Latest news with #EvanHansen
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stewartstown residents share opposition to MARL transmission line
Jun. 21—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — Stewartstown-area residents gathered at the community building Saturday afternoon to learn about and share their concerns about the NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic Resiliency Link project. "This is a raising local awareness effort here today, " said Kent Hunter, who lives on the next hill over from the community center. "We probably can't stop this but we can maybe impact where the route eventually ends up." MARL, as it's called, is a proposed transmission project to build a new 105-mile 500-kilovolt transmission line stretching from Greene County, Pa., to Frederick County, Va. Depending on the route selected, it could pass through Monongalia and Preston counties, along with Hampshire County and Mineral counties, Allegany Garrett county in Maryland and Fayette County in Pennsylvania. The project also consists of building a new 500 /138-kV substation in Frederick County, Va. Hunter was one of four speakers to address the residents. He said he learned about MARL in December after NextEra met with the Monongalia County Commission. He was among the landowners on the possible local routes who received a postcard from NextEra in February. Concerned, he contacted former Delegate Barbara Evans Fleischauer and Delegate Evan Hansen, and they got involved in the awareness-and-opposition effort. Among the concerns Hunter and others cited is, who pays for this. "It just takes away our land, " he said. "It doesn't help us in any way at all that we can find." And it will likely decrease property values of those whose land it crosses. At a May open house, NextEra's Kaitlin McCormick answered a question from The Dominion Post about the expected local benefits. She cited three: reliable power ; the opportunity for high-demand customers to interconnect ; and local tax revenue — $50 million to $100 million over the 40-year life of the project. Residents remain skeptical, though. Speakers several times cited a study by Cathy Kunkel, energy consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, that indicates West Virginia ratepayers will pay more than $440 million in increased electricity rates over the next 40 years for MARL and the related Valley Link Transmission line that is planned to run from the John Amos plant in Putnam County eastward to Frederick County, Md. PJM Interconnection, the regional 13-state power grid operator, selected MARL and Valley Link, among a number of projects, based on its long-range Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, to address reliability issues associated with loss of power generation sources, support for new power sources and additional electricity demand in the region. Public perception — echoed in Kunkel's report — ties much of that new demand to data centers in Virginia. Fleischauer, one of the speakers, said there's not enough local benefit to justify the rate hikes. "We don't see the value in being a pass through." Speaker Rachel Stevens, who lives just north of Bruceton Mills and whose neighbors are on a potential route, listed several areas of concern about the line. Along with diminished property values and higher electric bills, she cited possible environmental impacts along the route and the impacts on landowners who will be subject to possible eminent domain proceedings for the line's 200-foot right of way. Speaker Jim Kotcon, a retired WVU professor, explained some of the process ahead. After selecting a route, NextEra is looking to file applications with the state Public Service Commission and other state's regulators early this fall. A project timeline shows expected state regulatory approvals in spring 2027, start of construction in fall 2029, completion by fall 2031 and lines in service by winter 2031. PSC has 270 days from NextEra's application date to grant or deny approval, he said, and any eminent domain proceedings to gain access to land would begin after that. He suggested four strategies to respond: take the best possible offer for the right of way (but don't be the first to agree because they get the worst offers); work to get the line moved to another route ; make sure the line avoids public lands (though this would affect more private landowners); or simply just oppose the line. Fleischauer continued that line of thought. "There's hope that we can do something about this, " she said. The key fight will be when the PSC is considering approval. And "not in my back yard " won't sway them. They will need clear evidence that the line won't benefit West Virginia. During a public Q &A session, residents cited some other concerns, including the effects on Cheat Lake recreation and business with new, big, unsightly power lines passing overhead. One lakeside landowner said, "It's very disturbing." There was a general understanding that landowners along all the proposed routes aren't going to want the line in their yards and will be opposing it. Fleischauer said, "If we are going to succeed, we are going to have to make the most noise." Another community informational meeting is set for 1 p.m. June 29 at Rexroad Auction in Bruceton Mills.
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Rank The Best Broadway Shows Ever: Blind Ranking Game
Think you can handle the Broadway spotlight? Let's see! In this Blind Ranking game, you'll face a lineup of Broadway shows — one by one — and rank each from 1st to 7th faster than a quick-change artist. Sound like a day in "The Emerald City"? Think again! Here's the twist: you won't know if "Hamilton" or a less dazzling debut is next. 😬 Once your choice hits the stage, it's showtime — no changes, no encores. It's all about channeling your inner Evan Hansen, trusting those gut instincts, and making snap decisions like it's the biggest audition of your life. The golden rule? Trust your instincts... and prepare to potentially have a "Les Misérables" moment. Tap to start — and may your judgment be as sharp as a Sondheim lyric!
