AGP Executive Report

Culture & Arts in WV: The West Virginia Culture Center is set to close much of its space for renovations, with no new event reservations accepted for 2027; Mountain Stage will also have to relocate performances while work is underway. Local Arts Events: Huntington’s Ritter Park hosted “Art in the Park,” bringing regional artists to the community. Music & Community Spotlight: “In Focus” features Monroe County singer-songwriter Brett Mahon, discussing his roots and new work. Sports (WV ties): West Virginia’s upset win over No. 25 Virginia is driving Big 12 buzz, while Clemson’s freshman QB Tait Reynolds impressed in his first start. Outdoors & Fall Fun: The Monongahela National Forest’s Cranberry Shindig returns Sept. 27 with music, square dancing, artisans, and family activities. Home & Lifestyle: Zillow reports Hancock County’s typical home value rose 9% to $145,274 in August 2026. Arts Business: Cleveland Artists Foundation hires Grafton Nunes as executive director and reopens in a new Prospect Avenue space.

West Virginia Sports: WVU kept rolling in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, beating No. 25 Virginia 38-27 behind QB Michael Hawkins Jr.’s 313 yards and five total TDs, a big confidence boost as the Mountaineers start 3-0 under Rich Rodriguez. College Football Rankings: Ole Miss jumped to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 after beating LSU 32-24, while LSU fell to No. 10; the SEC now has 10 teams ranked. Arts & Culture (WV): Huntington’s Ritter Park hosted “Art in the Park,” bringing juried creators and live art to the Tri-State area. State Museum Update: The West Virginia Culture Center is set to close much of next year for renovations, with no new 2027 reservations being taken (Mountain Stage included). Music News: Veteran country music journalist Edward Morris died at 90. Weather: Tornado warnings and flood watches swept parts of Ohio and the Cincinnati area as storms pushed east.

College Football (AP Top 25): Ole Miss surged to No. 4 after a 32-24 win over LSU, while LSU slipped to No. 10 and Florida plus Mississippi State cracked the rankings—giving the SEC 10 teams in the poll. West Virginia Sports: WVU kept rolling at 3-0, knocking off No. 25 Virginia 38-27 in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, earning AP votes and momentum heading into Big 12 play. Big 12 Spotlight: Texas Tech climbed to No. 11 in the AP poll after a win over Houston, and BYU and Utah also rose again. Arts & Community (WV): The West Virginia Fiber Festival brought homemade wool products and hands-on education, and the WVU Core Arboretum hosted its Pawpaw Festival. Local Education/Training: Pierpont Community & Technical College will break ground Sept. 30 on a new Aviation Maintenance Technology facility at the West Virginia AeroTech Park. Sports on the Air: A full TV/radio guide for Sept. 20-26 includes major matchups and where to watch.

College Football (WVU): West Virginia pulled off a big statement in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, beating No. 25 Virginia 38-27 in Charlotte. Rich Rodriguez praised the Mountaineers’ hard play, fans, and defensive adjustments, while the win kept WVU rolling at 3-0. Sports Schedule (WV fans): A full slate of Sunday TV/radio listings is out for Sept. 20, plus ongoing “how to watch” guides for the week’s college matchups. Local Arts & Culture: Huntington’s Art in the Park returned with juried artists across painting, photography, and pottery, while Morgantown hosted the West Virginia Wine and Jazz Festival and the ninth annual Pawpaw Festival at the WVU Core Arboretum. Community Spotlight: Belleville Homecoming wrapped up with tractor pulls, a parade, vendors, an antique car show, and live music—another year of rural tradition bringing neighbors together. Music Night Pick: Terminal West is set for Swamp Dogg, with the venue calling it a rare stop for the genre-bending living legend. Education/Scholarship: Capital University announced a new scholarship for students from Appalachian counties in Ohio and West Virginia, aimed at lowering financial barriers.

College Football (Week 3): LSU vs. Ole Miss is the headline tonight with Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, while Alabama hosts Florida State and SMU travels to Louisville in another big ACC test. How to watch: ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, and streaming trials (like Fubo/DIRECTV) are driving the TV lineup, with Sling also promoted for broader access. WV sports spotlight: West Virginia vs. Virginia is listed on ACC Network, plus WV’s Duke’s Mayo Classic Fan Fest in Charlotte is set ahead of the Mountaineers’ 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Local arts & community: A Myrtle Beach “Sundays on the Plaza” music series is built around originality and local/regional bands, showing how community partnerships can keep live music thriving. Data center debate in WV: West Virginia lawmakers and residents clash over data center momentum and local notice, with advocates pushing back at how projects move forward. WV culture/history: Remembering WWII hero “Dorie” Miller and a Somerset-area 9/11 local-journalism story add a reflective edge to the week.

