-year-old Kinsey Wolfe, a WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s patient from Tunnelton, along with her parents and three siblings, alongside John and other representatives with Northeast Natural Energy as well as Huntington Bank. This will be the first time that Woodburn Hall will have holiday lights since 2011, when the switch was made to a winter-themed light that would be shown until the start of the new year.

“This iconic lighting of Woodburn Hall is a wonderful opportunity for our company to step forward and bring attention to that, what I think is transformational activity for the natural gas industry in northern West Virginia,” said John.

For the WVU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the community that will be in attendance, representatives with Huntington and Northeast Natural Energy will be on hand to offer holiday snacks as part of the ceremony. With the anticipation that it will be cold on December 2, hot cocoa and cookies will be served before and after the ceremony, all free of charge to those who attend. For John, whose company works with WVU on projects within the Morgantown Industrial Park and is also part of the WVU Class of 1981, the ceremony is a perfect opportunity to give back to the WVU community.

“For the people that work for Northeast Natural Energy, we’ll have a good crowd of our folks there,” said John on MetroNews Midday. “We are part of the community in Morgantown, and so we’re enjoying this as much as anyone when it comes to the actual lighting of Woodburn Hall.”

Free event parking will be available beginning at 5 p.m. in nearby university lots.

The return of the lighting of Woodburn Hall during the holidays brings back a tradition that was regularly hosted by WVU for close to 50 years by the time the decision was made to switch the lighting back in 2011. For John, the ceremony is considered more personal than expected, with memories of the lighting taking place in the late 1970s being a sticking point for him throughout the several-week process in order for the lights to get arranged before December. With the WVU community at large expected to be in attendance, WVU officials as well as representatives from both Northeast Natural Energy and Huntington Bank are ready to welcome back a long-standing tradition.

“For particularly those of us that have been associated with the state and associated with the university for a number of years, it just rekindles our excitement about being part of such an important part of our state, that is, West Virginia University,” said John.

The post WVU to host Woodburn Hall lighting ceremony appeared first on WV MetroNews.

City council recently approved a bid contract with Parrotta Paving to pave approximately six miles of road for approximately $803,000, with a separate contract awarded for the reconstruction of North High Street at a value of approximately $152,000.

Morgantown Director of Engineering and Public Works Damien Davis told council the plan is to start the work in the next month.

“As part of that, we’re doing about six miles of roadway, likely roads probably won’t get started until the spring, but we are going to work with the contractor, talk to them depending on the weather, and see if we can get started on North High Street immediately,” said Davis. “That would be our main priority.”

According to Davis, the reconstruction of North High Street will include a complete replacement of the predominantly brick-layered piece of road that is heavily used during the regular school year for West Virginia University students. Work on the project will move forward after delays related to the replacement of water and sewer lines by the Morgantown Utility Board as well as the rebuilding of an underground steam tunnel by WVU contractors. With streetscape improvements included in the project, Davis hopes to have contractors starting work within the next few weeks.

“We’re trying to get that done this season depending on the weather,” said Davis. “That road’s in pretty rough shape, and we’ve been kind of kicking it down the road, as all the utilities have slowly gotten their things replaced, and WVU got their steam lines and their steam tunnel fixed, and so now finally everybody else is done with their projects, and we can get started with ours.”

The remaining repavements scheduled as part of the six-mile 2025 Street Improvement Project will include focused areas in neighborhoods across the seven wards in the city including repavements of Pennsylvania Avenue and Euclid Avenue in the South Park and Greenmont neighborhoods as well as the repavement of Eastland Avenue and Gibbons Street, a few minutes’ walk away from Mylan Puskar Stadium.

Davis said the bid came in under budget so the leftover funds will be used to support ADA-approved sidewalk improvements in 2026.

“This came in a little under budget, we anticipated a little more, so we’re going to take the rest of this money and put this into an ADA project that we’ve been kind of kicking around, ” said Davis.

The post Reconstruction of North High Street part of recently approved Morgantown projects appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Metro Properties developer David Biafora filed the lawsuit in Monongalia County Circuit Court seeking $1.25 million in damages, where he claims that Butcher intentionally made defamatory and slanderous statements motivated by “his anti-capitalist desire to wreck the reputation of the plaintiff and to otherwise cause others not to associate with the plaintiff in any real estate ventures within Monongalia County specifically.”

In the lawsuit, Biafora claims that Butcher published and communicated accusations via text message to fellow Morgantown-based developer and business acquaintance James Giuliani in June that claimed that the main developer of the planned East End Village just north of downtown Morgantown was a “violent crook” and “federal criminal” who “threatened to kill him and his family.”

The lawsuit included eight separate incidents of either “lies and slanderous and defamatory statements” that were made during the message chain, which included claims made by Butcher that stated that business associates of Biafora were “violent crooks” and that Biafora himself is a “violent psychopath.” The suit mentioned Biafora’s son Alex, his brother Richard A. Biafora, and two nephews, Joseph and Richard A. Biafora Jr., as well as the North Central West Virginia Business Association, which joined the suit as an interested third party.

