AGP Executive Report

College Sports (WV): Troy is set to play West Virginia in the College World Series opener Friday in Omaha, with Troy leaning on pitching and WVU’s base-stealing speed as both try to keep historic runs alive. Energy & Local Impact: West Virginia residents packed a Public Service Commission hearing to oppose NextEra’s MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission line, arguing it threatens farms, property taxes, and land use across multiple counties. Public Health (WV region): A new NIH-funded project will expand a model for improving opioid use disorder treatment in primary care across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia, aiming to close the gap between what works and what gets prescribed. Food Safety: Federal updates say synthetic dyes still show up in about 1 in 5 packaged foods, while West Virginia is among states that have moved to restrict them. Community & Culture: Morgantown Pride’s Pride Block Party returns June 13, and Shepherdstown’s Pride Parade kicked off Pride Month with a youth-led theme. Arts: Carnegie Hall’s ArtWalk will feature Thomas Ott’s work in Lewisburg through the end of June.

WVU Finance: WVU’s new CFO, Chris Kabourek, sat in on his first Audit Committee meeting Wednesday, with the mid-year review expected to include spot checks of big accounts and the 4013b plan. Forensics Spotlight: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Knoxville Crime Laboratory earned a global Maximus Award for hitting 90%+ peak efficiency, cutting sexual assault kit turnaround from 43 weeks to eight weeks by May 2025. Budget Pressure on Families: West Virginia’s Family Support Centers say July 1 deadlines and a reported $40 million structural deficit in federal anti-poverty funding could mean staffing and service cuts. Coal & Power Funding: The Trump administration announced $850 million for coal plant modernization and two new plants, drawing criticism that it’s an unnecessary subsidy. Health & Food Safety: A new report says synthetic dyes show up in nearly 1 in 5 U.S. packaged foods, with West Virginia among states that have moved to restrict them. Local Education Recognition: Tyler County schools honored a Teacher of the Year and Service Personnel of the Year at the June 1 board meeting. Community & Veterans: Friendly dedicated a new Veterans Park, celebrating local veterans and civic groups.

Coal Policy: The Trump administration announced $850 million for coal plant modernization, including upgrades to existing facilities and plans for two new coal plants, framing it as grid reliability and lower energy costs while critics call it an unnecessary subsidy. Local Government & Housing: In Parsons, Woodlands Development & Lending broke ground on the Five Rivers Building, aiming to add eight affordable apartments and commercial space. Public Health & Recovery: Brooke County commissioners heard a funding request from Empower and Link Inc. for $374,015 in opioid settlement money to expand recovery services, including housing and utilities support. Courts & Ethics: A Kanawha County judge tied to foster-care hotel placement concerns was found not to have violated West Virginia judicial ethics rules. Safety & Weather: West Virginia Division of Forestry urged caution with summer burning after a statewide run of debris and other fires; meanwhile, storm chances and heat are rising across the region. Community & Culture: Hundreds of West Virginia students were honored as Golden Horseshoe winners, and Girl Scouts delivered more than 6,000 cookie boxes to local military families and veterans. Outdoors: WVDNR stocked dozens of lakes and streams with trout during the week of May 25.

Energy & Environment: The Trump administration announced $850 million for coal plant modernization plus two new coal plants, using Defense Production Act authority—critics call it an unnecessary subsidy while supporters say it boosts grid reliability. Public Utilities: West Virginia’s MARL power-line fight heads into its final stretch with two PSC public comment hearings this week in Monongalia and Preston counties, as opponents argue residents’ comments are being squeezed. Local Economy & Housing/Services: Lawmakers are pushing back against resident concerns over data centers, saying the state can benefit from the industry’s growth even as oversight gaps worry communities. Education: West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack is urging families to apply for the Hope Scholarship before the June 15 full-funding deadline. Health & Safety: A Harrison County man was arrested after an alleged burglary where he hit a woman and stabbed her leg with scissors. Sports (WV): WVU baseball is headed to the College World Series, and West Virginia’s Ben Lumsden is drawing attention for his postseason surge. Culture: A West Virginia Land Trust and Raleigh County Humane Society event will bring adoptable dogs to a hiking day June 14.