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Morgantown delegates discuss outcomes of 2025 legislative session
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — The Morgantown Area Partnership hosted its annual Legislative Wrap-Up on Thursday, where members of the partnership and local business owners were invited to hear about delegates' ventures in the most recent legislative session and ask questions about it. All legislators relative to Monongalia County were invited, and delegates Anitra Hamilton (D-Monongalia), Evan Hansen (D-Monongalia), Joe Statler (R-Monongalia) and John Williams (D), alongside senators Joey Garcia (D-Marion) and Mike Oliverio (R-Monongalia) were in attendance. At the start of the meeting, each delegate was allowed three minutes to summarize their opinions on what was accomplished within the legislative session, to which many agreed was not much. RFK Jr seeks dismissal of lawsuit against NIOSH cuts 'I've seen a number of different sessions over time and this is probably the worst that I've ever seen as far as how little we got done and how much we focused on things that don't matter—or to the extent that they matter, they matter to the purpose of driving people apart instead of trying to really solve the problem,' Sen. Garcia said. After every delegate spoke, audience members wrote out questions that varied from 'what can be done on their level?' As well as 'what can be done through the legislative process to better suit the citizens of Monongalia County and its surrounding areas?' 12 News spoke with Russ Rogerson, President and CEO of Morgantown Area Partnership, on the significance of hosting events like this one. 'We're able to kind of pull these folks together, take time out of their busy schedule. You know, being in government is not an 'in-session thing, it's ongoing and somewhat 24/7 and likewise on business, being able to take time out of their busy days and come here and be able to have this open conversation,' Rogerson said. Morgantown Area Partnership hosts sessions like this one annually and a few more before the legislative session to help better prepare delegates on how to better serve their regions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
20-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Bringing awareness to help prevent teen suicide - "Be there and be willing to hear them."
It's a very serious topic and it has to be brought to the forefront of the conversation - teenage suicide. The Pittsburgh area has seen two in recent weeks, and while it may be uncomfortable to talk about, this is the beginning of a dangerous time of year for the teenagers in our lives. "Feeling isolated, feeling alone, they definitely are risk factors for things like depression and suicide," explained Dr. Gary Swanson, a child psychiatrist at Allegheny Health Network. "We've certainly seen a rise over the last number of years and we want to intervene and try to help as much as possible. Because one teen suicide is too many." What Ben Platt sang about in the show "Dear Evan Hansen" nearly a decade ago has faded, but teenage suicide has not. Dr. Swanson said there is no consistent cause, it varies from teenager to teenager but there are warning signs. "It's a sort of withdrawal, social withdrawal activity, a withdrawal you can see," he said. Dr. Swanson said if you see it, reach out, and don't be dismissed with a simple "I'm fine." "[Ask] no, how are you really doing? Be there, and be willing to hear how someone might really be feeling," he said. "Knowing somebody loves you, somebody cares for you, it's a tremendously helpful protective factor." Dr. Swanson also said if someone says they're alone, offer to do something with them, and let them know you don't want them to feel alone. He also cautioned that caring is not suggesting. "I would want to reassure them that by asking, you're not making it more likely, you're asking actually helps reduce the risk," Dr. Swanson said. It takes courage to reach out and approach someone you're concerned about and if you're not sure about how to do it, you're not alone. Most people don't. You can get resources from the Suicide Hotline at 988, asking a professional about how to handle it, but no matter what, do not ignore the concern. If you, or someone you know, are struggling, you can get help through 988 at this link .
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Judiciary moves bill concerning absentee ballot applications, deadlines
Feb. 26—dbeard @ MORGANTOWN — A House bill to limit distribution of absentee ballot applications was paired on Wednesday with another House bill to move up the deadline for counties to receive absentee ballots. The new two-part bill received some bipartisan opposition in the Judiciary Committee but was approved and heads to the House floor. HB 2117 began as a bill to just move up the deadline. But HB 2400, which will be on second reading on the floor on Thursday, affects the same code section, so it was decided to merge them in 2117. The current deadline for county clerks to receive absentee ballots is the day after election day. They must be postmarked no later than election day and must be received no later than the hour canvassing is commenced. The bill moves the deadline to 7:30 p.m. election day, when polls close. The provisions patched in from HB 2400 say, "It is unlawful for any person, including any election official, to mail or deliver an application for an absentee ballot to any voter except when specifically requested by the voter ; a member of the voter's immediate family ; or a caregiver of the voter. It sets out criminal penalties for election officials who deliver unsolicited applications and for non-officials who deliver more than 10 applications. Delegate Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, opposed HB 2400 on Monday when the committee advanced it to the floor, and opposed this one on Wednesday. "This is now an omnibus voter suppression bill, " he said. Legal absentee ballots that arrive after the new deadline won't be counted. There was no testimony from county clerks that the existing deadline has delayed canvassing or created any uncertainty, he said. "There's no problem here." And he repeated his earlier arguments about HB 2400, that it will prevent distribution of applications to nursing home residents. "I don't know of any other government document that's illegal to reproduce and distribute. ... This bill will result in fewer people voting, and of those people who do vote, fewer of those votes being counted." Delegate Keith Marple, R-Harrison, also opposed it, noting that clerks and the secretary of state's office haven't supported it. Currently, clerks count all votes received by canvassing and this bill cuts that time period. It doesn't prohibit voting but does prohibit votes from being counted. Delegate Josh Holstein, R-Boone and a co-sponsor of HB 2400, said neither bill prohibits use of absentee ballots for nursing home residents and doesn't stop anyone from asking if someone wants an application. Holstein said 31 states have election-day deadlines for receipt of absentee ballots, including deep-blue states Vermont, Connecticut, Hawaii and Delaware. "This isn't some kind of fringe idea, " he said. "This is pretty standard." The committee approved and advanced the bill in a divided voice vote.