The suit also alleges that Butcher published these statements to a number of people outside of the messages with Giuliani. Biafora alleges that Butcher, through his comments, “purposefully, and part and parcel to, a maliciously motivated and calculated strategy, sought to disrupt funding on the project by slandering and defaming Mr. Biafora and his partner’s and business interests.”

A jury trial was requested as part of the lawsuit. Wheeling-based attorney Mark Kepple is representing Biafora as part of the complaint.

Butcher denied the allegations in his response to the lawsuit filed last Friday. He said he did not make “purposefully defamatory and slanderous statements and/or anti-capitalist desire to wreck the reputation of Biafora and to otherwise cause others not to associate with him.”

In the nine-page response, Butcher admitted to sending messages to Giuliani but denied making “any defamatory or slanderous statements to individuals located within Monongalia County.” This included a separate denial of saying anything defamatory against the North Central West Virginia Business Association.

In the response filed by Charleston-based attorney David M. Adkins, Butcher also offered seven affirmative defenses, including the “complaint failing to state a claim where relief can be granted”. Along with that, Butcher also requested a jury trial as part of the defense with a formal plea to dismiss the suit with prejudice was included in the response, which included claims to recovering costs, expenses of the suit, and reasonable attorney’s fees necessary in defending the lawsuit.

The City of Morgantown is not named in the lawsuit.

The post Morgantown deputy mayor sued by local developer for defamation appeared first on WV MetroNews.

On Nov. 15, deputies arrived at a Clarksburg residence and made contact with Cassandra Nutter, who had a bleeding laceration on her left hand.

Nutter told deputies she heard the neighbors’ dogs on the porch and was afraid they were killing her kittens and was bitten on the hand by a brown pit bull.

Deputies were then given access to surveillance video that showed Nutter in the backyard near the neighbors’ fence yelling at the brown pit bull. In the video she can be heard saying “come here” while swinging a knife.

The dog can be seen approaching the fence and barking at the woman with two other dogs.

Deputies said Nutter then admitted to yelling at the dogs and swinging a knife at them right before her hand was injured.

Nutter has been charged with animal cruelty.

The post Clarksburg woman allegedly threatens to kill dogs, charged with cruelty appeared first on WV MetroNews.

DOH District 4 Manager Earl Gaskins said Mountaineer Contractors, which was awarded the $19 million contract, wants to start on drainage repairs this winter so repaving can take place next spring and summer. The section of interstate is three lanes in each direction.

“It’s an isolated overhaul project,” Gaskins said. “We’re reconstructing the drainage, there’s going to be a brand new paving, it’s an extensive project that’s going to do a lot of good for this area.”

Gaskins said a timeline will be determined in the near future.

“We’re meeting with the contractors here in the next couple weeks, and they’re wanting to get started in December,” said Gaskins. “There are going to be some major drains that we’re going to have to correct, and they’re wanting to get all that done this winter, that way they can start paving in the spring, everything is scheduled to be done by November of next year.”

Gaskins said the drainage work will include a complete excavation of portions of the roadway added with the replacement of barrier walls and drainage structures that are expected to be completed by the end of the spring.

“We might have to do some pretty extensive excavation, we might have to remove some sections of a barrier wall that’s in place now, and we may add some drainage structures and then, of course, replace the wall that we’ve taken down to replace those,” said Gaskins. “So there’s a lot of work involved with correcting the drainage.”

Gaskins said the project is also expected to support traffic increases that are expected to take place as development continues around Harrison County, particularly around the North Central West Virginia Airport.

“It’s long overdue and we worked really hard with our leadership to get this project through, and luckily we did get it through,” said Gaskins. “Now we can start to see some progress in getting the repairs done.”

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The Brookhaven Volunteer Fire Department was the first to respond among a half dozen different departments around the Morgantown area to the scene early Wednesday night, where a fire inside an apartment on the lower end of a building at the start of the property resulted in two injuries.

Residents who lived inside the singular building were evacuated as crews from the Morgantown Fire Department, Westover Volunteer Fire Department, Star City VFD, the Granville Fire Department, and Cool Springs worked to isolate the fire less than two hours after it was called in.

“We had a fire in a downstairs apartment, that apartment was fully involved when the first units arrived on scene,” said Brookhaven Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jimmy Lipscomb, who was among the first to arrive on scene. “There are a total of 10 apartments in this building here, nine of them were occupied, and one was vacant, at this time, we’ve got everyone evacuated, but we did send two people to the hospital to get checked.”

According to Lipscomb, emergency crews were able to contain the fire to the point of origin as the residents inside the complex were evacuated within minutes of arriving. Mon EMS responded to the scene after injuries were confirmed, with the residents that were reported to be hurt taken to a hospital for further evaluation. Brookhaven VFD firefighters responded to the call after flames were seen from residential complex Bluegrass Village several hundred yards away.