WVU Baseball to Omaha: West Virginia punched its first-ever College World Series berth with a 17-1 super regional win over Cal Poly, and now faces Troy in the CWS opener Friday at 2 p.m. College World Series matchups: The full Omaha bracket is set, with WVU vs. Troy, plus Alabama vs. Oklahoma and Georgia vs. Texas among the headline games. Troy makes history: Troy swept Little Rock to reach the CWS for the first time in program history, setting up a WVU-Troy opener. Local sports spotlight: WVU’s Ben Lumsden is being credited for turning his postseason into a breakout run, including two homers against Cal Poly. Clean water fight in Congress: U.S. House committee members rejected Rep. Riley Moore’s $50 million drinking-water funding push for Southern West Virginia. State legal push: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey is leading a coalition backing religious students’ right to state scholarships in a federal appeals case. Weather: Southern West Virginia stays warm and muggy with scattered showers and storms possible through the week. Business & community: Charleston’s Summer Bash drew thousands to Capitol Street, sponsored by local attorneys. Robotics win: WVU’s robotics team placed 4th at the International University Rover Challenge in Utah.

WVU Sports: West Virginia is headed to the College World Series after a 17-1 super regional win over Cal Poly, with Ben Lumsden and the Mountaineers’ big bats carrying the charge. College Baseball: Troy also punched its ticket, beating Little Rock 7-2 to set up a WVU-Troy matchup in Omaha. Local News: A Lincoln County man, 62-year-old Barry Brunty, died after a zero-turn lawn mower accident pinned him under the machine and sent it into a creek; no foul play is suspected. Courts & Sports: Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby won a temporary injunction against the NCAA, clearing the way to play this season after a gambling-related dispute. Health & Policy: A new analysis warns Social Security trust fund depletion could cut benefits nationally by about 24% in 2032, with Florida facing an average $500 monthly loss. Community Events: The New River Gorge Historical Society will host a Miners’ Vacation fish fry and history program June 13 in Hinton.

WVU Baseball to Omaha: West Virginia made history with a 17-1 Super Regional win over Cal Poly, clinching the program’s first-ever College World Series berth after a record 4,675 fans packed Kendrick Family Ballpark. Super Regional Aftermath: The celebration came with a scare—heavy winds blew an event tent into the crowd during a weather delay, sending five people to the hospital. College World Series Schedule: The CWS starts June 12 in Omaha, with WVU set to open against Troy; ESPN will carry the games. Energy & Coal: Gov. Jim Justice’s office highlighted West Virginia’s expected role in Trump’s $700 million coal push, including projects tied to the Defense Production Act. U.S. Supreme Court Watch: The court is poised to rule on major gun and transgender-athlete cases, including laws affecting West Virginia. Local Safety/Traffic: A crash in Denver tied to a vehicle theft killed a motorcycle passenger and led to an arrest. Gas Prices: GasBuddy reported the lowest E15 in Brooke County at $4.15 and diesel lows in Ritchie County at $5.58 for the week ending May 30.

Energy & Jobs: Gov. Jim Justice’s office says West Virginia is set to benefit from Trump’s $700 million coal energy push, with federal support aimed at grid reliability and upgrades at facilities including the Mitchell Plant in Marshall County and work tied to the Defense Production Act. WVU Baseball: Severe storms hit the Morgantown Super Regional, blowing over a tent at Kendrick Family Ballpark and sending at least five fans to the hospital; WVU still crushed Cal Poly 17-1 to reach the College World Series for the first time. Health Care Deal: WVU Health System has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Independence Health System, investing $800 million for upgrades across five hospitals in Southwestern Pennsylvania. State Government: Gov. Morrisey named William “Bill” D’Aiuto as Chief Operating Officer of the Department of Human Services, a new role focused on streamlining operations and improving service delivery. Community & Retail: Goodwill opened a new Charleston store at the former Drug Emporium site, expanding a 27,000-square-foot thrift space for local shoppers. Sports Beyond WV: Troy swept Little Rock to earn its first-ever College World Series berth, while Ole Miss advanced after sweeping Auburn.

