CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The man charged with firing a gun outside of Laidley Field in Charleston during a track meet in early May is scheduled to go on trial later this month.
Jakai Harrison
Jakai Harrison, 20, of Charleston, was arraigned Wednesday in Kanawha County Circuit Court after his recent indictment on four counts of wanton endangerment with a firearm.
Harrison pleaded not guilty and Kanawha County Circuit Judge Tera Salango scheduled his trial for July 13.
Charleston police said shots were

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A 230-foot-tall Ferris wheel received its first riders at the state Capitol Complex Thursday morning.
The America250 Big Wheel arrived in Charleston last week and was assembled over four days. It’s part of the state’s four-day celebration in the Capital City for the Semiquincentennial.
The wheel begins offering free rides to the public at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey, First Lady Denise Morrisey, and state Adjutant General Jim Seward took part in the inaugural

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Treasurer Larry Pack has announced the Hope Scholarship Board has taken action in connection with a fraud investigation.
Larry Pack
A news release said the board recently acted to “permanently disqualify Tygart Valley Christian Academy from participation in the Hope Scholarship Program for financial misconduct.”
“We want to make clear that while there is very little fraud and misconduct in the Hope Scholarship Program, we want to take swift and decisive action when our

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  — Flock cameras, manufactured by Flock Safety, or Automated License Plate Reader, are creating public comment in Monongalia County.
Several residents made those comments during Wednesday’s Monongalia County Commission meeting.
Sherriff Todd Forbes
The cameras can capture images of passing cars, logging the license plate, vehicle make, color, and specific details like bumper stickers or bike racks. Some of the systems can be fitted with facial recognition software and sensors

Today on MetroNews This Morning:
–Four are dead in an overnight fire in Barbour County
–Flood cleanup continues in Boone County as folks calculate their emotional losses
–Two ambulance workers are fired in Kanawha County over a high profile death
–In Sports: Team USA wins a knockout round game for the first time in 24 years in the World Cup
Listen to “MetroNews This Morning 7-2-26” on Spreaker.

The post MetroNews This Morning 7-2-26 appeared first on WV MetroNews.

JUNIOR, W.Va. — A late night fire in Barbour County has claimed the lives of four people.
The State Fire Marshal confirms the four adults died in the blaze at a home in the town of Junior. The fire department was alerted just before 11 p.m. Wednesday. They arrived to find a mobile home full engulfed in flames along River Avenue in the town.
The fire was out in 15 minutes and the bodies discovered.
The Fire Marshal has investigators on scene. All four victims were adults, but further information

MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. –A Michigan man will serve the rest of his life in prison for his role as the head of a multi-state drug operation that operated in parts of Morgantown and Fairmont.
Matt Harvey
United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Matt Harvey announced at a press conference Wednesday morning that LaShawn Monroe, 31, of Detroit, was sentenced to life in prison for his leading role in an operation that stored over 45 pounds of various drugs in a Fairmont stash

State officials have rescinded a violation notice previously issued on developer Fundamental Data LLC, concluding that the company’s plans in Tucker County remain conceptual.
It’s unclear whether Fundamental Data even intends to pursue a High Impact Data Center as defined under state law, Nick Preservati, director of the state Office of Energy, acknowledged today in a letter to the company.
Nick Preservati
“Since the project is still in the conceptual phase and there is a legitimate possibility