West Virginia
WSAZ Investigation spurs call for hydrant money, regulation
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – State regulators have issued a report calling for more money and regulation to ensure the reliability of fire hydrants across West Virginia.
The report comes months after the state Public Service Commission first demanded information about hydrant maintenance from every utility in West Virginia.
That order for records was prompted by weeks of investigation by WSAZ NewsChannel 3, and less than 24 hours after the station reported on a senator’s call for testimony.
The WSAZ investigation — False Security — stemmed from two fires with the same story. Firefighters didn’t have enough water May 5 to fight a house fire in Charleston, 15 months after crews encountered the same issue in failed efforts to save a Pizza Hut in Danville.
WSAZ’s questions spurred action from the governor, lawmakers and the PSC.
The report finds significant issues with the way fire hydrants are being inspected and flow tested.
Specifically, finding one-third of of the state’s hydrants receive no annual inspection, two-thirds of utilities do not regularly flow test hydrants and only about 40 percent of utilities have a written maintenance and inspection program.
With those findings, PSC staff are now recommending all water utilities be required to conduct annual hydrant inspections, annual flow testing and marking hydrants so first responders know how much water each hydrant will produce.
PSC staff also called for requiring utilities to certify those inspections and flow tests, including a report how many hydrants they check each year.
Another part of the report focuses on aging hydrants.
PSC staff found more than 5,000 in need of quick replacement.
Their answer to that problem?
Asking lawmakers to approve a hydrant replacement grant program, which would provide $70 million throughout10 years. That money is intended to help non-profit water utilities to replace, inspect and test hydrants.
State Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, chairs the state House Infrastructure Committee.
WSAZ NewsChannel 3′s Curtis Johnson asked him Friday for his thoughts on the recommendations.
“Seventy million dollars over 10 years — do you support that proposal, and what are the chances that it gets passed by lawmakers?” Johnson asked.
“We’re going to want to see some further data and some further testimony from the Public Service Commission surrounding all the use of that and how this looks in practice, but I think overall I’m very supportive of it because, again, West Virginians need to know that when they see a fire hydrant, that it’s going to be there in their time of need,” Linville replied.
That $70 million grant program only helps non-profit utilities, but the state’s largest water provider is for-profit, West Virginia American Water. It owns more than 10,000 hydrants — the most in the state.
So Johnson asked Linville how can the state ensure upgrades for those areas without the cost being passed onto consumers. The delegate said the state must ensure those companies meet the obligations promised in the fees they charge.
“I don’t believe that this effort would, could or should put forward any new cost onto customers,” he said. “It simply should be something where we’re making sure that the dollars are being invested as we were told they would be.”
PSC says it will send this week’s report to Governor Justice and lawmakers.
Interested parties have 10 days to respond to the report’s findings and recommendations. The Commission then will enter its decision at a later date.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
What Kansas football coach Lance Leipold saw on targeting calls during win against WVU
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Jordan Guskey talks Kansas football win
Check out what The Topeka Capital-Journal reporter Jordan Guskey had to say following Kansas football’s Big 12 Conference win against West Virginia.
LAWRENCE — Kansas football’s 41-10 victory against West Virginia this past weekend saw a pair of players ejected due to targeting calls, one on each side.
In the second quarter, WVU nickel/safety Fred Perry was disqualified because of a hit he made on KU quarterback Jalon Daniels. In the third quarter, Jayhawks safety Devin Dye was disqualified for a hit he made on a Mountaineers running back Cyncir Bowers. Holistically, Kansas football coach Lance Leipold acknowledged Saturday the calls were made in the interest of player safety.
But while Leipold thought Dye’s ejection was unfortunate, Perry’s led to a little longer of a conversation postgame. That’s because after the hit, some pushing and shoving ensued until players from both teams were separated. Kansas offensive lineman Kobe Baynes, who appeared to shove Perry right after the hit on Daniels, would eventually be called for a late hit.
Leipold, at one moment concerned the situation would get out of hand, was glad to see it get settled as quickly as it did. Although he understands a player’s desire to defend their teammate, he called for composure in all situations. He called it a tough situation for officials to handle.
Here are a few more takeaways from the Big 12 Conference matchup between the Jayhawks (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) and Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1).
Why Trey Lathan was selected to be Kansas’ 4th captain for game
Kansas has three lead captains this season in Daniels, offensive lineman Bryce Foster and defensive end Justice Finkley, but each game there’s a fourth “rotational” captain who is honored as well. Against West Virginia, that individual was linebacker Trey Lathan. Lathan, who finished the game with three tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and an interception, transferred to KU during the offseason from WVU.
