Virginia
2024 West Virginia Vacation Guide now available
CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim Justice recently unveiled the 2024 West Virginia Vacation Guide, the state’s official travel magazine. Travelers can view the 112-page guide online or get a free copy mailed to them directly. Last year, the West Virginia Department of Tourism distributed over a quarter of a million printed guides to travelers across the nation and around the world.
“I could not be more excited about this year’s vacation guide because it showcases our state’s incredible beauty,” Gov. Justice said. “From the breathtaking views to charming mountain towns, this guide truly brings West Virginia to life, and we continue to prove that we’re the diamond in the rough. We have people from all over the world wanting to explore our state, and this guide serves as a big reason why interest is still on the rise.”
This year’s cover depicts a magnificent starry sky surrounding the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory in Monroe County. Using a special printing technique, the front cover is textured to give readers an earthy, sensory experience before even opening the guide.
“Showcasing our great state in what we do, and this magazine is our premiere printed piece. We’ve produced some amazing guides in the past, but this one is my all-time favorite. It is packed with stunning photography and features hidden gems in every corner of the state,” West Virginia Department of Tourism Secretary Chelsea Ruby said. “This year, we are encouraging folks to not only order themselves a copy, but to also send one to friends and family members they’d like to see visit the Mountain State this year.”
The 2024 Vacation Guide was produced in partnership with Dotdash Meredith, a leading publisher that also produces Southern Living, Real Simple, and Parents magazines. This partnership has been recognized in the past by the U.S. Travel Association when West Virginia was recognized as having the top printed piece in the county two years ago. By partnering with Dotdash, the 2024 guide will be mailed directly to 100,000 Travel + Leisure subscribers in West Virginia’s target markets to encourage travel to the Mountain State.
Organized by seasons, this year’s guide highlights the multitude of activities to experience in West Virginia all year long. The “field guide” in the front of the book, is the introduction to the unparalleled sights and adventures that can only be found in the Mountain State. The guide also features a section all about the state’s arts and culture scene with a special story about artisans and creative entrepreneurs throughout West Virginia.
Four perforated postcards, with images from each of West Virginia’s distinct seasons make easy tear-away keepsakes and add an interactive element to the guide. There’s also a quiz that helps readers discover the road trip best suited for them based on their interests.
To request your very own free copy of the 2024 West Virginia Vacation Guide, click here. To access a digital version of the guide, click here.
You can also find copies in the Governor’s Office, the State Museum, all rest areas, and welcome centers.
Virginia
Springfield, Virginia neighbors dig out icy streets together
SPRINGFIELD, Va. (7News) — Residents of Tyner Street in Springfield, Virginia, are grappling with mounting frustrations as their neighborhood remains encased in ice.
Despite calls for assistance, they tell 7News that help has not arrived, leaving the community to fend for itself.
SEE ALSO | Foot traffic down at DC bar during snow slump, icy street entrance doesn’t help
A 7News viewer brought attention to the situation, prompting a visit to the area — calling the neighborhood an “ice rink.”
Residents of Tyner Street in Springfield, Virginia, are grappling with mounting frustrations as their neighborhood remains encased in ice on Feb. 3, 2026. (Marco Tavares/7News)
7News Photojournalist Marco Tavares spoke with residents who were actively engaged in helping one another dig out from the icy conditions.
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“I think they kind of did a lazy job, to be completely honest. It’s been over a week. There’s still a lot of roads that look like this. So it’s a bit frustrating right now,” one man said.
Virginia
Virginia man having affair with au pair found guilty of murdering wife and another man
A Virginia man having an affair with the family’s Brazilian au pair was found guilty Monday of murdering his wife and another man that prosecutors say was lured to the house as a fall guy.
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, told police he came across Joseph Ryan attacking his wife, Christine Banfield, with a knife on the morning of 24 February 2023. He shot Ryan and then Juliana Magalhães, the au pair, shot him, too.
But officials argued in court that the story was too good to be true, telling jurors that Banfield set Ryan up in a scheme to get rid of his wife. It later came out that Brendan Banfield and Magalhães had been having an affair.
Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2024 and testified against her former lover at trial. She said they had impersonated Christine Banfield, a pediatric intensive care nurse, on a website for sexual fetishes. She said they used the site to lure Ryan to the house for a sexual encounter involving a knife, staging the scene to look as though they had shot an intruder who was attacking the wife.
