State News

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Highlights from Cabell Midland’s 12-4 (5-inning) win over St. Albans in the MSAC semifinals. Hurricane defeated Spring Valley, 20-2 in 4 innings in the opposite semifinal.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Officials are saying goodbye to a piece of the City of Charleston’s past and setting their sights on the future as they begin to journey further into the $40 billion dollar industry that is sports tourism.

Demolition on the former Macy’s store at the Charleston Town Center Mall has officially begun as to make way for the future Capital Sports Center.

Those behind the effort, city officials and the Kanawha County Commission met for a press conference Thursday afternoon to discuss the next steps and the soon-to-be construction process regarding the projected $80 million endeavor.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin was also on hand at the event. He provided $2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to help initiate a foundation in the dollars going towards the project.

Manchin said he didn’t think twice about investing in something that will generate an even bigger return on investment, adding that it will be even bigger than what the mall brought in during its heyday after opening in 1983.

“Those who remember when the mall first opened, it was the biggest thing that hit West Virginia, thinking that it was right downtown in Charleston, and the excitement that went on and the amount of revenue it generated, and then you see, it’s gone a life cycle,” said Manchin. “What’s going to happen, fairly soon, is going to be bigger than that.”

The city and the commission has also put in $5 million each for the project and they are currently requesting additional federal direct funding.

Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said state leaders are another potential funding source, as well, because they know the benefits such a major sports facility can bring in.

“The state is doing it better than anybody right now right, they are putting more money into travel and tourism than they ever have before because they see the return on investment, and so, it’s going to be lots of different pots,” said Goodwin.

Commissioner Ben Salango said it’s looking to cost about $60 million for phase 1 of the project alone, which covers a significant portion of demolition and preliminary construction in building the around 196 thousand square foot sports center.

Handling the demolition of the Macy’s building, a big portion of where the new facility will go, is Rodney Loftis & Sons. It’s expected to be an ongoing process of about 6 to 8 weeks in getting the building completely torn down.

Following the demolition process will begin the final steps of the architectural and design planning phase being handled by ZMM Architects.

Preliminary designs include around six basketball courts, twelve volleyball, and around eight pickleball courts. In addition, the indoor complex is expected to house wrestling mats, a fitness center, a turf soccer field, a rock-climbing wall, a main gymnasium, and an aquatic center complete with an Olympic-sized pool.

Three floors of the Town Center’s Parking Garage B is also expected to be torn down to fit the aquatic center into the facility.

However, Salango said property acquisition has been creating a hold-up for phase 2 of the project and it continues to be an issue they are still working on.

He said what they didn’t want to do, though, was to delay all of the benefits coming out of phase 1 while they wait to acquire the property.

“There’s going to be millions and millions of dollars in economic impact, why delay that for years while we negotiate property acquisition,” said Salango.

The Capital Sports Center Committee is also working with Sports Facilities Inc., a nationwide company who helps design major sports complexes like the one being built in Charleston. Goodwin said they know how to make the endeavor be sustainable.

She said, however, that there is already no concern that the sports center will be a success in the city.

“It will be filled and booked before we really even start building this, because there are already companies and organizations saying ‘when is it going to be finalized because we want to host our tournaments there,” said Goodwin.

Manchin said he is committed to helping see the project through until the very end.

He said there are different areas they can tap into to acquire more funding for the project.

“As the transition is going on, we have different opportunities that we’re able to pull from, so we have to search and look for any opportunity that we have, and there’s quite a few,” said Manchin.

Goodwin said with hundreds of teams and thousands of players from across the country making their way to other state’s sports complexes on a regular basis, sports tourism is the future, and the new facility will give the city and state a major piece of that $40 million industry.

She said there is something known as an anchor facility standard, which means that the facility has the capability of hosting some of the biggest tournaments in the country, and that’s something they are striving for with this sports complex. This means, added Goodwin, that looking into anything from how many basketball courts there are, down to where the locker rooms get placed is an important part of the process in getting there.

“We will never be able to compete on a national level unless and until we have anchor-level facilities, that means eight basketball courts, that means 16 volleyball courts, and we are a stone’s throw away from the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center where we can book more of those events,” she said.

