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

WHEELING, W.Va. –Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder is clearing up confusion about the future of the former Centre Foundry and Machine Co. site in Warwood after it was acquired by Silicone Foundation several weeks ago.
Denny Magruder
Last week, residents and some state lawmakers were upset after learning the site might be redeveloped into a data center.
Magruder said a social media post from a third party sparked confusion and outrage.
“There were a lot of folks that reacted to a social media post

SUMMERS COUNTY, W.Va. –The State Fire Marshal’s Office has cited and charged a Raleigh County man for allegedly selling a variety of consumer-grade fireworks without the required authorization.
According to a release from the Fire Marshal’s Office, they had received a complaint on Friday regarding the possible illegal sale and use of consumer fireworks in the Pence Springs area of Summers County.
An investigation was conducted, where Samuel Morton was given the citation. In West Virginia, the

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New Vandalia Health President and CEO Jeff Sandene didn’t have to go very far to get to his new office at CAMC General in Charleston.
Jeff Sandene
It was a short walk for Sandene who was CAMC’s chief financial officer for more than nine years.
Sandene, who officially took over for the now-retired David Ramsey last week, said his familiarity with the operation is making for a smooth transition.
“The great thing is I was part of a lot of the strategies that we were doing as a