AGP Executive Report

Freedom Day USA: Local dental offices in WV are teaming up for the 14th annual Freedom Day USA (Oct. 5–9) with free exams, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride, and same-day work for active-duty families and veterans. Peace Tree at WVU: WVU’s 34th annual Peace Tree ceremony (Sept. 12 planting) brought Indigenous leaders and students together, urging ribbon-and-tobacco ties and a message that “peace is a possibility.” Education & school choice: Federal rules for a new Scholarship Tax Credit program would let nearly all children in 30+ states apply for help paying for private school or homeschooling, with public-school students able to use funds for extra learning expenses. Rural healthcare access: WV is getting more Rural Health Transformation funding, including new mobile health and telehealth upgrades aimed at expanding care in underserved areas. Nuclear campus decision: Gov. Morrisey’s administration declined to proceed with consideration for the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, saying WV wouldn’t be a “dumping ground” for waste. Community giving: United Way of Mon and Preston Counties’ “The Power of Us” campaign has passed the quarter mark, topping $340,000 toward a $1.2 million goal supporting dozens of local programs. Culture & arts: The Upper Ohio Valley Camera Club is set to showcase a juried exhibit at Summit Art Gallery in Weirton, with a public reception and categories spanning both film and digital work.

Rural Healthcare Boost: Gov. Morrisey announced more than $1.1 million in Rural Health Transformation awards for Community Care of West Virginia, including telehealth upgrades and a mobile healthcare unit for Braxton, Clay, and Pocahontas counties. Title IX Shake-Up: The U.S. Department of Education reinstated 2020 Title IX rules, rescinding Biden-era protections tied to sexual orientation and gender identity—prompting renewed pushback from advocates. School Funding Fight: The ACLU is challenging West Virginia’s school aid formula in a Lincoln County equity lawsuit, arguing the state isn’t meeting constitutional “thorough and efficient” education requirements. Community Care & Workforce: The same funding push also includes career advancement and apprenticeship efforts to grow the rural healthcare workforce. Local Culture Calendar: The West Virginia Botanic Garden’s free Fall Children’s Festival returns Sunday with pumpkin painting, crafts, and outdoor fun. Arts Funding: Carnegie Hall was named an inaugural Benedum Foundation Culture Collective grantee, part of a statewide push for fairs, festivals, museums, and performing arts. Public Safety: A TikTok couple, Dakota Harper and Felicity Eatmon, face felony arson charges after an abandoned-home fire allegedly damaged a nearby church. Sports & Community: West Virginia’s Peace Tree Ceremony in Morgantown highlighted Native American heritage and community harmony.

Rural Health & Workforce: Gov. Morrisey announced $1.1M+ in Rural Health Transformation awards for Community Care of West Virginia, expanding telehealth and mobile care plus apprenticeship pathways. Youth & Education: Israel Winfrey was selected for the 2026 FBI Teen Academy in Clarksburg, a hands-on look at CJIS and federal careers. Arts Funding: Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg was named an inaugural Benedum Foundation Culture Collective grantee, backing statewide arts, culture, and heritage work. Local Arts Spotlight: Lee Ann Blevins is featured in Carnegie Hall’s Lobby Gallery, with her oil paintings rooted in decades of teaching and West Virginia nature. Community Service: The GFWC Woman’s Club of Bridgeport marked 75 years of volunteer service with a city proclamation and recognition for long-time leaders. Culture & Heritage Events: The 58th Annual West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival wrapped in Sistersville with music, family activities, and a bass tournament; plus Lincoln Cultural Center hosts the Briarhoppers Oct. 3. STEM & Training: Pierpont CTC broke ground on a new aviation education facility at North Central WV Airport to grow its aviation maintenance program. Disability Access: Mountaineer Autism Project is pushing for expanded Medicaid ABA access, citing major gaps in providers and reimbursements. Public Safety & Community: Treasurer Pack returned $16,745 in unclaimed property funds to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. Sports (Local Interest): Big 12 matchups highlight West Virginia’s trip to Iowa State and other key conference games this week.

