🌱 Patch AM: How Charleston is spending opioid settlement money to fight addiction locally

Good day Charleston! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Charleston is spending opioid settlement money to fight addiction locally
• Why Charleston officials are racing to save West Virginia’s charter schools
• Which Traveling WV story put Charleston on this year’s foodie map?

Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Cloudy with a brief shower, with a high of 57 and low of 40 degrees.
• Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 56, low: 44.
• Thursday: Mostly cloudy, mist; warm, with a high of 62 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• City of Charleston allocates opioid settlement funds for local organizations (wchsnetwork.com) — Charleston is directing $540,000 in opioid settlement money to 14 local treatment, recovery, and prevention organizations, with more funding committed through 2027. City leaders say the grants, guided by the Opioid Community Council, are part of an aggressive effort to reach overdose survivors quickly and support families hit hardest by addiction, especially during the holidays.
   

• Charter School Board appeals ruling (theintermountain.com) — State officials in Charleston are asking the West Virginia Supreme Court to overturn a Kanawha County judge’s order that pauses approval of new charter schools and could affect existing ones. The Professional Charter School Board and top state leaders argue the ruling oversteps by requiring countywide votes, saying it threatens thousands of students and statewide school choice efforts.
   

• WCHS-TV's top Traveling WV segments of 2025 (wchstv.com) — Charleston gets a shout-out in WCHS-TV’s roundup of 2025 “Traveling WV” favorites, including a meal-prep service offering weekly pickups in the city. The list highlights quirky getaways, small businesses, and outdoor adventures across the state, from Kanawha County’s mysterious rock walls to goat-powered Greenbrier River Trail tours and retro 1980s lodging in Oak Hill.
   

📸 Around Charleston

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Charleston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
  10:00 am

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's Eve
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
  10:00 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 24

• Christmas Eve
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
  10:00 am
• Club Ice Session
  South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena , 20 RHL Blvd , South Charleston
  5:15 pm

Thursday December 25

• Open Mic Night -- every Thursday
  Coal River Coffee Company , 64 Olde Main Plaza , St Albans
  7:00 pm
• Happier Hour at Shuckers – Every Thursday
  Shuckers , 70 Olde Main Plaza , St Albans
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 27

• Freestyle Session
  South Charleston Memorial Ice Arena , 20 RHL Blvd , South Charleston
  9:00 am

Sunday December 28

• 8 Bit Brunch
  The Empty Glass , 410 Elizabeth St , Charleston
  12:00 pm

Tuesday December 30

• Dunbar Library Chess Club
  Dunbar Branch-Kanawha County Library , 301 12th St , Dunbar
  5:00 pm
• Gary Hays at The Tap
  The Tap , 75 Olde Main Plaza , St Albans
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• New Year's Eve
  Capitol Market , 800 Smith St , Charleston
  10:00 am
• Noon Year's Eve Party
  Cross Lanes Branch Library , 5449 Big Tyler Rd , Cross Lanes
  11:30 am

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

🪧 Patch Classifieds

• Key Man Office or Rent 2,000 sq ft
  Office Space for Rent (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
  Miss Charles was LOST on December 20, 2025 in South Charleston, WV 25303 near Fitzwater drive Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or… (Nextdoor North Charleston)
• Who's pup is this???
  He was found outside of Dollar general on Sissonille Rd. Pm me we have him safe fed and warm but CANNOT KEEP HIM. Share bc I heard his owners were in… (Nextdoor Beech Ave)

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Charleston. Apply here.
• MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Store Clerk Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $12-$22/Hr in Charleston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charleston here.

🗞 Nearby News

South Charleston

• Happy Days Cafe in South Charleston announces closure (wchstv.com)
• Consolidated lab project inching closer toward construction at Tech Park (wchsnetwork.com)
• Guardian caps, new helmets aim to improve safety for young football players (wchstv.com)

Hurricane

• Brenda Lucas: Community news for Monday, Dec. 22 (herald-dispatch.com)
• Basketball Recap: Hurricane Triumphs (maxpreps.com)

Milton

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 find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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