Bids taken for opioid settlement duties

February 20, 2024

The West Virginia First Foundation, which is responsible for guiding how the state uses money from opioid litigation settlements, has awarded some of the contracts to support the work. Following a discussion in closed session, members of the foundation board awarded the work for accounting services to Smith Cochran and Hicks of Charleston. Banking services were awarded to West Virginia-headquartered United Bank and investment services were split equally between two banks, WesBanco as the lead and United Bank in support. Each had responded to a request for proposal, representing ...

Jury returns conviction in child sexual abuse case

February 15, 2024

Wednesday evening in Monongalia County Circuit Court, Steven Ray Desantis, 41, was found guilty of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in position of trust to a child and sexual abuse in the first-degree during a trial at the Monongalia County Justice Center on High ...

Preston BOE votes to opt back in opioid settlement

February 15, 2024

KINGWOOD — Members of the Preston County Board of Education voted to opt back into the McKinsey & Company LLC opioid settlement. The decision was made after receiving a memorandum from attorney Ben Bailey of Bailey Glasser LLP, concerning school boards and the opioid litigation updates. Bailey previously said school boards that opt out may be able to negotiate with McKinsey for more funds from the settlement. The Preston BOE voted to opt out and see if that happened. The funds would be used in a trust that would be available to West Virginia counties to apply for as ...

25 charged, 22 arrested in major drug ring

February 14, 2024

An investigation by the Mon Metro Drug Task Force resulted in a major drug bust leading to drug trafficking charges against 25 individuals from Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Investigators are still searching for three of the 25 — all others have been taken into ...

Online valentines could steal your heart and your money

February 13, 2024

In this modern age of internet and global connectivity, millions of people turn to the worldwide web in search of a little romance or even their soulmate.  Instead of finding love, however, many find a scammer who is poised and ready to trick them and take their money before the first ...

Suspects in major drug bust begin court process

February 9, 2024

The nine individuals arrested during a multi-location Mon Metro Drug Task Force drug bust last week were scheduled for preliminary hearings in Monongalia County Magistrate Court on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Four of the nine charged waived their rights to preliminary hearings in ...