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From Mothman To The Silver Bridge: 13 Months In The Life Of A Local Journalist
WVPB steps back in time to explore some of the first news stories written about what has arguably become West Virginia’s most beloved cryptid.
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— WBOY 12News (@WBOY12News) October 18, 2025
Across West Virginia, at least 20 communities held their own demonstrations and rallies as part of the national No Kings movement. The protests are named in response to what organizers call authoritarian overreach by President Donald Trumpu2019s administration.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:16:"dropcapBodyStyle";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:4;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:177:"In Fayetteville, just up the road from Bridge Day festivities, social media posts show a small contingency lined U.S 19 with a banner that read u201cNo Kings in America.u201d
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:5;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:4:"role";s:5:"tweet";s:3:"URL";s:57:"https://twitter.com/colleen_wv/status/1979576699420377476";s:6:"layout";s:12:"tweet-layout";}i:6;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:157:"In Fairmont, WBOY 12 reported on X a group of around 100 demonstrators lining the Fairmont Gateway Connector at the intersection with Merchant Street.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:7;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:4:"role";s:5:"tweet";s:3:"URL";s:57:"https://twitter.com/WBOY12News/status/1979615980952121696";s:6:"layout";s:12:"tweet-layout";}i:8;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:233:"Several hundred people turned out at the state capitol to mark the nationwide No Kings Day protests. A litany of community activists and speakers took to the microphone to rally the crowd to get involved and to stay informed.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:9;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:229:"Attendees varied in age from small children to senior citizens. Taking their cue from the Portland, Oregon frog, a protestor on the front lines of the ICE protests in that city, several attendees were in costumes as well.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:10;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:4:"role";s:9:"container";s:10:"components";a:2:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:5:"photo";s:3:"URL";s:141:"https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/101825-No-Kings-Charleston-Capitol-Eric-Douglas-West-Virginia-Public-Broadcasting-700x525.jpg";s:6:"layout";s:29:"full-width-image-with-caption";s:7:"caption";s:195:"Protestors stay in the shade on the state Capitol complex during No King demonstrations in Charleston Oct. 18, 2025.Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:7:"caption";s:4:"text";s:195:"Protestors stay in the shade on the state Capitol complex during No King demonstrations in Charleston Oct. 18, 2025.
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The first No Kings rally was held on June 14 not long after President Donald Trump shared an AI generated photo of himself dressed like royalty and wearing a crown.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:12;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:239:"There were only a few counter protestors, mostly remaining quiet. One man stood silently at the edge of the protest along Kanawha Boulevard holding a flag while a group of young women stood in front of him and obscured his message.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:13;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:54:"The Charleston rally lasted from noon to 3 p.m.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:14;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:4:"role";s:9:"container";s:10:"components";a:2:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:5:"photo";s:3:"URL";s:142:"https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/101825-No-Kings-Charleston-Costumes-Eric-Douglas-West-Virginia-Public-Broadcasting-700x525.jpg";s:6:"layout";s:29:"full-width-image-with-caption";s:7:"caption";s:181:"Inflatable animal costumes were a popular choice among some demonstrators in Charleston Oct. 18, 2025.Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:7:"caption";s:4:"text";s:181:"Inflatable animal costumes were a popular choice among some demonstrators in Charleston Oct. 18, 2025.
Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";s:9:"textStyle";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:15:"Helvetica-Light";s:8:"fontSize";i:14;s:8:"tracking";d:-0.01;s:10:"lineHeight";i:19;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#999999";}s:6:"layout";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"bottom";i:25;}}}}s:6:"layout";a:0:{}}i:15;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:4:"role";s:9:"container";s:10:"components";a:2:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:5:"photo";s:3:"URL";s:146:"https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/101825-No-Kings-Morgantown-Protest-Frog-Chris-Schulz-West-Virginia-Public-Broadcasting-700x467.jpg";s:6:"layout";s:29:"full-width-image-with-caption";s:7:"caption";s:212:"Abigail Wiernik said she was inspired by protestors in Portland to dressed as a frog for the Morgantown demonstration Oct. 18, 2025.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:7:"caption";s:4:"text";s:212:"Abigail Wiernik said she was inspired by protestors in Portland to dressed as a frog for the Morgantown demonstration Oct. 18, 2025.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";s:9:"textStyle";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:15:"Helvetica-Light";s:8:"fontSize";i:14;s:8:"tracking";d:-0.01;s:10:"lineHeight";i:19;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#999999";}s:6:"layout";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"bottom";i:25;}}}}s:6:"layout";a:0:{}}i:16;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:137:"
In Morgantown at many as 400 demonstrators marched through downtown and to an amphitheater on the banks of the Monongahela River.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:17;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:402:"As in Charleston, some protestors donned inflatable animal costumes. Morgantown demonstrator Abigail Wiernik said she dressed as a frog as an homage to a Portland protestoru2019s dedication after being pepper sprayed wearing a similar outfit while protesting outside of an ICE detention center. She said she hoped that the dayu2019s action might help stop cuts to the countryu2019s health care system.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:18;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:160:"u201cWe need to speak up against the things that are happening, cutting our health care for our neighbors,u201d she said. u201cThatu2019s not cool.u201d she said.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:19;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:119:"Wiernik, who volunteers at a food pantry, said the shelves are nearly empty every time she shows up for a shift.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:20;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:288:"u201cWeu2019re going to have kids that are starving once the SNAP benefits are cut,u201d she said. u201cWe have got to stop cutting our services and spending more money on ice and military that we do not need. Take that money back, put it back into our services and let the people live.u201d
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:21;O:8:"stdClass":3:{s:4:"role";s:9:"container";s:10:"components";a:2:{i:0;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:5:"photo";s:3:"URL";s:140:"https://wvpublic.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/101825-No-Kings-Morgantown-Street-Chris-Schulz-West-Virginia-Public-Broadcasting-700x973.jpg";s:6:"layout";s:29:"full-width-image-with-caption";s:7:"caption";s:199:"Marchers in Morgantown snaked around an several city blocks as they made their way down to the riverfront Oct. 18, 2025.Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:7:"caption";s:4:"text";s:199:"Marchers in Morgantown snaked around an several city blocks as they made their way down to the riverfront Oct. 18, 2025.
