CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Sternwheel boats have returned to the Kanawha River for the fifth straight year.
The boats are in town for the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta through Sunday.
Jim Kranz and his wife have a sternwheel on the Kanawha this weekend, the Donna Ray. Kranz visited with Dave Allen on “580 Live” Friday to discuss his boat and the Regatta.
Kranz was originally from Long Island, but said he’s been in West Virginia for the last half-century.
The Donna Ray was built over four years by a

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The City of Morgantown is ready to host July Fourth festivities with a celebration of local heritage while bringing back annual holiday traditions.
Vincent Kitch
Morgantown Arts and Culture Director Vincent Kitch said on WAJR’s Morgantown Weekend that festivities get started Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Easton Roller Mill, the return of the traditional 4th of July parade down High Street, and music, food, trucks and fireworks at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park the end the celebration.

PARSONS, W.Va. — Reports indicate one person was injured in an explosion and fire at home in Tucker County.
Reports indicate the incident happened just after 10 a.m. this morning and left at least one person injured. HealthNet was dispatched to the scene.
The incident commanders indicated the fire appeared to be a result of a natural gas explosion. The command reported debris scattered 30 to 40 feet away from the scene.
Firefighters from all over Tucker County responded to the incident which

RIPLEY, W.Va. — Officials are gearing up for the city’s 156th annual Fourth of July parade on Saturday.
Ripley Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brenda Mobley told MetroNews it’s a jam-packed weekend full of activities. Events have already begun throughout the week in the buildup to the 4th.
Brenda Mobley
“Ripley is probably one of the biggest patriotic towns in the United States,” Mobley said. “We’re so proud to be able to celebrate this country, and the people that have made it

RIPLEY, W.Va. — The annual Mountain State Art and Craft Fair continues at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley.
Artisans from across the region and several states are sporting their wares.
Dusty and Sara Catlett of Martinsburg work with soft pastels to make art with chalk.
It’s a real team, Sara told WMOV Radio.
“We work on the pieces together, he’ll start and then I’ll jump in and we’ll take turns on the pieces and then it’s really enjoyable to see the pieces we come up with and our concepts

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has leveled two liens totaling about $3.5 million dollars on Greenbrier properties owned by Senator Jim Justice and his family.
The Greenbrier owners, through their attorney, say the matter is being worked out.
A lien of $3.3 million applying to The Greenbrier Hotel was entered Thursday.
Another lien of $289,893 on The Greenbrier Clinic, the health center at the hotel, was also filed.
Each of the liens actually applies to four tax assessment dates between last