Rocky 99 Johnstown | radioNOVO News WV News Roundup for May 27, 2026

Good morning.We begin with an incredibly close call on the water as state officials urge heavy caution ahead of the busy summer recreation season. A group of two dozen Boy Scouts from northern Virginia are back home safe after rapid flooding left them stranded along the Cacapon River in Hampshire County over the holiday weekend. First responders say sudden, intense currents forced the scouts to abruptly beach their canoes on the wrong side of the riverbanks. Emergency crews launched a fast-paced rescue operation, successfully bringing the entire group across the swelling waters in under forty-five minutes. State safety officials are using the incident to remind all mid-Ohio valley residents to check water levels and current advisories before heading out onto state rivers this week.Meanwhile, state travel coordinators are preparing for what is projected to be a record-shattering summer tourism boom across the Mountain State. With the nation's milestone two hundred fiftieth birthday on the horizon, industry officials report an unprecedented surge in early bookings for outdoor recreation hubs and historic mountain towns. West Virginia state parks alone brought in a massive forty million dollars in revenue last year, fueled by explosive growth at hotspots like Blackwater Falls and Babcock. Vacationers are being strongly advised to lock in reservations early this week, as high-demand regional activities—including the brand new bungee jumping excursions in Harpers Ferry—are already booking out weeks in advance.Turning to public safety, a multi-agency manhunt continues in the tri-state area following a wave of violent holiday weekend shootings. Authorities in Huntington are actively tracking leads after finding South Point, Ohio native Wesley Mitchem fatally shot late Sunday night along Fifth Avenue. No suspects have been placed in handcuffs yet. Detectives are simultaneously working a separate double-shooting that erupted early Monday morning at the Marcum Terrace housing complex. Law enforcement officials are pleading with the public for assistance, urging anyone with any potential information or surveillance footage to immediately contact Cabell County emergency dispatchers or the Huntington Police Department.A major traffic alert is in effect for commuters crossing state lines this morning as heavy roadwork kicks off along the river. Paving crews are officially locking down lanes in Brooke County, triggering significant restrictions along the eastbound Exit One off-ramp on U-S Route Twenty-Two. Disruptions are also hitting the Southbound Ramp A on West Virginia Route Two. State Department of Transportation crews will be out in full force throughout the week to lay down fresh asphalt and install updated highway guardrails. Drivers should brace for sudden delays or seek alternative routes, as the orange cones are expected to remain in place through Friday evening.And finally, the road to the College World Series runs directly through the Mountain State this week! West Virginia University baseball has officially clinched the coveted number sixteen national seed in the upcoming N-C-A-A Tournament. The red-hot Mountaineers are now packing the stands in Morgantown as they prepare to host a high-stakes regional bracket featuring powerhouse programs Wake Forest, Kentucky, and Binghamton. This marks a spectacular fourth consecutive postseason appearance for the climbing program, which advanced all the way to the super regionals over the last two cycles. The home-turf tournament action officially fires up this Friday night when West Virginia battles the Binghamton Bearcats.For more breaking news from across the Mountain State, download the radioNOVO app. I’m Codi Gaboff, radioNOVO News, a service of Seven Mountains Media.