Region

Join WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance and Donate Life West Virginia on August 1 to celebrate West Virginia Donor Day—a day dedicated to the life-saving impact of organ donations, where a single donor can save up to eight lives and enhance many more. Discover how organ donations—from hearts and lungs to kidneys and corneas—transform lives and learn how you can register to be a donor today.

West Virginia University has set a new fundraising record with $282.6 million raised in the 2024 fiscal year, supporting education, research, healthcare, and community outreach programs that benefit the entire state. This milestone was reached through 40,849 gifts from 20,350 donors, including substantial contributions like a $50 million donation for a new cancer hospital.

Country music artist Kate Boytek recently headlined the 37th annual Boone County WVU Alumni and Friends Pig Roast and Mountaineer Music Frolic, helping the event raise nearly half a million dollars for scholarships. Established in 1987, this fundraiser has now generated over one million dollars and supported 500 scholarships for future West Virginia University students.

WorkForce West Virginia has extended the deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance applications for residents affected by April’s severe weather in Hancock, Kanawha, Marshall, Ohio, Roane, Wetzel, and Wood counties. The new deadline to apply and provide proof of earnings is now August 22, 2024.

Tony Martinelli, Pharm.D., M.B.A., will take on the roles of president and CEO of WVU Medicine Wetzel County Hospital starting August 15, succeeding Sean Smith. Martinelli, who has extensive experience in healthcare administration, currently leads WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital.

Davis Medical Center in Elkins has introduced cutting-edge 3D stereotactic breast biopsy technology, significantly enhancing early breast cancer detection and patient comfort. This new procedure, described as the industry’s best, promises more accurate and efficient diagnoses, providing top-tier breast care for women in the region.

The WVU Cancer Institute is set to open an outpatient Geriatric Oncology Clinic at the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center next month, focusing on the specialized needs of older cancer patients in West Virginia. This new clinic aims to provide multidisciplinary care to improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for the state’s rapidly growing population of older adults diagnosed with cancer.

Twenty-five individuals in the Eastern Panhandle have been indicted for their involvement in two drug trafficking rings, one with ties to the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, who highlighted the threat posed by these organizations after a substantial fentanyl and cocaine operation was dismantled in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

West Virginia University has launched an online survey to gather community input on the qualities and aspirations for its next president, as announced by Dr. Patrice Harris, Vice-Chair of the WVU Board of Governors. The survey and further details on listening sessions for faculty, staff, students, and alumni can be found on the WVU Presidential Search website.

West Virginians can look forward to savings on school materials during the state’s back-to-school Sales Tax Holiday from August 2-5, 2024, where items such as clothing, laptops, and sports equipment will be exempt from sales tax. For more details on qualifying items, visit the Sales Tax Holiday Questions and Answers page.