CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Sissonville couple convicted on 31 of 35 counts of child abuse and neglect, forced labor, and human trafficking charges got the maximum sentence Wednesday. Sentencing for Jeanne Kay Whitefeather, 63, and Donald Ray Lantz, 62, was held before Kanawha County Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers. Whitefeather was sentenced to 215 years in…
SUTTON, W.Va. — State police are seeking the public’s help after finding a woman’s body in rural Braxton County on Monday. The death of Belinda Dawn Riffle, 36, of Braxton County, is considered suspicious, according to State Police Sgt. D.L. Gordon. “We believe foul play is involved,” Gordon told MetroNews. “We are trying to get…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Sissonville couple convicted on over 30 combined charges of child abuse and neglect, forced labor, and human trafficking will have their sentencing in Kanawha County Wednesday. After two of Jeanne Kay Whitefeathers’ and Donald Ray Lantz’ five adoptive black children were found locked in a shed on their Sissonville property back…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –– The Kanawha County Commission passed the county’s budget of $61,563,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 on Tuesday. The budget is an increase of nearly $1.5 million from last fiscal year. Most of that number stems from a $400,000 increase for the PEIA rate increase, and a $700,000 increase for the county’s jail bill.…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new CEO stepping into serve at a longtime Charleston nonprofit says she is ready to get to work. Sonya Hairston, who hails from Nashville, Tennessee was recently selected to serve as CEO of YWCA Charleston. Hairston said she is extremely honored to serve at such a longstanding nonprofit that works tirelessly…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Charleston City Council members voted unanimously Monday night to pass the city’s budget for fiscal year 2026. The $113 million budget will see that all critical services and operations in the city be maintained and does not include any new taxes or increases to current city taxes. The budget also maintains active employee…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office promoted Lieutenant Ana Pile to Chief of Detectives Monday, making her the first female in the county to hold the position. Pile will now be responsible for leading criminal investigative section and the Kanawha Bureau of Investigations. Pile has been serving with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Charleston man convicted on two separate murder charges has been granted mercy. The trial for Markus Deron Guy, 33, entered the mercy phase Monday. Guy will now be considered eligible for parole after 15 years following the decision made by the 12-member jury in the trial. On Friday, the jury found…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Public Service Commission announced Monday that it would be opening a general investigation into Waste Management of West Virginia. The filing accuses Waste Management of missing pickup days, as well as having incomplete pickups and providing “little to no notification of changes in service schedule.” Delegate Andy Shamblin, R-Kanawha,…
INSTITUTE, W.Va. –West Virginia State University President Ericke Cage says that the university will continue evolving despite the current challenges that university’s face around the country. Cage was asked questions by WVSU Board of Governor chairman Mark Kelly Monday afternoon in the P. Ahmad Williams Auditorium in Ferrell Hall for the Conversation on the State of…