Tag: WSAZ-TV

Hospital Acquisition Deal Finalized in West Virginia

The acquisition of St. Mary’s Medical Center by a hospital in West Virginia has been made official.

Cabell Huntington Hospital board of directors Chairman Dr. Kevin Yingling says the hospital finished the final steps of financing and paperwork to complete the acquisition of St. Mary’s Medical Center.

WSAZ-TV reported Thursday that both hospitals will be carrying out plans that included integrating electronic medical records and recruiting qualified physician specialists.

Years of litigation ended when Steel of West Virginia and Cabell Huntington agreed Steel of West Virginia would withdraw its challenges.

Steel of West Virginia backed off when Cabell Huntington promised to work with area businesses to improve overall workforce health and reduce incidents of hospitalization.

West Virginia Water Company Asks to Raise Prices 24 Percent

A company in West Virginia says it’s seeking to raise prices for customers by nearly $12 per month.

WSAZ-TV reports West Virginia American Water is asking the Public Service Commission to approve the 24 percent rate increase. The increase would add about $32 million to the company’s revenue.

The company says ongoing infrastructure investments and the state’s falling population have prompted the request. Company President Brian Bruce says the costs to provide water are fixed and don’t vary with the volume of water sold.

WSAZ says the company has raised rates five times since 2007, with the most recent being a 15 percent increase in 2016. The company also added a surcharge to bills last year.

If approved, the rate change won’t go into effect until February 2019.

Sunken Towboat Leaking Oil in Big Sandy River

Updated Friday, January 12 at 11:49 a.m.

Officials say a sunken tow boat is leaking oil in the Big Sandy River on the West Virginia-Kentucky border and crews are trying to contain the spill.

A statement from the U.S. Coast Guard says crews responded Wednesday to a report of a leaking towboat that had sunk at its mooring just south of Kenova, West Virginia, and had the potential to spill 5,000 gallons into the water.

WSAZ-TV reported Thursday that cleanup crews were on the scene and a boom was placed in the water in an effort to catch the oil so it doesn’t get into the Ohio River.

The Coast Guard statement says it is investigating along with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection.

Meanwhile, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health says customers of the water system in the city of Kenova could experience a service interruption after the system’s intake was closed due to the oil leak. Water samples are being tested but the results could take several days.

Illegal Activity Penalties Considered for Property Owners

West Virginia cities are considering ordinances targeting property owners for repeated illegal incidents on their premises.

Local news outlets report similar proposals in Huntington and Nitro follow the model of a Martinsburg drug house ordinance that went into effect in May and has since produced several busts.

The Herald-Dispatch reports the Huntington City Council Public Safety Committee voted Monday to send the ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. The law would see the declaration of properties where two or more illegal incidents occur within a year as public nuisances, resulting in the eviction of tenants involved in the illegal activities and possible fines for the property owners.

WSAZ-TV reports that Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt says a similar ordinance might go into effect this month.

Police Use Stun Gun on Suspect During Campus Disturbance

Police have arrested a man who officers say caused a disturbance on the Marshall University campus while possibly intoxicated.

WSAZ-TV of Huntington reports that students outside residence halls told police a young man approached them on Tuesday night, threatening to kill them. One student says the suspect bit his finger.

Campus police say the suspect ran after a fight broke out. He was subdued with a stun gun by university officers.

Campus police called for assistance from West Virginia State Police troopers.

Troopers say the suspect was taken to the hospital to determine whether the man had taken any drugs. The suspect’s name has not been released.

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