West Virginia Press Association

By C.J. Harvey For University of Charleston Charleston — The University of Charleston (UC) has been named the top college in West Virginia by Niche in its 2027 rankings of the best West Virginia colleges. UC received high marks in academics, professors, campus food, athletics, campus food, and overall student life, underscoring the quality and value of the UC experience. It also rated highly in dorms, safety, and diversity.

By Lori Chenoweth For Coplin Health Systems Parkersburg – Coplin Health Systems announced today that it has been awarded $115,796.42 from the Highmark West Virginia Charitable Fund for Health to support the Wirt County Oral Health Access Initiative, a project designed to expand dental care capacity and improve access for children, families, and adults across the region.

By Chris Hamilton For West Virginia Coal Association FirstEnergy wants West Virginia ratepayers to underwrite a 1,200-megawatt, $2.47 billion natural gas plant next door to the Fort Martin Power Station in Monongalia County — inside the same generation corridor as the Harrison Power Station. Before regulators sign off, someone needs to ask the obvious question: what happens to the two coal plants already standing on that ground? Nobody is arguing against new generation. West Virginia needs it.

By Jessi Mancini For The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Parkersburg – A former Parkersburg man this month completed a goal he hopes will show people there’s hope despite facing problems that may seem to be insurmountable, including school debt. Brian Bollinger, 52, of Oakland, Md., on Aug. 14 completed a tour of the eastern most, western most, northern most and southern-most points of the contiguous United States. He traveled alone in a 2025 Toyota Corolla nearly 11,000 miles.

By Sara Oppenheimer For Charleston Gazette-Mail A group of people ranging from 10 to 40 years old gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Charleston on Wednesday to practice sword fighting skills, create choreography and duel each other — all involving lightsabers.

By Mike Fulton For Read Aloud West Virginia Charleston – Dawn Miller, Executive Director of Read Aloud West Virginia, announced the launch of a fundraising campaign to remember the late Dolly Parton and the Imagination Library she created to promote literacy.

By Derek Halsey For The Herald-Dispatch Barboursville — On Saturday, Aug. 29, The Herald-Dispatch and HD Media will once again host the Corks & Kegs event in Barboursville Park. This year’s libation occasion runs from 4 to 8 p.m. and will offer attendees a chance to sample a wide array of craft beer, wines and foods. This year’s theme is Yacht Rock, featuring music selected and played by DJ Jazzy TC.

By Steven Allen Adams For The Dominion Post Charleston – A deal between the family of U.S. Sen. Jim Justice and New York-based financial firm Kennedy Lewis Investment Management for the historic Greenbrier Resort was already finalized, but the West Virginia Lottery Commission has formally approved the new ownership group.

By Rick Steelhammer For Charleston Gazette-Mail Built 173 years ago as a Kanawha County salt baron’s gift to his 18-year-old daughter, Virginia’s Chapel has survived the test of time but is now in need of some TLC in order to remain an iconic presence along U.S. 60 in Cedar Grove.

By Rachel Brosky For WVU, Today Like humans, generative artificial intelligence doesn’t always know when it’s wrong, and a West Virginia University researcher is trying to get AI agents like ChatGPT to recognize — and admit — when that happens. With more than $940,000 in National Science Foundation support, computer scientist Anthony Sicilia is examining why AI can become increasingly unreliable over the course of conversations with human users.