CHARLESTON, W.Va – 22-year-old Gavin Smith could spend the rest of his life in prison for the murders of his mother, stepfather, and two brothers, hearing his sentence nearly six years after he shot and killed his four family members in Elkview.
Gavin Smith
As part of a binding plea agreement, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard handed down a sentence of life plus 80 years for one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder on Monday. Smith accepted the

Today on MetroNews This Morning:
–A state of emergency is in place in Wood County after a massive weekend warehouse fire
–Sentencing today for a man who killed his parents and two little brothers
–The new CEO of Vandalia Health talks about the role
–In Sports: Gavin Kelley to play for Team USA Collegiate Team
Listen to “MetroNews This Morning 7-6-26” on Spreaker.

The post MetroNews This Morning 7-6-26 appeared first on WV MetroNews.

RUPERT, W.Va. — A facility harvesting rare earth minerals is set to bring hundreds of jobs to Greenbrier County.
The existing Greenbrier Smokeless Coal mining operation in the Sewell seam is collaborating with companies Flash Metals USA, AmForge, and GreenMet to build a mineral processing hub in Rupert.
The investment is $150 million of private money.
State Senator Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, joined MetroNews “Midday” last week to discuss the project.
Jack Woodrum
“We look at West Virginia’s past,

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the West Virginia National Guard will be dispatched this week to the areas of Boone, Raleigh, and Logan Counties which are under a State of Emergency today.
The Governor declared the State of Emergency following heavy rains on June 22nd which caused high water that damaged more than 120 homes in Boone County alone.
“Missions like this we’ve done in the past. It’s basically conducting debris removal operations,” said Captain Mike Garcia of the West Virginia National

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After 17 years of leadership, Bill Austin has stepped away as the executive director of the Morgantown Monongalia Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Bill Austin
Austin came to Morgantown from the Miami area, where he was working as a planner with an agency managing the area’s toll roads. When the financial crisis hit the nation, the needs of the toll road system changed, and Austin found his way back to a metropolitan planning organization.
“I’ve always been a strong

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –The 2026 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is winding down in Charleston after four days of entertainment, culminating in a spectacular drone and fireworks show celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
Amy Shuler Goodwin
The four-day event kicked off Thursday, featuring a variety of activities throughout the weekend.
Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said this year’s regatta felt different for several reasons.
“Number one it’s year five, so we’re celebrating year five of the

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –The rehabilitation of the Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge is moving forward after the West Virginia Division of Highways awarded a $74.5 million contract for the project.
The DOH announced Tuesday that it awarded the contract to Triton Construction. The Eugene A. Carter Memorial Bridge, also known as the Fort Hill Bridge, carries Interstate 64 over the Kanawha River in Charleston and serves approximately 100,000 vehicles each day.
The project follows the development of

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University’s decision to raise the student athletic fee for next year wasn’t made lightly.
That’s what WVU Director of Athletics Wren Baker said recently during a visit on the popular “3 Guys Before the Game” podcast with Tony Caridi, Brad Howe, and Hoppy Kercheval.
The Mountaineer Athletic Advantage fee will increase from $125 to $250 per semester. The fee will cost $500 per year beginning this fall.
Wren Baker
Baker said the adjustment is part of WVU