Leipold acknowledged Lathan’s past stop in his college career with the Mountaineers did play a factor in the decision. However, Lathan’s also someone he felt has been playing well and become more confident. Lathan is also someone he felt had become a more vocal leader within the defense and is well respected.
Kansas’ offensive line doesn’t allow any sacks
West Virginia’s defense collected six sacks against Pittsburgh just the week before this matchup. But by game’s end against the Jayhawks, the Mountaineers didn’t have a single sack. So, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Leipold was pleased with the protection Kansas’ offensive line gave Daniels and for how Daniels at times escaped pressure.
On film, Leipold had seen an impressive defense that was athletic up front. It could use multiple looks and was aggressive. But KU proved capable of stymying that aspect of WVU’s defense.
West Virginia’s tempo offensively doesn’t prove to be much of a factor
Leipold thinks Kansas’ defense can get better at playing against tempo, based on what he saw against West Virginia. However, considering how well the Jayhawks played and what he heard as the game unfolded, he thought they did well. Physical play and quality tackling helped force numerous punts and stops as KU took control of the game.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
Injuries are piling up for the West Virginia Mountaineers early in the season, particularly in the running back room. To everyone’s surprise, Tye Edwards was unable to play this past weekend against Kansas, and despite being a game-time decision for that game, his status for this week’s matchup versus Utah remains in question.
“Hopeful might be too much,” Rodriguez responded when asked about Edwards’ status. “I’m more… he’s probably still doubtful right now with his hip pointer. He’s trying to. It’s not where he’s wanting to sit out. He’s a kid that really wants to play.”
Rodriguez also noted that Cyncir Bowers is in the concussion protocol and is also questionable for Saturday’s game.
So, what in the heck do the Mountaineers manufacture a rushing attack against a Utah defense that allows just over 110 yards on the ground per game? It’s a great question, especially given the Mountaineers’ offensive line struggles.
As far as available backs, WVU will have Clay Ash, Diore Hubbard, Tyler Jacklich, and Andre Devine. Those four have combined to rush for 127 yards on 38 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per tote. Ferris State transfer Kannon Katzer is still working his way back from injury, but his status as of this morning is unknown. If it is just those four aforementioned backs, WVU may have to get creative with Rodney Gallagher III and maybe go as far as starting Jaylen Henderson at quarterback to make Utah respect the threat of him pulling it and keeping it.
On today’s episode of Between The Eers, I discuss this huge problem the Mountaineers may have in the run game.
If you haven’t yet, please go over to our YouTube page, West Virginia On SI (@SI_WVU), and subscribe. You’ll get a notification the second a new episode of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru GameDay Show, or Mountaineer Postgame drops.
Recent Between The Eers episodes:
WVU’s Painfully Bad Offense Needs to Make Some Changes
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A Night West Virginia Needed
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West Virginia sent Pitt home with an overtime loss and will have bragging rights in the Backyard Brawl for the next four years. Following the game, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi met with reporters, discussing several different topics such as quarterback play, the lack of a run game, officiating, WVU’s offense, and more.
The one thing that stood out most, though, was his take on the officiating.
“Whew. You guys watched the game, I don’t know. There was some stuff out there, but we’ll look at the videotape. Not happy with that at all. 14 penalties, a little lopsided there. Eli got punched, got his helmet ripped off, punched in the face; no call there. We had somebody get spit in the face, too, but things didn’t go our way.”
To be honest, I truly don’t understand how Narduzzi can be upset with the officiating. Many of those 14 penalties were clear and preventable penalties, whether it was a false start, a hold, defensive pass interference, or offside. There were only maybe two that were 50/50.
But let’s not forget how Pitt caught a break at the end of the first half. Nicco Marchiol ran the ball up the middle for a first down, slid, and was hit late. The flag was dropped, but the officials said that because there was no time left on the clock, the half was over. I’ll need a better description from a rules analyst to explain this one because I don’t understand how the half can just end on that. I assumed there would either be one untimed down or Pitt would have to be penalized on the kickoff to start the second half. Neither happened.
What about the MarShon Oxley sack in the third quarter that was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when all he did was stand up and walk away? That not only bailed Pitt out, but they would score a touchdown on that drive just a few plays later.
How about the first half when linebacker Ashton Woods was ejected for targeting on what appeared (by every angle shown) to be a clean shot?
There were also multiple times where Pitt defenders arrived way too early on a pass and should have been flagged for defensive pass interference. Instead, the flag remained tucked into the official’s waist pocket.
The penalties West Virginia had were way more costly and timely than those Pitt was guilty of.
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