West Virginia
WV House of Delegates passes vaccine requirement bill
MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) – Earlier this week the West Virginia House of Delegates passed another bill. This time, it was House Bill 5105, which proposes to eliminate vaccine requirements in schools. Although the bill passed, the vote had a tight 57 to 41 margin. Delegate Joey Garcia (D) voted in opposition, saying the bill simply does not suit West Virginia.
“It’s going to hurt public health,” Garcia said. “It’s going to potentially hurt vulnerable populations in West Virginia, where we have an overall unhealthy population. It’s just not right for our people.”
Garcia further expressed why he thinks vaccine requirements in schools are important.
“We have some of the best school immunization laws in the country we’re number 1 or close to the top,” said Garcia. “It’s very important for the kids that are going there, so there’s not outbreaks and other people that may be vulnerable in their home. This protects whole communities along with the teachers and staff that work there.”
The decision in Charleston has also created discussion locally. Monongalia County Commissioner, Tom Bloom, says it should be a medical decision, not a political one.
“When you go to a doctor, you listen to their advice,” Bloom said. “You don’t go to a politician and ask for that advice. Please, let’s let the doctors do what they do best. They’re telling the school system it ensures the health of everyone.”
House Bill 5105 has been communicated to the Senate, and there has been no further consideration as of Thursday. WDTV attempted to reach out to the sponsoring delegates of HB 5105 but requests were unsuccessful.
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The Transfer Portal is as big as it’s ever been, and West Virginia is looking to make a splash yet again.
A couple days removed from adding one of the portal’s top shooters in Chattanooga G Honor Huff, Ross Hodge and his staff are looking to do it again. This time they have contacted a familiar face from the American Conference in rising junior guard Marcus ‘Smurf’ Millender our of UTSA, according to Tobias Bass from the Athletic.
Millender entered the portal after a very successful sophomore campaign. Starting in 28 out of 31 games, the young guard averaged 14.9 points per game with shooting splits of 44.1/43.8/87.2. His 43.8% from three-point range would rank 8th in the country for the 2024-2025 season (Min. 160 attempts.) Millender also averaged three rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He had nine performances this season where he eclipsed 20 points, which included a season-high 28 points vs. Tulane.
In the year prior to UTSA, Millender spent his freshman season at South Alabama. While there, he started 15 out of 28 games and gave the Jaguars 9.7 points per game. He had a season-high of 27 points vs. Arkansas State, where he shot 5/6 from three-point range.
Other schools involved with Smurf’s recruitment involve Georgia, Florida State, Kansas State, VCU, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, and numerous others.
He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
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West Virginia
West Virginia high school basketball player faces felony charges for repeated fouls, including breaking competitor’s nose
A West Virginia high school athlete is facing adult felony charges after allegedly elbowing an opponent in the face and breaking his nose during a basketball game, according to newly obtained court documents.
Gage Ketterman, an 18-year-old student and basketball player at Harman School, was arrested last Monday for the alleged game-time attack.
West Virginia State Police were notified of the assault on Feb. 27 after the injury was reported by the wounded student’s mother mere hours after the game between Union High School and Harman School.
The woman claimed that her son was “elbowed in the face” by Ketterman. The victim’s nose was reportedly bleeding “profusely” for more than four hours and he had to be taken to a nearby hospital, according to court documents obtained by WBOY.
Video footage from the game, reviewed by the state police, corroborated the mother’s claims.
The video showed Ketterman jab his elbow “directly in the face” of an opposing player, police said. Throughout the game, the clip also showed him allegedly taunting multiple players by striking them in the back of the head.
Authorities also noted that in the video, Ketterman can be seen “wiping something off the elbow he had just used to strike [the Union player].”
The officers concluded that Ketterman’s actions seemed “intentional and criminal[ly] malicious in nature.”
Because Ketterman was 18 years old at the time of the incident, he will be charged as an adult, cops said. One warrant was issued for malicious assault and two others for attempted malicious assault.
Ketterman was arrested last Monday and released the same day after posting $12,500 bond, according to the West Virginia Magistrate Court system.
His next court date is scheduled for May 22.
Sunday morning, West Virginia scooped up another commitment in the transfer portal with former Troy forward Jackson Fields announcing his pledge to the program.
Fields saw incremental success during his three seasons with the Trojans, and put up career highs in points (7.6) and rebounds (4.8) per game. In 95 career games (60 starts), Fields has averaged six points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 0.6 assists per contest while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 32.4% from three-point range.
Coming out of Elkins High School in Missouri City, Texas, Fields held offers from Air Force, Army, Houston Christian, Nevada, Texas Southern, UTSA, Wyoming, and a few others.
Fields will have one year of eligibility remaining. He becomes the fourth transfer commit so far for Ross Hodge and WVU, joining Honor Huff (Chattanooga), Brenen Lorient (North Texas), and Harlan Obioha (UNC Wilmington).
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