Halloween & Family Fun: Oglebay Park Resort in Wheeling is bringing back “Boo at the Zoo” with trick-or-treating, rides, and spooky extras, plus “Fright Lights” and a ticketed haunted house (“House of Screams”) running Oct. 9-11, 16-18, and 23-25. Sports Culture: The Big 12 announced WVU’s Oct. 10 home game vs. Arizona will air at noon on TNT (simulcast on TruTV and HBO Max), and fans keep building community through long-running tailgating traditions. Arts & Community Reading: The West Virginia Humanities Council released its Fall 2026 digital magazine, People & Mountains, featuring historian-journalist Rick Atkinson ahead of the Oct. 15 Betsy K. McCreight Lecture. Public Health & Care Access: WVU Medicine surgeon Nick Baker honored his late mother by launching a low-dose CT screening fund for uninsured patients, with an “Afternoon for Hope” event tied to Pink & Pearl on Sept. 27. Child Welfare & Justice: West Virginia reached a $4.4 million settlement for five children abused in Kanawha County, with both adopters already serving massive prison sentences. Disability Services: Autism advocates say Medicaid reimbursement is blocking access to behavioral therapy, calling for higher pay rates for ABA providers. Local Government: Star City is upgrading ADA ramps and sidewalks along University Avenue, with bids opening Oct. 15 and work expected within 120 days.

Education & Community: Harrison County Schools swore in Dr. Sheena Van Meter as superintendent, with board leaders emphasizing a smooth transition and focus on staff and building infrastructure. STEM & Global Learning: An Eastwood Elementary teacher, Allison Patrick, brought Kenya classroom lessons back to West Virginia through WVU Extension’s study abroad program, pairing hands-on STEM with the story of “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” Culture & Reading: Gov. Patrick Morrisey launched the statewide “Dolly Days Read-a-Thon” for K-5 students, aiming for 25 books and library visits through Dec. 31. Local Arts: Charleston’s FestivFALL kicks off with FestivFALL Eve and runs five days, featuring drum circles, free screenings, and a weekend Harvest Art Fair. Workforce & Industry: A U.S. DOE official visited WVU to promote a critical-minerals education push, touting new pathways to mining and supply-chain careers. Public Safety: Wirt County grand jury indicted 17 people on 117 counts, including multiple felony child-related allegations. Sports & Spotlight: WVU’s Oct. 10 home game vs. Arizona is set for noon on TNT, with the Big 12 also bringing a free David Lee Murphy kickoff concert to Morgantown Oct. 8-10.

WVU & campus culture: WVU’s Nicholson School of Communications gets a new leader, Dr. Kathy Fitzpatrick, as the university’s communications scene keeps evolving. Sports as community ritual: WVU’s game-day “puppet master” and the behind-the-scenes crew are spotlighted as Big 12 football ramps up, including TV plans for WVU’s Oct. 10 home game vs. Arizona and the Oct. 8-10 Big 12 Fall Tour stop in Morgantown. Arts & Appalachian identity: Carnegie Hall’s Second Stage brings “Appalachian Acoustic” to Lewisburg with West Virginia songwriters, while Melanie Myhre’s free Artwalk exhibition runs through Oct. 30. Health & everyday life: West Virginia’s nursing education gets a boost via a Rural Health Transformation Program award, and pharmacists get practical guidance for safer OTC choices during respiratory virus season. Policy & rights: The U.S. Education Department rescinds the Biden Title IX rewrite, restoring 2020 rules—prompting strong reactions from Gov. Morrisey. Education funding fight: A Lincoln County student asks the state Supreme Court to declare West Virginia’s school funding system unconstitutional. Outdoors & giving: Bow season opens with a Hunters Helping the Hungry contest that turns donated deer into meals for families.

