MetroNews This Morning
MetroNews This Morning 7-15-24
Today on MetroNews This Morning:
--Full coverage of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump
--President Biden reacts to the incident with an address from the Oval Office
--The Legislature will examine whether another five percent reduction in income tax is possible in W.Va.
--In Sports: J.J. Wetherholt goes in the MLB draft as the 7th overall pick to St. Louis
- Duration:
- 17m
- Broadcast on:
- 15 Jul 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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We were prohibited by law, 18 plus, terms, and conditions apply. This is Metro News this morning. Bringing you this morning's biggest news headlines from across the state. It is Monday, July 15, 2024. Good morning, I'm Chris Lawrence. And we have the very latest news and information in the mountain state to get your day started. We begin with the forecast this morning where it's expected to be extremely hot today. Nearing 100 degrees in many locations, and it will remain dry, say, for a possible passing thunderstorm in the afternoon. We'll have the full forecast coming up for you in just a moment. Right now, though, let's get up to date on the news of the day in West Virginia. At the Metro News anchor desk this morning is Kerry Huda said. Good morning, Kerry. Good morning, Chris. Governor Tim Justice will speak to the state later this morning, following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. The governor will deliver the remarks at 11 this morning. He and First Lady Kathy Justice offered their thoughts and prayers soon after the Saturday evening shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Justice later saying in a statement, quote, "All of my prayers go out to President Trump and his family. We should draw strength from his courage." Then the governor said, quote, "I refuse all caps to let these actions make me afraid." Justice, the heavy favorite to be elected to the U.S. Senate in November, is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee tomorrow. I'm Jeff Jenkins, WV, MetroNews.com. President Joe Biden, during a nationwide address from the Oval Office Sunday nights, called for peace and unity during this election cycle. This agreement is inevitable in American democracy. It's part of human nature. Politics must never be a little battlefield. God forbid a killing field. So far, the investigation has not shown a motive behind the attempt. The suspected gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crookes, was killed by law enforcement. A thorough search of his social media and his home are underway. The former president had minor injuries, but one of his supporters was killed. ABC senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott was there when it all took place. She reports from Butler, Pennsylvania. In the stands, urgent calls for a doctor. Someone in the crowd had been shocked. Two people were injured. One man, 50-year-old Cory Comforter was killed. His family and Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, paying tribute. Cory was a girl dad. Cory was a firefighter. Cory went to church every Sunday. Cory loved his community. And most especially Cory loved his family. Two people were also injured. As Republicans prepare to kick off their convention in Milwaukee today, all eyes will be on former President Trump as he looks to continue his campaign. Trump arriving in Wisconsin yesterday, refusing to delay his trip. He's now telling the Washington Examiner he's revamped his entire convention speech, saying, "The convention is a chance to bring the country together." I was given that chance. In a new interview with the New York Post, Trump says, "I want to try to unite our country, but I don't know if that's possible. People are very divided." That's ABC's Perry Russam reporting. West Virginia political leaders continue to express shock and concern after Saturday shooting. Montagalia County delegate Joe Stattler says he couldn't believe what was happening. I'm thinking this can't be real. It's just so senseless that this has happened. Now, persons lost are lied to critically injured for a political process that needs to play out. West Virginia GOP Party Chairman Matt Herridge says there's still a lot of mixed emotions. I know I probably expressed some emotions for all of us of anger, frustration, but also encouragement and hope. I hope for our warrior president, Donald J. Trump. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin put out a lengthy statement Sunday, saying, "The assassination attempt once again shows the love of country has been replaced with hate for anyone who professes to support the other party." We have more reaction at wvmetronews.com. Elsewhere in the news, Charleston City Council members will take a second look at a proposed ordinance tonight that would create a new city code for a simple possession of marijuana. The ordinance was introduced to the city's committee on ordinance and rolls last week. Committee Chairman Chad Robinson says the change will only benefit the city. I think it's common sense. I mean, it's an approach. One, save the city some money, save the municipal court some time and effort and cost, and the jail bills. I mean, the jail bills are enormous. A petition with over 2,000 signatures was delivered to the city council in support of the change. State officials are gathering more information about whether West Virginia can afford another 5% cut on top of a 4% reduction in the personal income tax. House of Delegates Majority Leader Eric Householder says he's in favor of that. Which would bring us to about a 9% overall tax cut. But I'm supporting what the governor has the legislature to do. Senate President Craig Blair previously set his field for the state's finances. Makes him doubt the additional 5% is feasible right now, but he's willing to discuss it. