MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia football held its final regular practice on Wednesday before Saturday’s Gold-Blue Spring Festival.

WVU special teams coordinator Pat Kirkland spoke to members of the media after practice.

Kirkland said the Mountaineers did not do much special teams work during the spring, but installed the basics of punt and kickoff blocking and coverage. Kirkland also said West Virginia has been trying out several different returners, pulling mainly from the running back and wide receiver rooms.

Click on the video above to watch Kirkland’s full press conference.

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PARKERSBURG, W.Va . (WTAP) – Magic and music are combining at the West Virginia Symphony of Parkersburg’s Symphony of Illusions.

The concert is on April 16 at 2:30 pm at the Blennerhasset School Auditorium. Tickets are $25 to $35 and available online.

From breathtaking sleight-of-hand to grand visual feats, dazzling illusions unfold in perfect harmony with the power and beauty of a live orchestral soundtrack.

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RE-PATH West Virginia has announced its first grant funding — $20,525 — from Hope in the Hills, affiliated with Healing Appalachia in Huntington, W.Va., according to a press release from RE-PATH West Virginia.

Jay Phillips of Seed Sower, Inc., in Beckley, co-chair of RE-PATH, and co-chair Rachel Thaxton announced the launch of RE-PATH (Recovery Empowerment through Policy, Advocacy, Transformation, and Hope) on February 5 at a reception hosted by the WV Association of Addiction and Prevention Professionals leading into the WV Legislature’s Recovery Advocacy Day on February 6.

“Hope in the Hills does incredible work and its gesture of monetary support of RE-PATH is both gratifying and meaningful,” Phillips said.

“Foundational funding of RE-PATH’s statewide advocacy, collaboration and best practices in substance use recovery and services is essential, and this inaugural grant will send many positive signals that we are building something special for West Virginia,” Thaxton said.

Hope in the Hills is the non-profit that produces the Healing Appalachia music festival. Its mission is to produce events that help connect and grow communities of recovery and healing in Appalachia, raising funds and awareness to combat opioid addiction through programs from youth prevention, healthy lifestyles and wellness to recovery houses and recovery to work.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support RE-PATH as they build something impactful that’s truly community-driven across West Virginia,” said Logan Terry, executive director of Hope in the Hills. “At the core, this work is about giving people in recovery and their families a voice, reducing stigma, and creating real pathways to long-term recovery. We believe the most meaningful change happens when it’s led by people with passion and lived experience, and RE-PATH is doing exactly that. We’re grateful to be a small part of helping bring this vision to life.”

For more information, visit RE-PATH WV on Facebook.