“We got the initial call after they were getting reports from down in Bluegrass Village, right behind it here, that they had heavy fire showing at the initial call,” said Lipscomb. “So we called in extra units since this is a heavily populated area and buildings are close together.”

Evacuated residents were unable to reenter the building at the advisement of Lipscomb and other senior fire officials who were on scene. This was due to the physical aspects of the building that could cause a reignition, as well as the fire remaining ongoing despite containment within the lower apartment where the origin was determined. Damage assessments were taken by landlords at Marjorie Gardens after residents were safely evacuated.

“The blocked building holds a lot of heat, it was confined to the apartment of origin, so we contained the fire to there,” said Lipscomb. “So we’re just waiting to make sure everything is out, and then we’re going to have probably about 10 or 12 people displaced.”

Lipscomb also confirmed that the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office will conduct an investigation into the cause of the fire. This is due to the high cost value of the building that was damaged, which housed ten apartments that had leases sold at a range of $685 up to $945 per month. With speculation on the cause possibly being electrical, Lipscomb advised waiting on an official investigation from the fire marshal’s office before comments on a cause can be made.

“I’ll end up calling the State Fire Marshals in to do an investigation on it since it is a high-dollar building with a significant loss to it,” said Lipscomb. “We’ll call them in and let them determine exactly what caused it, we’ve heard some rumors about what might have caused it, but I don’t want to comment on that until I can determine for sure.”

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Representatives with the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that a 60-day grace period for applicants wishing for a physical damage loan is underway for anyone that missed the initial Sept. 22 loan application deadline.

SBA Public Affairs Specialist Timothy Watson confirmed on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” that Marion County residents, as well as people living in neighboring counties who were among those that suffered through a combined $2 million worth of economic losses during June 14 & 15 are still eligible to apply for economic disaster relief loans as well as immediate impact loans with interest rates reaching as low as 2.8 percent depending on the circumstance.

“We do have a 60-day grace period for the physical disaster loan so you have up until November 22nd apply to that program with no justification as to why you are applying late and we want the public to know that FEMA is there for them as well,” Watson said.

According to Watson, the grace period for applications being accepted by the SBA for disaster relief loans was originally issued shortly before the original Sept. 22 deadline to account for Marion County residents who were either delayed in applying for a disaster relief loan or were initially unsure if they were eligible. Any homeowner who experienced damage, even months after the storm, is encouraged to apply for physical damage loans of up to $500,000 as well as up to $100,000 to replace personal property through the SBA.

“For the counties that do have the physical damage, which are Ohio and Marion, those individuals can apply to this program,” said Watson. “So we encourage people to get funding from both portals, from FEMA for the grant funding, as well as the Small Business Administration.”

Along with residents and business owners that were directly affected by Father’s Day storms that affected at least 35 businesses in Marion County, loan applications will also be accepted for residents in Brooke, Harrison, Monongalia, Taylor and Wetzel counties that might have been affected. One loan in particular that Watson pointed out was the economic injury disaster loans (EIDLs) offered by the SBA, which can be applied for by businesses that experienced a downturn in revenue due to damage experienced by their customer base. Businesses and nonprofits eligible for the loan can request up to $2 million to account for any damage received as a result of the storm.

“In the case of Wetzel County or the counties that directly touch Marion County, it may take a little time for them to actually see those effects, as they might be getting people to come in regularly,” said Watson. “So that’s why they’re given an extended amount of time.”

For those wishing to apply, interest rates on the loans will vary depending on resident’s ability to obtain credit beyond the SBA, type of business, or if they are a non-profit. Home repair loans from the SBA will start as low as 2.8 percent, with small business loans maxing out at five percent interest and nonprofit loans maxing out at 4 percent. With the loan and grant applications open through most of November, Watson highly advises anyone in the Marion County area still experiencing impacts from the June 2025 floods to go to the FEMA and SBA websites to find more information.

“The best way to apply is going on our website at sba.gov/disaster,” said Watson. “We do have a 1-800 number for customer service, which is 1-800-659-2955, and for those who have already applied, they can still go into the application portal.”

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The inaugural conference will begin on Tuesday morning as part of a two-day event that will be hosted at the Marriott Waterfront in Morgantown.

Department of Education Director of Child Nutrition Tony Crago said he’s about the opportunity to connect educators along with local officials in order to bring locally-produced nutritious food into school systems across the state.

“This event is something new for us here at the Western Virginia Department of Education, and the purpose of this conference is to connect farmers, community members and county nutrition directors to build those relationships and get more local food into our school meals,” he said.

According to Crago, the conference will focus on the multiple ways that West Virginia farmers can work with county school systems in order to have their produce contribute to yearly meal plans for students. This includes highlighting examples of farm-to-school efforts statewide through the “Seeds of Success Showcase,” which vary from school gardens to the establishment of community partnerships involving farmers and county school systems. The hope is that by combining the success stories with school administrators and farmers in attendance, potential relationships can be developed.

