Good morning, Morgantown.

On April 4, Braden Adkins passed the rifle and Mountaineer mascot responsibilities to Cade Kincaid during the Passing of the Rifle Ceremony—which included a reception at 5 p.m. in Mountainlair’s Vandalia Lounge and a program at 6 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre.

Kincaid begins his term as the Mountaineer mascot today at the Gold-Blue Spring Showcase at Milan Puskar Stadium.

Morgantown residents who need a spring clean for their cars can choose from 25 top auto detailers as named in the Best of Morgantown 2025 contest.

Full Throttle Auto Spa leads by offering full-service detailing at the Municipal Airport+ several other top options include Magic Shine, Ultimate Shine, Mr. Magic/Expressway, Tidal Wave Auto Spa and Ziebart of Morgantown.

The university invites the public to join its seventh annual Research Week from April 7-11 to celebrate renewed top-tier R1 research status.

A presentation by Jonathan Coleman on transporter structure in synaptic vesicles will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Monday in Clark Hall, Room 312 — Creative Arts and Media students will also present projects in person and online.

West Virginia University reported a record 93.8% fall-to-spring retention rate for first-time freshmen from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025—students in its Statler College reached a 97% rate and first-generation retention also improved.

The board approved two new programs in artificial intelligence and announced that the WVU Police Department will relocate to the Chestnut Ridge Research Building with a move planned for Aug. 10—continuing its focus on student and community support.

Celebrity Chef Aarón Sánchez visited Café Evansdale this week — he helped serve lunch at his Mexican dining station Adobo Cantina.

Ross Hodge signed a five-year deal worth $15 million with WVU to coach men's basketball.

His contract includes performance-based incentives, binding buyout terms, and a potential sixth year worth $3.3 million if his team meets set goals — details that echo those in coach Darian DeVries’ previous deal.

The WVU baseball team is hosting Big 12 newcomer Utah Utes for a weekend series at Kendrick Family Ballpark from April 4 to April 6.

The series started yesterday at 6:30 p.m.—today the game starts at 4 p.m. and the final contest will begin tomorrow at noon.

Today at the Milan Puskar Center, West Virginia’s new men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge held a press conference and said his teams win over 80% of games by using strong defense — a tactic he learned from past coaching roles.

He said his plan is to rely on tough, resourceful play and elite guard performance to revive the Mountaineers’ winning tradition in Morgantown.

Morgantown seniors Marty Johnson and Brady Savage were named to the West Virginia Sports Writers Association Class AAAA all-state first team—an honor for the best local basketball players—and their selection shows strong skill from our hometown teams.

9 to 5 - The Musical

7-8:30 p.m. — Lyell B Clay Concert Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy the spirited music of Dolly Parton in this delightful adaptation of a classic tale.

Henry Clay 30K

12 PM — Coopers Rock State Forest — Registration required — Experience the thrill of mountain biking at this exciting event hosted by the West Virginia Mountain Bike Association.

Three Rivers English Springer Spaniel Club Event

April 24-27 — Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center — Entry fee required — Experience a weekend of dog shows with specialties and sweepstakes showcasing the best in English Springer Spaniels.

Brian Regan: Live Stand-Up Comedy

8:00-9:30 p.m. — Metropolitan Theatre — Tickets available — Experience the humorous observations of Brian Regan, renowned for his animated performance and relatable material.

2025 Spring Electronics Recycle Collection Event

8 AM – 12 PM — Sam's Club — Free entry — Safely dispose of your old electronics while supporting recycling efforts in the community.

Mylan Park Spring Craft Show

5 AM – 12 PM — Hazel & J.W. Ruby Community Center — Admission details not specified — Brighten your spring with unique hand-crafted items and great finds at the Mylan Park Spring Show.

Mountain Stage with David Mayfield

7-11 p.m. — Lyell B Clay Concert Theatre — Ticketed event — Experience an evening of diverse musical performances featuring renowned and emerging artists.