West Virginia

Ray, rest of West Virginia WRs ready for whoever gets the call at QB

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2024

Ray, rest of West Virginia WRs ready for whoever gets the call at QB

West Virginia starting quarterback Garrett Greene is doubtful to play against Cincinnati which means that redshirt sophomore Nicco Marchiol would draw yet another start.

Marchiol played well in the road win at Arizona completing 18-22 passes for 198 yards with 2 touchdowns and zero turnovers which didn’t come as a surprise to his teammates.

Sophomore wide receiver Traylon Ray hauled in a pair of catches for 78 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown against the Wildcats, and expressed complete confidence in either of the signal callers. Marchiol is a little bit bigger than Greene and is a lefty which makes things a little different, but the chemistry is there with either.

“We’ve worked with both of them for so long and so much so there’s not really much of a difference for me and our receivers,” Ray said. “You see No. 6 back there, as a receiver, your job’s to go and catch it. You see No. 8 back there, got the same job.”

This stems back to when Marchiol first arrived in the program and the focus has been to develop a connection with him on top of what was already in place with Greene. So anytime that the Mountaineers were throwing with Greene, they also did the same with Marchiol.

“We knew if we put No. 8 in he’s going to be able to make the same throws Garrett makes. He’s going to be able to get out of the pocket like Garrett does because Nicco’s a pretty big guy,” Ray said. “So, it was relief just because, yeah, we don’t want to see No. 6 go down. But at the same time, we know No. 8 can back them up.”

Throughout his time with the program, Marchiol has shown a knack for making throws in the quick game such as slant routes and working off run-pass-options, which works well with Ray’s overall skill set.

But he also was the target on a deep ball and Ray also hasn’t noticed a major difference in that aspect between the two signal callers either. That was on display against the Wildcats and is something that Marchiol is going to need to continue to improve if he is called upon against the Bearcats.

“Both of them have amazing arms, strong arms,” he said.

Teams have continued to play man coverage against the Mountaineers and Ray has prided himself on being able to get off that and create separation which wasn’t always the case last year. A big reason for that hasn’t been when it comes to getting off the line, but instead having the strength when in phase to absorb contact.

“But now, I got a little bit more muscle on me, got a little bit more weight on me. So, once I get down the field, I can just get them off of me and then use my speed to just create more separation,” Ray said.

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West Virginia

Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past $1.6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief

Published

40 minutes ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past .6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief

One of the most prominent coal companies in the teetering business empire of United States Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., owes the state of West Virginia over $1.6 million in delinquent fines. Justice’s Bluestone Coal Corp. owes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection roughly $1.61 million in delinquent fines issued for 214 violations across 44 DEP-issued mining permits spanning Sept. 2019 to March 2026, according to records the Gazette-Mail obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. Bluestone Coal’s delinquent fine debt has grown 32.5% from the roughly $1.21 million it totaled in January 2026, according to records from a previous Gazette-Mail request, an indication that the long-running debt at the expense of Justice’s own constituents may not be going away anytime soon. But the companies’ long history of environmental failures was an issue that prompted a federal criminal investigation scuttled earlier in 2026 by Trump administration officials, according to a report published June 8 by ProPublica and Mountain State Spotlight.

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West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting

Published

11 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting

Community Bulletin

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) convened its second quarterly board meeting of 2026 at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston, continuing its work to advance prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across West Virginia through responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds.

The meeting provided board members with updates on several key initiatives and strategic priorities currently underway.

Expert panel appointments

A significant focus of the meeting was the appointment of several volunteer Expert Panel members following the conclusion of certain panel terms. Expert panelists serve in advisory roles and provide regional knowledge, professional expertise and community perspective to help inform WVFF’s work and funding priorities. To allow time for all appointees to complete the necessary confirmation and onboarding process, names will not be publicly released until all appointments have been finalized.

“Expert Panelists play an important role in helping us understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our local communities,” said Jonathan Board, Executive Director of WVFF. “We are grateful for the individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to support this work and help guide thoughtful, informed decision-making.”

Local government reporting and best practices

Board members reviewed progress on the 2026 Local Government Expenditure Report, which compiles annual spending data submitted by local governments receiving opioid settlement funds. Staff reported that more than 65% of eligible local governments have submitted expenditure reports to date, with the statewide report expected to be released in mid-July.

The board also received an update on new resources being developed to help local governments identify promising practices and learn from successful approaches being implemented across West Virginia. While WVFF does not direct how local governments spend their allocated settlement funds, the Foundation remains committed to providing educational resources that highlight allowable uses, share examples from around the state and support informed local decision-making.

[CHAMBER] [2026-06-23] Hiring Executive Director

In the coming months, WVFF plans to host regional learning sessions that will bring local government representatives together to share experiences, discuss challenges and explore opportunities to maximize the impact of opioid settlement investments within their communities.

Strategic priorities

The board received updates on the Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) program, which opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30. Designed as a three-year, outcomes-driven investment, the program will support projects focused on public safety response, day report centers and generational prevention efforts.

Board members also received updates on the West Virginia Wayfinder, the statewide needs assessment project led by the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV. Meetings and engagement activities are underway with WVFF staff, expert panelists and community stakeholders across the state, with data, insights and priority areas currently being gathered and analyzed to help identify needs, gaps and opportunities related to substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services in West Virginia.

“Our Board remains focused on ensuring these funds are invested responsibly and strategically for the benefit of West Virginia communities,” said Greg Duckworth, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “Each meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, strengthen accountability, and continue building on the work being done across the state.”

Direct funding request approved

The board also voted to approve a $4 million direct funding request submitted by the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) at West Virginia University. The project is focused on expanding access to innovative addiction treatment and recovery support tools while building the technology and infrastructure needed to support implementation across West Virginia.

Consistent with WVFF’s commitment to transparency and accountability, additional details regarding the project and funding agreement will be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. WVFF and RNI plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process has been finalized.

Hold the Line Tour stop at Rea of Hope

After the board meeting, WVFF board members and staff will visit Rea of Hope, an Initial Opportunity Grant awardee, as part of the Foundation’s Hold the Line Tour, which highlights organizations and programs working to make a difference in communities across West Virginia. The visit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from leadership about the impact of recovery-focused services and community support.

The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s board of directors is scheduled for September 17, 2026 (subject to change). Visit wvfirst.org to learn more.

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