“We expect to see a lot of county employees, a lot of community partners, a lot of farmers and local food vendors, and there are going to be students (as well),” Crago said.

The conference will also highlight the work undertaken by students to promote farm-to-school programs in West Virginia. Submissions to the Let’s Grow Together Art Contest from Mountain State students will be judged during the conference, with awards being given out for first, second, and third place. Crago added that CTE students with a specialization in cooking will also participate in a locally made food contest that will take place on day two of the conference.

“There’s going to be a cook-off, and there’s going to be CTE ProStart students from various ProStart programs around the state,” said Crago. “They’ll be using local products to show off their skills on Wednesday, so we’re pretty excited about that, we think that’s going to really add a nice touch to the conference.”

Registration is open with attendees being accepted up to the day of the event. Links are available to sign up at the State DOE website, and any in-person registrations will take place on the first floor of the Marriott Waterfront in Morgantown starting at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday .

Crago encourages anyone with an interest in local farming and education to sign up.

“What this conference is all about is just to increase awareness of what options are out there and just to try to get more of those local products into these school meals,” he said.

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The United States Marshals Service said Chad Berry, 37, is in custody for violating terms of supervised release following a 2017 felony firearm possession conviction after an attempt to evade arrest from the U.S. Marshals Service Mountain State Fugitive Task Force.

The pursuit began at about 12:30 p.m. in Anmoore and ended in a collision involving Harrison County Sheriff’s deputies in Clarksburg.

“The US Marshalls Service had a warrant for Chad Berry,” said acting U.S. Marshal for Northern West Virginia Terry Moore aid. “We observed Mr. Berry exiting a home in Anmore and then we requested assistance from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office because he had entered a vehicle and began traveling on I-79.”

According to Moore, the U.S. Marshals Service observed Berry leaving the Anmoore residence where he was reported to have been living Thursday afternoon shortly after 12:30 p.m. where assistance was requested from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department to make an arrest. After a traffic stop was initiated, Berry reportedly ignored attempts to stop his vehicle before fleeing on Route 50 and exiting off Wilsonburg Road. The pursuit continued until Berry’s vehicle was stopped after it was hit with spike strips and collided with a Harrison County Sheriff’s patrol unit.

“The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office started to provide us assistance on Route 50 near Joy Street,” said Moore. “They attempted to pull that subject over around 2nd Street, Mr. Berry continued to flee on Route 50 onto Wilsonburg Road and eventually was taken into custody.”

Once the vehicle was stopped, Berry also reportedly threw two items out onto Wilsonburg Road before US Marshals and Harrison County Sheriff’s deputies moved towards making an arrest. According to Moore, a Harrison County Deputy and a K9 recovered a firearm at the scene along with a backpack with items that were undisclosed. An investigation is still pending on what exactly was inside the backpack at the time of the arrest.

“After he was apprehended in the pursuit, officers returned to the vicinity and a K9 officer from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office located a firearm and a bag,” said Moore.

Along with the arrest for violating federal supervised release, Berry will also face charges from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office for the multiple crimes related to the pursuit. Moore added that charges are also pending from the US Marshalls Office related to the firearm and backpack that was tossed out of the pursued vehicle before Berry was arrested. With no injuries reported from law enforcement, the US Marshalls Office of the Northern District of West Virginia expressed appreciation for the local help in arresting the fugitive.

“The cooperation that we had with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office in order to safely apprehend the subject who was failing to obey the laws in the vehicle stop was instrumental in taking him into custody,” said Moore.

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More than 40 residents were joined by members of the state legislature the Monongalia County Commission, and even mayors from neighboring towns to discuss what the best options are to prevent the MARL transmission line that is proposed to go through five West Virginia counties from, at minimum, moving forward in the Mountain State. This follows two similar meetings that were hosted over the past couple of months where those who attended discussed the best ways to voice opposition of the project to the West Virginia Public Service Commission before a formal application is submitted by NextEra Energy, the company behind the project.

“No, I’m not surprised (by the number of people attending), I thought it was a good crowd,” said Delegate David McCormick. “I’ve been to three of these, and there’s been a good crowd every time, the community has really rallied around this (in opposition).”

McCormick was joined by Delegate Evan Hansen as representatives on a state level. Monongalia County Commission President Jeff Arnett and Commissioner Sean Sikora represented the county, with Granville Mayor Patty Lewis also in attendance.

Along with the potential damage to property values for residents living around the Cheat Lake area, residents from Preston County and even some who traveled from Garrett County, Maryland, each expressed concerns over the environmental impact of the line that will be supported by structures over 180 feet high. Those were separate from residents who are expected to have a transmission line on their property or have already seen such projects come to life in their own backyard.

“We have an existing high-powered power line going through our property now,” said Cheat Lake resident David Kelly. “And we don’t want them to come through there and widen that and take more of our property.”

Developers previously told MetroNews it would continue to spread the word about the benefits of the project.

