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WV kicks off Christmas season with “Joyful Night” at State Capitol – WV MetroNews

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WV kicks off Christmas season with “Joyful Night” at State Capitol – WV MetroNews


CHARLESTON, W.Va. –It’s officially Christmas season in West Virginia, as Governor Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice watched as the state Christmas Tree was lit during Wednesday evening’s “Joyful Night “celebration.

The event brought people from across the area out to the West Virginia Capitol Complex in Charleston to celebrate the season by listening to Christmas music performed by three different local choirs, ensembles, and bands before the tree was lit and fireworks were released.

Henry, who sang in the Barboursville Elementary School choir, says the festivities were fun, and the firework show took the cake.

“It was super fun, especially the fireworks. It was just amazing. The tree lighting was good,” he said. “It’s always fun to be here and I’m so happy that I get invited to do these things.”

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Henry also says that he knows just how special it is to be invited to sing on the Capitol steps during Christmas celebrations.

“It’s really cool because most people don’t get to do that stuff, and I’m just lucky that I get to do it,” Henry said. “It’s fun because me and my friends are here. We all get introduced as a school and it’s just fun to be here.”

Gov. Jim Justice

Justice says the last Christmas celebration as governor was touching, but he was not ready for the nearly five-minute firework show.

“I sure didn’t expect the fireworks. I don’t know where that one came from,” Justice said. “It was really touching to Cathy and I because we love the people, and we love the state.”

The official state tree that was lit Wednesday evening hails from Watoga State Park in Pocahontas County. The Norwood Spruce tree stands at 54 feet high and is now fully lit in front of the South Steps of the Capitol Complex, right next to Kanawha Boulevard.

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Along with the large choir from Barboursville Elementary School, the Nitro High School Showcats performed Christmas numbers, as well as the Woodrow Wilson High School marching band.

Jheyda Hopkins, a drum major in the Woodrow Wilson marching band, says

“It was really nice because, us as a band, we’ve never got to do this before, so this is like our first time ever doing something like this,” Hopkins said.

Kiley Casto, a member of the Nitro High School Showcats, says performing during Joyful Night was a unique and festive experience.

“Honestly, with show choir, we get a lot of amazing opportunities, but with this one, it felt a little bit more close to home,” Casto said. “It’s just something different about Christmas. I love how it was very festive, and I loved every moment of it. The tree, the fireworks, just being with all my friends here.”

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According to Casto, her group has been preparing Christmas pieces for months.

“We have been working on Christmas numbers since about June,” Casto said. “We have about a five-day-long show choir camp, and we just do nothing but work on Christmas.”

In addition to the young musical talents, Joyful Night featured a somber remembrance during the holiday season. The West Rotunda of the Capitol now features a multitude of Christmas trees honoring Gold Star Mothers, as well as members of the United States Air Force and local first responders.

Justice says that the Christmas holiday is important for two big reasons.

“It’s important first of all to realize the birthday that’s coming up in not very long of Jesus Christ,” Justice said. “It is so important for people to know that they’re not alone and that there’s people that love them.”

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Randall Reid-Smith

Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History Randall Reid-Smith, who had a large part in planning the event, says it’s a joyous occasion every year, and he views it as a statewide celebration of the holiday.

“This is a joy, and I don’t think about what’s the biggest. I always think that West Virginia itself is just one, large community,” Reid-Smith said. “The thing that is great about my job is I get to work all 55 counties, and I’ve met people from all over the state in the last 19 and a half years and this is a wonderful way to celebrate that. It’s all about joy, and tonight, everybody was happy.”



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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted

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West Virginia man accused of threatening Trump, ICE agents indicted


A West Virginia man accused of threatening to attack President Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workers was federally indicted this week.

Cody Lee Smith, 20, of Clarksburg was indicted on two counts of threats to murder the president, one count of influencing and retaliating against federal officials by threat of murder and one count of influencing a federal official by threat of murder, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia.

Smith is accused of making a series of public posts on Instagram encouraging and threatening the murder of Trump, those who support him, Israelis and “all government officials,” the news release said.

The indictment also alleges that Smith sent a direct message via Instagram to Donald J. Trump, Jr., stating he would kill his father by cutting his “jugular.”

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In a phone call with the ICE tip line, Smith also threatened to kill ICE agents in Clarksburg and employees staffing the tip line.

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Smith faces up to 5 years for each of the presidential threat charges and faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts.



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West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews

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West Virginia falls flat in 65-63 loss to Kansas State – WV MetroNews


West Virginia has said the right things about the need to capitalize on opportunities.

The Mountaineers aren’t following through when they come about.

The latest example came Tuesday night at Kansas State, which scored 21 unanswered points in the second half before holding off a furious West Virginia charge for a 65-53 victory at Bramlage Coliseum.