WVU Baseball, Omaha Bound: West Virginia punched its first-ever College World Series ticket with a 17-1 rout of Cal Poly in Morgantown, capping a sweep after a 12-2 win in Game 1. The Mountaineers erupted for 19 hits and five homers, with Ben Lumsden leading the charge. Weather Safety: The celebration turned tense when heavy winds blew over an event tent near Kendrick Family Ballpark during a weather delay; WVU confirmed at least five fans were transported to hospitals. College World Series Matchups: Troy also made history by sweeping Little Rock to reach Omaha for the first time, and Ole Miss advanced after sweeping Auburn; Ole Miss will play either Southern Cal or North Carolina next. Community Spotlight: Charleston kicked off the West Virginia Special Olympics Summer Games at Laidley Field, with more events Sunday. Local Fun: Huntington’s West Virginia Hot Dog Festival drew more than 12,000 attendees for dachshund races, costume contests, and dozens of vendors.

NCAA Baseball: West Virginia is one win from its first College World Series after blasting Cal Poly 12-2 in Game 1 of the Morgantown Super Regional, with Tyrus Hall’s grand slam and Chansen Cole’s 11-strikeout start setting up Saturday’s Game 2 at Kendrick Family Ballpark (ESPN2). Foster Care: A federal appeals court revived a class action over West Virginia’s foster care system, reversing a dismissal and sending the case back after claims that children are often placed in hotels, shelters, institutions or out of state. Coal & Energy Policy: President Trump announced $700 million for coal power upgrades and new plants, including projects tied to West Virginia, framing it as national security and “energy dominance.” Public Health: A Morgantown lab at WVU Innovation Corp. says it has developed GATC-1021, a drug for opioid use disorder, with human trials ahead. Local Culture & Sports Events: Wellsburg’s Super Kids Soapbox Derby expands Independence Day festivities for children and adults with special needs, and Wheeling’s Ohio River Splashtacular returns Sunday at Heritage Port. Gas Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest Marshall County premium gas at $4.80 (week ending May 30), with other county spot lows including Jefferson midgrade at $4.59 and Jackson diesel at $5.39.

Energy & Jobs: Gov. Jim Justice’s office says West Virginia is set to benefit from President Trump’s $700M coal push, with federal support tied to the Defense Production Act aimed at grid reliability and modernization—highlighting projects at Mount Storm and Moundsville. West Virginia Politics: West Virginia Democrats are preparing for the June 6 leadership election, with Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva confirming she’s running for state party chair. Social Security Warning: A new report says Social Security retirement benefits could be cut by about $500 per month on average if Congress doesn’t act by 2032, with every state affected. Public Health: WVU researchers report that more than 10 hours of sitting a day during pregnancy is linked to roughly double the risk of complications. Sports (WVU Baseball): WVU routed Cal Poly 12-2 in Game 1 of the Morgantown Super Regional, with Chansen Cole striking out 11 and Tyrus Hall delivering a grand slam; the Mountaineers are one win from Omaha. Local Events: The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival returns Saturday in Huntington, including the annual wiener dog race.

NCAA Baseball: West Virginia hosts Cal Poly in the first Super Regional game in Morgantown, with first pitch set for noon ET on ESPN2 as the Mountaineers chase a College World Series berth. WVU Football Honors: WVU will retire Pat White’s No. 5 jersey this fall at a home game to be announced later this summer, honoring the Mountaineer legend’s record-setting career. Coal & Energy Policy: President Trump announced more than $700 million to revive coal power, including upgrades to 13 plants and new coal projects tied to national security and AI power demand—West Virginia is among the states in the mix. Local Federal Funding: The House approved $2 million for the Clarksburg Public Safety Complex, with Senate approval still needed. Health Coverage: Connecticut joins West Virginia and other states in requiring insurance coverage for scalp cooling therapy to help reduce chemotherapy-related hair loss costs. Community & Safety: The FCC warned that copper theft and infrastructure vandalism are increasingly threatening communications networks, raising concerns for emergency response.

