CHARLESTON, W.Va. –A student from Cabell County was announced as the grand prize winner for the 2025 SMART529 ‘When I Grow Up’ essay contest during a special recognition ceremony Friday at the Culture Center in Charleston.
Pack with Cora Neace, grand prize winner (Photo: West Virginia Treasury Facebook)
Cora Neace, a first-grade student at Ona Elementary School, won the $5,000 grand prize. The contest requires the students to submit, in 200 words or less, an essay that explains what they want to

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –A Kentucky man has been charged in connection to a 2021 homicide in Huntington.
Quintel Thompson (Photo: City of Huntington)
According to Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins, the Huntington Police Detectives filed a criminal complaint against Quintel Thompson, 28, Louisville, Kentucky. Thompson has been charged with first degree murder for the January 13, 2021 murder of David Thompson at 214 6th Avenue.
According to police, Thompson and the victim were both from Kentucky and

KEYSER, W.Va. — Officials in Mineral County gathered Friday afternoon to celebrate a new judicial annex building.
The project expands the sheriff’s office on the second floor, makes way for more space for the circuit court and county administration offices, and renovates the annex space.
Governor Patrick Morrisey was on hand for the special ceremony Friday. He says Mineral County is a special place, and these upgrades were needed.
“I get especially happy to make sure that we’re investing back

HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Officials at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park are disputing a claim that the Trump administration is ordering them to remove or hide several exhibits related to slavery but acknowledge they have been asked to review exhibits for historical accuracy and context.
Reached for comment, Elizabeth Peace, Public Affairs Department spokesperson told The Panhandle News Network, “The Department of the Interior is implementing Secretary’s Order 3431 to carry out the President’s

WHEELING, .W.Va. — Those who incurred damage from the Father’s Day weekend floods in Ohio and Marion Counties have until Monday to file an application with FEMA for personal assistance.
Lou Vargo, head of Emergency Management in Ohio County said so far more than 600 people in his county have applied and they are now trying to find those who have damage, but may not have any means of making application.
“We’ve been targeting those who may have special needs who are wheelchair bound or maybe don’t

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Although West Virginia started the year abnormally wet, ironically it’s been the driest August and September for some parts of the Mountain State in history.
“It was a wet end to the winter, spring was fairly wet, and we began wet in the early part of the summer. July was top 5 or top 10 wettest July’s on record for many of our climate sites. But once we got out of July it was like the spigot turned off,” said Nick Webb, Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A sigh of relief from West Virginia Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker after learning the state will continue to receive federal funding for its GEAR UP program.
Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) as the name suggests, helps prepare middle school and high school students for college.
Tucker told members of the state Higher Education Policy Commission Friday the Trump administration has

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department has charged a Pennsylvania man in connection with a Friday morning crash into a power pole on the Mileground near Morgantown.
Police said Hunter Price, of Smock, Pennsylvania, was charged with aggravated DUI. Deputies said he had a blood alcohol level of more than .150.
The crash was reported at 3:17 a.m. and there were no injuries. Mon Power initially reported approximately 1,200 customers were without power.
Deputies said Price was