College Football (WV spotlight): West Virginia and No. 25 Virginia renew their rivalry in Charlotte’s Duke’s Mayo Classic (ACC Network, 7:30 p.m. ET). Sports TV/Radio Guide: A full Week 3 slate is set across TV and radio, including WVU’s matchup plus ranked showdowns like LSU-Ole Miss and Florida-Auburn. Local Arts & Culture Accountability: A new audit says the state’s arts department had major financial and inventory problems, including missing museum artifacts—now under the Tourism Department. Health (LUCAS): WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, is scheduled for Summers, Greenbrier, and Ritchie counties in October, with options for insured and eligible uninsured patients. Community & Culture: Point Pleasant’s Mothman Festival returns this weekend with music, movies, and paranormal speakers, plus a new Mothman statue replica shop opening Saturday. WVU Research Boost: Capito and Justice announced $2.2M for WVU to modernize BioNano and Chemistry NMR research facilities. Politics/Local Governance: Monongalia County commission candidates debate Flock camera use as residents raise surveillance concerns. Business/Tech (WV ties): AI data center builder Nscale filed for a New York IPO, tied to its West Virginia campus deal with Anthropic.

WVU Research Boost: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Sen. Jim Justice announced $2.2 million in NIST research funding for WVU’s BioNano and Chemistry NMR facilities, putting new tools in the hands of students and researchers. Rural Media Spotlight: WVU Reed School hosts “America’s Rural Future: What do we lose without local news?” Sept. 23, with panels on rural news deserts and rebuilding local information ecosystems in Appalachia. Health on the Move: WVU Medicine’s LUCAS mobile lung cancer screening unit will visit Summers, Greenbrier, and Ritchie counties in October, offering LDCT scans with options for insured and eligible uninsured patients. Local Emergency: Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a 30-day state of emergency in Mason County after severe storms caused riverbank erosion near Point Pleasant, threatening a rail line. Music & Culture: West Virginia-raised entertainment journalist Edward Morris (Billboard/CMT) died at 90, remembered for decades covering country music and writing eight books. New Music: Hayboy released “smartness & dollars,” a gritty, crowd-ready single about ambition versus what truly matters. Film Festival Buzz: “DISCONNECTED” was selected for the 35th Heartland Film Festival, premiering Oct. 15 in Indianapolis, with a story set in West Virginia about an AI platform fueling teen cyberbullying.

Health & Community: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, is heading to Summers, Greenbrier, and Ritchie counties in October, offering low-dose CT scans with appointments required 14+ days ahead (Summers Oct. 13; Rainelle Oct. 14; Harrisville Oct. 16). Education & Local Pride: Hope Scholarship participation is nearly doubling in Upshur and Randolph counties, with the statewide program fully funded for FY 2027. Arts & Entertainment: The Keith-Albee in Huntington will screen the classic comedy “9 to 5” Sept. 25 as a fundraiser for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Sports (WV ties): Big 12 hoops schedules are out, with Kansas opening conference play Jan. 2 vs. West Virginia and BYU hosting WVU Jan. 23. Public Service: West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports stable finances heading into the new fiscal year, despite a prior-year operating loss. Local Events: Parkersburg’s second annual West Virginia Food Truck Festival runs Saturday at Bicentennial Park with live music and family-friendly fun.

College Sports, NIL: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito says her Protect College Sports Act (S. 4668) is moving through the Senate, aiming to bring order to NIL and transfer rules while protecting women’s and Olympic sports. Basketball Schedules: The Big 12 released 2026-27 women’s slates, with Kansas opening league play at home vs. West Virginia (Jan. 2) and Kansas State starting at Baylor (Jan. 2) under new coach Casey Alexander. Education & Training: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon toured the Woody Williams Center in Cabell County, highlighting career and technical programs from welding and carpentry to cosmetology and nursing assistance. WV Tourism, Paranormal: Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park in Pocahontas County is joining the West Virginia Paranormal Trail for 2026. Local Film: Mercer County’s “Disconnected” lands a Heartland Film Festival premiere run in Indianapolis (Oct. 8–18), with a WV premiere date still to come. Arts & Community: Charleston Ballet announces “The Legend of Mothman” world premiere Oct. 23–24. Music: Mountain Stage’s Song of the Week spotlights Tristen’s “Skin of Our Teeth.” Business/Entertainment: WVU students are reviving the Fashion Business Association, building a stronger fashion community on campus.

