Virginia
Gov. Jim Justice announces plans to introduce more elk in West Virginia, expand wildlife tourism

CHARLESTON, WV — In his State of the State Address on Wednesday, Gov. Jim Justice announced that the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) will introduce 40 new elk to the state’s growing herd in 2024 and create a visitors center and observation tower in Logan County to help tourists and wildlife enthusiasts see these majestic animals in a natural setting.
“As a lifelong sportsman, I am beyond proud of the work the WVDNR has done since I took office to not only restore elk to West Virginia but to manage our growing herd so that folks can enjoy this magnificent native species for years to come,” said Gov. Justice.
West Virginia’s elk population was 22 when Gov. Justice took office. Since 2018, the WVDNR has introduced 57 elk (15 from Kentucky and 42 from Arizona) to the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan County. The current elk population is 110.
“Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Justice and the support of our partner agencies, West Virginia’s total elk population is five times greater today than when we started our Elk Restoration Project in 2016,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion.
Partner agencies include the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The 40 elk will be transported from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky and are scheduled to arrive Jan. 22-26. Upon arrival, the elk will be evaluated and held for a short period of time before being released into the wild.
Since 2018, the WVDNR has offered guided elk tours in Logan County, where participants can learn more about the history of elk in West Virginia and get a chance to see elk in a natural setting. Tours are offered in September and October each year and usually sell out.
Elk visitor center and viewing tower coming to Logan County
In the coming weeks, the WVDNR will be reviewing bids for the construction of an elk viewing tower and visitor center, which will be built in the Tomblin WMA’s elk management area in Logan County. Funding for the project will come from $2.5 million in Abandoned Mine Lands grants awarded by Gov. Justice.
The elk viewing tower will provide an elevated platform for enhanced viewing areas and a level viewing area that will be accessible for those with mobility issues. The visitor center will complement the elk viewing tower with more than 2,000 square feet of displays, conference facilities, offices and other amenities for visitors, volunteers, researchers and staff. There will also be more than 500 square feet dedicated to the history of the elk program and the reclaimed mine areas where they have been introduced.
“The growth of our elk herd and the success of our management program is a testament to the hard work of our wildlife biologists and this administration’s commitment to protecting and preserving our natural resources,” said McMillion.
Since Gov. Justice took office, more than 83,000 acres of public lands and 61 miles of rail trail have been added to the state’s public lands, which are managed by the WVDNR. Major additions include the 72-mile Elk River Trail, 177-acre Summersville Lake State Park and nine new WMAs. Several WMAs have been expanded and all state parks and forests have received major renovations and facility expansions.
To learn more about the WVDNR’s elk restoration program, visit WVdnr.gov/elk. To download a copy of the WVDNR’s Elk Management Plan, visit WVdnr.gov/publications-and-guides.

Virginia
Preview: Boston College Men’s Basketball vs. Virginia Tech

Boston College has lost 10 of their last 11 games, which is putting them on pace to completely miss out on this year’s ACC tournament. They’ll need to string together at least three more wins in their final six games to have a chance to make it to Charlotte, and tonight’s home match-up against Virginia Tech is one of their best remaining opportunities to get another win.
Who: Boston College Eagles (10-15, 2-12 ACC) vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (11-14, 6-8 ACC)
Where: Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, MA
When: Tuesday, February 18th, 2025
Tip-off Time: 9:00 PM EST
How to Watch: This game will be broadcast on the ACC Network
The Hokies had a very rough start to their season when they went on a 6-game losing streak in November and December, but have since turned things around and now find themselves in the middle of the pack of the ACC. Junior forward Toibu Lawal, a transfer from VCU originally out of the United Kingdom, has been a dominant force in the paint offensively and will be a difficult match-up for the Eagles to contend with. Lawal has been racking up double-doubles this season with his excellent rebounding, something that Boston College’s big men have struggled with at times, so Earl Grant will really have to push his guys to crash the boards if they want to contain Virginia Tech’s biggest threat. Outside of Lawal, the Hokies have been fairly efficient at knocking down their three-pointers, which once again does not bode well for the Eagles’ perimeter defense.
Where Boston College can exploit VT is in the paint on the other end of the floor, though. Lawal is not a paint protector on defense and Virginia Tech’s opponents this season have been feasting near the rim this season, largely due to their lack of size. The Hokies only have one player that is taller than 6’9” on the roster, and that sophomore 7-footer Patrick Wessler is only averaging 9 minutes per game. BC will need a big game from their big men on both ends of the floor if they want to claim a victory towards the end of this nightmare season.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 75 Boston College 63
Virginia
Virginia police: 2 dead, 1 hurt in Harris Teeter shooting
Police in Virginia said two people were shot and killed and another was injured Monday at a Harris Teeter.
The Albemarle County Police Department said they were called to the grocery store in Crozet, Virginia.
Man wounds 4 at Virginia rest stop, then fatally shoots himself
Albemarle County police said there is no further risk to the public.
Virginia
Five Keys to Virginia Basketball Upsetting No. 3 Duke

