Kayla Brooks
Bureau Reporter
Augusta County, VA
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Kayla Brooks joined the WHSV team in June. She is from Middle Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a major in broadcast journalism and a minor in political science.
Throughout high school, Kayla competed in National Speech and Debate Association competitions. At UT Martin, she worked for the campus radio station, WUTM 90.3 The Hawk, contributed to UTM-TV and interned at WPSD Local 6 in Paducah, Kentucky.
In her free time, Kayla likes to read a good book, work out, spend time with her family (which includes her two dogs and cat). Kayla is a dedicated storyteller who wants to get to the bottom of issues that matter to you.
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A Virginia-based non-profit is seeking community help in the form of volunteers and fundraising participation.
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Augusta County is hosting Household Hazardous Waste Clean-Up Day Saturday, Sept. 18 to help residents dispose of some materials safely.
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The Virginia Department of Health has introduced a new way to help schools test for COVID-19.
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The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) identified five individuals diagnosed with measles.
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Waynesboro city officials are easing restrictions in a proposed pet ordinance.
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The search for a three-year-old Augusta County girl continues, officials said Tuesday, Sept. 14.
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Early voting in the Commonwealth is set to begin Friday, September 17.
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Investigators continue to work in Waynesboro to determine the cause of a fire.
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In schools across the Valley, students spent Friday, September 10, learning about the events that took place almost 20 years ago, along with reactions and subsequent policy changes.
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Over the last month, COVID-19 cases in the Valley have spiked after bottoming out in June and early July. Augusta Health says they’re expecting the rise in cases and hospitalizations to continue throughout the rest of the month.
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As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the Central Shenandoah Health District is reintroducing mass testing sites throughout the Valley.
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Mary Baldwin University is working with the University of Virginia to expand resources for children with neurological conditions and autism throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
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Global parts shortages continue to put a strain on car manufacturers and car dealerships. Local car lots look a little different now. With shortages on parts and factories closing, they operate in a new way.
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The requirement has become a popular debate topic, with many citing HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as a reason to keep vaccination status private.
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With some concert venues and theatres starting to introduce vaccine mandates, some people are starting to get ads for fake vaccine cards or negative test results online.Fake vaccination cards could be bad for public health, but they could also be bad for your future, the Federal Trade Commission said.
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Phil Harmon, a licensed professional counselor at Augusta Health who treats veterans, says many veterans are struggling as unrest in Afghanistan unfolds.
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A Valley woman is using her passion to bring women together and build them up, and it all started with an Amazon order.
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Andrea Kendall, Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Augusta Health, says many who struggle with their mental health have faced new challenges in the last year and a half, as a lot of focus in health care turned to COVID-19.
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As pandemic unemployment benefits are set to expire, about 7.5 million people will lose that extra compensation. “Help Wanted” signs can be seen all over the Valley, and many hope this expiration of additional benefits will be the boost they need.
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Proponents of the bill said it protects right to life. Opponents said many women don’t know they’re pregnant at 6 weeks, and they said the legislation contradicts Roe v. Wade.
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More than 500,000 kids tested positive with COVID-19 in the U.S. within three weeks in August. With vaccination rates low in children, health experts say keeping kids safe in school can be difficult.
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This week’s storms throughout the Valley left Natural Chimneys Park with a long chore list before Labor Day Weekend.
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Their friends and family say on the fundraising page Austin and Blake Groah were always smiling and full of friendship. The page states the two men leave behind three children.
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The people of Staunton know flooding all too well, and they’ve spent the week preparing. The streets are lined with sandbags, and a few floodgates are in place.
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The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office announced a partnership with Virginia State Police August 1 for an effort to decrease dangerous driving and crashes on Jefferson Highway and Hermitage Road.
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Augusta Health has reported a surge in COVID-19 cases that impacts the hospital and community.
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Mary Baldwin University was one of the first campuses in Virginia to require vaccinations for students.
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For Waynesboro Schools, performance results went down, but they said they expected that.
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Jordi Shelton, Communications Specialist with the Central Shenandoah Health District, said it’s important to use all mitigation strategies in times of high transmission.
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Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah will now offer a support group for those who have experienced pregnancy loss or the loss of an infant.
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Dr. Wenger said it’s hard to know what flu season will be like since community health standards, like masking and social distancing, change.
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Farmers in need of financial assistance can apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 through the United States Department of Agriculture.
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Following the explosion Thursday morning in Afghanistan, one Valley woman is working to bring an interpreter to the U.S.
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COVID-19 cases are rising nationally, and doctors say a combination of low vaccination rates and the Delta Variant are to blame. This has some officials discussing the value of vaccine mandates, but there’s confusion surrounding the legality.
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As students return to the classroom, some parents worry for their children’s safety, and they are asking for virtual learning options. Some parents are also concerned over the lack of substitute teachers and proper social distancing.
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Census results are available, and Augusta County is taking a closer look at its population breakdown.
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The plan outlines pet owners would be limited to four dogs and five cats, not to exceed seven pets total.
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Doctors at Augusta Health and officials with the Central Shenandoah Health District say Augusta County is seeing some of the highest rates of transmission in the state.
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RefillRenew owner, Mandy Drumheller said the order is a step in the right direction, but she said she worries about the lack of substitutions.
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WEB started in the summer with “WEB Day” when rising sixth graders were invited to get a tour of their new school. They also got to do crafts and ask older students questions. The day is led by the eighth grade WEB leaders.
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They say fully vaccinated people who are not immunocompromised will be eligible for a booster dose eight months after the second mRNA vaccine. Immunocompromised individuals are eligible for a third dose now.
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Currently, only mRNA vaccines are approved for booster shots and third doses, so people who got the single-shot vaccine can’t proceed with a booster yet. People who got Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will be able to get a booster eight months after their second dose.
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Pre-pandemic, McKee says they served about 103,000 people per month. A year ago, that spiked at 141,000 people being served in a month. Now, he says they serve about 118,000 people per month.
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Augusta Health will host their first booster vaccine clinic Friday, August 20, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Augusta Health’s Fitness Center mass clinic site.
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For some people, a boss is just a person they report to during the workday. For Roger Aldhizer, a boss is more than that.
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Augusta County published a survey in July to gain information about internet availability in the county. The survey closed mid-July, and results are now available online.
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, will increase the food benefit given out from about $121 to $169 in October. This increase, which is a 27% increase, will be the largest the program has seen.
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Jon Venn, Chief Human Resources Officer with Staunton City Schools, says Staunton schools are currently hiring in a few positions.
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A derailed train in Augusta County led to a couple dozen rail cars leaving the tracks and kept some people from leaving their homes.
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Federal health agencies cleared a third COVID-19 booster vaccine for immunocompromised people Friday, August 13.