radioNOVO News for Parkersburg, WV 07-30-26

Good morning.West Virginia state and congressional leaders are calling on the federal government to fast-track a major disaster declaration following severe regional flooding that destroyed thirty-three homes across Upshur and Lewis counties. Initial damage assessments estimate recovery costs at nearly five-million dollars for those two counties alone, with officials warning the full financial impact will grow significantly as assessments continue.In local education, Wood County Schools is considering hiring contracted special education teachers to fill seven urgent autism teaching vacancies. Special Education Director Valissa Porter informed the school board that while overall district enrollment declined over the past two years, special education numbers rose sharply—including an additional one-hundred-forty-two students qualifying for individualized education plans since December.And Parkersburg residents can now score a discount on city services. City Council passed two ordinances Tuesday authorizing a five-percent discount for homeowners who pay a full year’s worth of police, fire, and sanitation fees in advance, extending the deadline to take advantage to August twentieth.For more news, download the radioNOVO app. I’m Codi Gaboff, radioNOVO News, a service of Seven Mountains Media.