“This is going to be an investment in West Virginia and in the region, and it’s going to provide increased access to lower cost generation sources throughout the region,” Kaitlin McCormick, a senior director on the development team for NextEra Energy Transmission, said on MetroNews Talkline.

“It’s going to strengthen the regional electric grid, and that’s going to benefit everyone. And it’s going to enhance reliability for homes and businesses and support economic growth throughout the region, including here in West Virginia.”

For public officials, the issues with the MARL project varied from the environmental concerns similarly voiced by several Cheat Lake residents in attendance to the expected utility rate increases that would come as a result of the project. For McCormick, who was one of the first voices of opposition to the project when NextEra Energy proposed it close to a year ago, his concern is that it would also defeat the purpose of key pieces of legislation that are aimed to increase economic development in the Mountain State. With bills already passed to support data center construction in West Virginia, moving forward with a transmission line that would essentially make the state a proverbial extension cord would not help those efforts.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to pass legislation, House Bill 2014 (for example), to get data centers to come to West Virginia,” said De. David McCormick. “All we’re doing, by extending this extension cord in our state to Northern Virginia, is disincentivizing them to come to West Virginia.”

As of now, the proposed route by NextEra Energy for the MARL project is expected to be formally submitted for approval to the West Virginia Public Service Commission by the end of the year. With a route proposed that would impact Monongalia, Preston, Mineral, Hampshire, and Jefferson counties already on the WV PSC website, over 880 residents have voiced opposition against the project, which is separate from formal resolutions opposing the project by the Monongalia and Preston County Commissions, with more expected in the coming months. With plans to continue to spread the word to community groups, members of WATI encourage Mountain State residents to learn more about the MARL transmission line.

“We feel it’s a very, very important issue, and we want to continue spreading the word about how much it would cost all of us if this goes through,” said WATI representative and Monongalia County resident Juliet Marlier.

The post More concern expressed about MARL project at Monongalia County meeting appeared first on WV MetroNews.

The Marion County School System confirmed that West Fairmont Middle School was placed under a ‘code yellow’ at approximately 9:30 a.m. due to an incident that involved no weapons.

According to a post on the school’s Facebook page, students remained in their second-period classrooms and were not considered in any immediate danger as the situation was assessed.

According to Marion County School officials, a code yellow is a precautionary lockdown that can vary in reasoning, including a situation inside or outside the building in the surrounding community. An all clear was given at around 10:20 a.m. No official reasoning was given for the issuance of the ‘code yellow’ at West Fairmont Middle.

Parents were notified about the incident at approximately 10:24 a.m.

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Representatives from Turning Point USA at WVU hosted a candlelight vigil.

President William Kozma was was joined by local lawmakers and West Virginia Republican Party President Josh Holstein, along with close to 1,000 people that stood in unison for more two hours.

“It was phenomenal, and it exceeded my wildest expectations. I figured we would get a good turnout, and I know people loved Charlie, but this is just insane,” said Kozma. “We had probably close to 1,000 people, we had people up on the hill, I couldn’t believe it.”

The speakers remembered Kirk, who was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University last week, as a loving father that was a strong conservative voice who was willing to hear every person who approached him during his conversations on college campuses, regardless of any political or religious disagreements.  The speakers said Kirk did so while remaining firm in his Christian values with a steadfast goal of reaching out to young voices who may not have been considered in in discussions otherwise.

“I’m originally from Southern California and went to Pastor Jack Gibbs’ church and first met Charlie probably back in 2018-19 when he came to church, he had an amazing brain,” said Charleston area resident Virginia Garrett, who traveled close to three hours to attend the vigil.

To start the vigil, two separate prayer sermons were hosted, with the first led by Father Brian Crenwelge of the Mountaineer Catholic at St. John University. That was followed by a speech by Del. Geno Chiarelli, where he talked about his time serving with the WVU Chapter of Turning Point USA as Chapter Coordinator back in 2015. He discussed the growing impact of Kirk’s effort since that time, when he was predominantly involved in the election of Donald Trump on two separate occasions. Chiarelli added that as a result of his tragic murder by what federal investigators have determined to be over political beliefs, a conservative movement that hasn’t been seen in generations is showing as a result.

“I think that what we’re seeing here in the wake of Charlie’s martyrdom is the right ting in ways that we haven’t seen in a long time,” Chiarelli said. “We have a lot of infighting, we have our problems, that much is obvious, but to see people band together and come together in celebration and in memory of Charlie Kirk, I think it says a lot.”

State Senator Chris Rose said while meeting Kirk as a young man before he became more involved in conservative causes, Rose reflected on his willingness to learn about the political system while maintaining his values, even while people within the Republican Party openly disagreed with his varying stances.

“He never had any quit in him, and he was always respectful to those he disagreed with and always gave an opportunity for debate, even with like-minded people, he would disagree,” said Rose. “So it was very refreshing to see that young man’s passion and how he was able to have those types of debates and win those people over; we lost a great one.”