WVU Sports Spotlight: West Virginia women’s soccer stayed hot with a 2-0 road win over Iowa State, powered by goals from Sophia Nickel and Abbey Olexa, with the defense posting another shutout. Local Education & Community: Harrison County colleges awarded 418 degrees and certificates in 2023-24, with master’s degrees leading the totals. Civic Life & Culture: Franklin County native Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Sr. was honored at the NAACP Freedom Fund Luncheon, tying local roots to a major civil-rights legacy. Healthcare & Careers: A WVSOM graduate says working with children helped him connect with patients, reflecting how training shapes bedside care. Arts, Media & Recognition: WHYY brought home five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, underscoring the region’s strength in news, arts, and education programming. Sports-Adjacent Tech & Privacy: Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley faced an online privacy backlash over claims involving a blurred home image and doxxing concerns. Community Support: Salvation Army of Beckley is gearing up for Angel Tree applications starting Oct. 1. Policy Watch: The Education Department rescinded the Biden-era Title IX rule, restoring Trump-era regulations tied to how schools handle women’s sports.

ACLU-WV School Funding Lawsuit: The ACLU of West Virginia has filed a lawsuit asking the state Supreme Court to force changes to how tax dollars are distributed to the state’s 55 county school systems, arguing officials are failing their constitutional duty to maintain a “thorough and efficient” education. Data Centers Meet Local Power: In the District 2 race, Democratic challenger Ace Parsi is pushing a two-year moratorium on new large data centers and would require public input, citing impacts on health, water, jobs, utility costs, and the power grid. Homecoming Weekend Plans: West Virginia Wesleyan College is gearing up for Home Among the Hills, Oct. 9-11, with alumni events, class reunions, and a Founders Day convocation. Shriners Support for Kids: The Mountain Valleys Shrine Club in Durbin raised $1,000 for Shriners Children’s Lexington, continuing its 2026 donations to children’s hospitals. College Sports Rule Shake-Up: The U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to limit transfers and athlete compensation rules—an issue that’s hitting West Virginia politics hard. Appalachian Horror on Screen: Elkins filmmaker Daniel Byers brings “Dark Hollow” back for West Virginia screenings, turning the region’s extraction history into a monster-movie story. Mountain State Forest Festival Kicks Off: The 88th edition begins with weekend races and runs through Oct. 4, including a parade and a new Saturday night drone show.

West Virginia sports: No. 10 WVU women’s soccer keeps rolling on the road, taking on Iowa State Sunday in Ames, with the Mountaineers undefeated vs. the Cyclones since joining the Big 12. College football culture: Week 4 delivered major shakeups, with a “winners and losers” roundup highlighting how conference title hopes can flip fast after big upsets. Local education & workforce: WVU is launching a three-year, $1.6M teacher pipeline effort to recruit, prepare, place, and retain educators across West Virginia. Health & community care: WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s is building a $16M pediatric outpatient center in Wheeling, slated to open in early 2027. Reading & early childhood: Tygart Valley United Way is bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Randolph, Tucker, and Marion counties. Public health access: A Veronica Baker Low Dose CT-Scan Fund is expanding lung screening support in Bridgeport, with an “Afternoon for Hope” event Sunday. Water equity: A new report says southern coalfield counties saw less investment in public water and sewer upgrades during Gov. Morrisey’s first 18 months. Arts & media: WHYY won five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards, including honors tied to children’s programming and Black intellectual history.

College Sports & Community Spotlight: Oklahoma State ended WVU’s Big 12 skid with a 41-24 win, a reminder that the Mountaineers’ path back to national attention may hinge on this weekend’s matchup. Local Health & Care Access: WVU Medicine’s new Robert Sonneborn Family Pediatric Outpatient Center is taking shape in Wheeling, with about 40 exam rooms and an opening planned for early 2027. Education & Workforce: WVU is launching a POWER Initiative-backed, three-year teacher recruitment and retention effort to address West Virginia’s educator shortage. Reading & Early Childhood: Tygart Valley United Way is bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Randolph, Tucker, and Marion counties, starting with home-delivered books for kids up to age 5. Public Health & Prevention: A Veronica Baker Low Dose CT-Scan Fund event in Bridgeport aims to expand lung screening access for uninsured patients. Culture & Lifestyle: A look at cold-painted bronze collectibles highlights how functional art and decorative craft are finding new collectors. Sports on the Air: Listings cover TV and radio games for Sept. 27–Oct. 3.

