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Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What are the ‘dog days of summer?' Meteorologist explains
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — The phrase 'the dog days of summer' is one you may have heard to describe hot and humid summer days, but where exactly does the term come from, and what does it mean? 'Dog days of summer' actually relates to astronomy. The idea dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times, when people relied heavily on constellations for information. The brightest star in the sky after the Sun is Sirius, which translates to glowing or scorching in Latin and is commonly referred to as 'the dog star'. It's part of the constellation Canis Major, which translates to 'Greater Dog,' one of Orion's hunting companions. West Virginia high school band to perform in DC 4th of July parade During the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun. Around July 23rd, it is in conjunction with the Sun, meaning it appears directly behind it from our perspective on Earth. In ancient times, people believed that this alignment with the sun and Sirius added extra heat to the Earth, marking a stretch of particularly hot and humid days. This period, called 'the dog days of summer,' spans from July 3rd to August 11th. In reality, summer heat is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis, which directs more sunlight toward the northern hemisphere. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
WVU camps hope to inspire next generation of STEM students
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — For many kids, summer break is the time to have fun and also to sharpen the skills they're interested in developing, and this week, dozens of kids around the region are taking part in the annual Engineering Challenge Camps at West Virginia University's Statler College. 'My parents say they wish they could go to it [the camp]. It's usually my favorite week of summer vacation,' rising 7th grader Lucas Bramer said. The hands-on learning experience includes capstone projects like building a solar-powered fan, a wheelchair for a disabled dog and a wind-powered car. 'I like to do a lot of science camps because I just feel that they help me with my knowledge and I can expand in what I'm able to do,' 6th grader Piper Dudas said. For some students, this was the first year they were able to attend, and for others, like 7th grader Aalya Kodali, the new challenges keep bringing them back. 'Dad signed me up when I entered a science fair and I lost, I wanted to learn more and my dad signed me up for this and ever since then, I kept coming back. […] I learned a lot about teamwork and what I can do. And just because I'm little and I'm a kid, I can still do a lot,' Kodali said. Harrison County dentist teams up with Humane Society to save dogs in need 'It's critical to have these kind of outreach programs for students. Not only for the university trying to get engineers for the future, they're important to us. But especially to help expose kids to critical thinking skills, different STEM fields,' Senior Camp Counselor Aidan Koon said. Some students told 12 News that STEM fields will be in their future because of this camp. 'I really want to do engineering when I grow up. It is a ton of fun doing the projects and everything,' 7th grader Lily Nale said. To learn more about the camps and programs available, you can go here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 more West Virginian books that were turned into movies — Part 2
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Even after our first list of West Virginia authors who had their books turned into movies, there are still more books written by West Virginian authors that weren't included the first time around. So, for anyone looking for a movie to watch or a book to read, here are 10 more adaptations that have roots in West Virginia. Special thanks to the many 12 News readers who contributed to this list — if you know of a book written by a West Virginian that has been adapted to film, you can email the author of this article at sgorski2@ Adapted from the book of the same name, 'The Bridge at Remagen' focuses on a pivotal battle during the tail end of World War II in the spring of 1945, where Allied forces captured one of the last remaining bridges spanning the Rhine River, allowing them to cross into the heart of German territory. Although the book's author, Ken Hechler, was born in New York, he attended Marshall University and lived in Huntington for many years, eventually becoming a West Virginia Congressman in 1959. According to an interview with the National Archives, Hechler was stationed with the First Army in Command of the III Corps at the time of the battle at Remagen, about 10 miles away. As a combat historian, Hechler interviewed many troops involved and published his own book detailing the battle in 1957, which was adapted to film in 1969. Filming for the movie began in 1968 in Czechoslovakia, a country behind the 'Iron Curtain.' According to the American Film Institute (AFI), much of the military equipment seen in the film was loaned by the Austrian and Czech governments, including tanks, explosives, weapons and even Nazi uniforms. Three city squares in the town of Most had already been planned for demolition prior to filming, and their destruction was used in action scenes during production. Ironically, work on the movie was interrupted by the repercussions of the very war it was looking to portray. On Aug. 20, 1968, Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia, causing the film's cast and crew to hastily evacuate to other European countries, leaving behind hundreds of thousands, if not over a million dollars worth of film equipment in Soviet controlled territory. Despite this, some of the film's equipment was eventually recovered, and the world premiere for 'The Bridge at Remagen' was held on June 25, 1968 at the Keith-Albee Theatre in Huntington, West Virginia. According to the AFI, the premiere was attended by Hechler as well as Brig. Gen. (Ret.) William M. Hoge, who commanded the armored division that captured the Remagen Bridge during World War II. While 'Feast of the Seven Fishes' is much better known as a movie, the story originated as a comic strip in November 2005 and was written by Fairmont native Robert Tinnell and illustrated by Alex Saviuk. Both the movie and comic are a distillation of Italian Christmas traditions, particularly in areas like north central West Virginia. The movie was filmed in Fairmont and can be watched on Peacock and Amazon Prime. Feast of the Seven Fishes: How the Marion County holiday movie came to be Pearl S. Buck, who was born in Hillsboro, West Virginia, is a prolific author and the first American woman to win both a Pulitzer and a Nobel prize. Though born in West Virginia, Buck lived in China during her childhood, which she drew on heavily for her later writing. 