John Blashke

According to CDC data in 2021, one in eight babies was born preterm in West Virginia.

The Vice Versa nightclub on High Street was suddenly closed this past weekend. A call to the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (ABCA) confirmed that the nightclub is currently facing a suspension.

In recent weeks a non-university affiliated organization calling themselves the “Stewards of WVU” is proposing an alternative solution to reach the desired $45-million budget cut.

WVU was recently ranked the 14th best college in the country and first in Appalachia for veteran support.

Some spoke about the difficulty of getting treatment for service-related injuries. Others brought up alleged scams targeting veteran benefit recipients.

The animals at the Randolph County Humane Society have a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Thousands of pounds of pet food and supplies have been delivered to them just in time for the holiday.

Fans of classic films and Robert Mitchum may have heard of the film The Night of the Hunter. What some people may not know is this story is loosely based off of notorious local serial killer Harry Powers.

For most people Halloween means candy and costumes. Many of the these traditions come from spooky legends, and this Halloween we remember a local encounter that maybe inspired some your costumes today.

This month 5's John Blashke sat down with Lewis County EMS as well as a small fire department in their service area. A key issue that came up was the difficulty of serving and being spread out across a massive rural area.

As a West Virginia native, this is how Keatley shares his love for Appalachian culture. He says for many, listening to him strum away is their first experience with a banjo.

The committee will also be seeking the publics input for design suggestions in the near future.

While serving on the water board is something new for Sigmon, he says he’s looking forward to contributing to his city once again.

While some parents are in favor of the plan, others say there are still too many questions left in the air.

There are signs warning of radioactive material at the facility, but oddly that hasn’t been enough to stop trespassers.

What makes this display so special for the college is it features the historical diary of Sirene Bunten, a local witness account of the Civil War.

The college will be announcing its masterplan which involves upgrades to academic buildings and athletic student life in the coming weeks.

A life changing technology is becoming more accessible than ever for West Virginians. Fingy3D is using artificial intelligence and 3D printers to make custom finger prosthetics.

As of September 30th federal childcare investment is dropping off which will be felt by West Virginias already struggling childcare workforce. The West Virginia Association for Young Children says more than 20,000 children in our state will be impacted.

The Monongahela National Forest is home to millions of trees and there’s hardly a better place to admire them than at this weeks Mountain State Forest Festival. Since the 1930′s Elkins has been proud to host thousands of festival goers every year.

The celebration might have gotten a little carried away after the teams upset win against Texas Christian University Saturday when a mattress was burned on the corner of University Ave. and Third Street.

The project includes more than 18,000 feet of water and sewer lines. It also will be upgrading utility stations and adding a nearly 750,000 gallon water storage tank.

The traditional parade and Buckwheat king and queen coronation are happening Friday at noon. There are also new events like cornhole on Sunday and live music playing throughout the week.

September 26 is National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day. Studies show that the people who are sworn to protect and serve our communities are also at a higher risk for suicide.

More than 2,000 feet of pipe will be installed along Chestnut Street between the plant to up around Hite Field. The project is estimated to take around 6 months and during that time traffic along Chestnut St. will be limited to residents.

Union President Justin Tarovisky says the union held a recruiting event where they took in 60 applicants, but he says the federal office in Grand Prairie, Texas that oversees these applications has been disqualifying applicants for superficial reasons.

These cuts would again be focusing on eliminating staff positions at these libraries -- much like the school has already seen with the cutting of 140 plus faculty positions. School officials say these cuts will help preserve the library’s material budget.

Several parents are worried about the future of Liberty High School in Clarksburg -- with some taking to Facebook and using the hashtag #SaveLiberty.

Services like the assessor, bookkeepers, and tax office will be making the move as well in the near future.

First responders on the ground treated more than 70 patients for various medical issues.

Tuesday September 19th, Celebrate Recovery will be hosting a special dinner at the Clarksburg Baptist Church. The celebrate recovery dinner begins at 5:30pm and the meeting starts at 6:30pm.

A crowd of students and teachers gathered to protest Fridays vote to cut more than 140 faculty jobs from the university. Ultimately, the board of governors passed the preliminary vote with only minor changes.

Aside from lunch, one lucky trucker even won a drawing for $2,500 as another show of thanks.

The Red Cross is urging people to donate blood as demand is outpacing supply. The Red Cross says there’s an emergency need especially for platelets and Type O donors.

The cemetery’s director says he was stationed in D.C. during the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

This is the foundations 5th annual golf tournament and are expecting to raise around $150,000.

LeFever says while keeping the school and students safe is the top priority, being a mentor for the next generation is invaluable.

Jackson’s Mill has something for everyone whether you enjoy civil war history, good food, or just having a fun time.

In this installment of A Silent Crisis, we’re taking a closer look at the cost of saving lives.

The city’s Director of Emergency Management Tim Curry says there was about 2 inches of rainfall in a span of around 30 minutes.

CWB’s General Manager Jason Meyers says during that time Chestnut Street will only be open to local traffic.

Some Morgantown residents have been critical of harm reduction efforts for substance use disorder downtown. However, Milan Puskar Health Right says these efforts have had many positive results.

The mystery of a human skull found by a mushroom gatherer back in April of 2021 remains unsolved, leaving more questions than answers.

For around a 5 month period these lawsuits allege similar claims of harassment including: inappropriate touching, invasive questions, lewd gestures, and stalking.

Going into a new school year sometimes means big changes which some children may find difficult. But there are tips and resources available for concerned parents.

Monday, WVU students staged a walkout in protest of budget cuts, now a local business is telling the administration to face the music.

Star City in Monongalia County ended it’s EMS service last year and now the fire department may be facing the same fate.

Studies from the CDC show diabetics are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke than the average person.

The proposed ordinance prevents people from remaining in the medians of most of the county’s streets, highways, and intersections. Violators can get a misdemeanor with repeat offenders being fined up to $100 per offense.

Bean was part of a group that helped fundraise money to purchase the library building in the early 90′s.

The lawsuits list a combined 22 counts against the school including fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, and duress.