Goodwin said they plan to unveil different but similar design plans for the complex in the next coming weeks as those plans get finalized.

Salango said the sport center’s economic impact is expected to reach the tens of millions.

“All of these big dollar travel sports will be coming to town, and you combine that asset with the assets they already have at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, you can host some of the biggest basketball and some of the biggest volleyball tournaments in the country,” said Salango.

The entire Capital Sports Center project is expected to take around two to three years to complete.

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West Virginia is among the first three states to be approved to start accessing millions of federal dollars for broadband expansion.

The upshot is West Virginia can soon begin drawing down $1.2 billion to deploy high-speed internet networks for a region where connectivity has been an uphill battle.

“This means West Virginia is another step closer to using our $1.2 billion towards efforts to better-connect homes, business, and classrooms across the state,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said the announcement represents progress in ensuring dependable broadband is delivered to every West Virginia business and family.

“Today’s announcement is another step in the right direction of our goal to connect every West Virginian to reliable high-speed internet by the end of the decade,” Manchin said.

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia’s initial proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, a cornerstone of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.

The designation will enable them to request access to funding and begin implementation of the BEAD program.

Of the three initial states, West Virginia will draw down the most:

• Kansas: $451.7 million
• Nevada: $416.6 million
• West Virginia: $1.2 billion

“I commend the teams in Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia for their tireless work to ensure everyone in their state has access to reliable high-speed Internet service,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The BEAD program is a $42.45 billion state grant program authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The states were allocated funding to deploy or upgrade high-speed internet networks to ensure that everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed Internet service.

Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used on high-speed Internet adoption, training, and workforce development efforts, among other eligible uses.

BEAD-eligible entities — states, territories, and the District of Columbia — were required to submit initial proposals detailing how they plan to spend their BEAD allocation to deliver high-speed internet access to all unserved and underserved locations within their borders.

One year from approval of the initial proposal, states must submit a final proposal detailing, among other things, the outcome of the selection process for “subgrantees” that will carry out the broadband expansion work and how the state will ensure service to all unserved and underserved locations.

“Today’s announcements mark another milestone in the effort to close the digital divide across America,” said Alan Davidson, administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

“Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia have created strong plans — reflecting their unique needs — to deploy reliable, affordable high-speed Internet service across their states.”

In a conference call with reporters, Evan Feinman, director of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program for NTIA, described the hard work, motivation and organization of West Virginia officials. He praised Gov. Jim Justice, Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael and Kelly Workman, director of the state Office of Broadband.

“It is the case that it’s one of the finest broadband offices in the country, and they just consistently do really, really excellent work,” Feinman said.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Morgantown man is charged with first-degree murder in a shooting death that took place last Friday.

The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department announced Thursday it had arrested Rick Cordes, 49, for killing Jennifer Hribar, 39, also of Morgantown, at a residence on Fallen Water Lane in the Cheat Lake area.

Detectives said Hribar died of an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head.

The investigation determined that Cordes and Hribar went to two establishments in the Cheat Lake area before the shooting. Surveillance footage at each location shows the two were involved in a verbal disagreement that got the attention of the staff at both locations. Those in charge at the establishments told detectives they had staff members monitor Cordes because they feared the verbal altercation could become physical.

Detectives said they recovered a pistol they believed to have been used in the shooting at the residence where Hribar was discovered. Cordes told detectives he had contact with the grip of the pistol, and the trigger could have been pulled by both he and Hribar.

Detectives noted that during initial conversations with MECCA 911 dispatchers, first responders, and detectives, the description of events Cordes provided changed several times.

Cordes is being held in the North Central Regional Jail without bail.

Detectives said the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Monongalia Sheriff’s Department at 304-291-7260.

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It’s time to drop the curtain for the WVU football team.

The Mountaineers close their month of workouts on Saturday when they play the annual Gold-Blue Spring Football game.  In this episode, the “Guys” preview the game and discuss what makes a successful spring game.

The crew also give an analytical scouting report on new WVU basketball recruit, Toby Okani. What will he bring to the WVU roster?

Listener questions and comments complete the show.

Three Guys Before The Game is sponsored by — Komax Business Systems  —-  GoMart   — – and Lou Wendell Marine Sales.

