Latest news with #WestVirginia
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Monongalia County Commission wants to sit down with NextEra
Jun. 27—MORGANTOWN — After being inundated in recent weeks with correspondence and public comment against a power transmission project eyeing a potential route through parts of Monongalia County, the Monongalia County Commission is seeking an audience with NextEra, the company building it. The Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link, or MARL, is a 105-mile, 550-kilovolt "major highway " of overhead transmission lines stretching from Greene County, Pa. to Frederick County, Va. It's to be constructed by NextEra by the end of 2031. While the exact path from Point A to Point B has yet to be selected, Monongalia, Preston, Hampshire and Mineral counties are within the route selection study area in West Virginia. Maryland's Allegany and Garrett counties are also included, as is Fayette County in Pennsylvania. The project will require a 200-foot right of way along its entire length, and some residents in the potentially-impacted areas have started organizing and voicing concerns about the possibility of an "electricity superhighway " running through or near their properties. The possible impacts are made more disturbing, critics say, because rural parts of West Virginia will serve as no more than a pass-through in order to plug in a power hungry portion of northern Virginia that serves as the data center hub of the east coast. Monongalia County Commissioner Sean Sikora said representatives from NextEra initially indicated they would be in town, so the commission scheduled a work session following its June 25 meeting. "After providing that availability, we scheduled a meeting and they indicated that they weren't available, " Sikora said. "So, I relayed to them my displeasure that they didn't come to talk to us because we've been getting a lot of correspondence regarding this project, and we're not hearing from them. All we're hearing is from the public." In an emailed response, NextEra Senior Development Director Kaitlin McCormick assured the commission that no decisions have been made about the route of the project, and that the path chosen by the company will ultimately be subject to review by the public service commissions of the impacted states. Further, she reminded the commission that the company recently held eight open houses across the project study area to collect public input. Lastly, McCormick reiterated NextEra's belief that the project could generate anywhere from $150 million to $400 million in tax revenue for West Virginia and $50 million to $100 million for Monongalia depending on the route selected. McCormick and other NextEra representatives originally sat down with the commission in December to generally describe the project and let the body know Monongalia County is within its route study area. Many of the communications being received by the commission of late are highlighting the actions of its Preston County counterpart. On May 29, the Preston County Commission passed a resolution opposing the MARL project as currently proposed and urging state and federal regulators, as well as NextEra, to halt any development of the project through Preston County. Sikora has said the Mon Commission is looking into the matter. "The commission is doing its fact finding to understand all angles of the project. Just because we've been silent doesn't mean we're not getting educated on the issue, " he said. "It's the intent of this commission to generally research issues and make sure we have all the facts before we weigh in." It's expected that at least one member of the commission plans will attend a community-organized meeting planned for 1 p.m. Sunday at Rexroad Auction, located at 887 Rexroad Farm Road, in Bruceton Mills.
Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Mudslide along West Virginia highway strands thousands for more than 8 hours
Thousands of motorists were stranded for more than eight hours along a section of rural interstate highway in southern West Virginia early Friday after a mudslide caused by heavy rains blocked a storm drain the previous night, flooding the northbound lanes. Traffic backed up for 12 miles (about 19 kilometers) along the West Virginia Turnpike about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Charleston, the state capital. Traffic was not rerouted, and many motorists along the mountainous route had no choice but to remain in their vehicles overnight. Motorists posted on social media that they had no information on why the standstill occurred, that they had nothing to drink in their vehicles or that their children needed to use the bathroom. Nicky Walters said in a telephone interview that she felt fortunate while she was stuck because she is healthy, did not not need medicine and had nobody she was responsible for caring for. 'But I felt desperate because I knew that other people needed help,' said Walters, who became stranded while returning to Charleston from a pro wrestling event in Mount Hope. 'People needed, at minimum, water bottles passed out and some snacks, much less information. They needed any lifeline to the outside world, and there was none.' Chuck Smith, executive director of the West Virginia Parkways Authority, said one lane reopened Friday morning but traffic remained at a standstill for hours. 'Traffic should have been detoured to allow drivers an alternate route around the mudslide,' Smith said in a statement. 'The Parkways Authority takes full responsibility for the failure to reroute traffic, and would like to assure the public that this will never happen again.' No injuries were reported. By the time Brittany Lemon and her family finally got home to Parkersburg, 24 hours had passed since they began returning from their vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In a video posted to Facebook, Lemon said she had no water and her children needed to use the bathroom. They were able to get an hour's sleep while stuck on the highway. 'Definitely next year when I go back, I'll be prepared for an emergency in the vehicle,' she said. Mitch Carmichael, a former cabinet secretary of the Department of Economic Development, said on Facebook that he was on the turnpike 'for hours with no relevant or timely info as to when issue will be cleared.' He called it 'incredibly unprofessional' for the public to be left in the dark and said it gives West Virginia 'a terrible image.' Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a statement that the shutdown 'was completely unacceptable. I have directed the Parkways Authority to immediately conduct an investigation and revise its procedures as necessary as a result of this incident.' Shutdowns of the turnpike have happened before. In 2022 a tractor trailer crashed and spilled a chemical along the turnpike, closing all lanes for most of the day.