According to Kozma, representatives reached out to the WVU Student Engagement and Leadership Office, where they were able to obtain candles and security detail with coordination with WVU Police, the West Virginia State Police, and the Morgantown Police Department. Despite the dark circumstances, Kozma was appreciative of the efforts taken by not only Turning Point USA at WVU members but also the community at large.

“We already had a meeting plan for Monday, and I chose that it was not appropriate to hold a regular meeting until we had some sort of remembrance of him,” said Kozma. “The school was phenomenal, and the student engagement and leadership office—without them, we couldn’t have done this.”

Organizers said the vigil was not only aimed to celebrate a life but also to condemn political violence as a whole. This was also separate from a condemnation of the thousands of Americans celebrating the death of Kirk after it was announced, an aspect of the political reaction to the murder that wasn’t mentioned by any of the political speakers on stage. With an aim to bring people together as a voice to support open dialogue, regardless of political leanings, those in attendance felt unity that hasn’t been felt in a long time.

“When you look at how people are reacting to this, I was worried that it would draw a gap between the two (political spectrums), but in reality it has brought everybody together to unite as one,” said Cameron Lockhart, a WVU freshman from Chicago, Illinois. “I think that’s what our country needs right now. I think Charlie did a lot for us, and I think this is exactly what this country needs.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has announced a vigil to be held Thursday at the state capitol in Charleston. President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend a vigil set for this weekend in Arizona.

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Jonathan Ramirez, 24, of Watauga, Texas, allegedly stabbed to death Jacob Lough, 26, in his Suncrest area residence in January 2024.

Half a dozen expert witnesses took the the stand for the prosecution Wednesday detailing physical and video evidence. Prosecutors said the evidence shows Ramirez is the only person that have killed Lough.

Morgantown Police Department Detective Ryan Stallings detailed the movements of Ramirez when he arrived in Morgantown on Jan. 14, 2024. Using a combination of surveillance footage of the Hampton Inn on Van Voorhis Road where Ramirez stayed, forensic digital evidence of his interactions with a West Virginia teenage girl (who rebuffed his advances the day he arrived in town), along with several pieces of forensic evidence in the third-floor room where he stayed that reflected an alleged disturbing mindset the night of the murder.

Stallings also detailed how Ramirez allegedly was shown to have attempted to break into multiple hotel rooms before traveling into the Suncrest neighborhood where Lough lived.

Using surveillance footage around multiple Milford Street area homes, Stallings also showed the pathway that Ramirez allegedly took before breaking into Lough’s home as well as the moments where he returned to the Hampton Inn, driving in Lough’s white Hyundai Santa Fe at around 5 a.m. on the  day of the murder.

After he parked the vehicle away from video cameras outside of the hotel, he returned to his room wearing clothes that investigators discovered were ones that Lough had in his house. Forensic evidence from Ramirez’s phone showed he allegedly looked up whether debit cards could be traced and if keys to a Honda could be traced, as well as multiple searches for news coming from the Mountain State, before eventually deciding to walk onto the West Virginia University Downtown Campus on Jan. 16, 2024.

Three state police forensic experts told the 12-member jury that Ramirez’s DNA was found at the scene.

State Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ken Sebastian detailed the more than 220 stab wounds that Lough allegedly received from Ramirez. This included over 160 impact stab wounds around his chest and back (the majority of those were found to have taken place on his back), over 40 stab wounds on his arms (many of which were found to be self-defense wounds), as well as over twenty stab wounds to his neck, one of which sliced his carotid artery, along with two stab wounds to his head. Sebastian also confirmed that Lough experienced a traumatic injury on just about every one of his major vital organs during the attack.

West Virginia University Police Detective Jefferey Wright concluded the testimonies that took place on Wednesday, where he offered his perspective on January 16, 2024, the day Ramirez was arrested after Lough was murdered. After a BOLO (be on the lookout) call was issued by Morgantown PD in response to the discovery of Lough’s body by one of his coworkers, video surveillance showed that Ramirez parked Lough’s vehicle in a parking lot within the WVU downtown campus before walking his way into the Mountainlair. Not long after he lost his phone in a storage area, Ramirez proceeded to travel on the PRT onto the grounds of the Statler College of Engineering, where he got arrested by WVU PD officers. Bodycam footage showed that despite a slight resistance, Ramirez allegedly had a fully loaded handgun in his pocket the whole time he was on campus as well as at least one knife.

The defense will present its case after the state rests which could come Thursday.

Ramirez remains in the North Central Regional Jail without bail.

The post DNA evidence links Texas man to Morgantown murder victim appeared first on WV MetroNews.

Monongalia County prosecutors called 12 witnesses to the stand Tuesday in the trial of Jonathan Ramirez.