Don’t forget to check out Three Guys merchandise.

Never miss an episode, it’s free, subscribe below.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel says he’s asked the governor’s office to include his bill dealing with child neglect cases on next month’s special session agenda in light of the recent death of a Boone County teenage girl.

“I had Senate Bill 474 which is a critical incident review team—set up to have a group monitor death or near death cases involving youth like this little girl,” Woelfel said Thursday during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”

Boone County sheriff’s deputies found Kyneddi Miller dead in her home last week. They described her body as being emaciated to the point of a skeletal state. Her mother, Julie Miller, 49, of Morrisvale, is charged with felony child neglect causing death.

Woelfel, whose bill passed the Senate but was never taken up in the House, said the review team created in his bill would analyze circumstances.

“So that you could prevent down the road similar events or death,” Woelfel said.

The state Department of Human Services has been asked about the involvement of Child Protective Services in the girl’s life. The agency has refused to answer any specific questions but Gov. Jim Justice said earlier this week–the Kyneddi Miller case was not a CPS case.

“The CPS folks, from what I understand, had no idea about this child, no idea whatsoever,” Justice said.

Woelfel also said it also appears the girl was a homeschool student and the Boone County school system probably wouldn’t have known about her situation.

“I’m not going to blame anybody but the family right now,” Woelfel said. “It’s premature.”

Woelfel did add he believes confidentiality, which the state agency claims in child abuse and neglect cases, can be overstated. He said his bill also addressed that issue.

“My bill would have had a representative of the Supreme Court children’s section and other folks out of the department and inside of the department study the circumstances and still preserve confidentiality,” Woelfel said.

Justice indicated earlier this week federal regulations keep the state from releasing much information on cases like this. He said what’s going to help is more money to hire additional CPS workers and for residents who see something suspicious to speak up.

“You hire more people, you pay more dollars and you absolutely try with all in us to have it front of the people where people will speak out and try to help us and you say a whole lot of big prayers that this never happens again,” Justice said.

Julie Miller is scheduled to appear in Boone County Magistrate Court Monday for a preliminary hearing. She’s currently being held in the Southwestern Regional Jail on $250,000 bail.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today rolled out final rules requiring coal-fired power plants in the United States to reduce 90% of their greenhouse pollution into the next decade, prompting a backlash by political figures in coal-focused West Virginia.

The rules would also require all new baseload gas-fired plants control 90% of their carbon pollution.

“Pure lunacy,” U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, said on MetroNews’ “Talkline.”

Manchin, D-W.Va., expressed concern that the emphasis on reducing the effects of climate change would outweigh the the nation’s need for energy capacity.

“I just can’t even explain it. I’ve tried over the years to explain to ’em — you have to have a balance. The bottom line is, you have to have reliability.”

Manchin predicted court challenges to the EPA’s new rule affecting power plants and projected the Senate Energy Committee that he leads would file a brief in support of the challenge. “And I’ll guarantee you, we will win in court.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, ranking member of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, said she would introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to overturn the emissions rules targeting existing coal plants and new gas plants.

“With the latest iteration of the illegal Clean Power Plan 2.0 announced today, President Biden has inexplicably doubled down on his plans to shut down the backbone of America’s electric grid through unachievable regulatory mandates,” said Capito, R-W.Va.

“Electricity demand is set to skyrocket thanks in part to the EPA’s own electric vehicles mandate, and unfortunately, Americans are already paying higher utility bills under President Biden. Despite all this, the administration has chosen to press ahead with its unrealistic climate agenda that threatens access to affordable, reliable energy for households and employers across the country.”

Under the EPA rule announced today, coal plants that plan to stay open beyond 2039 would have to cut or capture 90% of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2032. Plants that expect to retire by 2039 would face a less stringent standard but still would have to capture some emissions. Coal plants that are set to retire by 2032 would not be subject to the new rules.

Chris Hamilton, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, responded by saying “Make no mistake, the rules announced by EPA today are specifically designed to shut down West Virginia’s nine coal-fired power plants and many more across this nation.”

