
Optima Chemical fails to disclose information about material involved in fatal blast
When first responders rushed to the Optima Chemical site in Belle on Tuesday nightafter an explosion, plant firefighters were quick to tell them they were dealing with a problem involving chlorinated dry bleach. "Lucky thing for us last night was that the Chemours Fire Brigade knew what the product was," C. W. Sigman, Director of Kanawha County Emergency Management said.

Hospital workers mistakenly given masks labeled 'non-medical'
Workers at Charleston Area Medical Center said they were surprised when the hospital supplied them with face masks labeled “non-medical. ” A hospital spokesman said those masks were ordered by mistake and that as soon as the error was discovered, the masks were recalled. In their place, administrators supplied front line health care workers with one N95 mask, which is approved for medical use, and a small bottle of sanitizer.

iTeam Exclusive: Legal loophole overturns Boone County kidnapping conviction
A former law enforcement officer in Boone County, who put his now ex-wife through what authorities call "a night of torture", will walk away a free man much earlier than expected. For the first time, the victim is sharing her story to show how a loophole in legislation could put other victims in the same situation. "I basically told him I was going, I didn't ask, and he was just furious over it," Jessica Woodrum said.

State reviewing request for $100k benefit for family of firefighter who overdosed on duty
Charleston firefighter Jason Cuffee's on-duty death rocked the capital city last month. Cuffee, a firefighter and medic with the city for five years, was buried with honors during an official fire department ceremony. Now, there is new information surrounding Cuffee's passing and the impact it may have on the city as city leaders vow to do a better job at getting their workers help for substance abuse problems.

The next step for site preparation of the former Century Aluminum plant in Jackson County
When New Jersey-based Applied Partners purchased the 2,200-acre Century Aluminum site and surrounding property, it used $13. 5 million of its own money and a $15-million loan from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority to seal the deal. Applied's plan was to strip the site of any valuable metals, do demolition and cleanup and then place one of its industrial subsidiaries on the property.

iTeam Investigates: What's in store for the future of West Virginia health care?
A little more than one week ago, one of the state's biggest health care providers, Thomas Health System, announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy seeking protection from its long-term debt. The company runs Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston and St. Francis Hospital in Charleston. It's just the latest in a long line of health care providers dealing with rising costs and shrinking budgets.