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WVU Today | WVU, Ascend WV assist opioid response efforts led by West Virginia First Foundation

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WVU Today | WVU, Ascend WV assist opioid response efforts led by West Virginia First Foundation


The West Virginia First Foundation will utilize Ascend WV coworking space in Morgantown, Fayetteville, Elkins, Martinsburg and Lewisburg to carry out its work of distributing nearly $1 billion of settlement funds to support the fight against opioid misuse in the Mountain State.
(WVU Photo)

West Virginia University and Ascend WV — the nation’s premier talent attraction and retention program supported by the WVU Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative — have joined forces to support the fight against the opioid epidemic in West Virginia.

The University, along with Ascend WV, which was established through a gift from the Wing 2 Wing Foundation and in partnership with West Virginia Department of Tourism, stepped forward upon learning the West Virginia First Foundation needed working space to carry out its charge to help people across the Mountain State. The WVFF is tasked with distributing nearly $1 billion of opioid settlement funds.

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“West Virginia University cares about the people of this state and we are a force for good,” WVU President Gordon Gee said. “This is the essence of being West Virginia’s land-grant flagship University.”

Under the agreement, space at Ascend WV locations in Morgantown, Fayetteville, Elkins, Martinsburg and Lewisburg will be available to the West Virginia First Foundation at no cost.

“I want to thank WVU and the Ascend WV program for their generous contribution of office space,” West Virginia First Foundation Executive Director Jonathan Board said. “Having these outreach locations will allow the Foundation to be present within communities in every region of the state as we focus on serving the people who most need help.”

The Foundation plans to use the space in Ascend WV communities for meetings and to better reach into various regions of the state, an approach which dovetails with the mission of Ascend WV, according to Danny Twilley, OEDC assistant vice president of economic, community and asset development.

“This is where we see our role in this endeavor,” Twilley said. “Community engagement has been a cornerstone of our program from the start, whether we’re connecting ‘ascenders’ with resources and opportunities in their new home, helping native West Virginians find their way back or supporting communities in their endeavors to thrive.”

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-WVU-

ak/9/12/24

MEDIA CONTACT: April Kaull
Executive Director of Communications
WVU University Relations
304-293-3990; April.Kaull@mail.wvu.edu

Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.

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West Virginia

Fire in Barbour County leaves four dead – WV MetroNews

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Fire in Barbour County leaves four dead – WV MetroNews


JUNIOR, W.Va. — A late night fire in Barbour County has claimed the lives of four people.

The State Fire Marshal confirms the four adults died in the blaze at a home in the town of Junior. The fire department was alerted just before 11 p.m. Wednesday. They arrived to find a mobile home fully engulfed in flames along River Avenue in the town.

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The fire was out in 15 minutes and the bodies discovered.

The Fire Marshal has investigators on scene. All four victims were adults, but further information is not known.

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West Virginia

Moundsville police investigate pharmacy break-in, narcotics theft

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Moundsville police investigate pharmacy break-in, narcotics theft


MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — The Moundsville Police Department is investigating a pharmacy break-in that led to the theft of a large amount of narcotics.

Police said the burglary happened in the early morning hours of June 30. Investigators said the suspects broke a window, went behind the pharmacy counter and stole the narcotics.

Authorities believe the suspects are from outside the area.

Police said the suspects used a stolen Infiniti Q50. The vehicle was later recovered by Ohio authorities near Cambridge.

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The investigation is ongoing and involves law enforcement agencies in multiple states.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Moundsville Police Department at 304-845-1611.



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Save Women’s Sports Act now the law of the land – WV MetroNews

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Save Women’s Sports Act now the law of the land – WV MetroNews


The United States Supreme Court issued its long-awaited opinion in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox on Tuesday, ruling that states may exclude transgender athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ sports teams. 

The justices were unanimous in their analysis that the laws do not violate civil rights laws. However, the court was split on whether West Virginia’s law stood up to constitutional muster. 

The ruling concludes this chapter in the ongoing cultural debate. The Save Women’s Sports Act was overwhelmingly approved by the legislature and signed by then-Gov. Jim Justice in 2021, and was almost immediately challenged in court. The legal battle trudged on for the next five years on its way to becoming a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. 

Tuesday’s ruling settled the legal debate, but the court of public opinion weighed in on the issues long before the justice issued their legal opinions. According to Pew Research, 66 percent of U.S. adults support laws requiring athletes to compete on teams that match their biological sex. A Gallup poll found similar results, with 69 percent of adults supporting such laws. 

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West Virginia is not alone in passing a law to protect women’s and girls’ sports. Twenty-six other states have recognized the basic fact that there are differences between males and females and have chosen to pass legislation acknowledging those distinctions in athletic competition. 

Lawmakers, who campaigned on protecting women’s and girls’ sports, can now tell constituents that they have fulfilled their campaign promise. The Save Women’s Sports Act is now the law of the land in West Virginia.

“I would say that for the foreseeable future, we have a very certain future for women’s sports. And here in West Virginia, we know what the rules are, we know what the law is, we know that it’s constitutional,” said West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey on Talkline.

Tuesday’s ruling also presents an opportunity for legislators to move on from the issue. Discussions surrounding the topic during the legislative session have been known to grind momentum to a halt, and Republicans running for office over the last five years have made it a centerpiece of their campaigns. 

The issue is now settled, at least for now.

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As J.B McCuskey cautioned, 

“In the world of constitutional litigation, Dave, there’s never an end to any chapter.” 





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