He continued by saying, “What EPA is doing is economic suicide. West Virginians will lose jobs. Americans will continue to pay increasingly more expensive power bills. Our state and national electric systems will become even more unreliable as the grid weakens and base load power supplies are severely reduced.”

EPA’s rules come under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. EPA described the announcement as providing  regulatory certainty as the power sector makes long-term investments in the transition to a clean energy economy.

“By developing these standards in a clear, transparent, inclusive manner, EPA is cutting pollution while ensuring that power companies can make smart investments and continue to deliver reliable electricity for all Americans,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican who is running for governor, vowed a court challenge.

“This tactic by the EPA is unacceptable, and this rule flies in the face of the rule of law,” Morrisey said today. “We are confident this new rule is not going to be upheld, and it just seems designed to scare more coal-fired power plants into retirement—the goal of the Biden administration.

“Making matters worse, the administration packaged this rule with several other rules aimed at destroying traditional energy providers. We’re reviewing those rules as well, and we’ll be working with state and industry partners to implement the best strategy for fighting back against Biden’s anti-energy agenda.”

Congresswoman Carol Miller, R-W.Va., also blasted today’s EPA announcement.

“The EPA’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 rules remind Americans that the Biden Administration is focused on demolishing the United States coal industry in the name of ‘green’ energy. These new mandates will cripple our electric grid, current coal-fired power plants, new natural gas-fired power plants, and overall U.S. energy production,” Miller said.

Congressman Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., criticized the Biden administration too.

“The Biden Administration has been dictating outrageous rules from Washington with utter disregard for the impact on hardworking coal communities. Biden’s out-of-control EPA is laser-focused on closing every coal plant in West Virginia and ushering in higher energy prices via the Green New Deal,” Mooney said.

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LOGAN, W.Va. — Thursday marked a milestone for members of the Logan Kiwanis Club. The local chapter turned 100 years old.

“Doing anything for 100 years is hard to do and to get people to continue a process that was started in 1924 is an achievement like I’ve never been involved with in my life,” said Club President Roger Ramey.

The club began in 1924 when a group of Logan businessmen started the with 54 charter members. Through the years much has changed. The membership grew in the 1960’s to well over 100 members, but today is around 45. Originally Kiwanis Clubs were for men ony, but in the late 80’s the organization opened up to women as well. Today the membership is more than just businessmen and women and is open to everybody in a variety of walks of life.

The goal or the organization is to provide opportunities, experiences, and mentorship for children of all ages.

“Trying to provide leadership and mentors for children. We want to provide a positive outlook so kids will have someone to look up to,” Ramey said.

The organization annually holds a bike rodeo and gives bicycles to children. This year, in honor of their milestone, they’ll give away 100 bikes. Ramey said another great event is one in which they bring children with special needs to the baseball field to “play a game”. The game isn’t exactly a game, but features other children helping the special needs children learn to throw balls, bat, and run the bases.

“They’re all just kids and wanting to have fun. It’s an opportunity for youngsters to also be mentors,” he said.

The Logan Kiwanis Club meets once a week. Two meetings during the month are evening meetings and twice a month during the noon hour. The times are shifted to accommodated a variety of members who have work obligations or live outside Logan.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Ahead of head coach Darian DeVries’ first season, West Virginia continues to be busy reshaping its roster through the NCAA Transfer Portal.

After recently adding a pair of players from Illinois, the Mountaineers received a commitment Thursday from Toby Okani, a 6-foot-8 guard who most recently played two seasons at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Okani’s agent, George Langberg of GSL Sports Group, confirmed the WVU commitment to several national media outlets.

Okani began his college career playing two seasons at Duquesne and has one season of eligibility remaining.

With the Dukes, Okani appeared in 48 games and made 25 starts in two seasons. He averaged about four points and four rebounds. 

Okani’s role increased with the Flames, and he averaged 11 and 11.1 points, respectively, over the last two seasons.

He averaged a career-high 7.1 rebounds in his first season at UIC, and in the 2023-24 campaign, Okani contributed 6.8 boards, 1.5 steals and a pair of blocks on average. 

For his college career, Okani shoots 41 percent from the field, 29.4 percent on three-pointers and 61.8 percent on free throws with averages of 8.2 rebounds, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and one steal.

