AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Policy Backtrack: West Virginia has pulled away from a bid to host a federal advanced nuclear energy campus after a Gazette-Mail report raised alarms about long-term nuclear waste, with Gov. Patrick Morrisey saying the state “will not be a dumping ground.” Drug Policy Shakeup: West Virginia Democratic Party chair Mike Pushkin questioned the Morrisey administration after Dr. Stephen Loyd resigned as drug czar, saying he couldn’t identify the administration’s drug policy. Election Rules on the Ballot: A proposed constitutional amendment would bar noncitizens from voting in West Virginia elections, even though state law already requires U.S. citizenship to register. Fall Fun & Music: The West Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Milton drew Morrisey and a $300K Green Acres grant, while the Blues, Jazz, and Folk Music Society is set to bring saxophonist Vanessa Collier to the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta. Tech & Cyber in Charleston: “Charleston Zero Day” returns this weekend at the University of Charleston, focusing on cybersecurity, AI, and women in tech. Sports on WV Screens: WTAP will air Williamstown vs. Marietta on Oct. 2, plus WVU and Iowa State square off Saturday in Big 12 action.

Sports & Local TV: College football fans get the full TV schedule and channels for today’s slate, plus a big Big 12 matchup spotlight: Iowa State vs. West Virginia at 12 p.m. on TNT. Basketball Eligibility: A federal judge granted WVU men’s basketball players a fifth season of eligibility, extending the Mountaineers’ roster plans. College Sports Policy: WVU coach Rich Rodriguez says the College Sports Act is moving toward structure after the Senate passed it 77-22, sending it to the House. Pro Sports Spotlight: Dean Wade’s “really tall” arrival is framed as a defensive boost for the Sixers. Health & Community: LUCAS, WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, is scheduled across Lewis and Harrison counties in late October, with uninsured options via grant funding. Rural Care Funding: Gov. Morrisey announced millions in rural health transformation awards, including AI-assisted documentation tech and a mobile clinic push. Arts & Culture: Carnegie Hall was selected for Benedum Foundation Culture Collective grants, and a new documentary, “Catching Pine Cones,” hits the Black Hills Film Festival Oct. 2. Entertainment Tech: BetMGM and Blueprint Gaming bring the Game of Thrones slot to regulated U.S. markets, including West Virginia.

Health & Community: WVU Medicine’s LUCAS mobile lung cancer screening unit is set to visit Lewis and Harrison counties in late October, offering low-dose CT scans by appointment (private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare; uninsured may qualify via grant funding). Healthcare Policy: The Trump administration says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states—including West Virginia—will receive $500 Obamacare refund checks tied to federal exchange “user fees,” with payments starting in early October. College Sports (WV): A federal judge granted WVU athletes a fifth season of eligibility, and Rich Rodriguez praised the Senate’s progress on the College Sports Act. Arts & Entertainment (WV): Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg announced its Lobby Gallery artist Lee Ann Blevins and a packed October calendar, while the Benedum Foundation selected Carnegie Hall for its new Culture Collective grant. Music & Local Fun: The Briarhoppers return to the Lincoln Cultural Center this Saturday, and the 47th annual Wellsburg Applefest runs this weekend. Sports & Hobbies: Pierpont CTC broke ground on a new aviation education facility, and the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club hosts its Fall Show and Sale Oct. 24 at WVUP.

Health & Community: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, is set to visit Lewis and Harrison counties in late October, with appointments needed 14+ days ahead and options for uninsured patients via grant support. Local Arts & Culture: The West Virginia Humanities Council released its Fall 2026 digital magazine, People & Mountains, featuring journalist Rick Atkinson ahead of his Oct. 15 Capitol Theater lecture. Fall Fun & Tourism: Oglebay’s Boo at the Zoo and Fright Lights return in Wheeling with trick-or-treating, glowing lakeside displays, and a separate haunted house experience. Sports & Fan Life: WVU football tailgating culture stays front and center as fans gather for camaraderie and game-day traditions in Morgantown. Outdoors & Hobbies: West Virginia’s archery and crossbow seasons for deer, bear, and wild boar open Sept. 26, with electronic checking and stamp rules to plan ahead. Local Sports Scene: BOPARC and the Morgantown Curling Club launch a new curling league this fall, plus a learn-to-play event in October. Public Safety/Services: Valley Health’s emergency department staffing shift to SCP Health has drawn national attention. Business/Tech: Fort Gay is getting $3.1M in ARC funding to complete major wastewater improvements.

