Agriculture officials caution public about Chinese ‘brushing scam’ posing biosecurity risk

Agriculture officials caution public about Chinese ‘brushing scam’ posing biosecurity risk

State agriculture officials are alerting residents to a potential biosecurity threat involving unsolicited packages mailed from China. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture said in a social media post that packets of seeds have been sent to addresses across the state without being requested. Officials explained the seed mailings are part of a “brushing scam,” … Read more

West Virginia man accused of shooting brother multiple times; second man charged with assisting

West Virginia man accused of shooting brother multiple times; second man charged with assisting

Two men from Montrose are facing attempted murder charges after authorities say one shot his brother several times and the other helped restrain the victim. West Virginia State Police reported that 37-year-old Derek Arbogast and 62-year-old Larry Talkington were arrested following a Thursday night incident in Randolph County. Troopers responded around 9:15 p.m. to Mule … Read more

Driver hurt after SUV overturns and catches fire in Kanawha County

Driver hurt after SUV overturns and catches fire in Kanawha County

A driver was injured Friday night after a single-vehicle crash along McCorkle Avenue in Kanawha County, according to deputies. The wreck was reported shortly after 9 p.m. in the 23700 block of McCorkle Avenue near Glasgow, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said. When deputies arrived, they found an SUV overturned on its driver’s side in … Read more

Strickland family to open three Chicken Salad Chick locations in tribute to daughter

Strickland family to open three Chicken Salad Chick locations in tribute to daughter

After losing their 14-year-old daughter, Leah Strickland, in a 2022 car crash, Emily and Michael Strickland have found meaningful ways to honor her memory — from launching a scholarship fund in her name to organizing the annual Leah’s Legacy 5K. Now, they’re preparing to open one of Leah’s favorite restaurants as part of that legacy. … Read more

Governor Morrisey unveils water, sewer upgrades and proposed flood alert system

Governor Morrisey unveils water, sewer upgrades and proposed flood alert system

Patrick Morrisey highlighted two major water-related concerns affecting West Virginia on Friday. He announced $9.5 million in grant funding to support five water and sewer improvement projects in Mingo and McDowell counties, including plans to build a new water storage tank in Kermit. Access to safe drinking water remains a pressing challenge in the southern … Read more

West Virginia Secretary of State refuses DOJ request for unredacted voter data

West Virginia Secretary of State refuses DOJ request for unredacted voter data

Kris Warner announced that West Virginia will not provide unredacted voter registration records to the U.S. Department of Justice, citing state privacy laws. The DOJ has asked nearly all states to submit detailed election records, including voter registration lists containing driver’s license numbers, birth dates, home addresses and Social Security numbers. Warner sent a letter … Read more

Romanian national pleads guilty to placing credit card skimmers at West Virginia stores

Romanian national pleads guilty to placing credit card skimmers at West Virginia stores

A 36-year-old Romanian man has admitted to installing credit card skimming devices at several retailers across West Virginia, resulting in roughly $250,000 in fraudulent charges, according to federal prosecutors. Andrei Fagaras pleaded guilty to access device fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia announced in a news release. Prosecutors said … Read more

Seven southern West Virginia coal operations to idle, more than 500 miners facing layoffs

Seven southern West Virginia coal operations to idle, more than 500 miners facing layoffs

More than 500 miners in southern West Virginia will lose their jobs beginning April 14, delivering what many describe as a heavy blow to the region’s coal communities, including Billy Dickerson. “As I walked through the parking lot, kind of felt the gut punch,” Dickerson said. “Well living in Logan County, coal’s king.” Greenbrier Minerals … Read more

Lexington man receives 65-year federal sentence on gun and drug convictions

Lexington man receives 65-year federal sentence on gun and drug convictions

A Lexington man has been sentenced to 65 years in federal prison after being convicted on multiple firearm and drug trafficking charges. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 41-year-old Keith Stallworth was arrested in August 2023 while carrying a pistol loaded with high-velocity rifle rounds and an extended … Read more

Fleming County sheriff alerts public to scam targeting inmates’ families

Fleming County sheriff alerts public to scam targeting inmates’ families

Fleming County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam aimed at families of incarcerated individuals. Sheriff Tim Smith said the office has received several reports of scammers contacting victims and convincing them to send money, resulting in losses totaling thousands of dollars. According to the sheriff, callers falsely claim they can arrange an … Read more