News

Budget Hearing Follows Work Session

Huntington City Council holds its Work Session at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 6. Following the session, a special call budget hearing will take place in council chambers..  The meeting will start fifteen minutes after the Council Work Session ends.  Thursday’s Budget Agenda includes the following departments:  Purchasing, Planning, Police Read more

UPDATE: Bridgette Found Safe

UPDATE: Bridgette was found at 9 a.m. Thursday morning. She is OK.

The 20-year-old daughter of a former Huntington woman has been reported missing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Bridgette Bayley was last seen at 9 a.m.  Tuesday March 4. At the time she wore a gray top and black leggings. Tiffany Johnson Bayley last spoke to Bridgette about twelve hours before her disappearance. As of 5 p.m. March 5 , she is still missing. A missing persons report has been filed with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. Since Bridgette has no money or phone, she is  most likely in or around Ft. Lauderdale or Orlando, if you have seen the woman from the photo , please cal the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department or l 772-801-8721. Read more

‘Coffee with the Mayor’ returns to Marshall University this week

HUNTINGTON – Mayor Steve Williams will return to Marshall University’s campus this week in an ongoing effort to improve communication between the City of Huntington and students, faculty, staff and administrators.

Williams will conduct the spring semester’s second installment of “Coffee with the Mayor” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Memorial Student Center lobby. The sessions are sponsored by the Student Government Association and allow people to discuss issues with the mayor in an informal setting. Read more

Huntington Water Treatment Plant Monitoring Coal Slurry Leak into Kanawha River

A coal slurry leak reported this morning in a tributary of the Kanawha River is not anticipated to have an impact on our Huntington water treatment plant, located on the Ohio River more than 100 river miles downstream of the leak site. Read more

Innovative Principle Based Leadership Education for WV High School Students Expanding

This is an update on the latest activities of the Greenbrier Leadership Institute (GLI) to provide Principle-based Leadership Education (similar focus as that taught by the Greenbrier Military School) to High School students in Greenbrier and, soon, in Barbour, Randolph, and other Counties in West Virginia. Read more

Foster Care Awareness subject of event March 12

Marshall University's Women Connect organization will host an awareness event about foster care in West Virginia at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the Shawkey Dining Room in the Memorial Student Center on Marshall's Huntington campus. Read more

Countdown to Commencement is March 11-12 at Marshall University

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University will conduct its semi-annual Countdown to Commencement Tuesday and Wednesday, March 11 and 12, in the Memorial Student Center's Don Morris Room on the Huntington campus. Read more

Michigan Man Sentenced for Bringing Heroin to Huntington's Bus Station

A Michigan man was sentenced to nine years and three months’ imprisonment for possession of heroin with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced. Darius Lajuan Kincannon, 30, of Redford, Michigan, arrived in Huntington from Michigan in February 2013 on a Greyhound bus. Read more

Huntington Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

A Huntington man was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, United States Attorney Booth Goodwin announced. In June 2012, Ricky Eugene Lewis, 35, pawned a Harrington & Richardson .20 gauge shotgun at the Kenova Pawn Shop in Kenova, West Virginia. The transaction was captured on the store’s surveillance video. Read more

MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: Defense Dept. Contracts for Mar. 5, 2014

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $350,178,300 sole-source modification to the undefinitized contract action announced Jan. 9, 2014. The modification will increase the quantity of Standard Missile-3 Block IB missile material and all up round build up procured from eight to 44.   Read more

RealtyTrac: Institutional Investors Rapidly Increasing Their Purchase of Residential Properties

By Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Vice President

 Almost exactly two years ago, on Feb. 27, 2012, Warren Buffet made the following statement in an interview televised on CNBC:

Read more

United States Mint Resumes Minting One-Ounce American Eagle Platinum Bullion

WASHINGTON - In response to customer feedback, the United States Mint has resumed production and sales of one-ounce platinum bullion coins.  The coins will be available for purchase March 10.  Read more

Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Lifted for Customers in Salt Rock, West Virginia

West Virginia American Water has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory for approximately 400 customers on  Bowen Ridge, Green Valley Road, Prices Creek, Pleasant View, and Camp Branch Road in the Salt Rock area.  The advisory followed a water main break in Bowen Ridge, which West Virginia American Water crews have repaired. Customers will be notified via Media. Read more

WVNPA spring programs spotlight nonprofit outcomes, technology and fraud prevention

In March, April and May, The West Virginia Nonprofit Association is presenting programs to help nonprofit organizations measure program outcomes, meet their technology needs, and guard against fraud in the workplace. The programs are open to both WVNPA member organizations and non-members. Read more

A.D. Lewis Community Center to host minority affairs listening tour

HUNTINGTON -- The Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs, which is located within the Office of the West Virginia governor, is hosting a listening tour public forum from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the A.D. Lewis Community Center, 1450 A.D. Lewis Ave., Huntington. Read more

Huntington City Council Agenda

Huntington City Council will meet Monday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Council chambers at Huntington City Hall. The meeting will be televised on Comcast Channel 24. Two items of interest on the relatively short agenda include the emergency purchase of a new boiler for City Hall and first reading of a parking meter ordinance.

The full agenda is: Read more

First Cabell County Geotrail Kicks off March 14-15

The Cabell-Huntington Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the formation of our first Geocaching Trail which will take participants on a tour of Cabell County including the towns of Huntington, Barboursville, and Milton. Read more

Fundraiser Saturday for Guyandotte Family

A Dinner/Auction Fundraiser sponsored by Grace Food Pantry  will be held on Saturday March 8th at 3p.m. at the Guyandotte United Methodist Church. Funds raised will go towards assisting the family of long time resident Cindy Cremeans who lost her battle with Cancer on Feb.21st  with funeral/burial cost and setting up a trust fund for Cindy's two surviving children.   Read more

FLASHBACK: Huntington’s Houdaille Plant Contained Radioactive Materials; Hundreds Allegedly Died of Lung Cancer

A Wall Street Journal investigation recently disclosed our nation's "secret" nuclear weapons legacy, specifically hundreds of locations where workers toiled with radioactive elements in support of the nation's foreign policy that emphasized nuclear deterance in a time underscored by the Cuban Missile Crisis. Men and women who served during those non-declared war years still fight for recognition. Civilians who labored in plants that supported the nation's nuclear effort also struggle often silently though suffering terminal disease. Read more

MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: Defense Dept. Contracts for Mar. 4, 2014

ARMY

Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz. was awarded a $1,156,446,681 modification (P00007) to contract W58RGZ-12-C-0055 for full rate production of the AH-64E Apache helicopter, seventy-two remanufactured helicopter systems, ten new helicopter systems, and for refreshing five crew trainers , refurbishing one crew trainer, and integrated logistics support, peculiar ground support equipment, initial spares, over and above, and engineering studies. Read more

Find Stats on the Go with dwellr, a Census Bureau Mobile App

Download dwellr to uncover stats for your current location at the simple touch of a button. Or use the app to see how your preferences match up with a location’s characteristics to find 25 dwelling places. The app has been updated with the latest American Community Survey statistics along with other performance and mapping enhancements based on customer feedback. This app is great for people looking to move or for people who just want to have fun learning more about their own communities.

Council, Mayor's Office Proposed Budget Adjustments

At large councilman David Ball noticed a wage adjustment in the Mayor's office --- the addition of  pay grade P29D --- during the initial city budget hearing Saturday morning, March 1.

Mayor Williams told council members, "We need to respond to recruitment efforts of our administrators," stressing "our administrators are paid below market levels elsewhere... if we are looking to make sure this organization operates with excellence." Read more

Huntington City Hall Must Replace Boiler, Interactive Website Coming in Spring

Nuggets of larger questions peppered the four-and-a-half hour budget hearing Saturday morning, March 1, at Huntington City Hall.

