West Virginia
YWCA of Charleston holds candlelight vigil for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day to raise awareness of the issue in West Virginia – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It was an occasion of reflection and solidarity at a local non-profit in Charleston Thursday evening as they joined the community in recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
The YWCA Charleston was host to a candlelight vigil to raise awareness of the issue, which according to the Department of Homeland Security, forces millions of men, women, and children around the world and in the U.S. into some type of labor or commercial sex act every year.
However, YWCA Charleston Resolve Family Abuse Program Director Julie Britton said the vigil was being held to particularly help raise awareness of the human trafficking that goes on right here in West Virginia, as well.
“We want people to know this is happening in the community and it can absolutely be stopped by the same community, as well, so we’re reaching out to partners and just everyone,” Britton said.
Britton said, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there are approximately 246 reported cases of human trafficking in West Virginia, and total of 550 identified victims.
Each candle at Thursday’s vigil was supposed to represent the hope and resilience of survivors of human trafficking, while emphasizing the collective need to combat the issue in the state.
Britton said it was a way they could stand together and shine a light on the dark reality the issue brings that not many people even know the magnitude of.
“It’s something that not a lot of people think about, or when they do think of human trafficking they have a very small idea of what that looks like, and not realizing that it is sex trafficking that happens between people who sometimes think their trafficker is a partner,” she said.
She said this issue unsuspectedly happens more often than not where the victim is convinced that they are in a relationship with the trafficker when in actuality they are being used for money or drugs.
Britton went on to say victims often don’t recognize themselves as the victim, and are typically convinced they are just bringing money into the household.
She said the scope of human trafficking goes far beyond what people typically perceive the issue to be.
“It’s insidious because people think it’s only one thing such as bringing migrants across the border and making them work when it’s so much more varied than just that,” she said.
Britton said those that suspect they might be a victim of human trafficking or believe they know someone who is to call they YWCA Resolve office hotline at (304)-340-3549, or use their chat function found on their website.
Many in attendance at Thursday’s vigil were wearing blue in honor of the occasion, as well. Every year Homeland Security holds Wear Blue Day as part of its month-long Blue Campaign that takes a stance against human trafficking nationwide.
Baseball and the 4th of July. It goes together so well, and perhaps one day, we will see a pair of West Virginia Mountaineers sporting the red, white, and blue for Team USA in the Olympics (set to return in 2028) or the World Baseball Classic.
I know most everyone’s attention in West Virginia over the last two or so months has been consumed by the Mountaineers’ magical run to the College World Series, so you may not realize how much of a tear former Mountaineer star JJ Wetherholt has been on in the big leagues.
We’ll catch you up to speed.
In the first 81 games of his career, Wetherholt has hit 12 home runs, recorded 35 RBI, and has slashed .260/.357/.398. On top of being one of the best-hitting second basemen in the entire game, he is a perfect 9/9 on stolen base attempts and has been elite with the glove, committing just two errors on the season, giving him a fielding percentage of .994.
One of the best moments of Wetherholt’s red-hot start was this leadoff home run against Paul Skenes, last year’s Cy Young award winner.
JJ Wetherholt hits a leadoff shot off Paul Skenes! pic.twitter.com/7KzVkutArL
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 30, 2026
Hitting a bomb off one of the most talented pitchers in the game certainly raised some eyebrows, but I’m not sure even that tops what he did in just his second game, shooting a ball through the right side of the infield, collecting his first-ever walk-off hit in the majors.
JJ WETHERHOLT WALKS IT OFF! pic.twitter.com/5Adski5dMn
— MLB (@MLB) March 28, 2026
For you baseball junkies out there, Wetherholt currently has a WAR (wins above replacement) of 3.8. Only nine others in the entire MLB — pitcher or position player — have a higher rating. Those players are P Christopher Sanchez (PHI), P/DH Shohei Ohtani (LAD), OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), SS Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), IF Kevin McGonigle (DET), P Chase Burns (CIN), P Jacob Misirowski (MIL), OF Andy Pages (LAD), and SS Otto Lopez (MIA).
