OHIO VALLEY — Several major stories are developing across the Ohio Valley, including continued debate over license plate reader cameras, millions of dollars in new development in Wheeling and a fatal house fire in East Liverpool.
Steubenville’s Flock camera debate continues after residents spoke both for and against the technology during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Councilman-at-Large Joel Walker supports keeping the cameras, citing their usefulness in criminal investigations, while Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo has questioned their oversight and says council never voted to install them. A final vote is expected in the coming weeks.
The controversy comes as questions surrounding Flock camera access are also being raised elsewhere in Ohio. In Lucas County, officials learned their camera system had been searched more than 900,000 times in two months, with many of those searches reportedly coming from police departments in the Houston, Texas area. State Sen. Al Cutrona is pushing legislation that would require warrants for access to Flock camera data and establish felony penalties for selling the information.
In Wheeling, two major redevelopment projects are moving forward. Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced $3.2 million in state funding toward the planned $25 million Wheeling Gateway Center, a tourism development projected to attract about 175,000 visitors annually. Wheeling City Council also approved demolition funding connected to the $60 million 14th Street redevelopment project near WesBanco Arena.
In St. Clairsville, city leaders are looking for residents’ input as they address the community’s growing deer population. State regulations make some removal options difficult, while officials say conducting an official deer count would require an expensive drone survey. Council plans to send a survey to residents with upcoming electric bills.
In East Liverpool, a man in his 50s died after a fire engulfed an Ohio Avenue home early Tuesday. Police said the man was unable to escape and died at the scene. Another man was injured while getting out of the home, although his condition was not released.
In Elm Grove, demolition of the vacant TCI building is scheduled to begin next month. Officials say the work will require the Junior Avenue bridge to close from Sept. 8 through Sept. 25.
Meanwhile, the ACLU is preparing a legal challenge involving West Virginia’s school funding system. The organization argues that students in Lincoln County are not receiving the level of educational funding required by the state constitution, citing issues including deteriorating buildings and teacher shortages. The outcome could have implications for school systems across West Virginia.
And in Barnesville, Denise Adkins Leach is taking over leadership of the Chamber of Commerce. The local native brings three decades of experience in education and is also a business owner.
River News will continue following these stories as developments become available.