Cold weather battering the city and state, one kernel uttered sounded ominous but similarly a ‘no sweat’ circumstance. Read more

Precautionary Boil Water Advisory Issued for Customers in Salt Rock, West Virginia

West Virginia American Water has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for approximately 400 customers on, Bowen Ridge, Green Valley Road, Prices Creek, Pleasant View, and Camp Branch Road.  The advisory follows a water main break in Bowen Ridge, which West Virginia American Water crews are working to repair as quickly as possible and should have restored by 1 am. Customers will be notified via Media. Read more

WV American Water Reports All Testing Results Below Two Parts Per Billion

West Virginia American Water announced that the results of testing for MCHM from the Freedom Industries spill at all testing points in all zones throughout the company’s Kanawha Valley water distribution system are at the lower non-detectable level of below two parts per billion (ppb). This level is 500 times below the protective standard established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which is 1 part per million (ppm). Read more

Planning Committee Meeting Cancelled

Due to inclement weather, the regularly scheduled Huntington Planning Commission meeting for this evening has been cancelled. The items on this month’s agenda will be postponed until the next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 7.

UPDATED: Winter Storm Preparations Continue in Huntington and West Virginia

UPDATED: WV Governor Tomblin has ordered the opening of the state emergency operations center. Members of the National Guard, State Police and Red Cross have assembled to handle the ensuring snow and ice emergency. Winter Storm Warning continues, three to ten inches of snow expected. Icing and slush mean slippery road conditions. "Absolutely terrible," road conditions predicted on glazed over roads. 

As a major winter storm approaches Huntington, here are updates on emergency preparations should the storm severely impact Huntington or the region:

Here is an update on preparations for the winter storm: Read more

State Government Employees to Report on Delayed Schedule, March 3, 2014

Due to predicted ice and snow accumulations as well as potentially hazardous travel conditions, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has asked state employees to delay reporting to work until 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 3, 2014.  State employees providing direct support relating to the current weather event should report at their regularly scheduled time.  If weather conditions change, additional guidance will be provided.  Employees are encouraged to check the State Employee Information Line at (304) 558-9117 or (888) 558-9117 for further updates.

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON WV
242 PM EST SUN MAR 2 2014

...RAIN TO FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW...FROM NORTH TO
SOUTH...INTO MONDAY... Read more

Budget Hearing: What About Capital Improvements? Should Parking Rates Inrease?

Addressing the first 2014-2015 budget hearing, Mayor Steve Williams told council members that "We have a flat budget in every department," and, we  had to "cut $4.5 million out of requests."  Still,  our city is "healthier and not on the verge of managing by financial crisis. Our services are better. There's a satisfaction with the level of services provided," adding that council has "given us the budget to properly staff." Read more

Generation Huntington Announces Leadership Board for 2014 Year

Huntington, W.VA. – In what promises to be a year of record breaking and change, the former Huntington YPC has not only announced a name change, now changing to “Generation Huntington”, but it has also announced a new team of leadership to steer the newly invigorated committee of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce.  “The changes taking place are exciting, but can’t happen without a solid team making these decisions and putting these changes into action”, says Chris Wallace, the new Chair of Generation Huntington. Read more

Delegates Agree: Water Protection Bill Should Move Forward In Regular Session

After gaining a further and complete understanding of the intent behind a letter asking the Governor to consider holding a special session on water protection, House Speaker Tim Miley said he is no longer concerned that any of the delegates involved sought to slow down the pending legislation.

  Read more

Maher to chair statewide technology-based economic development coalition

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Marshall University Vice President for Research John M. Maher has been elected chairman of the board of TechConnect West Virginia.

A statewide economic development organization, TechConnect fosters and promotes innovation-based businesses and entrepreneurial activities. The group's members represent education and research, private industry and the public sector. Read more