The next big league star
I think if you polled 100 scouts at the next level, you would get pretty close to a consensus that West Virginia catcher/second baseman is going to be a really good player in the big leagues for a really long time. The hit tool is off the charts, as we all know, but the glove is just as impressive. He finished the season with an overall fielding percentage of .987, helping him earn All-American honors at two different positions, which is incredibly rare. I won’t go as far as saying it’s the baseball version of what Travis Hunter did at Colorado playing wide receiver and corner, but it’s pretty darn close.
As a sophomore, Kelly flirted with a .400 batting average for much of the season before ending the year with a .382 mark. He belted 19 home runs and drove in 63 runs. The scary thing for opposing pitchers is that he still has a ton of room to get bigger and stronger, which will only improve his power numbers and slugging percentage.
With another strong year in 2027, Kelly could be one of the handful of names considered to be the No. 1 overall pick in next summer’s draft.
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West Virginia
Iconic country music band Alabama takes stage for West Virginia’s America 250 celebration
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Thousands descended upon the West Virginia Capitol on Friday night to hear one of the most iconic country music bands of all time.
Alabama took to the Boulevard Stage shortly before 8 p.m. and gave fans a show lasting approximately 90 minutes, despite the grueling heat that has been factor throughout America250 celebrations and the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta.
Performing songs such as “Song of the South,” “Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” and the classic “Dixieland Delight,” the two-time Grammy Award-winning band even gave West Virginians a treat by playing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which the band said was at the request of Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
The band opened up a weekend full of performances at the Capitol. The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will take the stage on Saturday, while the Marshall Tucker Band will perform on Sunday.
The performances are just a piece of what is going on at the Capitol, as vendors and family-friendly activities are offered all weekend. In the evenings, fireworks, light shows and drone shows will light up the night in celebration of America’s 250th.
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Additionally, a 230-foot Ferris wheel is free for visitors to ride throughout the weekend.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – Independence Day weekend is here, and communities across North Central West Virginia are celebrating with parades, festivals, and fireworks.
The events we’ve been made aware of are listed below for Friday and Saturday. If you know of an event that’s not listed, feel free to email us at news@wdtv.com.
Friday — July 3
- Elkins’ Red, White & Summer Nights First Friday — Elkins — 4-9 p.m.
- Fireworks on the Hill (sponsored by WDTV and the Bridgeport CVB) — Bridgeport — 9:45 p.m.
- Terra Alta Volunteer Fire Department — Terra Alta — 100th annual fireworks celebration at 10 p.m.
- Burnsville Freedom Festival —Burnsville — parade starts at 6 p.m.
Saturday — July 4
- Mountaineer Days — Thomas — Noon to dark (fireworks included)
- 100th Old Fashion Day in the Park — Terra Alta — 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Morgantown Municipal Band performance — Morgantown — 11 a.m., Parade 4 p.m. and fireworks at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park after dark
- Elkins Fourth of July Parade — Elkins — 5 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m.
- Stonewall Resort — Roanoke — Fireworks at dark
- Barbour County Fairgrounds — Philippi — fireworks at dark
- Downtown Weston Street Fair — Weston — fair begins at 5 p.m. and fireworks at 10:15 p.m.
- Downtown Thomas — Thomas — festival begins at 8 a.m. and fireworks at dark
- Jawbone Park — Buckhannon — celebration at 5 p.m. and fireworks at dark
- Palatine Park — Fairmont — fireworks at 10 p.m.
- Monongah Town Hall — Monongah — fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
- Sagebrush Round-Up — Fairmont — country music and fireworks from 4-10 p.m.
- Fairview Volunteer Fire Department — Fairview — parade starts at 10 a.m., and fireworks start at 10 p.m.
- Burnsville Freedom Festival — Burnsville — event runs from 3-9 p.m. with fireworks at 10 p.m.
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.
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