Ben Schwartz
Multimedia Journalist
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Ben Schwartz joined the WVVA news team December 2021 as an MMJ.
Ben grew up in Glenview, Illinois, a suburb just north of Chicago. Before college, Ben worked at his high school, Glenbrook South's radio station as a DJ and traffic manager.
Ben attended Ohio University, Scripps College of Communication, where he was a Journalism News and Information major. He worked with WOUB for four years while in school in Athens, OH. He reported, anchored and produced newscasts for them on local news.
Ben spent all of 2020 living in Columbus, OH. There, he worked for WCPO-TV in Cincinnati as a fellow through the Scripps Howard Foundation Fellowship as a statehouse reporter, covering legislative issues and stories relating back to Cincinnati. Ben also wrote a daily web piece titled "Ben Asks a Question," where he would cover Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's daily COVID-19 press briefings, asking questions sent in by WCPO viewers daily.
If you have any story ideas or just want to say hello, you can send Ben an email at bschwartz@wvva.com.
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We will update this story as we learn more about the situation.
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Two passengers, identified as 42-year-old Danny Fortune of Beckley and 25-year-old Zoe Andrews of Coal City, have been charged with possession with intent to deliver.
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The Tazewell Co. Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Services and the Commonwealth’s Attorney are continuing to investigate the matter.
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From Fri. May 26th through Mon. the 29th, Va. State Police reported the holiday weekend proved deadly for nine drivers and passengers in the Commonwealth.
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Isis Wallace was sentenced to 50 years in prison Friday.
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Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin of West Virginia praised a MVP push included in the debt ceiling bill, contrary to Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia's worries.
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Title 3, section 324 of the bill reads: “Expediting completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.”
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Bluefield, W.Va.’s Memorial Day Ceremony originally set for Monday, May 29th at Chicory Square has been cancelled.
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More than 1.5 million drivers were expected to pass through the Two Virginias this Memorial Day weekend.
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A Mountain State consulting firm is looking to help veterans and active service-members grow their small businesses.
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More than 1.5 million people in the Two Virginias were expected to hit the highways and byways as of Thursday.
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Mercer County’s East River Volunteer Fire Department, Princeton Fire Department and Green Valley Volunteer Fire Department offered a “big show of teamwork” Saturday morning, according to a Facebook post made by the East River Volunteer Fire Department.
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At just 28 years old, Sergeant Landon Hieatt is already in his seventh year serving the people of Tazewell County with the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office.
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Attorneys heard a status update Wednesday afternoon at the Mercer County Courthouse.
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Around 25 tenants showed up to Tuesday's town hall.
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The Mercer County Special Olympics is wrapped up on Friday, May 12.
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Charles B. Foreman, 49 of Fayetteville, is charged with two felony offenses and a range of misdemeanors.
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The Tazewell County Republican Party made the announcement Saturday evening on Facebook.
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Summers Co. Dispatch reported several cattle deaths on Saturday.
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Lab results showed the presence of Potassium and Phosphorus, both common ingredients in fertilizer used around the world daily.
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Saturday's event featured a car show and Sock Hop, with proceeds supporting kids and veterans in the area.
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The City of Hinton has been selected as one of ten U.S. cities to travel out-of-state, to learn how other areas deal with dilapidated structures.
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“Permitting is a big thing that we’re working on right now,” said Manchin. “I’m going to make sure I do everything I can to work with my colleagues -- Democrats and Republicans -- because Republicans have a renewed interest to engage again.”
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The city saw a showing of "The Right to Read" Thursday.
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W.Va. Attorney General announces opioid settlement with Kroger.
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Interstate-77′s southbound lanes were closed late Saturday night near mile marker 3 in Mercer County, according to a W.Va. Emergency Road and Bridge Closure Report. The report noted a pedestrian was struck.
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An Appalachian Power employee was fatally injured Friday evening in Bolt, W.Va. according to Phil Moye, the company’s Director of Communications.
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A Bluefield, W.Va. man was served the 25,000th meal on Thursday.
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Coca Cola workers in Charleston and Logan W.Va. voted unanimously to authorize a strike, according to a Sunday press release from Teamsters Local 175 president Ken Hall.
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Raleigh Co. Sheriff's Office mourns loss of Lt. Dave Stafford.
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The incident follows multiple other reported shootings in the Beckley area this past week.
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Work to clear the road was underway on Saturday.
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Bluefield Monument first began business in 1922.
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Saturday's showing is free of charge.
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Legislators from both sides of the state line spoke on Friday.
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The week began back in 1997 in the Commonwealth, as a group of VDOT workers reportedly looked to dedicate a week to raise awareness regarding work zone safety.
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First responders were welcomed to free lunch Friday.
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The tournament officially began at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, with teams spanning for miles around the Hinton area.
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Youngkin added, while water must remain a priority, things like broadband access remain important in bringing rural Appalachians up to speed with other parts of the United States.
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Similar legislation has been proposed in the House of Representatives.
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Anyone with information on the incident is urged to reach out to the Greenbrier Co. Sheriff’s Office at (304) 647-6634.
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David. A. Bass was arrested for an alleged role in a brush fire.
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It’s also important, however, to make sure first responders are aware of any potential dangers in one’s home.
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Sen. Manchin and colleagues met with President Zelenskyy on Wednesday.
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Omnis' new facility is set to finish construction around October of 2023.
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The home-building company is still working to finish its 150,000 square foot facility in the city, but that hasn’t stopped applications from rolling in.
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Students gathered in Grundy on Thursday for "Kids in the Creek."
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In the lead-up to Easter Sunday, families in Mercer County already began to celebrate on Wednesday.
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