West Virginia
This fish was believed extinct before being found in West Virginia
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — This fish is so rare it was thought to be extinct. That was, until 1980, when it was discovered in West Virginia.
If you’ve been fishing for a while, you’re probably familiar with bass, bluegill, walleye and several other species of fish, but chances are you’ve never encountered the tiny diamond darter, which is now found only in the Mountain State.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity website the diamond darter was once found in five states: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and West Virginia, but damming and water pollution have since limited its range. The species can now only be found in the Elk River in southern West Virginia, and fewer than 125 have been seen in the past 30 years.
They can live between two and seven years and feed on insects by burying themselves in sand and then darting out to ambush their pray. Water pollution caused by coal mining, oil and gas development, erosion, timber harvesting and poor wastewater treatment is a threat to the fish because they—and the insects they feed on—require clean water to lay their eggs. Small population size and population isolation are also issues.
The diamond darter was declared an endangered species in 2013 and was also named one of the 12 most imperiled fish by the Southeastern Fishes Council.
West Virginia
Critically wounded West Virginia National Guard member being moved to in-patient rehabilitation
West Virginia
E-News | Downtown Dash planned Dec. 13
Join the Main Street Morgantown family-friendly holiday shopping event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 13) in Downtown Morgantown.
The event will feature a district-wide scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes and the opportunity to explore holiday pop-up markets by Hoot and Howl, The Co-Op and Apothecary Ale House.
While exploring downtown shops, participants who spot DASH the Dog can collect stamps. Each stamp brings participants closer to the chance of winning prizes from downtown merchants such as gift cards and goods. To qualify for prizes, completed Downtown Dash Guides with five or more stamps must be turned into Hoot and Howl, The Co-Op, Apothecary Ale House or at Breezeline’s play-to-win tent on Courthouse Square.
As a break from shopping, parents and their little ones can visit Kids Craft, Cookies & Cocoa Central at the WARD Building to enjoy a complimentary hot cocoa and cookie bar and children’s crafts provided by Hotel Morgan sponsored by Main Street Morgantown and Breezeline.
Visitors can also visit the beautiful 25-foot-tall holiday tree on display at Courthouse Square, a collaboration between the City of Morgantown, Monongalia County and Main Street Morgantown.
Sponsored by Breezeline, the Downtown Dash celebrates the holiday season, promotes walking and shopping throughout the downtown district, and supports local businesses by driving foot traffic directly to storefronts.
West Virginia
West Virginia First Foundation lauds Wheeling police for crisis intervention success
WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation visited the Wheeling Police Department to commend its efforts in addressing the area’s mental health and opioid crisis.
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger presented to the WVFF board, highlighting the department’s progress.
Schwertfeger attributed a 14% decrease in Group A crimes from 2024 to 2025 to the department’s crisis intervention program.
“Just another great partnership,” he said. “More collaboration in this area that we are very proud of and we want to keep the momentum going,.”
WVFF Executive Director Jonathan Board praised the program’s success.
“This in particular, the CIT program, that isn’t just in the ether, but is showing success – actual scientific success about de-escalation, about bringing together services providers and to boots on the ground and first responders, this is vitally important to not only this region but the entire state,” Board said.
The visit was part of WVFF’s ‘Hold the Line’ tour across the state.
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