In Around West Virginia today: decisions by the Municipal Home Rule Board, another city considers showing support for LGBT equality, veterans are grateful for a free trip to war memorials, and more.
n The West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board on Monday approved allowing Bridgeport, a home rule city, to enact a 1 percent sales tax to build an indoor recreation center, according to The Exponent Telegram. City Council would still have to enact an ordinance to make it official. They expect to raise about $3.18 million from the sales tax, the newspaper reports.
n The Municipal Home Rule Board also approved Harpers Ferry as the first city in West Virginia with fewer than 2,000 people to receive home rule status, according to The Journal. City officials in Harpers Ferry have also expressed intent to enact a 1 percent sales tax. They expect to raise about $56,000 from it.
n U.S. Marshals arrested one of the men Monongalia County Sheriff's Department deputies were seeking when police shot and killed another man earlier this month, according to the Dominion Post. Isaac William Barker, 31, of Morgantown, was charged with armed robbery, malicious assault and conspiracy. He was arrested in New Orleans on Monday.
n Charles Town is considering adopting an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, The Journal reports. Six cities and towns in West Virginia have passed similar ordinances.
n A 9-month-old baby girl allegedly overdosed on oxycodone and died, according to The Register-Herald. The newspaper reports that the father, Jason Milam, of Beckley, was arrested Monday after he missed a hearing for a charge of child neglect resulting in death.
n The Greenbrier Valley Drug and Violent Crime Task Force executed a search warrant and found over $110,000 in cash and $350,000 in heroin and pills at a Ronceverte man's home, The Register-Herald reports. Willie Keaton Goodson, 22, is charged with possession with intent to deliver.
n A Ritchie County High School senior, Kirsten Seese, organized an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. memorials for veterans, according to WBOY. Bob Jackson, Vietnam veteran, said, "I hate to say this but it's about time the Vietnam veterans get recognition for something. I almost felt like the last 47-48 years have almost been a waste, until this came by."
n Researchers believe fracking is responsible for elevated levels of bromide, a salt compound that becomes carcinogenic when mixed with chlorine, in Morgantown's water, The Daily Athenaeum reports. In one Northeast Natural Energy drilling location in Westover, fracking takes place fewer than 1,500 feet from the water intake. City officials asked the company to build a secondary containment area there last year, but the company refused.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.