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.
CHELYAN, W.Va. — A West Virginia Turnpike worker was injured Saturday after falling out of a tollbooth that was hit by a truck.
State police said it happened Saturday morning at about 9:16 when a truck carrying steel I beams, driven by Cameron Huntington, 28, of Colorado hit a southbound tollbooth near Chelyan.
John Terry, 61, of Gallagher, was working the tollbooth and fell out the window after contact from an I beam caused the booth to rock.
The tollbooth fell to the right striking a vehicle in the next lane.
Troopers said there were no serious injuries.
Huntington was ticketed for failure to maintain control of his truck.
West Virginia
West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival showcases state’s dirt track racing history at Pennsboro Speedway
PENNSBORO, W.Va (WDTV) – Racing enthusiasts around the state had the chance to see vintage race cars and motorcycles at the annual West Virginia Racing Heritage Festival Saturday.
The festival teaches attendants about West Virginia’s history in dirt track racing with both cars and motorcycles.
The festival was held at Pennsboro Speedway, which opened in 1887 and hosted some of the nation’s top racing talent on its tracks.
“We’ve got so many national champions here,” WV Racing Heritage Festival President Ashley Ness said. “This racetrack has seen all these national champions. We’ve had the best in the United States, including Australia and New Zealand, come here and race at Pennsboro Speedway. It’s time to get them all back again.”
Racing legends who come from the Mountain State attended the festival to speak about their experience on the tracks.
One panel included six women who competed in flat-track motorcycle racing at a time when it was mostly dominated by men.
“We have six of the lady flat-track racers that were pioneers in the 60s and 70s,” Ness said. “It’s so important to get this documented, and that’s what the Heritage Festival is all about, documenting the history of dirt track racing, whether it be motorcycles or race cars.”
Vintage cars and motorcycles also got back in action with a parade lap on the tracks of Pennsboro Speedway.
The festival began in 2015 and will continue next year on June 5.
Editor’s note: The video for this story will be added once it airs. Please check back for the updated video.
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
YSS offers West Virginia’s first transitional living recovery programs for young adults
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