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capita will be in Charleston later today for a reception celebrating a new law that aims to prevent Parkinson's disease. Capita sponsored the law, which will alleviate financial and health burdens on American families. She'll deliver remarks at capital market at 6 o'clock tonight. And the state Fire Marshal's office turns 115 years old today. Current Fire Marshal Ken Tyree says the office has expanded over time, but the mission remains the same. We've come a long way in 115 years, starting with four brave individuals and some staff members that covered the entire state by train, car and horseback. And so now we are about 53 strong. Charles Ellison led the office as the first state Fire Marshal in 1909. Walter Smittle then took over for 26 years from 1974 to 1999 as the longest serving state Fire Marshal to date. You can read more at wvmetronews.com. Thank you, Kerry, coming up in our Metro News background. President Biden addressed the nation last night. A day after the attempted assassination, a former President Donald Trump will hear some of what President Biden had to say in his remarks last night from the Oval Office coming up in our background. And then Joe Mercado is in as J.J. Weatherholt is now a cardinal. We'll tell you about that coming up. Still ahead. The high school football season is fast approaching and you can get ready with video previews of your favorite teams. Now on the new Metro News TV app, Joe Mercado will visit all 55 counties this summer to get the latest on the upcoming season. Check out the free season height and get all your favorite Metro News shows like talk line with Hoppe Kirchhoff, Sportsline with Tony Karini, and three guys before the game free. By downloading the new Metro News TV app on your smart TV or streaming device, you can now watch the voice of West Virginia on the new Metro News TV app downloaded today. In a moment, Joe Mercado will join us. He's filling in at the sports desk this week for the vacationing Kyle Wigs right now in our background. Height and national security concerns ahead of the Republican National Convention that officially gets underway today in Milwaukee. That after former President Donald Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday. President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Sunday night. We hear more from the president in our Metro News background. I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics. And to remember, we may disagree, we are not enemies, we're neighbors, we're friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly we are fellow Americans. We must stand together. Yesterday shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back. Take stock of where we are, how we go forward from here. Thankfully, former Trump is not seriously injured. I spoke on him last night and I'm grateful he's doing well and Jill and I keep him and his family in our prayers. We'll also extend our deepest condolences to the family the victim to was killed. Corey was a husband, a father, a volunteer firefighter, a hero, sheltering his family from those bullets. We should all hold his family and all those injured in our prayers. Earlier today, I spoke about an ongoing investigation. We do not know the motive of the shooter yet. We don't know his opinions or affiliations. We don't know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else. Law enforcement professionals, as I speak, are investigating those questions. Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know. A former president was shot, an American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot. We must not go down this road in America. We've traveled before. Governor Jim Justice planning to deliver a statewide address at 11 this morning. Now to the sports desk, Joe Burkato is in this week for Kyle Wiggs and Joe J.J. Weatherholt, 7th overall pig goes to the Cardinals. Wherever Kyle is, I'm sure he is celebrating this story. The wait for debut shortstop J.J. Weatherholt at the Major League Baseball draft last night was a relatively brief one. With the seventh pick of the 2024 MLB draft, the St. Louis Cardinals select J.J. Weatherholt, a shortstop from West Virginia. That's MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred making the announcement with his selection. Weatherholt becomes the top draft pick all time from West Virginia, going seventh overall. That surpasses both Chris Enix and Alec Manoa, who were both taking 11th overall previously. Weatherholt was the NCAA batting champion a year ago in 2023. He hit a team best 331 and an injury shortened junior season this spring in 145 career games. Weatherholt at 370 with 29 home runs and 129 runs batted in. He also leaves the program in the top 10 and career lists in stolen bases, extra base hits, slugging percentage and on base percentage. Weatherholt was interviewed by the MLB network just seconds after his selection. "I can do it all, I can do a little bit of everything and I'm a learner so I'm super excited to see what the Cardinals can do to make me a better player and I'm just excited to be a Cardinal." "That's unbelievable man, I wouldn't be the person that I am today with all the people that were around me and surrounded me and especially the staff at West