Morgantown
Daily News
Saturday, January 17th, 2026
Good morning, Morgantown. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 17th of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ On Jan. 16, a local car club donated 600 stuffed animals in tribute to a baby who passed away, offering community members a heartfelt act of remembrance. WDTV
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Raising Cane’s is set to open in Morgantown on Feb. 3 (at 3515 University Town Centre Drive) and will hire over 160 team members. The restaurant also offers 20 customers free Cane’s for a year with its opening promotions. The Daily Athenaeum
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ A multi-agency search ended Thursday night after two people missing from a kayaking trip were safely found near an island by Raven’s Rock; the search was coordinated by the sheriff's department, state police, and Morgantown police following a 5:45 p.m. missing report from a Cheat Lake boat ramp. MetroNews
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Morgantown's own Aristotle Jones, known as the Appalachian Soul Man, received a fellowship from United States Artists to support his music (providing career consulting and health care) as he prepares to take his storytelling talent national. The Dominion Post
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ WVU will host the West Virginia Scholastic Esports League fall finals at the Mountainlair Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 23 starting at 8:50 a.m. The event features in-person semifinals and finals in several games plus open play zones and sessions for high school students interested in esports careers. West Virginia University
- ➤ WVU started using Okta Verify on Oct. 1, 2025 to combine login and security steps. Some students & teachers say the new system is clunky and signs them out too soon during class, while IT says most users like it and advises those with problems to call the Service Desk. The Daily Athenaeum
- ➤ The 3-Minute Thesis competition challenges graduate students to present their research in three minutes using a single slide. Submissions will be accepted until Feb. 8 — with finalists competing in April for tiered cash prizes and advancement to regional and national rounds. West Virginia University
- ➤ WVU’s Campus Food Garden, started in 2021 to help fight food insecurity in Appalachia, is now run full-time by biology professor Katrina Stewart after co-founder Nikki Byrne-Hoffman left. The garden on Evansdale and Downtown campuses educates volunteers on sustainable growing — a community project funded by the biology department. The Daily Athenaeum
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ NIOSH employees in Morgantown were reinstated after a protracted dispute over federal job cuts; the decision reverses recent workforce reductions + restores staff to their original roles. WV News
- ➤ NIOSH workers in Morgantown credited congressional leaders for reinstating jobs this week after layoffs reduced their workforce by 22%. Senator Capito and other officials led discussions that prompted federal agencies to restore operations as the agency works to fill remaining roles. MetroNews
- ➤ The West Virginia Public Service Commission approved a settlement for Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison to meet federal pollution rules — raising rates by about $5 million, or roughly 39 cents a month for residential customers. WV News
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ University High School boys’ basketball coach Joe Schmidle reached his 200th win when the Hawks defeated Wheeling Park 47-40 on Wednesday at Baker’s Ridge. His milestone marks 12 years of building a strong program with dedicated players. The Dominion Post
- ➤ Former 4-star Oregon pass rusher Tobi Haastrup has reportedly committed to the Mountaineers, adding to the team’s defensive lineup; his arrival boosts Coach Rich Rodriguez’s plan to build talent among young transfers + he has multiple years of eligibility left. The Dominion Post
- ➤ WVU is gearing up for a competitive 2026 quarterback season after a rocky 2025. The transfer portal closed and coach Rodriguez added veteran Michael Hawkins Jr. to boost the race with freshman Scotty Fox Jr. + the team now has six QBs, though only two are expected to start. The Dominion Post
-
WVU vs. Arizona State Women's Basketball Game
7-9 p.m. — Mountainlair Student Union — Check for ticket info — It's Mountaineer basketball at its finest! Leave it all on the court!
-
Baylor Bears vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Basketball
4-6 p.m. — Mountainlair Student Union — Free trial for streaming — Catch the live action as Baylor faces West Virginia in an exciting college basketball showdown.
-
Ray Scott LIVE at Tipsy Teeze
8-11 p.m. — Tipsy Teeze Bar, Grill and Music Hall — Tickets available — Experience critically acclaimed Nashville star Ray Scott performing live with support from Clay Justice.
-
Texas Tech Red Raiders at West Virginia Mountaineers Basketball
1-3 p.m. — Mountainlair Student Union — Cost info not provided — Morgantown energy activated with Texas Tech in the building.
-
UCF Knights vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Women's Basketball
7-9 p.m. — Hope Coliseum — Ticket info available — It's more than a game, it's a statement as WVU takes on UCF and leaves it all on the court!
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Morgantown Daily News
Welcome to the Morgantown Daily News, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Morgantown, West Virginia community. If you like the Morgantown Daily News, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Morgantown.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Morgantown and across West Virginia. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Morgantown Daily News
A free Morgantown community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://morgantowndailynews.com/sitemap