West Virginia

Long snapper Austin Brinkman understands his role

Published

1 year ago

November 20, 2024

Long snapper Austin Brinkman understands his role

West Virginia long snapper Austin Brinkman is used to going unnoticed.

Largely because he accepted a long time ago that if he stays incognito to the majority of people watching the games it means that he was doing his job on the field.

“You kind of look at it as a good thing because if you mess up you know that’s going to be what’s talked about and you know that if things are kind of silent or you’re not getting much praise or you’re not getting talked about that’s the best thing that can possibly happen,” he said. “Because you know you’re doing your job.”

But those on the team, and in football circles, have been paying close attention to what the redshirt senior has done at his position this season. Jeff Koonz, who served as the special teams coordinator prior to moving over running the defense, has seen the progression of Brinkman firsthand.

“Austin has developed a true understanding of how important he is to the impact of our punt and field goal teams. He came here to be the long snapper, and he was recruited to come here and do that, and he knew he had a job. But I think what he has developed is being elite early, really helps us,” he said. “And me being consistent really, really helps us and really it sets up our entire scheme.”

Brinkman is a lead by example player on the roster and has put a lot of time not only into improving his craft but his body. That could eventually lead to an opportunity at the professional level and it’s something that Koonz has heard from those from the NFL this season.

Being a long snapper is a lot like a pitcher where you either have the dimensions, speed and accuracy or you don’t, and Brinkman has taken his game to a higher level this season.

“He loves football, not just snapping,” Koonz said.

It’s something Brinkman has been preparing for early in the life as his father taught him about the position and then during his freshman year of high school he realized he was capable of handling it. Then as a sophomore, Brinkman started taking the role more seriously which has led to where he is right now.

But it’s still surprising to him how far it’s taken him on the football field.

“I thought I had a chance but the level I’ve gotten and where it’s gotten me you couldn’t convince me in a million years this is where I would be if I was back there,” he said.

When he arrived on campus in Morgantown Brinkman initially believed he could possibly make an impact at another spot such as tight end, but quickly realized he was best utilized for his abilities snapping.

“I wasn’t mad about that at all,” he said.

Brinkman is one part of a unit on special teams and while he’s overlooked at times plays a key role in the success of the overall operation. There isn’t a lot of difference between snapping for a punt or a field goal outside of the distance so it’s a slight adjustment in how you mentally go about it.

As part of his effort to improve, Brinkman spent a lot of time this off-season working on getting the laces right, the rotation of the ball and the catch point of the holder. And while he has performed well at the college level and is focused on that for the time being, admittedly keeps his eyes on a possible future at the spot.

“It’s definitely gone through my mind, and I try not to look too much into. I try to just go day-by-day, week-by-week because that’s something I struggled with early in my career looking to the future,” he said.

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West Virginia

Preliminary injunction halts enforcement of West Virginia food dye ban

Published

12 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Preliminary injunction halts enforcement of West Virginia food dye ban

WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction order halting the enforcement of certain areas of recent West Virginia legislation that banned certain food colors and ingredients.

The International Association of Color Manufacturers originally filed a lawsuit over the state of West Virginia in October over the matter, saying that the legislation violates West Virginia and United States Constitutions.

The order was issued by United States District Judge Irene Berger. In the order, Berger said the law regarding dyes to be “poisonous and injurious” is likely written to be unconstitutionally arbitrary and vague.

Berger stated the following in her ruling:

Without any clear standards, it is not clear how the WVDOH will determine if a color additive beyond those listed, is “poisonous and injurious,” meaning the WVDOH is free to arbitrarily designate additional color additives as such. What facts or data, if any, must the WVDOH rely on before determining that additional color additives are “poisonous and injurious”? Is it sufficient for the WVDOH to rely on any study when making its determination or none at all? If a parent notifies WVDOH that they believe their child is sensitive to a color additive, is that a sufficient basis for a color additive to be deemed “poisonous and injurious,” or must the WVDOH conduct a further investigation? It is far from clear. As such, because Section 16-7-2(b)(7) leaves such ad hoc and subjective decision-making to the WVDOH, it leaves the door open for arbitrary enforcement, and thus, is unconstitutionally vague.

IACM said that West Virginia law unlawfully took over the power of the United States Food and Drug Administration to make food safety decisions. IACM also said the law interfered with interstate commerce and caused economic harm to IACM member companies and their customers without providing any “substantial or rational basis” for deeming products unsafe.

The legislation, known as House Bill 2354, was signed by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey in March, banning the use of certain food dyes, including Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 in school meals beginning in August.

However, according to court documents, the preliminary injunction does not extend into school nutrition programs.

The preliminary injunction bars the West Virginia Department of Health from enforcing the ban – although the ban was not set to be fully enforced until 2028.

Morrisey disagreed with the ruling on social media, saying the decision is “both premature and wrongly decided.”

“West Virginia will continue to defend its authority to protect the health and well-being of our citizens, especially children,” Morrisey said. “We are reviewing our legal options but will continue to press forward with our efforts to get harmful crap out of our food supply.”

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West Virginia

West Virginia DoHS reports decrease in children waiting for Wraparound services

Published

24 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

West Virginia DoHS reports decrease in children waiting for Wraparound services

WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — The West Virginia Department of Human Services said it saw a significant drop in the number of children waiting on Wraparound services in 2025, reflecting progress its made in strengthening support for children in the Mountain State.

The average weekly Wraparound waitlist declined from 137 children in January 2025 to 14 by November, representing nearly a 90% reduction, according to a news release from the DoHS. Wraparound refers to intensive and individualized support in all areas of their life that aims to prevent children from being placed in out-of-home care.

The agency said the steady downward trend is the result of targeted efforts to expand provider capacity, improve timely access and better align services with family needs statewide.

“Reducing wait times for Wraparound services means children and families receive the right support sooner, when it matters most,” Alex Mayer, Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia DoHS, said in the news release. “Every child deserves the opportunity to heal, grow, and stay connected to family and community. This progress reflects deliberate efforts to strengthen the workforce, expand provider capacity, and remove barriers that delay care.”

The DoHS said it also expanded service capacity and strengthened coordination across the behavioral health system, including onboarding five new providers and expanding service areas with existing providers.

The Bureau for Behavioral Health further reduced waitlist pressure by providing Intro to Wraparound training to alternative service providers outside of the wraparound network, helping families connect with appropriate supports and further reducing waitlist pressure, the news release said.

To further address ongoing challenges, the DoHS said it is focusing on implementing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics statewide, boosting provider recruitment and outreach, authorizing telehealth where capacity is limited and expanding the Safe at Home program in high-need counties.

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West Virginia

West Virginia Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Lotto America on Dec. 22, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Are you looking to win big? The West Virginia Lottery offers a variety of games if you think it’s your lucky day.

Lottery players in West Virginia can choose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Daily 3, Daily 4 and Cash 25.

Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.

Here’s a look at Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

03-18-36-41-54, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

01-09-18-19-44, Star Ball: 02, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 3 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

0-1-4

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

2-9-0-4

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 25 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

05-06-13-16-18-20

Check Cash 25 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the West Virginia Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 11 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:59 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Daily 3, 4: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.
Cash 25: 6:59 p.m. ET Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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