The addition of Okani gives WVU seven players at this point for next season. He joins DeVries’ son, Tucker DeVries, who followed his father to Morgantown from Drake and Illinois transfers Sencire Harris and Amani Hansberry. The remainder of the current roster is incoming freshman KJ Tenner and the only two players from last season’s team — Ofri Naveh and Aden Tagaloa-Nelson, a Mountaineer football player who joined the program mid-season.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Zach Frazier has worn the No. 54 jersey for the last eight years. In that time, he led Fairmont Senior High School to a state championship and helped to build the most dominant position group for the Mountaineers.

This weekend, Frazier will hear his name called at the NFL Draft and fitting of his soft-spoken nature, he will receive the news of his new football home at a low-key gathering.

“I’m just going to be with family,” Frazier said. We’re going to have a small get-together with family and just wait for the call. It is going to be a stressful time. But it is exciting to be in this position.”

The “Polar Bear Pipeline” to WVU that started with Jake Abbott and Darius Stills in 2017 continued with Dante Stills in 2018 and Frazier in 2020.

“It was easy to talk to them and talk about their transition up here. That really helped me out.

“All those guys, practicing against them and playing with them, it has been great. It is really special too to see that many guys from one high school go up to West Virginia, play together and have really good careers.”

Playing at a position that is the most difficult for true freshmen to enter the lineup right away at the major college level, Frazier earned a starting spot in the 2020 season opener. 47 games later, Frazier leaves WVU as a two-time All-American, three-time All-Big 12 pick and a three-time team captain. He made 37 consecutive starts in the middle of West Virginia’s offensive line.

While Frazier took care of business on the field, he credits his family and high school sweetheart and wife of nearly a year, Stephanie, for providing a support system off the field.

“They kept me grounded. They helped raise me to be a good person. My wife, she keeps me in check. I am really thankful for her. She keeps me organized and keeps the calendar for me. She is really good, so I am thankful for her.”

Frazier’s buildup to the NFL Draft was altered by the leg fracture he suffered in the closing seconds of the Baylor game in the regular season finale. His rehab timeline allowed him to go through some drills at the NFL Combine seven weeks ago.

“At the time, we weren’t sure if I was going to be able to do anything at the combine. I just kept pushing and thankfully my body responded enough to where we felt that I would be ready to do those position drills in [Indianapolis].”

As one of the top center prospects in the draft, Frazier has spoken with teams throughout the NFL. But he says it is difficult to assess which teams may have the most interest in selecting him.

“I was told not to really read into that because teams won’t give away their hand, I guess. It is really hard to tell who is interested and who is not. Sometimes I think teams are interested. But I don’t really know. At the end of the day, I don’t get to pick.”

An average play in the NFL lasts around five seconds. But as the anchor of an offensive line, the center must go through a number of pre-snap reads. In Frazier’s meetings with NFL teams, identifications before the snap were the main topics of conversation.

“It starts with identifying the front that they are in. Then on most plays, I have to call the mike [linebacker], whether it is a run or a pass play. I identify the mike so everyone on the line knows where we are working to. Also, I am looking at feet and looking at hands and stances to see if anyone is giving away the blitz.

“They’ll also pull up your film and ask you questions about what you are doing on a certain play. Some of them will install their own plays and see if you can pick it up and teach it back to them.”

The most common draft projection for Frazier sees him being taken on Day 2 of the draft, where the second and third rounds will be held. With meetings, the combine and workouts now complete, Frazier admits that waiting is the hardest part.

“Now I am just getting in shape and getting ready for rookie mini-camp and waiting, which isn’t too fun. But I am excited for it.”

When his first professional contract is signed, Frazier has a simple yet important first purchase in mind.

“It depends on which city I go to but I would like to get some type of small house that I could have a little backyard for my dogs or something like that. I think that is all I really want.”

Years of individual workouts, team practices and performances on the field have led Frazier to the point where he will reap the rewards, both financially and with the chance to play in at the highest level of professional sports.

“It has been my dream since I have been probably since middle school and elementary school to play in the NFL. I have grown up watching the NFL and watching the draft, watching everyone else get their name called. To finally be in that position, it is pretty special. And I can’t wait.”

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