Andrew Spellman

Locals take to lower town Harpers Ferry to protest Trump Administration's actions regarding historical exhibits HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. —The tense energy suspected throughout Harpers Ferry on Friday didn’t exist; instead, it was an energy of solidarity between county and DMV residents, as well as those

Around 150-200 protestors filled the sidewalks near the John Brown Museum last Friday, reacting to the White House’s latest directive to remove or cover historic exhibits and artifacts at National Park sites.

#westvirginia #appalachia #history

Israeli Strike Kills Gazans Sheltering in Warehouse, Local Reports Say The Israeli attack in Gaza City killed nearly two dozen Palestinians, the reports said. The Israeli military said it had hit two “Hamas terrorists.”

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 22 Palestinians near a market in Gaza City on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense rescue service.

Valor Reserve debuts at Business Summit, but is it just Mountain Pure 2.0? WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — As a lawsuit that may determine the fate of the project waits for a November hearing in Jefferson County Circuit Court, the team behind a

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Trail talk: WV TRAIL to host statewide meetings to bolster community involvement, including one at Cacapon State Park WV TRAIL, an organization that works to “increase awareness and appreciation for non-motorized trails” throughout the Mountain State, has embarked on a circuit of meetings, hoping to get the public

Movement building for the sake of trails. Read more about WV TRAIL's statewide meeting series and how you can get involved when they visit Berkeley Springs in early October.

Following Sen. Bernie Sanders' tour, a homegrown movement now prepares for one of the most significant Senate battles in years WHEELING, W.Va. — In the hallway that leads backstage within the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, an up-and-coming U.S. Senate candidate wiped his face with a red handkerchief, sweat beading ahead

In the hallway that leads backstage within the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, a resurgent U.S. Senate candidate wiped his face with a red handkerchief, trying to dry the sweat beading ahead of his moment on stage.

Large or small, #protests have been consistent throughout West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle since February. These photos are from yesterday's "Make Good Trouble" gathering at the Jefferson County Courthouse where roughly 250 people "and four dogs" attended.

#photojournalism #westvirginia #wv

Hundreds expected to 'make good trouble' at upcoming protest in Charles Town CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — On July 17, local organizers are hosting a protest and community gathering outside the Jefferson County Courthouse to “make good trouble.”

Another large-scale day of protests around the U.S. is scheduled for July 17. As part of that, hundreds are expected to descend upon the Jefferson County courthouse.

bit.ly/44JsEf8

Curtis Yarvin’s Plot Against America The reactionary blogger’s call for a monarch to rule the country once seemed like a joke. Now the right is ready to bend the knee.

The neo-reactionary blogger Curtis Yarvin wants to destroy American democracy. With the Trumpian right embracing strongman rule, his ideas have found mainstream purchase.

SCOTUS to hear case on transgender athletes competing in West Virginia sports On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will take up two cases regarding transgender athletes competing in sanctioned school sports, including a challenge to West Virginia’s Save Women’s

BREAKING: The U.S. Supreme Court announced this morning it will hear two cases next term regarding transgender athletes participating in school sports including State of West Virginia v. B.P.J.

www.spiritofjefferson.com/news/article...

One of the most comprehensive reports I’ve done since returning to print. Give it a read — it’s free!

Vaughn seeks re-election to ensure necessary work continues HARPERS FERRY — Greg Vaughn knows his way around the Harpers Ferry mayoral position.

With the Harpers Ferry election looming on the horizon, incumbent mayor Greg Vaughn said he's seeking re-election to ensure the critical work he's kickstarted continues on uninterrupted.

Suits clinches sweeping victory in Ranson Mayor's race, defeating Tommy Custer RANSON, W.Va. — Ken Suits won the Ranson mayor’s race 224 to 70 against his fellow council member, Tommy Custer, according to preliminary results made available late Tuesday evening.

BREAKING: Preliminary results show that Ken Suits won the Ranson Mayor's race over Tommy Custer in a landslide, defeating his fellow councilman 224-70. Also, Stephanie Fagan and Jaden Bound are projected to win the at-large and Ward 3 seats, respectively.

I really enjoyed photographing Shepherdstown’s first-ever Pride parade. I was shocked this was the first, but glad to see it was an overwhelming success, nonetheless.

Four of my favorites from earlier this afternoon.

📍Department of Health and Human Services | NIOSH/CDC Protest

A police officer holding the arms of Ben Cohen, a co-founder of the ice cream brand Ben and Jerry’s. Text reads: "Ben & Jerry's Founder Arrested at Senate Hearing After Protesting War in Gaza." Photo credit: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

One of the founders of Ben & Jerry’s was arrested on Wednesday after he interrupted a Senate committee hearing to protest Congress’s funding for Israel’s military as it wages war against Hamas in Gaza.

Read more: nyti.ms/43uubGu

One person identified in Tuesday's deadly MARC train accident SANDY HOOK, Md. — Officials with the Maryland Transit Administration provided more details on the deadly accident that occurred on May 6 in Sandy Hook, Md., located across the river

One person has been identified in Tuesday's deadly accident involving a MARC train near Harpers Ferry, according to the Maryland Transit Administration. The other individual who was killed has yet to be named.