West Virginia Sports Spotlight: Mount Aloysius College’s rifle team opened the 2026-27 season with a program-record 4,587 points, including 279 centers, in a standout matchup against NCAA Division I powerhouse West Virginia. Community & Culture: Charleston’s FestivFALL returns for five days starting Tuesday, kicking off with a Drum Circle and featuring sold-out shows with Ann Magnuson, plus a free “Practical Magic” screening and a big Harvest Art Fair at Capitol Market. Local Health & Food: Athens’ Helpful Harvest Farm & Outreach Center is expanding fast—adding a rural health clinic, community kitchen, and classes after a $50,000 Kubota grant helped it grow from a pantry into a full community hub. Arts & Makers: Kraken Glass N Crafts will bring handmade stained and fused glass to Bridge Day’s West Virginia Hive Booth on Oct. 17. Entertainment Pop: Lil Wayne announced his engagement to Madi Cannon, months after reports of a breakup. Sports Schedule Note: WV high school swim meet dates for 2026-27 were published, with state meets running from fall through spring depending on the state.

Carnegie Hall (Lewisburg) Arts Calendar: Carnegie Hall’s Second Stage Series brings “Appalachian Acoustic” Oct. 15 with West Virginia songwriters Mary Dailey, Ron Sowell, and Aristotle Jones, plus a free Artwalk spotlight for multidisciplinary artist Melanie Myhre running through Oct. 30. Hands-On Craft: Carnegie Hall also hosts “Paper Quilling: Autumn Trees” Oct. 3 (ages 12+, $35) for a beginner-friendly, take-home shadowbox project. WVU Sports Spotlight: WVU rifle standout Oceanne Muller earns Student-Athlete of the Week after a perfect 600 air rifle score. Big 12 Football Buzz: Big 12 receiving leaders after Week 4 highlight West Virginia’s DJ Epps among the top pass-catchers. Local Game-Day Culture: WVU’s game-day production team gets attention for behind-the-scenes work that keeps fans plugged in. Health Watch (WV/region): Valley Health’s emergency department staffing shift—moving from EMBR to SCP Health starting Thursday—has drawn national scrutiny over cost-cutting and care quality.

WVU Sports & Media: In Morgantown, WVU men’s soccer staffers and game-day tech teams are getting spotlighted for the behind-the-scenes work that powers the fan experience, from operations to the press-box production that turns key moments into crowd energy. Local Arts: Plaza Diane is hosting Martin John Garhart’s “To There, From Here,” a slowly evolving art series you can even take home via an in-kind donation to local charities. Parks & Outdoors: Gov. Morrisey announced Land and Water Conservation Fund support for Cold Run Valley Park improvements in Morgan County and funding for a South Berkeley County park project. Hunting Season: WV DNR says archery and crossbow seasons for deer, bear, and wild boar open Sept. 26, with electronic checking and specific stamp and restriction reminders for hunters. Entertainment Spotlight: Robert Pattinson’s “Primetime” roundup highlights his knack for unsettling thrillers, with six must-watch options for fans of psychological crime.

Local Arts & Culture: West Virginia filmmaker Daniel Byers brings his horror feature “Dark Hollow” back for screenings after filming much of it in the state, turning the region’s extraction history into a monster-from-the-coal-mine story. Community Events: West Virginia Wesleyan College sets Homecoming 2026 for Oct. 9-11, with alumni check-in, campus tours, and class reunions kicking off the weekend. Festival Buzz: The 88th Mountain State Forest Festival opened in Elkins with “Autumn in Color” pageantry and performances at the Jennings Randolph Federal Center. Sports Behind the Scenes: WVU men’s soccer staff spotlighted—Ben Lohmann handles game-day operations, while press-box producer Sean Merinar runs the music and big-screen experience at Milan Puskar Stadium. Education & Legal Fight: ACLU-WV filed suit seeking court-ordered changes to West Virginia’s school funding formula, arguing officials failed their constitutional duty to maintain a “thorough and efficient” system. Reading Initiative: Gov. Morrisey launched the statewide “West Virginia’s Dolly Days Read-a-Thon” for K-5 students, with prizes and artwork displayed statewide.

