PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) -- 31 high school students were able to visit colleges thanks to the Mercer County School system. West Virginia receives more than $1 billion in broadband funding from BEAD program On April 26, 2024, the students went to visit two Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCU) in North and South Carolina. Dr. William White, who started the first tours in February to the Washington D.C. and Baltimore areas, brought the students to a more southern area. The first college that the students visited was Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, which is a private colle ..read more

WYOMING COUNTY, WV (WVNS)-- West Virginians are no strangers to water issues - this includes Wyoming County where residents continue to deal with water issues. The Indian Creek water has a strong, unpleasant smell and causes issues for those who drink it. Adam Vance is a resident of Wyoming County and a delegate of the 35th District. He tells 59News something needs to be done about the situation. Vance said the southern part of West Virginia gets put on the back burner while the focus for betterment primarily remains on the northern part of the state. Wyoming County man sentenced to prison for ..read more

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) -- The Official Visitors Guide for Visit Southern West Virginia has been released for the 2024 year. More than $1 million announced for projects in West Virginia The non-profit tourism organization worked with the digital company called Digital Relativity to design a guidebook that is both easy to understand and aesthetically pleasing for travelers to find things like food, activities, lodging, and points of interest amongst other things in nine counties of southern West Virginia. Visit Southern West Virginia distributes their own fulfillment pieces, which include 100,000 co ..read more

MINDEN, WV (WVNS) -- Since the 1980's, state and federal environmental officials have known the town of Minden in Fayette County is contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCB, an oil which can cause cancer. Minden residents reported high rates of cancer and garnered international attention before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA} declared Minden a Superfund site in 2019. Around 2013, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection had begun tackling another public health concern in Minden: Arbuckle Creek, a tributary of the New River and the same creek which reside ..read more

PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) -- It has been fifty-six years since the improved version of the measles vaccine was created. Now, West Virginia could be facing a potential outbreak of this highly contagious disease. The first positive case of measles since 2009 was confirmed by West Virginia Department of Health officials on April 22, 2024. Now, over one hundred people in 30 counties have possibly been exposed. Residents of Mercer, McDowell counties may have been exposed to measles Measles is a highly contagious viral, airborne disease, so even being near someone who has it or has been exposed to it cou ..read more

MOUNT HOPE, WV (WVNS) -- For most of us, pets are members of our families. In an emergency, it is important for those going through a tragedy to help their animals, and that's where the Mount Hope Fire Department is stepping up with their own plan. The firefighters said on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, that they have pet oxygen masks to make sure dogs and cats who survive house fires can be given oxygen right along with their humans. Low-cost spay-and-neuter clinic set to open in Mercer County One firefighter said he wants to be able to provide help to pets during housefires. "Any pets that's insid ..read more

PIPESTEM, WV (WVNS) - The month of May is stacked with activities you can attend at Pipestem. Ranging from music, food, and workshops - these activities are for anyone and everyone. The fun kicks off on Friday, May 3rd with a Seafood Buffet and live music from Krista Hughes. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve to hold birding event at Sandstone Falls A Sunset Photo Workshop will be taking place on Saturday, May 4th and the Fin's Up Classic Car show will be taking place on May 25th. The rest of the month includes more live music from names like JonBen Slate, Shawn Benfield, and the band ..read more

GHENT, WV (WVNS) -- If you spend a lot of time outside, you may have already discovered an unwelcome visitor - a tick. Allergy season is upon us once more What should you do to avoid these pesky critters? If you will be outside hiking, walk in the middle of the trails and stay away from the underbrush. Ticks are often found on people after they trudge through high grass or wooded areas. Make sure to also treat your pet with tick prevention medicine recommended by your vet. It is also important to know the best way to remove a tick if you happen to get one on you. The best way to remove a tick ..read more

Tonight features shower chances decreasing as the evening progresses with our cold front heading off to the east. A stray sprinkle or two is possible after midnight, but they will be isolated. Patchy dense fog will develop in places as we head toward dawn, with low temperatures in the mid 50s. Our wind will switch to coming out of the west at 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday begins with a few clouds and patchy dense fog and we keep the risk for an isolated mountain sprinkle or two possible over the mountains early but everyone will see plenty of sunshine as we head into the afternoon with high pressure ..read more

FAIRDALE, WV (WVNS) -- A body was found with an apparent gunshot wound in the Fairdale area of Raleigh County. According to a press release, Raleigh County Sheriff's Deputies responded to reports of a shooting at a home on Beaver Pond Road in the Fairdale area of Raleigh County on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 7 AM. Once on scene, deputies found one person suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. The cause of the shooting remains under investigation. The name of the victim has not been released. No charges have been filed. Stick with 59News for updates as they become available ..read more