Ramirez, 24, of Watauga, Texas, allegedly stabbed to death Jacob Lough, 26, in Lough’s Morgantown apartment in January 2024 while Lough was sleeping.  Prosecutors said the two had no prior relationship. Prosecutors allege Ramirez came to West Virginia to meet an underaged girl in Wayne County and then traveled to Morgantown where he got kicked out of a hotel and then began checking homes in a nearby neighborhood for an open door.

Following opening statements, Monongalia County Prosecutor Gabe Mucciola asked questions of a combination of Suncrest neighborhood residents, where Ramirez was allegedly shown on camera attempting to stake out multiple victims, as well as investigating detectives, responding officers, and a West Virginia resident who began an online relationship with him while she was underage.

“The defendant stands before you charged with first-degree murder, burglary, and grand larceny, the state’s case over the course of the next couple of days will show his guilt by each of those counts,” said Mucciola.

Monongalia County Public Defender Andrew Cook gave a brief opening statement to the 12-member jury reminding the panel that Ramirez stood before them an innocent man the burden of proof was on the prosecution.

Close to a dozen testimonies were heard on the first day in the murder trial of a Texas man who is accused of killing a Learfield/Mountaineer Sports Properties employee in Morgantown and stealing his vehicle back in January 2024.

Morgantown Police Department Detective Todd Judy and First Sergeant Brandon Viola each testified to discovering both surveillance footage and physical evidence pointing to Ramirez killing Lough. Based on surveillance footage from the Hampton Inn on Van Voorhis Road, where Ramirez was found to have stayed at least one night before walking into the Suncrest neighborhood where Lough lived, he was found to have knocked on nearly every single door on the floor he was staying at, where he also appeared to be holding a knife while walking around the hallway. After being reported on by hotel staff and leaving for the Suncrest area, police were able to determine his next actions rather quickly as the investigation continued. This included evidence found at the scene and on Ramirez’s personal items.

“There’s a photograph he took of himself fully in costume, mask, coveralls, and knife,” said Mucciola. “The same knife that was recovered under Jacob’s couch—you’ll see in one of those photos, that man is smiling.”

Along with details from investigators and officers with the Morgantown Police Department, the prosecution also introduced testimony from Lough’s co-worker, who discovered his body while making a welfare check, along with three Suncrest neighborhood residents who testified to allegedly seeing Ramirez on their property or saw evidence he was there at some point the night of the murder.

“Jacob’s wounds included 215 stab wounds, 132 of those were just in between his back and neck,” said Mucciola. “There were also multiple blunt force injuries, presumably from the brass knuckles used. This evidence, ladies and gentlemen, will be hard to hear and hard to see but it shows the motive of murder, it shows this man’s malice, and it shows this man’s premeditation.”

Lough worked for Learfield/Mountaineer Sports Properties. He was originally from Virginia.

The prosecution will continue to present its case Wednesday morning.

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The verdict was announced late Wednesday afternoon in the case of John Bland.

Bland was working on a shower at the residence located at 727 Wells Street in September 2023. Prosecutors alleged his poor work sparked the explosion that killed Grozier.

Involuntary manslaughter is a misdemeanor crime.

Defense attorney Joey Garcia said while he and his client are grateful that the verdict went in their direction, the loss of Grozier’s life was not forgotten.

“You know, it’s a sad day, there was a girl that died,” said Garcia. “But kind of like I said in my closing, this was not the right case, it was a reach, and justice does not mean injustice to someone else.”

Garcia said the charge of involuntary manslaughter against his client was a reach by prosecutors.

“To me, there was nothing of substance that showed or connected him to what actually happened that caused the death of Carly Grozier,” said Garcia. “I’m glad that John Bland got his day in trial today, and he got his right to have that jury trial, and I trust the jury process. Still, that doesn’t take away from the family (of Grozier).”

While Bland is no longer criminally liable for the deadly explosion that killed Grozier, a civil suit is still pending that was filed by her parents, Cathie Given and Vance Grozier, on behalf of her estate. This was part of a multi-person complaint that was filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court back in July 2024, where he was named alongside Dustin Barnes, property landlords Linda Barnes and Steven Barnes, and their holdings: LVR Properties, D-Bo’s Rentals, Archie’s BBQ, Archie’s Restaurant, Barbeck Incorporated, The Lakehouse Restaurant, and Blazing Property Solutions. With the civil trial still pending, Garcia stated that Bland is still reflective of the loss of life that September day, regardless of the not guilty verdict.

“John and I feel bad for them, but at the same time, this was the right verdict, and I’m just glad that this was the outcome the jury came to,” said Garcia.

The post Not guilty verdict ruled for man charged for Morgantown house explosion that killed WVU student appeared first on WV MetroNews.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Marion County Schools has already started the first steps towards fixing up portions of schools affected by the Father’s Day flash floods.

Marion County School Superintendent Donna Heston offered an update on the early cleanup efforts that began as early as Sunday afternoon, not long after three inches of rain hit the area in less than an hour. Once the hard rain subsided, it was discovered that five school buildings received some level of flooding, with over a dozen classrooms affected in certain facilities.

