CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The feelings are unanimous– everyone is sad to see the 42-year-old JCPenney’s store at the Charleston Town Center Mall go.
Charleston resident Shawna Lewis said its closure marks a dark time for the mall.
“It’s very sad, it’s depressing, you know, to see all of the stores leaving, JCPenney has been here since the beginning, and it’s just a sad experience,” Lewis said.
JCPenneys is the last anchor store at the Charleston Town Center that opened in November 1983—JCPenney itself

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A member of the West Virginia University Board of Governors Nominating Committee refused to go into executive session Friday citing concerns about transparency from state lawmakers.
Bray Cary
BOG and Nominating Committee member Bray Cary refused to second a motion for an executive session made by committee chairman Kevin Craig and quickly explained why.
“I’ve been told by numerous state government officials that this committee would not have any reason based on the agenda to

CHARLESTON, W.VA. — State School Superintendent Michele Blatt has appointed four new school superintendents for county school systems that are currently under state control including Tyler, Nicholas, Mingo and Logan counties.
Michele Blatt
“These appointments are important as our counties prepare for the upcoming school year,” Blatt said in a Friday news release. “The superintendents will begin to immediately address the issues identified in the counties to ensure student learning and well-being

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Those in downtown Charleston will be able to enjoy live music before the second day of criterium races get started for the USA Cycling Nationals.
The long-standing tradition of Live on the Levee kicks off Friday evening for its 21st year. The concerts will be held from May 23 to August first.
Live on the Levee spokesperson Jim Strawn and Goodwin’s administration Chief of Staff Matt Sutton were on 580 Live with Dave Allen Friday morning to talk about everything happening.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Public Service Commission announced Friday it would conduct a public hearing and evidentiary hearing next month on Verizon’s proposal to purchase Frontier Communications.
The PSC set the public hearing for June 11 at 4 p.m. with the evidentiary hearing beginning at 9:30 a.m. the following day, June 12. The PSC has set aside two days for the evidentiary hearing.
The companies announced plans to merge nationally last September with Verizon being the controlling

AMANDAVILLE, W.Va. — Kanawha County deputies said a man was stabbed several times during a domestic dispute Friday morning at a residence in Amandaville.
Deputies are looking for the woman who they believe stabbed the victim.
The couple have been in an on-again, off-again relationship for about five years and recently separated again, deputies said.
“When the suspect was asked to leave the apartment, a verbal altercation ensued, which escalated into a physical confrontation,” a sheriff’s

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University Police are searching for a suspect in an early morning Friday burglary on North Nigh Street.
The suspect, described as a white male 5-feet 10 inches, to 6-feet tall, tattoos on his hands, arms, and possibly his neck forced his way into 709 North High Street through window. The suspect was confronted by a resident and fled with a blanket.
During the investigation, officials determined there was an attempted break-in of a car nearby.
Students,

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — AAA projects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Jim Garrity
The travel forecast predicts an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year and sets a new Memorial Day Weekend record that was previously set in 2005 with 44 million travelers, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Jim Garrity.
“We’re going to have several million traveling through this area alone,” Garrity said. “Whether they’re coming to