America Today Staff 
West Virginia State Police and federal immigration officers detained eight men following a traffic stop and a subsequent investigation at a residence in Hurricane, according to State Police. In a news release, State Police said troopers and ICE officers conducted a traffic stop involving a red 2024 Ford F-250 around 12:30 p.m. Friday near Sleepy … Read more
The U.S. Marshals Service is warning the public about an ongoing scam in which individuals pose as U.S. marshals or other law enforcement officials to fraudulently obtain money. According to a news release, scammers are contacting victims by phone call or text message and falsely claiming the individual is facing arrest or other legal action. … Read more
A classroom teacher in Jackson County, West Virginia, has been terminated following what school officials described as a recent arrest and serious allegations. Jail records show that 38-year-old Emily Joy Wise has been charged with sexual abuse of a child under the age of 16. Jackson County Schools confirmed Wise’s termination and released a statement … Read more
A portion of Interstate 79 South reopened Thursday afternoon after multiple crashes shut down traffic in Kanawha County for several hours, emergency dispatchers said. According to a Metro 911 alert, problems were reported shortly after 1 p.m. near mile marker 7.5 in Elkview. Emergency personnel confirmed the roadway reopened around 4 p.m. Dispatchers said several … Read more
West Virginia is placing foster children not only in hotels when no other beds are available, but also in short-term rental properties such as Airbnbs, according to state officials and recent legislative testimony. The practice highlights a child welfare system strained by bed shortages, growing mental health needs, and an overwhelmed court system. The issue … Read more
Workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) who received layoff notices will be reinstated, officials announced Wednesday. “I’m just gonna have to tell you, I had tears running down my face,” said retired NIOSH employee Anita Wolfe. Wolfe, who retired from the NIOSH facility in Morgantown, said she was overwhelmed with … Read more
A convicted sex offender is back in custody after Polk County deputies say he violated probation by visiting an elementary school and having contact with a minor. Orlando Lebron Cruz, 36, was arrested Tuesday evening, January 13, at a home on Perch Place in Lakeland. Deputies took him into custody without incident around 7:24 p.m. … Read more
A Lake County mother will spend the rest of her life in prison for the abuse and death of her 10-year-old son, prosecutors announced. Kimberley Leonie Mills, 38, appeared before Judge Rada, where she was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to life for the murder of Xavier Williams. As part of a plea agreement, Mills is … Read more
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed five bills aimed at reducing property taxes, but local leaders say challenges with school funding remain. In every county across Ohio, more than half of property taxes go toward supporting schools. Gov. DeWine stated the new legislation will help stabilize school levies, provide inflation adjustments, and smooth out sharp … Read more
A teenager reported missing from Kanawha County in late November has been located out of state by federal authorities. Shelby Good, 16, was found in Niagara Falls, New York, by U.S. Marshals, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Good had been reported missing from the Sissonville area on November 28, … Read more