WVU Baseball Super Regional: West Virginia is set to host Cal Poly in a best-of-three series starting Friday at noon (ESPN2), after Armani Guzman’s walk-off heroics and a run of momentum that includes a regional win and a pitching staff that leaned hard in elimination games. WVU Pitching Focus: WVU’s staff is approaching the super regional differently than the regional, with Chansen Cole slated to start Game 1 and the Mountaineers aiming to stay sharp after a bullpen-heavy stretch. Capitol Hill Update: U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito says the Senate is moving on border-security funding and also discussed college sports reform as lawmakers work through a major budget package. College Sports Crisis Hearing: A Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act featured testimony from leaders including Nick Saban, WVU President Emeritus Gordon Gee, and others warning women’s and Olympic sports are being cut. School Closure Tracker: A University of Michigan project led by West Virginia native Christina Weiland created an online tracker showing about 70% of closures affect elementary schools. Coal Push: President Trump announced nearly $700 million to support coal plants and exports, using the Defense Production Act, including funding tied to West Virginia. NFL News: The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with first-round pick Akheem Mesidor, a former West Virginia player, on a four-year deal.

Coal Industry Push: President Trump is expected to announce nearly $700 million in new support for the coal industry Thursday, using the Defense Production Act to back upgrades at 13 coal plants and help build a long-planned coal export terminal in Oakland, with West Virginia included in the plant support. Education & Sports Rules: The West Virginia Board of Education approved changes to high school transfer rules, tightening eligibility timing while keeping some flexibility for student-athletes. Public Safety Crackdown: The FBI says it arrested 32 people in West Virginia and Maryland as part of Operation Turf War, tied to the broader Operation Summer Heat effort against drug trafficking and violent crime. Health & Community: A new report highlights rising tick-bite/possible Lyme concerns, while local groups in Ohio County are planning a community gathering for flood survivors. WVU Baseball: WVU advanced to the Super Regionals after a dramatic run that included a key win over Kentucky. Weather: Expect a warm, mostly sunny stretch with rain chances returning over the weekend.

College Sports Reform: Nick Saban, Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua, and others backed the Protect College Sports Act at a Senate hearing, arguing college athletics needs “order” amid NIL and transfer-portal chaos while the SEC and Big Ten push back. Social Security: A new analysis warns Social Security could cut benefits by about 24% when the trust fund runs out in 2032, averaging roughly $500 a month less for retirees, with 29 states hit harder. West Virginia Baseball: Cal Poly and West Virginia meet in a Morgantown super regional starting Friday, with ESPN2 and ESPN Radio carrying the games. Public Health: WVU’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, will visit Morgantown, Weston-area sites, and Jane Lew in late June/early July for low-dose CT scans. Local Education: Paden City Elementary was named a 2026 WV PBIS Tier 1 Model School. Community & Weather: A restored High Street post clock was unveiled in Morgantown, and dry weather sticks around before showers return later this weekend. Health Care Expansion: WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital added new cancer therapies, including Pluvicto and cooling cap treatment.

Public Safety: The FBI and Director Kash Patel announced 35 indictments in West Virginia as part of “Operation Turf War,” targeting drug and firearms trafficking, and rolled out “Operation Summer Heat 2.0” nationwide. Health Access: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, LUCAS, is set to visit Monongalia and Lewis counties in late June and early July, offering low-dose CT scans for eligible patients, including options for uninsured West Virginians through grant funding. Local Economy/Industry: A Mason County data center-linked project near Point Pleasant is moving forward as its developer seeks a new air quality permit after abandoning earlier permitting paths. Retirement Watch: A new study ranks West Virginia as the most affordable state for retirees, citing low housing and cost-of-living numbers. Sports & Community: WVU football coach Rick Trickett landed an offensive line commit for the 2027 class, while the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend drew thousands to Wheeling for races and events. Nursing Home Snapshot: CMS data highlights staffing and ratings across West Virginia facilities, including several county “largest” nursing homes and their overall CMS scores.