MORGANTOWN — Information circulating about the Monongalia County Commission banning gendered language is not true.
An image shared with The Dominion Post appears to be a screenshot from the WBOY website with the headline “Monongalia County to ban gendered language.”
The “story” is dated Aug. 7 under the byline Riley Holsinger. Holsinger no longer works for WBOY.
Beyond switching a few words, the language of the article is identical to a report Holsinger wrote in May 2023 about a potential panhandling ordinance.
Commissioner Tom Bloom said he was contacted by multiple people Thursday.
“It’s just bizarre, but it’s starting to get around and people believe it because it’s a good fake,” Bloom said. “But I can tell you this really is fake news.”
Bloom said he doesn’t know where the image originated.