On Monday night, the Virginia Cavaliers will welcome the Duke Blue Devils to Charlottesville. The last time the Blue Devils played in John Paul Jones Arena was 2023, when Virginia earned a 69-62 overtime victory. With that said, here are five keys to the Hoos defending the home court two years later.
The freshman phenom leads the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, solidifying himself as a clear-cut Wooden Award favorite headed into March. The 6’9 forward runs the Duke offense, and containing him is the first way to frustrate it. So, who gets the assignment? None other than Andrew Rohde, who has proved to be Virginia’s top defender in the backcourt this season, showing his high knowledge of the ‘Pack Line’ defense. If Rohde, who has been an absolute star on both ends of the court these last few games, is up to the challenge against Flagg, it will bolster Virginia’s chances of upsetting the No. 3 team in the nation.
One of the major factors to Virginia’s win streak this past week has been the Hoos’ ability to shoot from downtown. The Cavaliers are shooting 40% from three these past three games, a mark that would put them 4th in the NCAA this season. Leading the charge has been Isaac McKneely, who notably shot 6/14 against Virginia Tech and 4/9 against Georgia Tech. He will need to be on his A-game once again from range. Other contributors such as Andrew Rohde, Dai Dai Ames, Elijah Saunders, and Ishan Sharma will also need to make sure they exploit the Blue Devils from deep, as every point counts even more against a team with the offensive ferocity that the Blue Devils play with.
Anthony Robinson came to life at Cassell Coliseum this past Saturday, scoring 15 points while grabbing seven rebounds, with three of those being on the offensive end of the floor, giving the Virginia offense second chances that were key to the Cavaliers earning their first victory in Blacksburg since 2020. Alongside Jacob Cofie and Blake Buchanan, the Hoos must be physical against Duke’s big Khaman Maluach to provide Virginia with extended possessions. In addition, this will further benefit Virginia from a pace-of-play standpoint, wasting seconds that Flagg and Co. could utilize on the other end.
Offensively, similar to Robinson’s performance Saturday, the Virginia big men need to step up, giving the Cavaliers consistent production throughout the game.
The mark of good Tony Bennett teams has been about executing at the free throw line, which generally is key to winning in March and upsetting highly touted opponents. Against Virginia Tech, the Cavs shot 16/19 from the stripe, a considerable factor in their three-point victory over the Hokies. Against Georgia Tech, the Hoos shot 4/5 from the line, and against Pittsburgh, Virginia shot 7/11. If the Hoos can keep it up against Duke, it’ll help Virginia keep it close.
The Cavaliers have begun to mesh this month with the offense starting to grasp the mover-blocker system, while Andrew Rohde has shown his vision as a point guard and leader for this Virginia offense. Besides the continual point production on the offensive side of the ball, if Virginia wants to win, they must fall back on the principle that has defined Virginia basketball since 2009, the ‘Pack Line’. If the Cavs can effectively execute their defense against some of the best offensive players in the country, Virginia has a decent shot at earning what could be a defining win for Ron Sanchez and company.
Tip-off for Virginia vs. Duke is at 8 pm at John Paul Jones Arena.
UVA Basketball: How to Rewatch Tony Bennett’s Halftime Ceremony
The Brilliant Numbers Behind Andrew Rohde’s Recent Point Guard Play
Coaching Carousel: Who Will Virginia Battle for Top Coaching Candidates?
Reevaluating Potential Virginia Basketball Head Coaching Candidates
What’s Going on With Christian Bliss? Ron Sanchez Finally Gives an Answer
-
Health1 week ago
A Swearing Expert Discusses the State of Profanity
-
Culture1 week ago
Inside the Chiefs’ top 10 postseason blitzes unleashed by Steve Spagnuolo
-
News1 week ago
Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil's plane rams into parked jet at Arizona's Scottsdale Airport – The Times of India
-
Culture1 week ago
The Eagles defense couldn’t stop Mahomes in 2022. In Super Bowl 59 they got their revenge
-
Politics1 week ago
USAID inspector general fired days after publishing report critical of aid pause
-
Politics1 week ago
‘Put down the bong’: Senator smokes UK prime minister on Senate floor
-
News1 week ago
Snow and ice blanket parts of the northern U.S., and more winter weather is on the way
-
World1 week ago
Russian city's mayor says over 70 flats damaged in Ukrainian attack