Big 12 Football Buzz (WV): Oklahoma State ended a 1,036-day conference win drought with a 41-24 comeback over West Virginia in Morgantown. Drew Mestemaker threw for 389 yards and three TDs, while Wyatt Young hauled in eight catches for 192 yards and a score. OSU’s defense tightened up after halftime, including a key fourth-down stop that flipped the game. Rankings Shake-Up: The AP Top 25 got major movement after Week 4. Florida jumped to No. 8 after beating Ole Miss 52-28, while Texas stayed No. 1 and UCLA returned to the rankings at No. 23. Local Education Numbers: Berkeley County colleges awarded 2,583 degrees and certificates in 2023-24, with medical billing/insurance specialist credentials leading the list. Arts & Culture Note: Carnegie Hall is set to feature Appalachian Acoustic, and there’s plenty of fall-festival energy across the region. Entertainment Picks: Need a family-friendly scary movie plan? A guide breaks recommendations by kids’ ages.

Big 12 Football (WV): Oklahoma State ended a 1,036-day conference-win drought by rallying past West Virginia 41-24 in Morgantown, with Drew Mestemaker throwing for 389 yards and three TDs and Caleb Hawkins running for 180. College Football (Sports TV): A Week 4 slate is packed with ranked-on-ranked matchups, plus a big SEC storyline as the league’s depth keeps shaping CFP talk. Family Halloween Movies: A guide breaks down “scary” picks by age—little kids, tweens, and teens—so everyone gets a Halloween movie night that fits. Local Arts & Community: Bridgeport’s Almost Heaven LEGO Bash drew crowds with more than a million bricks and TV-famous LEGO artists. West Virginia Culture/Creatures: The Albatwitch Festival in Columbia kept going despite rain, leaning into local cryptid lore. Collectibles: KOVELS spotlights cold-painted bronze figures as a hot collectible category. Sports on TV/Radio: Listings for Sept. 27–Oct. 3 include major NFL, college football, soccer, and more.

High School Football Live: Moorefield hosts Petersburg in a 7 p.m. ET WVSSAC matchup Saturday, with NFHS Network streaming the game. College Sports Spotlight: West Virginia opens Big 12 play Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET vs. Oklahoma State on FS1, aiming to carry momentum after a 38-27 win over Virginia. More Football on the Board: Robert Morris gets its second FBS shot Saturday, traveling to face Buffalo at 3:30 p.m. Gas Watch (West Virginia): E85 deals keep popping up—Berkeley County hits $3.59/gal (week ending Sept. 19), while several counties list $3.79. Diesel lows include Jefferson County at $5.79/gal and Barbour County at $5.99/gal. Road Safety Reminder: Buckhannon police say a crash that wrecked into a utility pole and residence led to a DUI arrest; they’re urging sober driving. Education & Community: Cabell County colleges conferred 2,956 degrees/certificates in 2023-24, and Wood County reported 709.

Pediatric Care Expansion: Construction is advancing on the $16M WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s Robert Sonneborn Family Pediatric Outpatient Center at Wheeling Hospital, with about 40 exam rooms, separate sick/well wings, an after-hours clinic, and Austin’s Playroom—slated to open Q1 2027. Literacy for Kids: Tygart Valley United Way is joining Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for Randolph, Tucker and Marion counties, mailing free books to children from birth to age 5. West Virginia Sports & Culture: Morgantown’s Dave & Buster’s opened its second WV location after a ribbon cutting, bringing a big arcade plus restaurant and sports bar. Outdoor Season: West Virginia’s archery and crossbow seasons open Sept. 26 for deer, bear and wild boar. Big 12 Spotlight: WVU heads into its Oklahoma State opener with Zac Alley calling out a “play to win” finish. Community & Governance: Hancock County commissioners adopted Robert’s Rules of Order after a record dispute. Arts & Music: Ian Noe drops a new album, “Canyon Falls Trailer Band,” adding to Appalachia’s growing alt-country buzz.

