CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday he would like state lawmakers to take another look at a new law addressing high school sports transfers after several football games involved lopsided scores to start the season.
Ten West Virginia high school teams scored at least 60 points last week. In three games, the winning school amassed more than 80 points. Some of those highest-scoring teams welcomed multiple transfers this season.
Lawmakers passed a bill this year allowing high school athletes to switch schools one time during their careers and be immediately eligible. The bill became law without the Republican governor’s signature. Transfers previously had to sit out for one year of athletic competition unless they received a waiver.
The transfer change was part of a bill that expanded athletic opportunities for recipients of a state-funded Hope Scholarship that supports private school tuition, homeschooling fees and a wide range of other expenses.
“The vote was so significant in favor. I felt like it was a mistake,” Justice said during his weekly media availability. “I felt like vetoing a bill only would have led to an override, which is a waste of time.”
Justice, who as a longtime high school basketball coach won a girls state championship in 2012 with the help of some out-of-state transfers, said he is concerned that high school sports in West Virginia would end up with a handful of “super teams” through the transfer process.
“We are going to destroy high school sports all across this state if we don’t watch out what we’re doing,” Justice said. “It is a bad move. I don’t know any other way to say it. We should not have done this. And now we’ve got to live with it. So we need to revisit and come up with a better solution to what we’ve got.”
UPDATE 11:50 P.M. 12/24/2024
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ)-Two people are facing charges in connection with a death investigation in Mason County.
Investigators found the remains of a man Tuesday who had been reported missing. The remains were found along Broad Run Road in Letart.
Authorities arrested Brandon Harbaugh and Jodi Gerlach a short time later.
Harbaugh and Gerlach are charged with concealment of a deceased human body and conspiracy, according to Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Seth Gaskins.
Investigators identified the victim as Michael S. Phalen, 65, of New Haven, West Virginia. Investigators say Phalen was reported missing Dec. 12.
Harbaugh and Gerlach were arraigned Tuesday night in Mason County are in the Western Regional Jail on a $75,000 cash or surety bond.
UPDATE 7 P.M. 12/24/2024
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -A death investigation is underway after human remains were found in Mason County, according to Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Seth Gaskins.
Investigators found the remains of a missing adult male along Broad Run Road in Letart on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mason County Prosecuting Attorney identified the victim as Michael S. Phalen, 65, of New Haven, West Virginia.
Gaskins said that two individuals have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Both are charged with concealment of a deceased human body and conspiracy, although their identities have not been announced.
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Accoring to Mike Casazza of 247 Sports, West Virginia University head coach Rich Rodriguez will retain assistant coach Chad Scott as part of his staff.
Scott spent the last six seasons under former head coach Neal Brown as the running backs coach and served as the offensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was also named the interim head coach for the Frisco Bowl.
The Mountaineer rushing attack ranked ninth among Power Four schools in rushing yards per game at 192.7 this past season and WVU was one of two FBS teams that has three players who have rushed for 630 yards or more.
Scott will be entering his19th season as an assistant coach. He began his career at Troy before taking jobs at Texas Tech (2010-12), Kentucky (2013-15), North Carolina (2016-18), Louisville (2019), and landed in West Virginia with Neal Brown in 2019.
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Sinks Grove, WV (WOAY)- In Sinks Grove, there is a small farm where there are some very happy animals. This farm also recently won the West Virginia Hive’s 2024 Pitch Southern West Virginia competition.
Waymaker’s Meadows Farm strives to provide healthy and local meat and produce to local markets.
Mike Teaney spoke with the farmers to share the good news.
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