MORGANTOWN — A West Virginia University engineering student with aspirations of developing spacecraft for NASA will study Russian in Kyrgyzstan after earning a prestigious Boren Scholarship, a nationally competitive award that prepares future leaders in national security.
Elkins native Izaak Whetsell is triple majoring in computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, and became interested in Russian

CHARLESTON – Two days prior to Gov. Patrick Morrisey promoting West Virginia’s back-to-school sales tax holiday, the annual School Clothing Allowance program funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program went dark, leading lawmakers and advocates to ask why. 
Morrisey was in Greenbrier County announcing the sales tax holiday, taking place through Monday, when the state drops the 6% consumer sales and use tax on qualifying back-to-school purchases. The sales tax holiday has

CHARLESTON — Del. Josh Holstein will lead West Virginia’s Republicans for a full term, with party leaders delaying consideration of re-opening future primary elections until next year, and voting to distance itself from a former lawmaker accused of sexually exploiting a child.
The West Virginia Republican Executive Committee met for its annual summer meeting Saturday afternoon at Embassy Suites in downtown Charleston.
The committee voted by acclamation to give Holstein a full four-year term as

PICKENS – A Barbour County woman is facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly shooting another woman in the face during an altercation at Turkey Bone Road in Randolph County over the weekend.
Regina Lea Collette, 45, of Philippi, has been charged with attempted murder, a felony. She is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate Tracy M. Harper.
According to the criminal complaint, prepared by Trooper H.J. Bonetti, West

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man is facing a felony charge after his landlord and police allegedly found a child in his care living among trash, filth and maggots.
Hezekiah Anthony Spore, 35, of Buckhannon, is charged with one count of child neglect creating risk of serious bodily injury, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
According to the criminal complaint, filed by Sergeant T.R. Collins with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office,

CHARLESTON – Individuals in Upshur and Lewis counties will receive expedited flood relief, with President Donald Trump agreeing to approve the funding. Additional funding is being requested for other counties effected by last month’s flooding and tornados.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Monday afternoon that Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved $4.5 million in expedited Individual Assistance for Lewis and Upshur counties while federal disaster officials review storm

PICKENS – A Barbour County woman is facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly shooting another woman in the face during an altercation at Turkey Bone Road in Randolph County over the weekend.
Regina Lea Collette, 45, of Philippi, has been charged with attempted murder, a felony. She is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate Tracy M. Harper.
According to the criminal complaint, prepared by Trooper H.J. Bonetti, West

CHARLESTON — As the August recess approaches, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Senate Republican leadership is navigating the complexities of the budget reconciliation process and could advance parts of President Donald Trump’s election-related priorities.
Speaking Thursday morning during a briefing with West Virginia reporters from Capitol Hill, Capito said elements of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act could get the 50 votes needed to pass the latest federal budget

BUCKHANNON – West Virginia Wesleyan College has entered into a new partnership with the Methodist Theological School in Ohio that will provide students with accelerated pathways to earn graduate degrees in ministry, public theology and social justice.
Dr. Debra Dean Murphy, professor of religious studies and co-director of the Center for Restorative Justice at WVWC, said, “Colleges and seminaries are changing rapidly in the higher education landscape, and this new partnership represents the best