Local Arts & Community: Governor Morrisey kicked off the 84th Preston County Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood, celebrating nearly 90 years of agriculture, music, parades, and buckwheat cake traditions. Literacy & Pop Culture: Morrisey also launched West Virginia’s Dolly Days Read-a-Thon for K-5 students, running Oct. 1–Dec. 31 with a goal of 25 books and library storytime tie-ins. Entertainment & Live Music: Warriors Rock is set for Oct. 11 at the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, pairing concert performances with veteran and first-responder stories. Sports (WV angle): A West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State Big 12 matchup is being billed as the weekend’s must-see game, with both teams entering undefeated. Education & Legal Fight: A lawsuit asks the West Virginia Supreme Court to order a full overhaul of the state school funding system, arguing current funding is unconstitutional. Health & Safety: A measles update shows cases rising nationwide, while a Clancy case could spur new state action on postpartum depression and psychosis support.

New Entertainment Spot in Morgantown: ICON Cinemas is set to take over Pullman Square in Huntington on Oct. 1, with a major renovation turning the space into a full entertainment hub—premium screens, laser projection, bowling, gaming, and food and drink—aiming for a summer 2027 reopening. Local Arts & Film: Nearly 40 years after it was made in West Virginia, Danny Boyd’s cult horror “Chillers” is returning to theaters this fall, alongside other screenings celebrating his legacy. Sports & Community: Elkins High School named its 2026 Homecoming Court, and Davis & Elkins College will honor alumni during Homecoming Weekend at Myles Center for the Arts. Music/Philanthropy: Tyler Childers’ Healing Appalachia mission continues through Hope in the Hills, which helped fund recovery work and supports SOAR WV’s Save a Life Day. Tourism Spotlight: Visit Mercer County won the West Virginia Department of Tourism’s 2026 Digital Innovation Award for its digital marketing push. Sports Betting (National): Week 4 college football picks and NFL promo coverage are driving attention ahead of big matchups.

Big 12 Football Spotlight: West Virginia opens Big 12 play at home Saturday night against Oklahoma State, a matchup that pits WVU’s league-best rushing attack against OSU’s pass-heavy offense. WVU Campus Life: WVU estimates more than 3,500 students turned out for Mountaineer Midway and Movie, replacing the long-running FallFest Welcome Week concert. Appalachian Arts & Music: Carnegie Hall’s Second Stage Series brings “Appalachian Acoustic” to Lewisburg’s Old Stone Room on Oct. 15 with West Virginia songwriters Mary Dailey, Ron Sowell and Aristotle Jones. Tourism & Spooky Season: The free West Virginia Paranormal Trail returns for 2026 with a new stop at Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. Local Business/Travel: Visit Mercer County earns the state’s 2026 Digital Innovation Award for a connected digital marketing strategy. Community Events: The 6th Annual Carl Hopkins West Virginia Youth Aviation Expo runs Sept. 25–26 in Bridgeport, with hands-on STEM and model aviation. Energy Watch: GasBuddy reports show West Virginia regular prices averaging $4.22 per gallon for the week ending Sept. 19, with diesel averaging $6.12.

Local Arts & Community: Charleston’s “Us & Them: Dinner Party” returns with a potluck where West Virginians from across the political aisle talk issues ahead of the midterms, with more gatherings planned in Huntington and Morgantown. Theatre Spotlight: WVU Theatre and Dance stages “POTUS” (Sept. 24-27, Sept. 30-Oct. 4) in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre, a farce about the women behind the president who never appear onstage. Arts in Public Spaces: Yeager Airport is gearing up for its 80th anniversary next year and is eyeing an “arts in the airport” fundraiser to bring local artwork into the terminal. Sports on TV (WV-friendly): WTAP will air a Federal Hocking vs. Belpre high school football game live Friday, Sept. 25, with streaming on WTAP’s site/app/YouTube. Health & Safety: SOAR West Virginia is preparing for National Save A Life Day, handing out naloxone kits statewide and nationwide. Local Governance: Steubenville City Council approved a parking pad variance to help a resident with limited mobility. Legal/Policy: West Virginia Supreme Court justices heard arguments over whether the Legislature can reject education rules before they take effect.