CBS News
9 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
GetGo's sale to Canadian-based convenience store company approved by Federal Trade Commission
Giant Eagle's sale of its GetGo Café + Market sites to a Canadian-based convenience store company was approved by the Federal Trade Commission. The $1.57 billion acquisition by Alimentation Couche-Tard, which operates Circle K gas stations, would give the company control of Giant Eagle's 270 GetGo locations across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. But the FTC said Couche-Tard must first get rid of 35 gas stations it already owns to protect people in our area from higher gas prices. Couche-Tard already operates more than 7,000 stores nationwide, which is why the FTC said the company needs to divest 35 gas stations to Majors Management, so there is no conflict of interest. The FTC did not want this acquisition to lead to high gas prices because right now Couche-Tard's gas stations closely compete with the GetGos in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Couche-Tard will get 20 days after the acquisition to drop those 35 stores. Right now, the public can give their opinions on the sale for the next 30 days. After that, the FTV will read all the comments and make a final decision. Following the final sale, Giant Eagle said they have agreed to partner with Couche-Tard to continue the popular myPerks loyalty program across Giant Eagle and GetGo locations. They also plan to explore "opportunities to expand the program." And now, Giant Eagle says it can forget about gas and focus on lower prices in their grocery stores and pharmacies, opening new store locations and remodeling old ones.
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Premium Guard Inc. Opens New Distribution Center in Weirton, West Virginia
The facility is the automotive manufacturer's third distribution center in the U.S. WEIRTON, June 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Premium Guard Inc. (PGI), an automotive manufacturer and supplier, announces the opening of its new distribution center in Weirton, West Virginia. This strategic expansion supports PGI's commitment to delivering quality products with speed and efficiency—from order entry to final delivery. The facility will receive, stock, and manage inventory through robust process controls, reinforcing PGI's ability to meet growing demand in the automotive aftermarket. Located within a designated Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), the Weirton facility offers strategic advantages for global sourcing and distribution. Its proximity to key transportation corridors enables efficient delivery to customers across the U.S. and Canada, while supporting PGI's growing footprint in the aftermarket industry. The 377,000 square-foot facility will serve as a critical hub in PGI's North American logistics network, improving speed to market, increasing inventory capacity, and supporting the company's expanding customer base. 'The opening of our Weirton facility marks a major milestone in PGI's continued growth and long-term vision,' said Anan Bishara, CEO & Founder of PGI. 'It not only strengthens our national distribution capabilities, but also reflects our deep commitment to investing in communities that embody the values we hold dear—resilience, hard work, and shared progress. We're proud to put down roots in Weirton and look forward to growing together.' With this expansion, PGI reinforces its commitment to operational excellence, enhanced customer service, and long-term regional investment. The new facility also reflects the company's continued growth trajectory, following several years of increased market share and product line expansion. 'This facility represents a significant step forward in how we serve our customers,' said Jason Hensley, VP of Operations at PGI. 'With expanded capacity and advanced logistics capabilities, we're positioned to operate more efficiently, reduce lead times, and ensure faster, more reliable delivery across our network.' The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on June 26th, welcomed local officials, business partners, PGI team members, and community leaders to commemorate the milestone. Among the honored guests was Weirton Mayor Dean Harris, who presented PGI with a special certificate of recognition and congratulated the company on its official opening. About Premium Guard Inc. Premium Guard Inc. (PGI) specializes in designing, manufacturing, and distributing products for automotive, diesel, powersport, and specialty filter markets. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee with close to 1.5 million square foot distribution centers in North America, PGI provides customers with industry-leading service, complete filtration solutions, and best-in-class-quality products. Media Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Premium Guard Inc.
Fast Company
20 hours ago
- Business
- Fast Company
‘Please don't abandon us': Kroger store closures spark outcry from workers and shoppers at doomed locations
Community members whose local Kroger stores are on the chopping block are urging the company to reconsider. Residents in cities impacted by the grocery chain's recent announcement of store closures, including in Abingdon, Virginia; Kingsport, Tennessee; Gassaway, West Virginia; and Charlottesville, Virginia, have started petitions in hopes of convincing the company to reverse course and keep the stores open. In its Q1 earnings call last week, the grocery retailer announced that it would be closing 60 stores in the next 18 months. Kroger Co (NYSE: KR) expects a 'modest financial benefit' from this decision, but community members losing their stores are concerned about these closures' impact on employee livelihoods and food access. 'Krogers, if you leave you are creating a huge hole in our community,' one signatory commented on a petition with over 1,500 signatures. 'We shop with you specifically and have supported you for decades. Please don't abandon us.' Other signatories cite their positive experiences with store employees as a reason to want the stores to remain open. Kroger has stated in its earnings call that affected employees would be offered jobs at other locations. When contacted by Fast Company, a spokesperson declined to comment more specifically on the fates of employees or on the petitions from community members. Food workers' union involvement Many of these petitions have been started or are supported by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 Union, a local union chapter that represents Kroger workers in six states and Washington, D.C. Four stores whose employees are represented by the union are planned to close later this year. Through these petitions, the union hopes to show the company that union members and affected communities are united in opposing the closures. 'Let's be clear: Kroger is abandoning our communities just so their Wall Street investors can make an extra buck,' UFCW Local 400 wrote in a statement to Fast Company. 'We think our jobs and our access to fresh food are worth more than that and we shouldn't be paying the price for Kroger's decisions.' In some areas, the union notes, the local Kroger store is the only traditional grocery store left. The problem with food deserts The USDA estimates that 18.8 million people—6.1% of the U.S. population—live in low-income areas more than one mile from a grocery store, or in 'low-access tracts' more than 10 miles from a grocery store. Studies have linked limited access to fresh and nutritious food to negative health outcomes, such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and obesity. Kroger has not provided a full list of the 60 stores that will close. However, many of the doomed locations have been revealed by local media reports. 'We urge Kroger to reverse course and continue to operate these much-needed stores for the benefit of our members and the customers who depend on them,' wrote UFCW Local 700. Kroger's stock price jumped from $69.43 to $72.00 between the start of its Friday Q1 earnings call and start of trade the following Monday but has since been slightly trending down.
