Virginia

Blaine Stewart Gives Statement on Leaving West Virginia for the NFL

Published

1 year ago

March 13, 2025

Blaine Stewart Gives Statement on Leaving West Virginia for the NFL

West Virginia inside wide receivers coach Blaine Stewart is leaving Morgantown to return to the NFL, taking a position on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff.

Thursday morning, Stewart shared a heartfelt message to the coaches, players, and fans of West Virginia in a post on X.

West Virginia University tight ends coach Blaine Stewart / Christopher Hall – West Virginia on SI

“I swore I would never be a graphic or a notes app guy, but it wouldn’t feel right without expressing my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to come home for the last two years and some change.

“This place and this program has meant the world to me. It’s not just where I’ve grown as a coach, but where I’ve grown as a person. It’s where my roots run deepest, and where my family’s legacy is forever intertwined with the fabric of this university. To coach at a place where my dad gave his all for his home state also, I carry that family tradition with pride. It’s a place that will always be home to me, and leaving it is a sacrifice I do not take for granted.

“I want to thank Coach Neal Brown and his staff for bringing me to Morgantown in 2023. It was a dream come true that went by faster than I could’ve imagined. I also want to thank Coach Rodriguez and his staff for giving me an opportunity to continue being a part of this program – I learned so much over the last few months that I will take with me forever as a coach and person. I cannot wait to follow the success coming to Morgantown.

“Thank you to the players for allowing me to grow with you daily. It was a pleasure to watch young men strive to achieve goals during such a pivotal time in their lives.

“The relationships, the memories, and the sense of community I’ve experienced here will stay with me for the rest of my life. Though I am excited for the next chapter in my career, this decision is filled with a sense of gratitude for everything this state and program has given me and my family, and will forever be grateful to have been a part of it.

“Thank you to the fans for their unwavering support throughout my time in Morgantown. I look forward to continuing to represent this program in the future and wish all of you nothing but success moving forward. This chapter may be closing, but my connection to this place and the people here will never end.”

Virginia

Virginia’s Spanberger Approves Workplace Heat Safety Standards

Published

3 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Virginia’s Spanberger Approves Workplace Heat Safety Standards

Virginia will join a growing list of states with workplace heat safety standards that private-sector employers must follow under legislation approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

The bill (SB 288) tasks the state’s Safety and Health Codes Board with creating standards for indoor and outdoor workplaces no later than May 1, 2028, adding Virginia to a handful of states that have dictated heat safety protocols in the absence of a federal standard.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration continued work on developing a national heat safety rule in 2025, but President Donald Trump’s deregulatory goals are likely to yield a more employer-friendly standard than those passed in Democratic-majority states.

Virginia employers will be required to provide water, access to shade, rest periods, acclimatization, and training for working in heat. High-heat procedures would take effect at a temperature threshold to be determined by the board in its rulemaking.

Deciding on an appropriate temperature threshold to trigger protections has been a notable challenge, both in state proposals and OSHA’s federal regulatory efforts.

California, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington state have mandated workplace heat safety standards, while Colorado has imposed a standard specific to agriculture workers.

Virginia regulators previously considered a workplace heat safety proposal but halted the rulemaking process in late 2021, with some board members citing concerns it would conflict or be redundant with the federal regulation that they thought at the time would be implemented soon.

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Virginia

Bill signing aims to bolster horse racing industry in West Virginia

Published

16 hours ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Bill signing aims to bolster horse racing industry in West Virginia

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. (WCHS) — Gov. Patrick Morrisey signaled support for the horse racing industry in West Virginia through a bill signing Monday.

Senate Bill 1060 updates laws to include certified thoroughbred horses and raises a funding cap for restricted races from $1 million to $2 million.

The measure allows horses that have lived in West Virginia for six months to compete for larger purses. State leaders are hopeful the move will incentivize out-of-state horse owners to relocate to West Virginia.

In addition, the bill would allow licensed racing associations to transmit broadcasts of races with a portion of wagers going toward the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund.

Changes will go into effect on June 7.

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Currently, horse races are held in West Virginia’s panhandles, at the Mountaineer Racetrack and Resort in New Cumberland and the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town.

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Virginia

Virginia Beach police investigate teen brawl at Nova Adventure Park

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Virginia Beach police investigate teen brawl at Nova Adventure Park

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach police are investigating after a large crowd of teens were fighting Saturday evening at Nova Adventure Park.

A Virginia Beach police officer was in the 2000 block of Lynnhaven Parkway at approximately 9:35 p.m. when a large group of teens started fighting. Additional officers arrived and the teenagers disbursed.

Police said at least one victim involved suffered an injury that was not life-threatening.

The incident is under active investigation.

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