Good morning, Morgantown.

A Salem woman is turning a 111-year-old former United Brethren Church into Holy Grounds, a recovery-focused community center with a coffee shop + thrift store that will open in about six weeks to provide work opportunities for people in recovery.

Pantry Plus More will host its annual Back to School Bash this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mon County Center in Mylan Park, offering backpacks + school supplies to over 1,300 pre-registered students and support from local donors so every school-age child can begin the year with confidence.

Area residents can join the annual Breastfeeding Awareness Walk this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., hosted by MCHD WIC.

The event offers a Mommy and Me yoga session by Moonbow Wellness (local) and pepperoni rolls with drinks (from Rolling with Mama D), ending with a block walk downtown.

The Morgantown History Museum will open a new exhibit Friday that honors the nation's 250th anniversary by showcasing Monongalia County's role in the founding.

Faculty from all academic disciplines at WVU and JHU are invited to apply for the JHU-WVU Research Collaborative with proposals due through 11:59 p.m. Sept.

30 (internal WVU review must be completed by Sept. 22) to support interdisciplinary projects and foster long-term research partnerships.

WVU engineering student Izaak Whetsel was awarded a Boren Scholarship and will travel to Kyrgyzstan to study Russian while preparing for a national security role at NASA.

The program requires immersive language study and cultural engagement abroad.

West Virginia collected $388 million in July + $11 million above forecasts, finishing fiscal year 2026 with a surplus.

The state Public Service Commission approved a two-part rate increase for Mon Power that will add $3.65 to bills this month & $4.01 starting June 1, reducing a 13 percent proposal, while utilities agreed to hold off on new increases until after April 1, 2028.

West Virginia regulators approved a two-phase rate adjustment for Mon Power that raised bills by $3.65 on Aug.

1 and will add $4.01 on June 1 so that average bills rise by about $7.66 instead of the proposed $17.89. The companies agreed not to seek another rate increase before April 1.

Six WVU Medicine hospitals (including Morgantown's) were named to Forbes' Top Hospitals 2026 list (based on patient outcomes, quality, value and experience).

Jimmy Gregg, the former University High punter and 2025 Walker Award winner, will start as Syracuse's punter this fall.

He is training hard for home games beginning September 5 & later contests as he aims to redefine his role.