“We’re always watchful for the northern end of the county, but this was new for the five schools impacted due to flooding,” said Heston. “Our most pronounced impact is at Monongah Elementary School, where we had about 14 classrooms impacted.”

According to Heston, the flooding at Monongah was considered the most extensive once a damage assessment took place between Sunday and Monday. Damage was also found in classrooms at Monongah Middle School and the gymnasium at Barrackville Elementary/Middle School, with high water seen at Jayenne Elementary School, East Fairmont High School, and East Park Elementary School. While the total damage inventory is still ongoing, early assessments showed that numerous ceiling repairs and school material replacements will be needed along with an extensive cleaning of dozens of classrooms.

“Monongah Middle School had four classrooms that were impacted, and Barrickville Elementary/Middle School, we experienced some floods inside those school areas, as well as Jayenne Elementary School and East Park and East Fairmont High School,” Hesston said.

Heston also noted that damage at Barrickville Elementary/Middle was compounded by past flooding issues over the storms that have taken place over the past few months.

Heston said there’s an expectation that it will not hinder any long-term programming. This will include the continuation of summer programming that officially kicked off in June as well as the start of the 2025-26 school year, which currently has all five schools scheduled to be fully opened in August. Heston says the quick response made the difference.

“We don’t anticipate having to close any classrooms at this time, and it really is because of the hard, diligent work,” said Heston. “And the outside experts that we’re consulting with to ensure that we don’t have to close any classrooms or areas.”

As part of the recovery efforts, Heston added that communications were started with both state officials and local emergency crews. This included direct interactions with Governor Patrick Morrisey’s administration while a tour of the damage was given on Monday as well as conversations with Marion County Homeland Security Director Chris Mcintire. As a final inventory of how much needs to get done to have the five schools ready by the start of the school year, Heston is grateful to have support from both a state and federal governing body, as well as from hardworking employees within the Marion County School System.

“We are assessing all of that—ceiling tiles, carpets, classroom items and really just focusing on some heightened cleaning so that those areas are provided for.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: The original story included a misquote that mentioned FEMA External Affairs Director James McIntyre instead of Marion County Homeland Security Director Chris Mcintire . The error has been corrected.

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Longtime coordinator Eric Snyder was hired after the Monongalia County Board of Education approved the contract during their regular meeting Tuesday.

Snyder takes over for longtime head coach John Kelley, who announced his retirement earlier this year after 37 years with the Hawks. Snyder, who has served as a coach for both the varsity team and the JV team on offense and defense, is excited to take over the reins as the new head of the program.

“It’s a long career come true,” said Snyder after the announcement. “It’s definitely where I want to be, to spend the rest of my career as a high school football coach,” he said.

Snyder has worked with the Hawks football program since 2002 when he started as interim coach under John Kelley’s staff. After graduating from college, Snyder served as an assistant positions coach in the junior varsity ranks, coaching both offensive and defensive positions coach for almost a decade.

Snyder was promoted to defensive coordinator for the varsity football team in 2009, and he continued to coach the Hawks until he stepped away from football in 2018 due to family reasons. He returned in 2021 as offensive coordinator.

Now taking over as head coach, Snyder hopes to apply what he’s learned over his two decades of coaching experience while serving under one of the longest-tenured head coaches in West Virginia high school football history.

“Been able to be here for a long time, fortunate to be able to coach under Coach Kelley and learn a whole bunch of things,” said Snyder. “I’m just excited to be able to take the program over from this point on, to be able to see what I can do to put my stamp on this wonderful program that he’s built up,” he said.

The new Hawks head football coach will not only take over a program that has had the same head coach for nearly four decades, he will do it as the landscape of high school sports changes. One change that Snyder is excited about is the allowance of 32 athletic flex days, which can be used by coaches and athletes in any sport with principal approval. With the new rule being instituted in 2024, Snyder hopes to use that time to teach his football crucial fundamentals and physical training so they can be ready for in-season practices during the summer.

“We’re able to say, ‘Okay, we don’t have to necessarily get ready for 7-on-7, we can do more training,’ basic fundamentals for these kids,” said Snyder. “In year’s past, some of these kids would probably go on to pay some money to get their own trainer to get that done,” he said.

Snyder’s first game will be on the road against Parkersburg South. He will also work to improve on the Hawks’s 5-5 record from 2023, which included a 1-4 record at home, a 72-34 loss to Parkersburg South, and a 26-18 defeat to Morgantown High during the highly contested Mohawk Bowl. With a new page set to be written for the University High football program, Snyder is ready to hit the ground running and put his stamp on the Hawks football team.

“Game One, that’s the one that I’m most worried about,” said Snyder. “And if we can come out ready to roll against those guys (Parkersburg South) and hopefully prove to the state that we’re going to be a force to be dealt with for the 2024 season,” he said.

Snyder will be paid $6,000 per year as part of the contract, this will be separate from added experience increments.

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