PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. –Google launched a new platform Wednesday as part of its efforts to support the development of a data center in Putnam County near Buffalo.
Morganne Tenney
The data center project was announced in late March when Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Google had purchased 1,700 acres on both sides of Route 62.
Putnam County Development Authority Executive Director Morganne Tenney appeared on MetroNews Midday on Wednesday to discuss the new platform and the data center project as a

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. –A man charged in the disappearance and murder of Gretchen Fleming waived his extradition hearing in North Carolina.
Gretchen Fleming, 28, of Vienna, was last seen on Dec. 3, 2022.
According to court documents, Preston Pierce, 58, had submitted a waiver of extradition on Thursday, May 28. His original extradition hearing was scheduled for June 5.
Pierce was arrested on May 15 in the Asheville, N.C. area by the United States Marshals Service, the West Virginia CUFFED Task Force

WHEELING, W.Va. –A Wheeling man received his sentence Wednesday for selling blue fentanyl pills in the Ohio Valley.
According to a release from U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey, Matthew Clemont, 33, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The release said that Clemont worked with others in a drug trafficking operation in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, that spanned from Las Vegas, Nevada, to the Ohio Valley.
“Clemont was one of several

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Superintendents from three county school systems report positive progress since the state Board of Education seized control over them because of internal issues.
School chiefs in Mingo, Nicholas, and Tyler counties provided updates to the state Board of Education during their monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Dr. Joetta Basile
Mingo County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joetta Basile assumed the role in July 2025. She said the district has done significant work so far this year.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A walking event at the state Capitol Complex Wednesday afternoon was all about promoting physical activity and wellness.
AARP West Virginia partnered with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department to host a Walk with a Doc event featuring KCHD Executive Director Dr. Steven Eshenaur.
Walk with a Doc is an international nonprofit organization that promotes movement in communities. Wednesday’s event was the inaugural Walk with a Doc event in Charleston, one of many planned over