CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For someone addicted to drugs or facing criminal charges, becoming a confidential informant can be pretty tempting. For Branda Basham, it may have gotten her killed. Confidential informants, or CIs, are mainly used to provide information on drug crimes or conduct controlled buys for law enforcement. Local police[Read More…]
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Thousands flock to Multifest at W.Va. Capitol
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Multi-Cultural Festival of West Virginia, known as Multifest, has had a rough couple of years. In 2013, treasurer Deborah Starks pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $300,000 from Multifest funds and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, and last year James Foster was shot[Read More…]
Kudos to coal supporters who went to Pittsburgh
An editorial from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — What a powerful way to make a statement. More than 5,000 supporters of coal converged upon Pittsburgh, Pa., last week to protest controversial new EPA rules that are expected to kill thousands of mining related jobs. These proud men and woman[Read More…]
The Associated Press shares 10 things to know Monday, Aug. 4
Dorothy Abernathy, The Associated Press bureau chief for West Virginia and Virginia, shares the 10 things you need to know Monday, Aug. 4, 2014. Look for full stories on these late-breaking news items, upcoming events and stories in West Virginia newspapers. 1. WHY U.S. SECRETLY DISPATCHED LATIN YOUTH TO CUBA[Read More…]
Dolly Withrow: Can Creative Nonfiction Save Newspapers?
“The most e-mailed lists (by readers) suggest that readers will consume meaningful, interesting (and maybe even ‘important’) journalism if they feel compelled, beguiled, seduced.” ~ Michael Herschorn (The Atlantic, December 2007) Journalists give the essence of the story in the clothesline lead. They have been taught to begin a news story by telling the reader who, what, where, when,[Read More…]
Giles Snyder: Sports nut or just a nut?
By Giles Snyder WVPA Columnist I’m starting to think that I doth protest too much when it comes to sports. Either that, or I’m developing a higher tolerance for boredom with each passing year. After all, I turned 50 back in April. A case in point – after rolling out[Read More…]
‘Dark money’ opponent focuses on W.Va. race
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Having made his fortune as creator of the online gaming company Kongregate, Jim Greer is trying to take a stand against the inundation of “dark money” political attack ads that he believes are taking over elections across the U.S. Greer founded CounterPAC, a new group he thinks[Read More…]
Kanawha board member tries to evict legislator
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Kanawha County school board member is trying to evict a local Republican lawmaker from a South Hills home. Board member Becky Jordon and her husband, Andrew Jordon, filed a complaint Thursday morning in Kanawha Circuit Court requesting Delegate Suzette Raines, R-Kanawha, move out of a home[Read More…]
Drilling boom sparks new Doddridge substation
SHERWOOD, W.Va. — A new development near a local community is seeking to capitalize on an energy boom, as well as provide better service to nearby energy customers. FirstEnergy Corp. is constructing a new transmission substation near Sherwood. According to Holly Kauffman, the president of West Virginia’s FirstEnergy Operations, the[Read More…]
Few dry eyes as Bridgeport kids get adaptive bikes
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Sometimes, an event has the ability to leave all those in attendance better off for being there. That happened Thursday at the Bridgeport Conference Center. Variety the Children’s Charity launched its “My Bike” program in Harrison County, giving away its 50th bike in West Virginia. The bikes[Read More…]