“The level of urgency and desire to win a game with so much on it wasn’t where it needed to be,” West Virginia head coach Ross Hodge said on postgame radio.

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The Wildcats (12-18, 3-14) played without leading scorer PJ Haggerty, a surprise scratch with an undisclosed injury.

Although WVU (17-13, 8-9) defeated Kansas State 59-54 with Haggerty in the lineup during a January matchup in Morgantown, the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on his absence in the rematch and fell to 1-4 in their last five games.

Both teams were dismal offensively in the opening half, which ended with West Virginia leading, 26-23.

The Mountaineers got 10 points apiece from reserve forwards Chance Moore and DJ Thomas, helping the visitors to at least somewhat overcome a starting lineup that scored six points on 3-for-15 shooting over the first 20 minutes.

“When you’re playing a team that is a little down and out, you can’t give them life and can’t give them hope,” Hodge said. “We had so many opportunities in the first half and at the beginning of the game to make some plays and entice a team that’s been struggling to maybe keep struggling.”

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After a scoreless first half, WVU guard Honor Huff made his 100th three-pointer this season with 18:33 to play, allowing the Mountaineers to lead 31-27.

West Virginia went the next 8-plus minutes without a point, and Wildcats took control during that stretch.

Khamari McGriff scored the Wildcats’ first four points of the extended 21-0 spurt and accounted for four buckets and eight of the first 15 points during that time.

A jumper from CJ Jones with 10:53 remaining left the home team with a 48-31 advantage, before Thomas scored from close range to end his team’s extended drought at the 10:27 mark.

“I’m aware of our shortcomings and I understand when you’re deficient in some areas, your margin for error to win is razor thin,” Hodge said. “I’m disappointed with what was at stake, we got beat to loose balls. Would it have been nice to make more layups and threes? Of course. But when those things aren’t happening, you better do those other things.”

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KSU had separate 19-point leads, the latter of which came at 57-38 when McGriff made two free throws with 7:29 to play.

WVU then increased its aggressiveness offensively and reeled off the next 11 points, while the Wildcats began to play tentative while in possession.

A three-pointer from K-State’s Nate Johnson left the Wildcats with a 60-49 lead with 3:48 left, but the Mountaineers continued to battle and trailed by six when Chance Moore scored in the paint at the 1:24 mark.

Moore’s next basket made it a five-point game, and after a Johnson turnover, Huff made two free throws to bring WVU to within 61-58 with 48 seconds left.

Another KSU turnover gave the visitors the ball back, but after Moore missed a shot that the Mountaineers rebounded, Huff committed a costly turnover. 

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Johnson made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and McGriff added two more with 7 seconds remaining before Huff made a trey at the buzzer.

Moore led WVU with 18 points and made 6-of-7 shots, but again struggled on free throws, finishing 5 for 9. WVU hurts its cause at the charity stripe and made only 9-of-16 attempts.

Brenen Lorient was the Mountaineers’ second-leading scorer with 14 second-half points, while Thomas followed with 12 and Huff added 11 on 3-for-11 shooting.

Treysen Eaglestaff led all players with 11 rebounds in defeat, but made only 3-of-12 shots in a six-point showing.

McGriff led KSU with 18 points and added seven rebounds.

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Johnson finished with 16 points and nine boards.

WVU had nine of its 13 turnovers in the second half. 

“Nine turnovers in the second half creates more busted floors, more cross match opportunities and through that, it makes you vulnerable for paint touch opportunities,” Hodge said. 

K-State played under the guidance of interim head coach Matthew Driscoll. Driscoll replaced Jerome Tang, who was fired in between the team’s first and second matchups with West Virginia this season.

“Sometimes in life you get what you deserve,” Hodge said, “and we deserved to lose tonight.”

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Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews

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Nitro completes utility deal with West Virginia American Water – WV MetroNews


NITRO, W.Va. — It’s a done deal.

Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt signed an agreement Tuesday with West Virginia American Water Company President Scott Wyman completing the sale of the Nitro Regional Wastewater Utility including the sewer plant for $20 million.

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The water utility will now own and operate the city’s water and wastewater systems. The state Public Service Commission recently approved the deal.

Casebolt said it’s good to get the long-talked-about agreement signed. He said the city can’t afford to make the improvements required at the sewer plant.

“We’re looking at needing between 40 and 50 million dollars of upgrades to our system and expecting our four-thousand customer base to try to offset those costs is not even practical,” Casebolt said.

Casebolt said sewer bills are going to go up but he said they were going to go up regardless. He said the city was facing increasing rates by as much as 50 percent.

West Virgina American is planning $42 million in upgrades to the sewer system over the next five years, Casebolt said.

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“It’s a much-need investment and actually allow the system to handle rainwater much better where it’s not backing up into people’s homes,” Casebolt said.



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