Education & Courts: ACLU-WV is backing a new lawsuit asking the West Virginia Supreme Court to order fixes to the state’s school funding system, arguing persistent underfunding violates the “thorough and efficient” education guarantee and equal protection. Community Health: A Bridgeport family’s lung-cancer story is fueling access to screenings, with a new Veronica Baker Low Dose CT-Scan Fund and an “Afternoon for Hope” event at Bridgeport Country Club on Sept. 27. Local Healthcare Expansion: Construction is advancing on WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Robert Sonneborn Family Pediatric Outpatient Center in Wheeling, slated to open in Q1 2027 with about 40 exam rooms and separate sick/well wings. Teacher Pipeline: WVU is launching a three-year, $1.6M POWER Initiative project to recruit, prepare, place, and retain teachers across West Virginia. Culture & Reading: Tygart Valley United Way is bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Randolph, Tucker, and Marion counties, with books mailed to kids up to age 5. Politics & Policy: Congressional efforts tied to West Virginia Rep. Riley Moore and Rep. Chris Smith focus on Nigeria religious freedom, including sanctions and recurring State Department reporting. Civic Life: WVU’s North Region is building a new pediatric outpatient hub, while Bonnie’s Bus is set to bring mammography screenings to multiple WV counties in late October.

Education & Workforce: WVU is rolling out a three-year, $1.6M teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention effort across West Virginia, using a place-based approach to connect aspiring educators with local schools and communities. Literacy & Community: Tygart Valley United Way is joining Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for Randolph, Tucker, and Marion counties, expanding the monthly book program for kids from birth to age 5. Health Access: Bonnie’s Bus mobile mammography is scheduled to stop in Hardy, Kanawha, Randolph, Jackson, and Harrison counties in late October, offering 3D screenings plus help enrolling eligible uninsured/underinsured women. Local Culture & Civic Life: Elkins’ EHS Homecoming Parade spotlights how public-school music and marching bands keep community traditions alive. Politics & Schools: The ACLU-WV filed a state Supreme Court challenge arguing West Virginia’s school funding system violates the “thorough and efficient” education guarantee, with Lincoln County students allegedly shortchanged. Public Policy & Data Centers: Ace Parsi unveiled the “Neighbors, Not Servers Act,” proposing a two-year moratorium on large data centers and requiring local approval before permits move forward. Mental Health: The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting West Virginians to the New River Region Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Beckley on Sept. 26.

Health Access & Education: Gov. Patrick Morrisey launched West Virginia’s Dolly Days Read-a-Thon, a statewide K-5 challenge running Oct. 1–Dec. 31 that asks students to read 25 books, with paper logs via public libraries. Public Health Services: WVU Medicine’s “Bonnie’s Bus” mobile mammography will stop in Hardy, Kanawha, Randolph, Jackson and Harrison counties in late October, offering 3D screenings and help enrolling in the state breast screening program for eligible uninsured women. Courts & Schools: A lawsuit asks the West Virginia Supreme Court to order a full overhaul of the state school funding system, arguing it violates the state constitution by leaving students without a thorough, efficient education. Community Safety: A father sued a Hurricane daycare alleging abuse of his 5-year-old and claiming staff failed to report and investigate properly. Culture & Local Heritage: Standing Stone State Park’s 43rd annual National Rolley Hole Championship Marbles and Music Festival keeps a folk-life tradition alive, with marbles play framed as community culture worth preserving. Higher Ed & Workforce: A virtual Grant Expectations Conference (Oct. 13–15) will train West Virginia grant professionals and community leaders on managing funding from start to finish. Sports: WVU women’s soccer fell 2-0 to Colorado, ending a long unbeaten run.

