🌱 Patch AM: Could a Charleston judge’s ruling eventually shut down local charter schools?

Hello again Charleston! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could a Charleston judge’s ruling eventually shut down local charter schools?
• What led to the deadly Main Street shooting in Charleston?
• Kanawha Valley mourns Emmy-winning journalist who started at Charleston’s WCHS

Also on today's calendar: WALK-IN WEDNESDAYS at Holistic Inc and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the alien say to the puzzle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Cloudy, showers around; windy, with a high of 46 and low of 28 degrees.
• Thursday: A.M. flurries; cloudy, cold, temps: high: 33, low: 26.
• Friday: Occasional wet snow, 1-2", with a high of 37 and low of 30 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Ruling could affect public charter schools (theintermountain.com) — A Charleston-based judge has ruled that West Virginia’s charter school system violates the state Constitution unless local voters approve new schools, a decision that could eventually affect South Charleston’s WIN Academy and other campuses. The order is paused for 60 days while state officials consider an appeal, leaving more than 4,000 charter students and their families watching closely for what happens next.
   

2. Shooting suspect in custody (wsaz.com) — Charleston police have arrested a suspect in connection with a deadly shooting inside a home on the 800 block of Main Street early December 7. Investigators say an argument preceded the gunfire that fatally wounded 31-year-old Joshua Walls of Charleston, and the suspect was taken into custody Tuesday and is being held at Charleston Police Department as the investigation continues.
   

3. Journalist Rabel dies at 86 (irontontribune.com) — Charleston readers are remembering Ed Rabel, a St. Albans native and University of Charleston graduate whose early work at WCHS-TV in Charleston launched a nationally recognized journalism career. Rabel, who covered stories from JFK’s assassination reaction in West Virginia to wars abroad and later taught at Marshall, died Dec. 2 in Virginia at age 86.
   

4. W.Va. attorney general provides instructions for accessing $700M Google settlement (wchstv.com) — Charleston-based state officials are outlining how West Virginians can claim their share of a $700 million Google settlement tied to alleged overcharges in the Google Play Store. Residents who bought apps or in‑app items between 2016 and 2023 may automatically receive PayPal or Venmo payments in 2026, with options to object, opt out, or file supplemental claims if money doesn’t arrive.
   

5. Governor appoints Staggs to state board (wvnews.com) — State leaders met in Charleston to announce a slate of new appointments to the West Virginia Workforce Development Board and several university and state boards, including a Mineral County commissioner and a longtime Charleston attorney. The choices will help shape workforce training, higher education governance, and PEIA financial oversight that ultimately affect services and opportunities available to Charleston residents.
   

📸 Around Charleston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Charleston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 13

• Charleston Ballet & West Virginia Symphony: The Nutcracker
  Clay Center, 1 Clay Square, Charleston
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 11

• Accelerated Reader Night
  Ruffner Elementary School Charleston, WV 25311
  5:00 pm

Friday December 12

• Holiday Village
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
• Holly Jolly Market
  South Charleston Farmers Market , 4006 Maccorkle Avenue S.W. , South Charleston
  1:00 pm

Saturday December 13

• Christmas Market Festival
  South Charleston Farmers Market , 4006 Maccorkle Avenue S.W. , South Charleston
  6:00 am
• Do The Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl in Charleston
  Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille , 218 Capitol St , Charleston
  4:30 pm
• Charleston's Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl
  Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille , 218 Capitol St , Charleston
  4:30 pm

Monday December 15

• Cookies With Santa
  Ruffner Elementary School Charleston, WV 25311
  7:30 am

Wednesday December 17

• WALK-IN WEDNESDAYS at Holistic Inc
  4815 MacCorkle Ave SE , Charleston
  9:00 am

📣 Charleston Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 10

• Club Ice Session
  South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena , 20 RHL Blvd , South Charleston
  5:15 pm
• Merry Market Mingle
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
  6:00 pm

Friday December 12

• Holiday Village
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
• Holly Jolly Market
  South Charleston Farmers Market , 4006 Maccorkle Avenue S.W. , South Charleston
  1:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray dog!
  FOUND on December 8, 2025 in Kanawha County, WV 25177 near On Erie rd. For a week Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact… (Nextdoor Charleston's East End)
• Hello Neighbor's,
  I know of a young man in my neighborhood whose bicycle was stolen over the weekend. He uses his bike everyday whether it be to go to and from working… (Nextdoor South Charleston)

• Tuesday meetings of the December Interims are underway - Watch/Listen Live or come in person -... #WVLegis (X: wvlegislature)
• Our crews are working tirelessly in the midst of an active winter storm to make roads passable across the state. You won't see bare, dry pavement yet... (X: WVDOT)

• The GIANT Company posted a job opening for PT Janitor - 6102 in Charleston. Apply here.
• Oracle posted a job opening for Senior Principal Consultant - Manufacturing - NetSuite ACS in Charleston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charleston here.

Ok Charleston! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I come in peace. You come in pieces.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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