Several developing stories are making headlines across the Ohio Valley, including growing scrutiny of license plate-reading cameras, state reviews of local school testing results and concerns about the cost of Weirton’s water system improvements.
Residents filled a Steubenville City Council Safety Committee meeting Tuesday to question the city’s use of license plate readers. Councilman Royal Mayo said council did not vote to install the cameras, while Councilman Joel Walker said police use the system only during active investigations. Police said the cameras do not record audio or use facial-recognition technology.
Similar questions are being raised in Moundsville, where City Council did not approve the installation of four new license plate readers. City Manager Rick Healy said he authorized the cameras after meeting with police. According to Healy, access to the collected information is limited to sworn officers.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is reviewing spring testing results from 52 schools across the state. Eight Ohio Valley schools are included, including Steubenville High School and Bellaire Middle School. State officials identified instances in which students who had struggled on portions of a test correctly answered more difficult questions. Indian Creek’s superintendent said the results could reflect students reviewing and correcting their answers, a strategy taught by the district.
In Weirton, residents could face higher utility rates connected to a $39 million water system improvement project. City officials said aging lines must be replaced within a five-year deadline established by the West Virginia Public Service Commission. City Manager Mike Adams said the city plans to pursue grants and loans, although funding is competitive.
A Belmont County woman accused in the fatal shooting of her 1-year-old daughter has been transferred from jail to a secure mental health facility. Autum Stotelmyer Palmer did not appear for a scheduled court proceeding Tuesday. Prosecutors said she is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation after entering pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. Her next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21.
Patrick Havas, the man accused of moving through a crowd toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton at the Canfield Fair, has been arraigned on misdemeanor charges of inducing panic, disorderly conduct and two counts of assault. Prosecutors allege that two people were knocked down during the incident. Bond was set at $5,000.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey also announced that statewide violent crime decreased by 5.6% in 2025, while drug overdose deaths declined by 12%. State Police attributed the reported changes in part to cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
