WQBE News

The West Virginia Senate rejected an amendment that would have included four-year colleges in a bill to provide free tuition at community and technical colleges. Senate Republicans were concerned the House would reject the bill if the cost of the program increased by adding four-year colleges.

Three WVU students have agreed to leave the university following an investigation into the fall of another student at a fraternity house last November. David Rusko fell down the steps at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon House, and has been hospitalized ever since. Fifteen other students were also disciplined.

West Virginia Health Right is offering free prescription drugs to federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown. Federal employees are required to show proof of where they work, and that they’re not currently working, and provide a valid prescription in order to qualify.

Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin has unveiled efforts to help Macy’s employees affected by the closure at Charleston Town Center. Macy’s announced Monday that the store will close sometime in the spring. Goodwin has asked WorkForce West Virginia’s Rapid Response Team to make resources available to employees impacted by the move.

Over twenty inmates at the Mount Olive Correction Complex have graduated from Mount Olive Bible College. The inmates are the first to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Bible-Theology and Pastoral Ministry. The program is an extension of Appalachian Bible College that began in 2014.

A Charleston Catholic High School student is under arrest for making a threat against students. Police say the student made his hand into the shape of a gun, pointed it at classmates, and told a friend not to come to school on Tuesday. The school was closed Tuesday, but classes will resume today.

An East Bank volunteer firefighter is charged with DUI after he hit a police cruiser. The officer was responding to a call, and sitting in her parked cruiser when 28-year-old David McGuire backed into her with his personal car. He failed a series of field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of point-163.

Kanawha County deputies did a wellness check at a home in Sissonville and found two bodies inside. Deputies say the women have been dead for weeks, and possibly months. A family member identified the women as 76-year-old Janice Harding and her daughter 51-year-old Bellva Harding. A bank requested the check after deposits were made in a dormant account.

Marshall University says its Department of Dietetics has opened the doors of its food pantry to federal employees affected by the government shutdown. A statement from the school says the food pantry opened Saturday for federal workers and will remain open as long as needed.
Dr. Kelli Williams is chair of the university’s dietetics programand says the school is committed to providing nutrition education and programming to students and the community. The university food pantry is open Wednesday mornings, Friday afternoons and the third Saturday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The government shutdown began Dec. 22 and is the longest ever.

The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office has launched a new website to make it easier to access information, services and resources. Secretary of State Mac Warner says that the website has a new look and is more user-friendly with easy navigation and improved transparency. It was designed over the last 14 months to help people access information quickly. He says most visitors should now be able to access the information they’re looking for within three clicks of landing on the site. The website supports some of Warner’s top goals, which include streamlining bureaucracy, enhancing business and continuously improving customer service.