KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – More than 600 childcare centers across the state are at risk of closure according to the West Virginia Women’s Alliance, who attributes this to a lack of funding and a lack of professionals working in childcare. One center in the Kanawha County area, “Momma Bear’s” announced this week that it will close its doors on May 31 after struggling to stay afloat for months. Ahead of a special session, investing more dollars into the childcare system is on the forefront of parents’ and educators’ minds ..read more

GLASGOW, WV (WOWK) - A rule on the books in one eastern Kanawha County community says people need to keep their yards free of eyesores, but a request for people to follow the rules is being met with mixed reaction. Donald Fannin, the mayor of Glasgow, issued letters to 19 Glasgow homeowners who he says were breaking a local ordinance regarding inoperable vehicles being parked in yards. Homeowners were notified of their alleged violations, and the letter stated that if they don't take action soon, an official violation notice will be sent to them. These alleged violations could lead to a penalt ..read more

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) - There will soon be a new Kanawha County sheriff in town. The two candidates include Deputy Chief Joe Crawford and retired captain Sean Crosier ..read more

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) -- Democratic West Virginia gubernatorial candidate and Huntington Mayor Steve Williams wants voters to decide on the legality of abortion in the state. Williams wants Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) to include an abortion bill in the upcoming special session of the legislature. The bill would allow for that constitutional amendment to legalize abortion, to be decided by voters with a November ballot initiative ..read more

VIDEO: Chemical Safety Board cites poor safety systems as reason for deadly 2020 chemical plant explosion in Belle KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) -- A jury awarded $15 million to the family of John Gillenwater, who died in a 2020 explosion at the Optima-owned chemical plant in Belle, according to the family's attorney, Scott Segal. Many of Gillenwater's friends shared kind words about their friend who tragically died in that explosion in December 2020. Those friends said at the time that Gillenwater's volunteering in the community and helping struggling families both financially and emotionally wer ..read more

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) -- A federal jury convicted a Wyoming County ambulance service business owner for using taxes withheld from employees' wages improperly, accruing around $3.3 million in unpaid taxes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. They said Christopher Smyth, 48, of Pineville, operated Stat EMS, LLC. He was accused of using Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees' wages, the DOJ said in a press release ..read more

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — A recent study found that West Virginia goes all out for Mother's Day. Bet Kentucky used search data to give each state a search interest score for terms like "mom" and "Mother's Day," and West Virginia tops the list, followed by Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. The ranking is unsurprising considering that the first ever Mother's Day celebration took place in Grafton, West Virginia in 1908, and the state still observes the holiday at the International Mother’s Day Shrine—the birthplace of Mother's Day—every year. Mother's Day in 2024 will be on Sunday, May 12 ..read more

KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) - The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help locating a missing woman. According to the KCSO, Crystal Hope Cunningham, 35, of St. Albans was last seen May 1, 2024. Deputies say she reportedly left her home in Valencia Place in St. Albans that evening and has not been seen or heard from since. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW The KCSO says Cunningham was driving a gold Subaru Legacy with the license plate number "303435A" and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt an ..read more

WILLIAMSON, WV (WOWK) -- City of Williamson Mayor Charles Hatfield is scheduled to resign Friday afternoon, according to an emergency Williamson City Council meeting agenda. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Hatfield's replacement has not been named, but an appointment is scheduled ..read more

CLAY COUNTY, WV (WOWK) - Clay County Schools have given an all-clear and say that all students and staff are safe after a non-credible threat against one of their schools. According to Clay County Schools, officials learned about the alleged threat against Clay County Middle School on Thursday. The school's resource officer then contacted both the Clay County Sheriff's Office and West Virginia State Police. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW School officials say that after further investigation, the alleged threat was determi ..read more