West Virginia
W.Va. Gov.: WVSP referral didn’t make it to CPS, trooper should have done more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice confirmed that a West Virginia state trooper says he drove to a local child welfare office to report a suspected case of child neglect, however, that information never made it into the state’s Child Protective Services System.
Justice told reporters Friday that the trooper should have done more.
“If an officer went into an office and reported and and there was no follow up, nothing else happened, you know, what we’ve got to do is the officer has got to stand on the highest rock on the top of the mountain and scream loud enough to where something does happen,” he told reporters Friday during a virtual press briefing.
Those comments come amid a WSAZ Investigation, Deadly Details Denied.
Since April, WSAZ has been asking questions about the death of Kyneddi Miller, 14, of Boone County.
A childhood photo shows Miller smiling, however, years later, investigators say her life tragically ended. Deputies say her body was found in a skeletal state and she had not eaten for months.
Kyneddi’s mother and two grandparents were charged with child neglect resulting in death. All three have pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice, on April 23, told WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Curtis Johnson, “the CPS folks, from what I understand, had no idea about this child, no idea whatsoever.”
But WSAZ kept digging, asking questions as the station found state and federal law says, in the case of a child neglect fatality the state shall make public any history between the child and CPS.
Exactly the request WSAZ made using the state’s Freedom of Information Act, but the request denied.
Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily, in a May 8 interview, echoing on the Governor’s initial statement, saying her agency had no records in its system with Kyneddi’s name.
But an anonymous letter, received only by WSAZ, tells a much different story.
It details two referrals to CPS involving Kyneddi — one in 2009 and another in 2017. The letter even includes intake numbers assigned to the cases, along with dates, times, and even the names of supervisors and workers.
According to the letter, Kyneddi’s name was listed both times in the CPS system. Then, there was audio and a call log that WSAZ obtained from West Virginia State Police. It references a third referral involving Kyneddi.
In the audio, a trooper is heard talking with a dispatcher after a welfare check on the teen in March 2023.
Radio traffic stated, “on that CAD call reference that welfare check, I just made that CPS referral if you can just put it in the notes on it.”
Persily refusing to answer questions Tuesday, hours later questioning WSAZ’s reporting in a written statement, saying her department never received any referral related to Kyneddi’s death. She added the department’s search for the State Police referral suggests it was never made.
State Police, in response, said it stands behind the recording and log they provided WSAZ.
Friday, the governor addressed it publicly for the first time. ”Here’s what I know,” he said. “There’s an officer that says that he drove, you know, I guess his personal vehicle or whatever, and he drove to to the offices and and went in and and made that report. At the same time, there’s no evidence that I can uncover so far that a report was made.”
Moments later, Johnson asked the governor for clarity on whether CPS knew about Kyneddi before she died.
”Simply put, is there any record in the CPS system with Kyneddi’s name on it indicating she needed help? If not, what is your response to State Police who stand behind their records, and a whistleblower who says the ‘17 case listed Kyneddi as a specific child enduring mental and emotional abuse?“
”This investigation has got to go on, Curtis. It has got to go on,” Justice replied. “You know, really and truly, all I think I can do in trying to answer your questions is risking the investigation, and I’m not going to do that.”
With knowledge of state and federal law, WSAZ then looked at other states and found they release information and it’s timely.”
In Nevada, WSAZ found case after case where information on any CPS history was released just days after a child had died.
WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Sarah Sager took those examples to the governor after Friday’s briefing.
”I just wanted to give these to you,” Sager said.
”Listen, there’s no point,” Justice replied.
“There’s an investigation. We’ve got to finish the investigation, and really and truly, we need to be focused on how sad.” ”It is sad. This is from another state showing how quick they get referrals and information out,” Sager replied.
The governor then ended the conversation by getting into his vehicle and driving away.
WSAZ wanted Justice to have those reports from other states showing timely transparency on CPS history, so the station sent those examples to the governor’s staff Friday evening.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
Charleston commemorates Juneteenth with downtown parade and celebration – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va – Charleston is celebrating Juneteenth with its annual parade, followed by a celebration in Slack Plaza featuring live entertainment, food, educational exhibits, and more.
The parade stepped off from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center at 11:30 on Friday with a long line of organizations participating and several community members recognized as “Mr. and Miss Juneteenth.” Smiles dotted the procession as organizers watched a community come together.
“It’s just a wonderful thing when we can bring the community together to celebrate freedom, and here in West Virginia, we’ve had some challenges because they’ve said that Juneteenth is not a state holiday, but our people are still celebrating,” parade chairperson Karen Williams said.
