Breaking News

Local News

PEIA pauses pilot program supporting cost of weight loss drugs

West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency for a short time ran a pilot program to support more than a thousand members with the costs of drugs to fight obesity, where the state’s statistics rank worst in the nation. But, like other states, West Virginia was challenged by the expense of the drugs. PEIA paused the pilot program this past March 15, honoring existing pre-authorizations through June 30, the end of the fiscal year, or the term of the authorization, whichever was longer. “The reasons for pausing the program were multifaceted and included cost, supply ...

Area author publishes debut novel

James Toothman, West Virginia native, met his first love in grade-school: writing. He filled the pages of his wide-ruled notebook with poetry and prose. Into his teen years and beyond, he did some lyrical writing for metal bands. As of Dec. 21, 2023, Toothman has published his debut novel, “Three Sixes and a Forked Tongue or Cold Medicine and a Liar,” through a publishing company in Denver, Colo., known as Millions of Colors Publishing. Toothman’s novel is based in 1971 in the coal-country backroads of West Virginia. But before Toothman put pen to paper to a ...

Former Kingwood librarian, 80, dies

KINGWOOD — Joel Beane, former head librarian at the Kingwood Public Library died Friday at age 80.He retired in 2022 after 50 years of service. During an earlier interview, Beane said he first visited a library with his older sister in his home town in New Jersey. He said after that visit he knew he wanted to be a librarian. Beane said he was living in Kentucky when he heard there was a job opening at a library in Kingwood.He said he watched the library change from books, magazines and microfilm to computers, internet and free wireless. The Kingwood Public Library started in ...

Charleston-based chef makes history as first-ever James Beard Award winner in the state

CHARLESTON — A highly-acclaimed Charleston-based chef is now adding one of the most prestigious culinary arts awards in the country to his repertoire and making West Virginia history.   Chef Paul Smith walked away with the title of ‘Best Chef: Southeast’ Monday night, part of the James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards that takes place annually in Chicago.   It marks the first year a chef has ever won the award from West Virginia and much less been nominated.   “Two words that have never been mentioned here before — West ...

This week in West Virginia History

by WV Humanities Council CHARLESTON — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at wvencyclopedia.org. June 9, 1927: Karl Dewey Myers was named the state’s first poet laureate by Gov. Howard Mason ...

MUB announces work schedule

Street Repair 324 Euclid Ave., sidewalk repair 306 Park St., sidewalk repair 328 Laurel St., driveway repair 303 Sylvan Place road repair Main Line Construction Water Line Extension Listravia (AW-2888) Water line upgrade Van Voorhis Road (AW-2756) Maintenance ...