'The Good Earth' novel was first published in 1931 and tells the story of a Chinese farmer and his wife as their life is uprooted by a flood. The book was critically acclaimed upon release and became one of Buck's best-known works. It was only the first of many books written by the author that would later be adapted to the big screen. Jeannette Walls' memoir 'The Glass Castle' was a #1 New York Times bestseller and tells the true story of Walls' tumultuous and nomadic upbringing, with a large part of the book taking place in West Virginia. The film adaptation of the book was released in 2017, starring Brie Larson as Jeannette Walls, Woody Harrelson as Walls' father Rex, and Naomi Watts as Walls' mother Rose Mary. The movie turned into a moderate box office success with a worldwide gross of around $22M and an estimated budget of $9M according to IMDB. Another best-selling Pearl S. Buck novel that was adapted into a movie, 'Dragon Seed' is also set in China and tells the story of a Chinese village invaded by Japanese soldiers during World War II. The lead role of 'Jade Tan' is played by Katherine Hepburn, who leads the resistance against the Japanese occupation. 'China Sky' is another movie adaptation of a Buck book, and as the title indicates, it too is set in China during World War II. However, according to descriptions of the movie and viewer reviews, 'China Sky' is less about the wider conflict and instead uses it as a backdrop for a love triangle between Dr. Gray Thompson (played by Randolph Scott), Dr. Sara Durand (Ruth Warrick) and Louise Thompson (Ellen Drew). At just one hour and 18 minutes long, 'China Sky' is also the shortest Pearl S. Buck movie by a large margin. 'Blaze' follows the story of Blaze Starr, a burlesque dancer born in Wilsondale, West Virginia, under the name Fannie Belle Fleming, and her controversial love affair with Louisiana governor Earl Long. The movie was adapted from a biography written by Huey Perry, a Mingo County native, and stars Paul Newman as Earl Long and Lolita Davidovich as Blaze Starr. Blaze Star also cameoed in the film and is credited for playing the role 'Lily' on IMDB. Hardcover copies of 'Blaze Starr: My Life as Told to Huey Perry' can still be purchased online today, and Perry even gave a talk on his published works at the West Virginia Archives in 2016. Another Buck book, 'The Big Wave,' focuses on a tidal wave and the lasting impact it has on a coastal Japanese village and the people who live there. Set during the Chinese Civil War in 1949, 'Satan Never Sleeps,' tells the story of two Catholic priests as they are targeted by the local communist party, and stars William Holden, Clifton Webb, and France Nuyen, who plays Siu Lan, a love interest for Holden's character. Starring William Dafoe, 'Pavilion of Women' is another drama romance set in China, adapted from Buck's book of the same name. The movie takes place shortly before the beginning of World War II as a Chinese family comes to grips with changes in tradition and the rise of communism in China. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No Kings' protests scheduled in West Virginia cities
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Protests are scheduled to take place across the U.S. on Saturday, including in West Virginia. The 'No Kings' protests are in opposition to President Donald Trump's policies on immigration and ICE detainments and his scheduled military parade in Washington, D.C. for the Army's 250th birthday on June 14, which also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday. Critics of Trump also say that the protests are in response to his deployment of the National Guard at other nationwide protests this week. The theme 'No Kings' is part of a call by protesters for Trump to be 'dethroned' as they compare his actions to that of a king and not a democratically elected president, The Associated Press reported. What to know about the protests over Trump's immigration crackdown in LA and other cities According to the website for the protest, events are scheduled in Morgantown, Elkins, Buckhannon, Charleston, Wheeling, Romney, Keyser, Lewisburg, Huntington, Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs, Shepherdstown and Bluefield in West Virginia. The protests are all scheduled to take place before Trump's military parade. Mountaineers Indivisible Citizen Action, which is organizing the 'Honk and Wave' demonstrations in Morgantown, called the action a 'modern-day rebellion.' As of Friday morning, more than 120 people have said they plan to attend the Morgantown event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 USA Diving American Cup held at Mylan Park
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Thirty-nine competitors across six countries came to Morgantown on Thursday to kick off the 2025 USA Diving American Cup at Mylan Park, where the best divers compete for spots in other international meets later in the year. Among the competitors are 16 Americans, eight female and eight male, who represent some of the best divers in the United States. The 2025 American Cup will have four days of competitions, and officially kicked off Thursday. The events on Thursday and Friday are preliminary competitions, where the athletes aim to make the finals, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday. During the finals, the top 12 competitors will face off for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place positions, and from there, they'll look to move on to some other international competitions or national competitions for their respective home countries. According to National Events Manager Michael Retcher, the Morgantown Aquatic Center has been home to many USA Diving national meets over the past few years, adding that the hospitality they've experienced there has been incredible. 'This is a world-class facility, truly, that is well-known amongst our athletes and the diving community,' he said. Power Up 2025 Conference looks to help small businesses in Morgantown Retcher also said that Visit Mountaineer Country and Peak Health Aquatic Center have been great partners with USA Diving, which is why the organization keeps coming back to hold competitions in Morgantown. 'The people, the experience here that we've had at our national-level events is awesome,' he said. 'Now we're showing the world on the international stage how awesome Morgantown, West Virginia, is and what a great job they do.' According to Retcher, international meets like this one can provide the first opportunity, and at other times additional opportunities, to get experience on the international stage. He also said that although there are U.S. athletes competing at this event, competitors in this international cup are trying to get experience to compete in the World Aquatics Championships and hopefully secure a spot in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. USA Diving wants to pack the stands throughout the duration of the 2025 USA Diving American Cup, and they encourage people in the Greater Morgantown Area to stop by. 'You don't have to know a thing about diving, you don't have to have ever seen diving before,' Retcher added. 'But it is so much fun to be here—to be up close and personal watching these divers, and it's just really an electric event.' Tickets for the event can be purchased online via Mylan Park's website. There, you can find a full event schedule for the coming days and also find information about volunteer opportunities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
