In Around West Virginia: a widow recounts the night her husband was killed, north-central West Virginia's population remains stable, an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance moves forward, and more.
n A widow testified in Wayne County court on Tuesday about the horrifying night she and her husband were both stabbed multiple times by an intruder. The Herald-Dispatch reports that she testified that even after she pretended to be dead, Jeremy Allen Marcum, 22, stabbed her eight more times. Her husband, 77-year-old James Bundy, died in the attack.
Marcum is standing trial for murder and malicious wounding. Elijah Jarvey Marcum, 21, Jeremy Marcum's cousin, and Melissa Gail Watts, 35, the Bundys' neighbor, were charged with murder, malicious wounding and conspiracy.
n As West Virginia's population declines, due to deaths of older people and migration from the state, north-central West Virginia is a bright spot, The Exponent Telegram reports. Dr. John Deskins, director of WVU's Bureau of Business and Economics Research, said the area's steady population rate can be attributed to transportation and infrastructure, location, an educated workforce, and coal and natural gas production.
n WalletHub, a financial website, ranks West Virginia the 16th safest state in the country, The Register-Herald reports. We ranked 15th in home and community safety, 15th in safety from natural disasters, 28th in road safety, 39th in financial safety, and 39th in workplace safety.
n An LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance is up for second reading in Charles Town June 21, The Journal reports. The ordinance, which would extend protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents, passed on a vote of 5-2 Monday evening, after five hours of public comment.
n A West Virginia man pleaded guilty Monday to threatening to blow up the Statue of Liberty, MetroNews reports. Jason Paul Smith, 42, of Harts in Lincoln County, faces up to five years in prison. Authorities said he made the call in April 2015. About 3,200 people had to be evacuated.
n A contract worker died at a former Preston County mine site Tuesday, MetroNews reports. The contract worker was working on installing a water treatment system at the former Decondor Coal site when a ditch caved in during excavation.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.