Cuts to AmeriCorps have hit local organizations, but the Potomac Valley Audubon Society rallied to employ former members despite high price tag Federal cuts continue to impact vast amounts of Americans, and one of the most recent heads on the chopping block was AmeriCorps, the federal agency that connects public servants to

Although AmeriCorps was one of the most recent victims of DOGE's bites to federal agencies, Potomac Valley Audubon Society rallied to maintain all of their former AmeriCorps members through their agreed-upon contract periods at a price tag of $75,000.

Timely, clutch hitting, pitching sets up Patriots' 4-1 upset of Cougars SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — With Jefferson already having secured both the EPAC championship and the top seed in the Class AAAA, Region II, Section 2 playoffs, Washington used its regular-season finale

Washington upset top-seed Jefferson 4-1 last night in the Class 4A, Region II, Section 2 winner's bracket game, sending the Cougars to an elimination game against Musselman. The winner of that game will face the Patriots in the sectional championship.

‘Sinners’ is a full sensory experience, and may go down as one of the best films released in recent years Ryan Coogler’s most recent motion picture, “Sinners,” is earning a market share of the press—and for good reason.

"[Sinners] not only tells a buttoned-up story about a pair of twins returning to Jim Crow-era Mississippi and bringing their deadly baggage with them, it also ... [touches] on some of the most emotional and well-received storytelling elements that other horror films typically scoff at."

Cuts to AmeriCorps have hit local organizations, but the Potomac Valley Audubon Society rallied to employ former members despite high price tag Federal cuts continue to impact vast amounts of Americans, and one of the most recent heads on the chopping block was AmeriCorps, the federal agency that connects public servants to

“I’m sure it’s going to be financially challenging for our organization but I’m so grateful that we’re in a position to [keep the members], and they’ve expressed as well that they’re very grateful.”

www.spiritofjefferson.com/news/article...

Cuts to AmeriCorps have severely impacted WV, including eight positions in the E. Panhandle's Potomac Audubon group who's paying roughly $75K to keep those members on board through August.

I've reached out to Sen. Capito's office for comment as she's been a major supporter of AmeriCorps.

What to know about the nationwide ‘50501’ protests planned against Trump Organizers say the demonstrations are expected in cities across the U.S., focused on different issues and with ‘day of action’ community service elements included.

A national grassroots action against the Trump administration’s policies is expected to unfold across 50 states and D.C. on Saturday.

The rallies are loosely organized under the 50501 movement — which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.”

For the second time in two meetings, the Jefferson County Commission’s feed has been hijacked.

Last time it was lewd visuals, this time it was obnoxious noises in addition to pornographic images. Have to wonder why people are trying to derail an otherwise normal meeting.

Judge: 'Probable cause' to hold U.S. in contempt over Alien Enemies Act deportations The government sent several planeloads of alleged gang members to El Salvador, including 137 people under the act, the White House said at the time.

JUST IN: Judge finds 'probable cause' to hold U.S. in contempt over Alien Enemies Act deportations

Lee Corso to retire from ‘College GameDay’ after Week 1 after 38 years, hundreds of headgear picks Corso's weekly headgear selections have been a staple of college football Saturday's for nearly three decades.

Breaking News from @theathletic.bsky.social: The ESPN broadcaster Lee Corso will retire in August after a 38-year run as the face of the network’s “College GameDay” show.

Women, minorities fired in purge of NIH science review boards Scientists, with expertise in fields that include mental health, cancer and infectious disease, typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal.

Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last month from the boards that review the science and research that happens in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health are female, Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.

Team Trump Is Gaming Out How to Ship U.S. Citizens to El Salvador Donald Trump’s administration is talking internally about denaturalizing American citizens — and potentially sending some to El Salvador.

They’ll do it in a few high profile cases to set examples. People will say, “No way this holds up in court.” Maybe. But we now know the plan: they’ll do it first, then dare the courts to stop them. And this too will be very difficult for courts to undo. This is end of democracy stuff.

Arson on Pennsylvania governor’s home caused significant damage, police say Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and his family awoke to the sound of police banging on their door as they responded to the fire at the mansion in Harrisburg.

The home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) was set on fire early Sunday while he and his family were inside, he said, an incident that state police are investigating as arson.

Downtown business owners share concerns, frustrations about weekend protest stymying sales CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — “We’re not happy. A lot of us aren’t happy.”

Though in support of 1A demonstrations, many business owners in Charles Town shared their frustrations with me about significant drops in sales in the wake of Saturday’s massive #protest

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CON repeal, a Morrisey priority, fails again as WV House strongly rejects discharging bill to floor • West Virginia Watch Another nail was hammered into the coffin of Certificate of Need repeal as the House members overwhelmingly voted down a motion to discharge the bill.

Another nail was hammered into the coffin of Certificate of Need repeal on Friday, as the West Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly voted down — after a drawn out “fiasco” over rules and procedure — a motion to discharge House Bill 2007, reports @caitycoyne.bsky.social.