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Photo Credit: Bill Lynch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";}i:1;O:8:"stdClass":4:{s:4:"role";s:7:"caption";s:4:"text";s:257:"Reports from around the country indicated the carnival atmosphere of demonstrations, something that was on full display in Charleston and elsewhere in West Virginia Oct. 18, 2025.
Photo Credit: Bill Lynch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting";s:9:"textStyle";O:8:"stdClass":6:{s:13:"textAlignment";s:4:"left";s:8:"fontName";s:15:"Helvetica-Light";s:8:"fontSize";i:14;s:8:"tracking";d:-0.01;s:10:"lineHeight";i:19;s:9:"textColor";s:7:"#999999";}s:6:"layout";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"margin";O:8:"stdClass":1:{s:6:"bottom";i:25;}}}}s:6:"layout";a:0:{}}i:23;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:312:"
Cynthia Fox was one of the main organizers of the Morgantown event as part of the Mountaineers Indivisible Citizen Action Group. Fox highlighted the name of the event, u201cStand With Labor And Working Families: A No Kings Eventu201d as an indication of organizersu2019 desire to build community and solidarity.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:24;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:497:"u201cWe donu2019t want people to just be a knee jerk reaction to every little direction the wind changes, because weu2019re also looking at long term community building,u201d Fox said. u201cIf you look at the people that weu2019ve reached out to, a broad community, people come table, tell us about the work you do in the community. NAACP is here, Sierra Club is here, League of Women Voters are here, and they donu2019t usually do things like this. So weu2019re reaching out to people in the community.u201d
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:25;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:466:"Organizers like Fox recognize the appeal of a large, flashy event like No Kings. She acknowledges that after a similar event in April, where more than 1000 people attended, support and engagement quickly evaporated. But Fox hopes that hearing from planned speakers like teachers and nurses about the impacts of the administrationu2019s actions will inspire them to maintain the dayu2019s momentum and take one other action to build a community in the coming days.
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16:39:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-10-17 20:39:00","post_content":"nA Kanawha County judge has dismissed a case seeking a religious exemption to school vaccine requirements.
nnnnWest Virginia Watch reported Friday that Judge Richard Lindsay dismissed the lawsuit against the Kanawha County Board of Education, finding that the stateu2019s vaccination laws satisfy u201ca compelling state interestu201d to protect against illnesses.
nnnnCorey Palumbo was the lead counsel in the Kanawha County Board of Educationu2019s defense of the case. He said Lindsay ruled that the stateu2019s laws satisfied standards set forth in the Equal Protection for Religion Act, a 2023 law that has often been cited in support of religious vaccine exemptions.
nnnnu201cHe ruled that even if the Equal Protection for Religion Act applied to the vaccine law, that the vaccine law would meet the strict scrutiny standard, that there was a compelling state interest to protect the health and well-being of the school children in West Virginia, and that policy, the [compulsory vaccine law] is narrowly tailored to support that state interest,u201d Palumbo said.
nnnnNakesha Watson filed suit in September on behalf of her child. The child received an exemption to school-required vaccinations from the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health but was then rejected by the school district and has not been allowed to attend school due to being unvaccinated.
nnnnGov. Patrick Morrisey has directed families to apply to the bureau for exemptions, but in June the West Virginia Board of Education directed school districts to uphold state law and not accept such exemptions.
nnnnu201cThey are statutorily required to follow the policy of the state board of education, and the state board of education has maintained a policy of enforcing the compulsory vaccine law as it's written,u201d Palumbo said. u201cAnd the compulsory vaccine law as it's written provides for a medical exemption to the vaccine requirement, but it does not provide for a religious, philosophical or conscientious exemption.u201d
nnnnAccording to Watch reporter Lori Kersey, Watson was representing herself in the case, but failed to appear at two hearings this week.
