MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s ‘Ascend’ program has continued to reach success and work to reverse the population decline in the state.

Officially launching in April 2021, with direction and financial backing of Marshall University President Brad Smith and his wife Alyss, Ascend pays individuals $12,000 to move to West Virginia for two years. Beyond the cash incentive, Ascend also offers free outdoor recreation activities, a coworking space, social programming events, and professional development and entrepreneurial assistance.

“We’ve really tried to integrate the space and the people into the community, and, vice versa, bringing the community into the space, as well,” WVU Assistant Vice President of Economic and Community Development Danny Twilley said.

Ascend is currently operating out of six separate locations in the state, including Charleston, the New River Gorge, Greenbrier Valley, Morgantown, Greater Elkins and the Eastern Panhandle area.

Twilley said Ascend has had a total of 704 participants, more than 1,500 people have moved to West Virginia, bringing additional household members, and 24 new babies have been born in the state.

Out of all the numbers, Twilley is most proud of the fact that the Ascend Program has a 96.4 percent retention rate, meaning almost all participants fully complete the program.

“We know that they show up, they want to be involved, they want to engage, and they want to be together, so it’s been really remarkable,” Twilley said.

In addition to an exceptionally high completion rate, 41 percent of the program’s participants have either purchased or built homes in West Virginia, exemplifying a long-term commitment to the state.

“It’s 41 percent,” Twilley said. “That’s a commitment, right. To buy a house, that shows you have a long-term commitment to stay. Often times what we find is those who start renting will eventually buy a house, as well.”

Throughout the years, the Ascend Program has racked up over 80,000 applications, and is currently on the way to reaching 90,000 applications. All are welcome to apply.

Story by Sophia Wassick

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — Ohio rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to defeat West Virginia, 28-21, in a highly anticipated matchup in Wheeling.

It did not take long for the game to produce a big play.

On West Virginia’s opening drive, Ty Sperringer took the shotgun snap, rolled to his left and threw toward the sideline, where Zach Bryan came up with an interception to give Ohio possession in West Virginia territory. Ohio was unable to capitalize on the turnover.

The visitors broke through later in the first quarter.

Ian Starkey kept the ball on the option and ran it into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown, giving Ohio a 7-0 lead.

West Virginia answered moments later.

Sperringer used play action before lofting a pass to the end zone, where Glen Brown made the catch and kept both feet in bounds for the tying touchdown.

The hosts struck again in the final seconds of the opening quarter. Sperringer took a shot downfield, and Brown hauled in his second touchdown reception of the game to give West Virginia a 14-7 advantage.

West Virginia extended its lead early in the second quarter.

Sperringer handed the ball to Kade Koronoes, who cut back near midfield before sprinting untouched the rest of the way for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 21-7.

Ohio answered before halftime.

Sam McLean faked the handoff, rolled to his right and found Nolan Blackburn in the end zone for a touchdown.

Ohio completed the comeback in the second half, scoring the game’s final two touchdowns to earn a 28-21 victory over West Virginia.

WELLSBURG, W.Va. — A Brooke County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a felony drug charge stemming from a January investigation at a Follansbee home.

Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Adyniec Cowden said Rian Harkins, 25, was sentenced July 13 by Brooke County Circuit Judge Jason A. Cuomo to serve one to 15 years in the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Harkins pleaded guilty April 20 to one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine.

The case began Jan. 4 when Brooke County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Siranovic responded to a reported overdose at a home on Fourth Street in Follansbee.

Prosecutors said Siranovic found Harkins unresponsive behind a table in the basement of the home. After attempts to wake him, including a sternum rub, Harkins regained consciousness and told deputies he was fine.

While inside the home, deputies reported seeing suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view. Authorities secured the home while Siranovic obtained a search warrant from Brooke County Magistrate Court.

During the search, deputies recovered digital scales, small plates containing a white substance that field-tested positive for cocaine or cocaine base, plastic bags containing suspected narcotics, and other items investigators said were consistent with packaging and distributing controlled substances.

Investigators also found several containers holding a liquid with a white, grainy substance, along with an ice cube tray containing similar material and a box of baking soda. Prosecutors said laboratory testing later confirmed the liquid contained fentanyl.

Authorities also recovered several firearms from the home. One, a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380-caliber handgun, was determined through the National Crime Information Center database to have been reported stolen from Wheeling, prosecutors said.

Harkins remains in the custody of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.