This week, before emancipation, Appalachia provided pathways to freedom for enslaved people trying to escape bondage. A new project identifies more than two dozen previously unknown underground railroad sites. Also, the Fly Around Music & Arts Festival in North Carolina was inspired by the hard work that followed Hurricane Helene. And, a ballad about floods recorded a generation ago still provides solace for people today.
A cooperative agreement between ICE officials and state and local law enforcement across West Virginia led to the arrests of 650 people over a 14 day period last month, the officials say.Olga Fedorova/AP Photo
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, working with state and local law enforcement, arrested 650 people in West Virginia over 14 days in January.
According to a news release from the ICE office as well as the office of U.S. Attorney Moore Capito of the Southern District of West Virginia, some of those arrested during Operation Country Roads in West Virginia from Jan. 5 – 19 had prior convictions for child sex abuse, drug possession and endangering the welfare of children.
ICE officials say Sagar Singh and Ling Yan were among the most egregious offenders arrested.
ICE officials say Sagar Singh, a citizen of India, was arrested Jan. 8, 2026, under Operation ICE Wall, which targets aliens operating commercial vehicles.
Photo Courtesy: Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
According to the ICE release, Singh is a citizen of India and was stopped driving a commercial vehicle after he failed to stop at a mandatory brake check station. ICE officials say he was stopped as part of a joint operation entitled Operation ICE Wall, was cited for operating an unsafe commercial vehicle and had a previous order for removal.
Yan, the release said, had previously been convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ravenna County, Ohio, and has a final order of removal.
ICE officials say their officers arrested Ling Yan, also known as Yang Ning on Jan. 11. According to a news release about the arrest, Yan was convicted of two counts of endangering the welfare of children in Ravenna County, Ohio.
Photo Courtesy: Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
ICE surge teams were deployed to Martinsburg, Moorefield, Morgantown, Beckley, Huntington and Charleston as part of the operation.
It was conducted under ICE’s 287(g) program which authorizes ICE to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration functions under ICE’s direction and oversight.
On this West Virginia Week, the state is under a flood watch through Sunday, the fire in Parkersburg is under investigation and a class action against the state’s foster care system will move forward.
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The West Virginia Department of Human Services said the program was on hold due to uncertainty over the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding.
A class action lawsuit against the W.Va. foster care system will move forward without waiting for a possible petition and ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, a judge has ruled.
