An inmate at a high-security federal prison in West Virginia has died after he was found unresponsive, officials said. Jerome Jones, 35, was pronounced dead Wednesday at a local hospital after employees at USP Hazelton found him unresponsive about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a news release from prison officials. No other employees or … Read more
Firefighters knocked down a structure fire in Charleston Friday afternoon. The blaze was reported in the 400 block of Roane Street about 3:20 p.m., according to a Metro 911 alert. Emergency dispatchers said an abandoned home caught fire. Crews on scene said heavy hoarding conditions complicated suppression efforts. No injuries have been reported as a … Read more
A Kanawha County woman pleaded guilty Thursday in a deadly DUI crash from 2024, prosecutors said. Keisha Miller, 34, of Belle pleaded guilty to DUI causing death in a crash along Witcher Creek Road in November 2024, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors said Miller’s vehicle struck two pedestrians … Read more
The 12000 block of Paint Creek Road had been shut down since Wednesday night after a rockslide blocked the road entirely. The road has been cleared and reopened, according to transportation officials said. A social media post from the West Virginia Department of Transportation, said a heavy maintenance crew cleared approximately 1,200 tons of dirt, … Read more
A man is facing up to a decade in prison for his role in a fraudulent real estate scheme in Charleston, deputies said. Jesse Ian Smith pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretenses, according to a news release from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s office. The release said Smith worked with others to create a … Read more
West Virginia lawmakers passed Senate Bill 890 is heading to the governor’s desk. This bill allows schools to switch from a traditional 180-day calendar to 900 instructional hours, enabling a potential 4-day school week. Local school districts can choose to adopt this structure, which typically means longer daily hours, aiming for increased flexibility and recruitment … Read more
Appalachian Power is asking for feedback from the Huntington community on a project aimed at improving electric service. The company hosted an open house at the Fairfield East Community Center this week to talk about how construction could impact nearby properties. The project, known as the Darrah-Barnett Transmission Line Rebuild, includes rebuilding about three miles … Read more
A Fayette County man could spend up to 20 years in prison after admitting he took money meant for grave markers. Sixty-five-year-old Jeffrey Phares of Fayetteville pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors say he owned and operated several cemeteries across West Virginia. They say Phares took payments for grave markers but failed to deliver them, … Read more
Clay County 911 operators have worked for years in cramped conditions with limited amenities, but that’s set to change. Senator Shelley Moore Capito recently announced more than $224 million in federal funding for public safety projects across West Virginia, including $4.6 million for a new 911 center in Clay County. The upgraded facility will include … Read more
A 35-year-old inmate has died at a high-security federal prison in West Virginia. Officials say Jerome Jones was found unresponsive at USP Hazelton around 8:30 Tuesday night and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Jones had been serving a 330-month sentence for carjacking and using a firearm during the crime.