Health Access: Bonnie’s Bus mobile mammography is scheduled to stop in Hardy, Kanawha, Randolph, Jackson and Harrison counties in late October, offering 3D screening and breast-care education, with help for uninsured/underinsured women who qualify. Community & Culture: Elkins High School named its 2026 Homecoming Court, with the queen crowned at tonight’s football game. Local Honors: Davis & Elkins College will recognize four alumni during its Homecoming Weekend awards dinner, spotlighting professional impact and service. Public Safety & Recovery: West Virginia marked Save a Life Day with naloxone education and free distribution through local health providers and first responders, including outreach in Parkersburg. STEM & Women in Tech: WVU Tech received a national Society of Women Engineers charter to establish an official campus chapter. Outdoor Lifestyle: The state’s Hunters Helping the Hungry contest kicks off bow and crossbow season, turning donated deer into meals for food banks. Civic Engagement: Fifteen West Virginia counties still need poll workers for the Nov. 3 General Election. Workforce & Industry: Toyota celebrated 30 years in the Mountain State, marking decades of expansion at its Buffalo plant. Sports Behind the Scenes: A WVU athletics video director profile highlights how game-day media is built for fans. Local Debate: Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango opposes a proposed plastics recycling facility in Quincy unless the owner addresses residents’ air-monitoring and health concerns.

Consumer Protection: West Virginia’s neighbors in the AG world just secured a $2.3 million settlement and major data-security reforms after a 2019 Labcorp breach tied to its debt collector potentially exposed millions of people’s medical info. Courtroom & Kids’ Safety: In Charleston, closing arguments wrapped in the Leo Smith Jr. child pornography trial, with prosecutors arguing the hidden-folder evidence shows knowing possession. Campus Life: WVU estimates more than 3,500 students turned out for Mountaineer Midway and Movie, replacing the long-running FallFest Welcome Week concert. Public Health: Westbrook Health Services handed out free naloxone across eight counties for Save a Life Day, including training on nasal Narcan at a Parkersburg church site. Food Safety: Another produce recall is in motion after Berlin Seeds pulled alfalfa sprouting seed over possible STEC and Salmonella contamination tied to a wider outbreak. Sports & Culture Debate: Women’s sports advocates and athletes testified on Capitol Hill about trans athlete participation as the issue hangs over midterms. Local Education Support: A new scholarship was announced for Preston County students, created to expand post-secondary options. Community Calendar: Registration is underway for the Oct. 24 Ohio River Sweep, with West Virginia volunteers joining a multi-state cleanup.

Teacher Pipeline & Retention: WVU is launching a $1.6M, three-year “Take Me Home” residency push to recruit, train, and keep West Virginia teachers in their home communities. Education Governance: The West Virginia Supreme Court weighs whether lawmakers have ultimate authority over state board education rules—an issue that could reshape how schools are run. School Closures: Raleigh County BOE begins the formal process to close Cranberry-Prosperity and Mabscott elementary schools, with public hearings set before a Nov. 10 vote. Campus Safety & Support: WVU Police issued a community notice on drug and alcohol risks, including guidance on counterfeit pills and overdose response. STEM Opportunity: Marshall University received a $2M NSF grant for a Physical and Quantitative Sciences Scholars Program with scholarships plus mentoring and career support. Arts & Community: WVU Theatre and Dance stages “POTUS” (Sept. 24–27, Sept. 30–Oct. 4), a farce about the women behind the president. Culture Spotlight: A West Virginia native, Kelsi Ullom, reaches the top 16 at the Mrs. America pageant. Sports: WVU women’s soccer hosts a Big 12 road test at Colorado, while WVU men’s soccer edges Duquesne 1-0 on Sammie Walker’s late goal. Health & Environment: A report finds “forever chemicals” at dangerous levels in blood samples from a Lancashire village—raising renewed questions about contamination and public health.