West Virginia
Fishing record set by West Virginia angler who used 3-year-old daughter's $10 pink rod
A man in Wayne County, West Virginia, caught a state record channel catfish in the pond on his father’s farm in South Charleston using an unexpected rod.
John Tyler Rutherford reeled in a 43.51-inch-long, 46.70-pound channel catfish, according to a press release from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR).
Rutherford reportedly reeled in the big fish in July 21 by using his daughter’s fishing rod and worms as bait.
PENNSYLVANIA ANGLER CATCHES ‘BEAUTIFUL FISH’ RARELY SEEN IN LAKE ERIE
“I got my daughter a little $9.99 pink rod… she’s 3 and she can reel them in, but she can’t cast it out. So I cast it out for her and I was holding the rod and she was sitting on my lap,” he told West Virginia Outdoors.
John Tyler Rutherford’s channel catfish spanned 43.51 inches long and weighed 46.70 pounds. He caught the fish in a pond located in South Charleston, West Virginia. (WVDNR)
The common length for channel catfish is 22 inches with the longest maximum reported length being 52 inches, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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“West Virginia’s incredible fishing opportunities continue to amaze and attract anglers from near and far and this record-breaking achievement showcases the world-class fishing adventures our state has to offer,” Governor Jim Justice said in the WVDNR’s release.
Rutherford used his daughter’s $9.99 pink fishing rod to reel in the channel catfish. (WVDNR)
The last West Virginia record for the channel catfish was set in the year 2022 for length, and in 2023 for weight.
Rutherford’s catch topped them both.
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WVDNR Director Brett McMillion congratulated Rutherford for his outstanding catch.
West Virginia has set six new state fish records this year. (WVDNR)
“This remarkable achievement highlights the superior quality of West Virginia’s fisheries and the dedication of our team in maintaining and enhancing these aquatic resources,” McMillion said in the release.
The state also set new records for tiger trout, redbreast sunfish, bowfin, redear sunfish and black crappie caught this year.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the WVDNR and Rutherford for comment.
West Virginia
West Virginia couple charged in York County COVID-era rent fraud cases
York PA installation about Articles of Confederation completed
The long-awaited Hard Bargains installation explaining and exploring the Articles of Confederation has been completed near York County History Center.
The Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General filed charges in York County against a West Virginia man and woman, who allegedly got thousands of dollars in COVID-era rent assistance funds under false pretenses.
Chester Joseph Little, 41, and Dawn Lea Caltrider, 43, of Orma, West Virginia face felony theft and forgery charges filed Monday, May 4, in York County in connection with getting funds through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) through filing fraudulent applications.
According to court documents, on Nov. 8, 2023, the assistant director of the York County Department of Human Services contacted the Office of the State Inspector General about suspicious ERAP applications and suspected that Little and Caltrider received funds under false pretenses.
On Sept. 24, 2021, court records indicate that Caltrider applied for ERAP funds for rental assistance for a residence in the 1500 block of Route 116 in Spring Grove, which Little claimed was his property and was paid $1,500 a month in rent and had not been paid between February 2021 to October 2021. Little asked York County Community Progress Council (CPC) to pay him for the months Caltrider was behind in rent plus rent for October 2021 through January 2022 and $18,400 was deposited in Little’s bank account.
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It was later found that the owner of the property on Route 116 was Caltrider’s sister. Caltrider and Little had lived there for a period before they moved out. Little had allegedly presented a fake lease and mortgage agreement as part of the ERAP application, and Caltrider falsely claimed she lived at the address.
Court documents also indicated that Little signed an application for ERAP benefits Oct. 6, 2021 for a home in the 400 block of Rear Pleasant Street in Hanover and reported Caltrider as his landlord. Caltrider allegedly filled out the landlord portion of the application and said that she was paid $2,000 a month and Little had not paid rent from February 2021 to October 2021. She applied to the York County Community Progress Council (CPC) to pay her what was in arrears plus rent from November 2021 through January 2022 and requested funds, totaling $24,000, be deposited into her bank account.
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A 2023 investigation uncovered that the property in the 400 block of Rear Pleasant Street was a self-storage business and was not owned by Caltrider, who allegedly presented a fake lease and homeowner insurance policy as part of the ERAP application.
More charges were filed against Caltrider after she allegedly provided another false application on Oct. 22, 2021. According to court documents, Caltrider applied for rental assistance for an address in the first block of Abbie Road in Spring Garden Township posing as her daughter and claimed to be the landlord of the address and received $17,200 in ERAP funds. Investigators found that the daughter had never lived at the address after questioning her. Authorities say Caltrider presented a fake lease and homeowner insurance policy and presented an altered Pennsylvania birth certificate in that case.
Caltrider alone faces five counts of felony forgery and one felony count each for identity theft, theft by unlawful taking and theft by deception in this particular case.
As of Wednesday, May 6, neither Little nor Caltrider had seen a judge regarding the charges.
West Virginia
West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Daily 3 on May 5, 2026
The results are in for the West Virginia Lottery’s draw games on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on May 5.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 5 drawing
12-22-50-51-55, Mega Ball: 10
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily 3 numbers from May 5 drawing
7-1-6
Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily 4 numbers from May 5 drawing
2-1-0-0
Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 25 numbers from May 5 drawing
03-04-05-09-10-14
Check Cash 25 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
- Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
West Virginia
Verizon outage reported in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The Verizon Network is currently experiencing a widespread outage across West Virginia.
A service alert was sent to residents in Kanawha County.
Verizon customers should still be able to call 911.
If a Verizon customer experiences an issue with contacting 911, a landline should be used if possible.
However, only contact 911 if there is a true emergency.
At this time, Verizon is not giving an estimated time for restoration.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
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