The parade marked the start of an entire day recognizing the history of Juneteenth, the emancipation of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people when the Union Army arrived at Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. With the last stronghold of slavery in the Confederate States eradicated that day, June 19 came to be celebrated as a second independence day, and President Joe Biden established it as a national holiday in 2021.
In West Virginia, former Gov. Jim Justice was the first to declare a state holiday and did so in each of his last four years in office. Gov. Patrick Morrisey recognized Juneteenth with a proclamation on Friday but has not declared a state holiday in 2025 or 2026.
“Representation really matters, so seeing Black queens and Black kings roaming the streets of Charleston is a beautiful thing, and it’s a needed thing. I think there’s a lot more people that aren’t going to celebrate Juneteenth than people that are, so I think it’s really important that we continue to celebrate this holiday and show why it’s important,” Miss Juneteenth Adult Keyarna Frederick said.
Different groups from around the Kanawha Valley came out to participate from businesses and youth organizations to political committees and arts collectives. Williams believes that shows that Juneteenth is a day for the entire community to celebrate.
“Appalachian people have always grown up and lived together, and what we want—we want people to continue that. We want people to continue to be together. We’re not saying this is a Black event or a white event. We welcome all people to come and participate,” she said.
The parade route echoed her sentiment as nearly everyone who joined the parade shared handshakes, high-fives, and hugs. That spirit of togetherness spoke to the day’s honorees as well.
“It’s definitely something that we should all be celebrating. It’s for all of us, not just for a certain color or a certain kind. It’s for all of us, so I believe everyone should be celebrating this day,” Mr. Juneteenth Adult Edward Frederick said.
“This is my first time in the parade. It’s so beautiful. It’s so amazing to see different organizations a part of the parade, seeing how much muscle has went into even doing something like this, so I think it’s a beautiful thing for Charleston,” Keyarna Frederick added.
From the parade to the activities in Slack Plaza, the day’s organizers sought to create an environment to celebrate Juneteenth with a spirit of unity. Williams hopes that anyone that joined or watched felt that along the way.
“I want them to see that we are Almost Heaven, West Virginia; that we are celebrating freedom; and that we are a community that embraces one another,” she said.
BOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – We have a traffic alert for drivers in the Danville area of Boone County.
Starting on Friday, they should expect delays as crew perform work on the Jill Micah Hess Bridge along U.S. 119.
According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, northbound traffic will be shifted from the slow lane to the fast lane.
This will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and drivers are asked to expect delays.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
Community Catalyst Grant applications are open through West Virginia First Foundation through June 30 – WV MetroNews
The West Virginia First Foundation, which was established to use drug lawsuit settlement money to try to alleviate problems related to addiction, reported having access to $378.5 million in financial resources and noted that more than $34 million in grants have been awarded since the organization’s start.
The West Virginia First Foundation met for a few minutes Thursday at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston. The meeting was also available for view through streaming.
Executive Director Jonathan Board highlighted the launch of the Community Catalyst Grant application and a statewide needs assessment intended to identify service gaps.
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. The program opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30.
“We’re very encouraged by the interest and engagement so far,” Board said.
The board also approved a $4 million funding request for the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. 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.
Additional details about the project and funding agreement are to be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. West Virginia First Foundation and Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process is complete.
“They’ve gone through a very rigorous process for the correct funding,” Board said. “Their team has presented an opportunity to fund a project that will build technology, training and support systems of care needed to expand access to an innovative addiction treatment approach throughout the state of West Virginia, and really beyond.”
The West Virginia First Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2023 to manage and distribute 72.5% of the state’s opioid settlement funds, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. The organization is aimed at combatting the addiction crisis through grants and regional projects.
The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s Board of Directors is scheduled for Sept. 17 although it’s subject to change.
-
Pennsylvania2 minutes agoPA Beef Trail launched at 2 Berks County restaurants
-
Rhode Island5 minutes agoSend-off ceremony held for Special Olympics Rhode Island athletes heading to USA Games
-
South-Carolina10 minutes agoSickle Cell Day gathers advocates at South Carolina State House
-
South Dakota17 minutes agoCommunities across South Dakota celebrate America 250 with fireworks, parades, and exhibits
-
Tennessee20 minutes agoShooting Hunger event aims to prevent childhood hunger in West Tennessee
-
Texas25 minutes agoNew screwworm portal aims to protect Texas livestock, wildlife and rural economy
-
Utah32 minutes agoUtah Athletics making Huntsman Center seating changes – KSL Sports
-
Vermont35 minutes agoNew owners of Vermont Packinghouse plan for local growth – The Vermont Journal & The Shopper