Local Arts & Film: The Mtn Craft Film Festival returns to Clarksburg’s RGPAC with free admission, featuring 39 short films by Appalachian filmmakers plus workshops and a Heritage Screening honoring Danny Boyd. Sports Calendar: The Hope Gas Backyard Basketball Classic is set for Dec. 9 at PPG Paints Arena, with Pitt vs. WVU and Duquesne vs. Robert Morris in a doubleheader. Community Spotlight: United Way of Central West Virginia’s annual Day of Caring drew 1,200 volunteers for repairs and renovations across multiple counties. Education & Attendance: WVU’s Mountaineer mascot surprised Lubeck Elementary students during a “Top Secret Day” attendance push. Public Service: WV Kinship Hub launched to help foster and kinship families find support and resources privately online. Local Business/Infrastructure: West Virginia American Water will buy three Fayette County utilities for $13 million, with rate changes over three years and plans to address long-running sewage leaks. Health/Tech in Higher Ed: Marshall University named its first chief academic AI officer, David Wiley, to guide innovation and academic integrity. Crime & Courts: A West Virginia woman faces charges after investigators say she left her frail husband on a toilet for 19 hours, contributing to his death. Sports Notes: WVU’s Rich Rodriguez praised Tony Elliott ahead of WVU vs. Virginia in Charlotte.

Appalachian Film Spotlight: The Mtn Craft Film Festival is back with 39 short films from Appalachian creators, free screenings over two days, plus workshops and a live Winners Q&A—this is North Central WV culture you can actually jump into. Music Moment: Ella Langley turned heads at the Charleston Coliseum by pulling a 1952 Kitty Wells classic from her setlist—proof old-school country still hits hard. Local Arts & Events: The Clay Center is set to debut “Roar and Explore with Dinosaurs” Sept. 26, while ArtsLink’s Simple Gifts folk duo plays Sept. 22 and its Coffeehouse Series wraps with Shortline Junction. Community & Heritage: Owen County Library hosts a tribute to fiddling legend Bill Livers on Oct. 1. WV Public Media: West Virginia Public Broadcasting reports stable overall finances despite a hiring freeze and tight budgets. Privacy & Tech: Data broker Radaris loses domains in a New Jersey privacy fight. Sports: WVU’s Prince Strachan is a possible return target ahead of a big matchup vs. Virginia.

Sports Betting Safety Push: The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS (plus players associations) are urging states to permanently revoke betting privileges for anyone who threatens or abusively harasses athletes, citing rising online and in-person harassment. Big 12 Football Buzz: BYU and Utah are separating at the top heading into Week 3, with Texas Tech vs. Houston highlighted as a key spotlight matchup. WV College Football Rivalry: No. 25 Virginia renews its long-dormant rivalry with West Virginia in Charlotte, with Rich Rodriguez pointing to Virginia’s veteran-heavy roster. Local Faith & Community: Steelers chaplain Kent Chevalier is set to speak at West Virginia Wesleyan College Sept. 25. West Virginia History & Outdoors: Fayetteville’s Civil War-era Janutolo Well is drawing renewed attention, and WV’s regular squirrel season opens Sept. 12. Arts & Film: The Mtn Craft Film Festival returns with 39 Appalachian short films, workshops, and a Heritage Screening honoring Danny Boyd. Music Spotlight: Buffalo Nichols is profiled as a revolutionary blues voice tied to America’s cultural struggle.