Defense attorney John Carroll argued that Magalhães’ testimony could not be trusted because she was cooperating with prosecutors to try to avoid a long prison sentence. In his own testimony, Banfield said that the testimony was “ absolutely crazy”.
Carroll also introduced evidence showing that there was dissent within the police department over the theory that Magalhães and Brendan Banfield impersonated Christine Banfield on social media in a “catfishing” scheme. An officer who concluded from digital evidence that Christine Banfield was behind the social media account was later transferred in what Carroll said was punishment for disagreeing with a theory favored by the department’s higher-ups.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Jenna Sands told the jury they did not have to rely solely on Magalhães’ testimony, pointing to what she called a “plethora of evidence”. That included expert testimony that blood stains on Ryan’s hands suggested Christine Banfield’s blood had been dripped onto him from above.
The jury deliberated for nearly nine hours across two days before reaching a verdict. Banfield faces the possibility of life in prison at sentencing.
Magalhães was scheduled to be sentenced after Banfield’s trial. Attorneys have said she could be allowed to walk free if she is sentenced to time served.
Virginia
ICE arrests over 650 illegal aliens across West Virginia with state, local police backing
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested more than 650 illegal aliens across West Virginia during a two-week statewide operation conducted in coordination with local law enforcement agencies and without protests, federal officials announced.
ICE said in a press release Sunday that the operation ran from Jan. 5 to Jan. 19 and involved 14 federal, state and local law enforcement partners.
ICE deployed teams to Charleston, Martinsburg, Beckley, Moorefield, Morgantown and Huntington as part of the operation.
Law enforcement officials arrested more than 650 illegal aliens, including individuals ICE said pose threats to public safety and national security, as well as others who entered the country illegally.
DHS TAKES VICTORY LAP AFTER ARRESTING OVER 10K ILLEGAL ALIENS IN DEEP BLUE CITY DESPITE VIOLENT RIOTS
ICE officers arrested over 650 illegal aliens in a two-week West Virginia operation. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This operation demonstrates how strong partnerships between ICE and West Virginia law enforcement agencies enhance public safety and the integrity of our immigration system,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Michael Rose said. “By training and supporting our… partners across the state, we’ve expanded local capacity to identify, arrest and process illegal aliens while ensuring these authorities are exercised professionally and consistent with the law.”
One individual arrested as part of Operation ICE Wall on Jan. 8 was Sagar Singh, a citizen of India. The operation targeted illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles, and Singh was pulled over for failing to stop at a mandatory brake check station.
During the stop, Singh was cited for multiple vehicle infractions, including operating an unsafe commercial vehicle. According to ICE, Singh had previously been ordered removed from the U.S.
HOUSTON ICE OPERATION NETS OVER 3,500 CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS IN SIX WEEKS DURING SHUTDOWN
ICE officers arrested Sagar Singh, an Indian national previously ordered removed, during Operation ICE Wall after he was stopped for failing to clear a mandatory commercial vehicle brake check. (ICE)
Singh was one of more than 25 aliens arrested under Operation ICE Wall during the two-week enforcement surge.
Another illegal alien arrested during the operation was Ling Yan, a citizen of China also known as Yang Ning, who was previously convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ravenna, Ohio.
ICE also arrested a convicted child sex abuser, an individual with drug possession convictions and numerous other offenders during the operation.
CALIFORNIA ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 49 PRIOR ARRESTS TOPS ICE’S LATEST ‘WORST-OF-THE-WORST’ LIST
On Jan. 11, ICE officers arrested Ling Yan, a Chinese national also known as Yang Ning, who was previously convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ohio and has a final order of removal. (ICE)
One of the agencies that worked with ICE was the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, whose top official praised the results of the two-week operation.
“The Sheriff’s Office was impressed with the professionalism and work ethic of the agents and how well they interacted with the citizens and local law enforcement officers,” Jefferson County Sheriff Tom Hansen said. “Working with such a high-caliber group of agents who were assigned to Jefferson County made the decision to support the initiative worthwhile.”
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“We are also gratified that through this program, we have had the opportunity to remove numerous dangerous criminals from our community,” he added.
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