nnnnThe Kanawha County case is one of several being heard across West Virginia on the issue of vaccine exemptions, spurred on by Morriseyu2019s January executive order. The dismissal comes just one week after a judge certified statewide class action status in one Raleigh County vaccine exemption suit.
nnnnPalumbo also relayed that the judge ruled Friday that the executive order does not have the power of law.
nnnnu201cThe judge ruled today the governor, through his executive order, is not empowered to make a law, and I think that's just consistent with general principles of separation of power,u201d he said. u201cThe legislature makes the laws, the executive branch administers the laws, and the courts, the judiciary interprets the laws, and I think that's what the judge found today.u201d
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";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:16:"dropcapBodyStyle";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:4;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:481:"West Virginia Watch reported Friday that Judge Richard Lindsay dismissed the lawsuit against the Kanawha County Board of Education, finding that the stateu2019s vaccination laws satisfy u201ca compelling state interestu201d to protect against illnesses.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:5;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:360:"Corey Palumbo was the lead counsel in the Kanawha County Board of Educationu2019s defense of the case. He said Lindsay ruled that the stateu2019s laws satisfied standards set forth in the Equal Protection for Religion Act, a 2023 law that has often been cited in support of religious vaccine exemptions.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:6;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:396:"u201cHe ruled that even if the Equal Protection for Religion Act applied to the vaccine law, that the vaccine law would meet the strict scrutiny standard, that there was a compelling state interest to protect the health and well-being of the school children in West Virginia, and that policy, the [compulsory vaccine law] is narrowly tailored to support that state interest,u201d Palumbo said.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:7;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:295:"Nakesha Watson filed suit in September on behalf of her child. The child received an exemption to school-required vaccinations from the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health but was then rejected by the school district and has not been allowed to attend school due to being unvaccinated.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:8;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:366:"Gov. Patrick Morrisey has directed families to apply to the bureau for exemptions, but in June the West Virginia Board of Education directed school districts to uphold state law and not accept such exemptions.
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:9;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:425:"u201cThey are statutorily required to follow the policy of the state board of education, and the state board of education has maintained a policy of enforcing the compulsory vaccine law as itu2019s written,u201d Palumbo said. u201cAnd the compulsory vaccine law as itu2019s written provides for a medical exemption to the vaccine requirement, but it does not provide for a religious, philosophical or conscientious exemption.u201d
";s:6:"format";s:4:"html";s:9:"textStyle";s:12:"default-body";s:6:"layout";s:11:"body-layout";}i:10;O:8:"stdClass":5:{s:4:"role";s:4:"body";s:4:"text";s:140:"According to Watch reporter Lori Kersey, Watson was representing herself in the case, but failed to appear at two hearings this week.
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The West Virginia Department of Administration is currently developing an online portal to consolidate its business permitting process into a single webpage. Now, it seeks feedback from stakeholders with insight into the process.
On Friday, the department filed a formal request for information (RFI) with the West Virginia Purchasing Division regarding the new portal. This first phase of the project authorizes the department to collect written feedback from potential users before development.
Comments submitted under the RFI will be publicly accessible, according to a Friday press release from the governor’s office. This information “will help shape the technical and functional requirements for the future permitting system,” the press release said.
Nicknamed the “One Stop Shop,” the portal is to be modeled after a similar online tool in Pennsylvania.
The West Virginia Legislature authorized its creation in April with the passage of House Bill 2002, a piece of legislation introduced on behalf of Gov. Patrick Morrisey. Morrisey signed the bill into law on April 30.
“Having a simplified permitting process is going to help businesses move to West Virginia and get started here quickly,” Morrisey said in the press release.
Morrisey has named economic development a key focus of his first year as governor. Friday’s announcement comes on the heels of a new initiative Morrisey announced Thursday to expand job opportunities in the state through “targeted investments” in select companies.
“Speed is a priority in my economic development strategy,” Morrisey said. “The one-stop permitting portal is going to quickly create more jobs and opportunities for West Virginians.”
The new portal will include mechanisms to submit applications and permits, track submissions, process payments, renew permits and communicate with state agencies, according to the governor.
Eric Householder, secretary of the Department of Administration, described the project as “transformative” for the state.
“Our objective is to replace outdated and fragmented systems with a user-friendly platform that simplifies the process for applicants and allows agencies to more effectively manage, track and respond to permit requests,” Householder said in the press release.
The department urged “qualified vendors with experience in enterprise permitting systems” to submit written feedback through the state’s vendor self-service portal.
“By engaging with vendors early through the RFI process, we can gain a clearer understanding of what technologies are available and how they can be tailored to fit West Virginia’s unique permitting environment,” Householder said.
At least 20 communities held their own demonstrations and rallies as part of the national No Kings movement.
Judge Richard Lindsay dismissed the lawsuit against the Kanawha County Board of Education, one of several arguing the case for religious exemptions to the state’s compulsory vaccine law in schools.
How artificial intelligence and changes in the workforce are shaping higher education was the focus on a panel discussion Thursday at Marshall University.
The demonstrations are part of the larger “No Kings Day” national movement, named in response to what organizers call authoritarian overreach by President Donald Trump’s administration.
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