Virginia who made me the player and today it's just all thank you to them." You can check out more details on Weatherholt's selection by the Cardinals at wvmetronews.com. In other draft news, WVU commit Griffin Berkholder was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round with the 63rd overall pick. "Oh, happy Kirchable to have the full show of reaction to Saturday's attempted assassination of the former president coming up on this morning's Metro News talk line. That'll be coming your way at 10.06, but for the moment, let's hear his thoughts on the weekend events with today's commentary." Chris, that didn't take long. Within hours of the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, news stories began popping up about how the attack would impact the election. Tony Diver wrote in The Telegraph, "If history tells us anything, the events of Saturday will only increase his support, Donald Trump's support. In the months after Ronald Reagan was shot, the newly elected Republican president saw a poll boost of eight points." Well, the news and opinion business being what it is, that kind of analysis is predictable, perhaps inevitable, but it also speaks to a callousness in our culture. Must we really immediately view the events of Saturday in terms of poll points? Now, full disclosure, as a talk show host, I'll likely be talking soon about the impact on the election, but for now, I just can't get past the instantly infamous image of former president Donald Trump shaking, stunned, and bloodied on that speaker's platform. Most haunting are the incredible images taken by a New York Times veteran photographer, Doug Mills. They showed the moment, the bullet, which apparently was the one that wounded Trump, rocketing toward his head. An inch or less one way or another in Trump would have been gravely wounded, perhaps killed. We all should be shaken to our core. Any attack on a political figure, any attack, especially someone who's a former president and current candidate is an attack on all, as well as our political process. That kind of violence is an existential threat that shakes our very foundation. As Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman said on CNN, for me, this isn't about an opportunity for politics or strategy. This is an incredibly dark day for Pennsylvania, but for the nation to. We also cannot forget that the attack killed one individual at the rally and critically injured two others. They are victims of the worst political violence in this country in decades. We don't know yet the motive of the shooter. The best case scenario of this horrific act is that he was a deranged lone wolf and not part of any larger conspiracy, but we also know this. The tribalism of our politics has gotten worse in recent years, and too many Americans view those on the other side as not just wrong, but evil. You know, I watched the movie Civil War Friday night. It's the story of a photographer covering a violent civil war in the United States. The time period is about the same as what we're in now. In a spoiler alert, the film climaxes with the president being assassinated. The film left me shaken because it strikes very close to home, given our current political climate. Then Saturday night, 24 hours later, I'm watching in real time the attempted assassination of a national leader. No, I don't think we're on the brink of the kind of civil war portrayed in the movie, but the parallels are uncanny and deeply unsettling. We keep waiting in this country for the kind of reckoning that returns us to our political senses, an event or series of events that create an equilibrium. Saturday's attack, which killed one person injured two others and brought Donald Trump to within an inch of his life should serve as a starting point for a rejection of political hate and an opportunity for us to find within ourselves the capacity to do better to strengthen the fabric of our republic, rather than rip it apart with words and bullets. Chris, again, happy back at 10 or 6 this morning with Metro News talk line on the radio statewide or the live stream at wv matronews.com. Now your West Virginia weather forecast, high temperatures stretching into the mid to upper 90s this afternoon amid an ongoing heat wave, coupled with increased humidity, the heat indices may reach the low 100s for parts of the lower elevations of the state, unless interrupted by thunderstorms daily chances for shower and thunderstorms will accompany the summertime heat over the next several days. Some of those thunderstorms could be on the strong side. There's a cold front due to pass on Wednesday into Thursday. That'll give a reprieve to the heat toward the end of the week and bring some very much needed and beneficial rainfall. And now you are up today. Have a great day for Hoppy Kerchable, Joe Mercado and Carrie Huda Sec. I'm Chris Lawrence and this is Metro News, the voice of West Virginia. Metro News this morning is an exclusive production of the Metro News radio network, All Rights Reserved. An official message from Medicare. A new law is helping me save more money on prescription drug costs. You may be able to save too. With Medicare's extra help program, my premium is zero and my out-of-pocket costs are low. Who should apply? Single people making less than $23,000 a year or a married couple who make less than $31,000 a year. Even if you don't think you qualify, it pays to find out. Go to ssa.gov/extrahelp, paid for by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Okay, round two. Name something that's not boring. 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