Live Music & Community: American Rebel Light Beer helped headline Black Oak Amphitheater’s Sept. 11 25th anniversary 9/11 tribute with Big & Rich, Craig Morgan and more, spotlighting first responders and military. Sports Betting Safety: The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS (with players unions) urged state regulators to permanently ban bettors who harass or threaten athletes and families, plus create a faster reporting path. EPA & Energy Policy: The EPA moved to repeal Biden-era greenhouse gas limits for coal and natural gas power plants, arguing it will cut compliance costs and support grid reliability, while critics warn of worse pollution and climate impacts. West Virginia Campus Watch: WVU President Michael Benson laid out plans for a “modernized” and more affordable university, including new leadership roles and health infrastructure expansion. West Virginia Arts & Education: WVDE announced the 2026 Culineering Challenge for CTE teams at the Charleston Coliseum, themed “Crash Test Yummy,” blending culinary creativity with engineering. West Virginia Sports Recruiting: Montverde point guard Javion Tyndale will announce his college commitment Monday on the CBS Sports College Basketball YouTube channel, with West Virginia among finalists. West Virginia Culture Calendar: Marlinton’s Hammons Family Fiddle & Banjo Contest + World Class Jam returns Sept. 25–26 with contests, square dancing and downtown performances. Gas Prices (WV): GasBuddy reported the cheapest regular gas in Preston County at $3.89 (week ending Sept. 5), while premium in Kanawha County hit a low of $4.69.

WVU Sports: Michael Hawkins Jr. says he’s calm and confident as WVU heads into a big nonconference test—Sept. 26 vs. No. 25 Virginia, with the game set for FS1 at 7 p.m. and a Gold Rush theme at Milan Puskar Stadium. Stadium Upgrade: WVU also announced a new premium seating and press box tower aimed at the 2028 season, adding luxury suites and more space for media and broadcasts. Public Safety Tech Debate: Huntington City Council approved guardrails for Flock Safety cameras, moving forward on a $2.1 million contract after months of pushback over surveillance concerns. Health & Community: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, will visit Mercer, Nicholas, and Clay counties in early October for low-dose CT scans, with options for insured and qualifying uninsured patients. Arts & Local Culture: A local DJ, DJ Abby (Abby Rodriguez), appeared on TLC’s “Baylen Out Loud” tied to an influencer wedding in Ranson. Music Loss: Country singer Brian “Nashville” Duckworth of Taylor Made died at 56, with family noting his love of music, family, and the outdoors. Education Costs: New data shows in-state tuition and required fees at WVU Parkersburg (Wood County) and Fairmont State (Marion County) for 2024-25. Legislation Fight: A West Virginia child abuse bill (“Raylee’s Law”) is sparking a fierce parental rights battle. Local Learning Outdoors: Coda Grow is bringing Fayette County kids to Honeysuckle Hill Nature Discovery Center for hands-on after-school nature learning. Obituaries: Multiple West Virginia obituaries were published, including Dr. Irma Helen Collins and Nathan Carl Hardin.

WVU Sports: WVU’s Sept. 26 Big 12 home opener vs. Oklahoma State is set for 7 p.m. on FS1, with a “Gold Rush” theme urging fans to wear gold. Stadium Upgrades: WVU also unveiled plans for a new West Tower premium seating and press box at Milan Puskar Stadium, including luxury suites and a game-operations/media level. College Football Buzz: Bowl and CFP projections keep shifting after Week 2 chaos, with Texas’ huge comeback over Ohio State reshaping the postseason picture. Health & Community: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, will visit Mercer, Nicholas, and Clay counties in early October, with options for insured and eligible uninsured patients. Arts & Culture: UMaine will host screenings of the hazing-prevention documentary “4000 Days” during National Hazing Awareness Week, tying research to real reform. Music News: Country singer Brian “Nashville” Duckworth of Taylor Made died at 56 in Clarksburg. Outdoor Fun: Pipestem Resort State Park announces its first Oktoberfest for Oct. 16–18.

WVU Admissions: WVU will automatically admit qualifying high school seniors in Kanawha and Monongalia counties through “WVU Express,” cutting out the usual application and fee for students with a 3.8 GPA and required coursework. 9/11 Remembrance: West Virginia leaders and Parkersburg students marked the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, with Gov. Patrick Morrisey honoring a Parkersburg graduate and her family asking students to remember the people behind the names. Health & Community: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, is set to visit Mercer, Nicholas, and Clay counties in October, offering low-dose CT scans with options for insured patients and grant-supported screenings for eligible uninsured residents. Music Spotlight: Ella Langley brought “Loving Life Again” to Charleston, while Classic Rock’s Tracks of the Week highlights Steven Wilson’s “Requiem For A Village.” Local Culture: A new bluegrass jam in the Shenandoah Valley is giving musicians of all levels a welcoming place to play together. Sports Shock: A former WVU assistant coach, Noel Devine, was arrested on a strangulation charge and placed on indefinite leave.