Target store in Barboursville, West Virginia experienced a landslide that caused part of the building to slide away and three families were evacuated from homes behind the Target store due to a voluntary eviction notice given by Target's mayor Chris Tatum. Water supply has been limited as authorities investigate the slipping hill, causing hinderances for other businesses in the area.
West Virginia American Water spokesperson told Eyewitness News that their initial slip on February 2 damaged their water main.
The article discusses a landslide that occurred at the Target store in Barboursville, West Virginia. The landslide caused part of the building to slide away and three families were evacuated from homes behind the Target store due to a voluntary eviction notice given by Target's mayor Chris Tatum. Water supply has been limited as authorities investigate the slipping hill, causing hinderances for other businesses in the area. A West Virginia American Water spokesperson told Eyewitness News that their initial slip on February 2 damaged their water main.
The Target in Barboursville was forced to close on February 2 when a hill gave way and part of the building slid away
Three families were evacuated from homes behind the Target, with Target covering their moving expenses.
Water supply has been limited as authorities investigate the slipping hill, according to a West Virginia American Water spokesperson.
Accuracy
The safety of our team, guests, and neighbors is our top priority
Target offered to cover relocation costs for residents of those homes
Three families were evacuated from homes behind the Target
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that the Target store collapsed due to a landslide when it was actually caused by a hill giving way and part of the building sliding away. Secondly, there are no quotes from any experts or engineers regarding what caused the slippage or how dangerous it may be for other businesses in the area. Thirdly, there is no mention of any investigation into why this happened and if anyone else was responsible for it.
The title implies that the Target store collapsed due to a landslide when it was actually caused by a hill giving way and part of the building sliding away.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes a Target spokesperson stating that the safety of their team and guests is their top priority. The article also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the hillside as 'slipping' and 'collapsing', which could be seen as sensationalist language.
The safety of our team, guests, and neighbors is our top priority
looky loo outsiders were invading the neighborhood
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement from the mayor of Barboursville that criticizes crowds coming to look at the damage. This is an example of political bias as it reflects a specific position on how people should behave in relation to the incident.
> The safety of all affected is the number one concern.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Isabelle Stanley has a financial tie to Target as she is an employee of West Virginia American Water which provides water services to the superstore. This could compromise her ability to report on the incident objectively and impartially.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Isabelle Stanley has a conflict of interest on the topics of West Virginia American Water and Target as she is an employee at both companies.
The safety of our team, guests, and neighbors is our top priority - Target statement
`Water supply has been limited due to damage caused by slipping hill` - Eyewitness News report
aThree homes behind the Target store received voluntary evacuation notices from Target⟩s mayor Chris Tatum statement
Target offered to cover relocation costs for residents of those homes
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority when it quotes Target's statement about the safety of their team and guests being a top priority. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the hillside as 'slipping' which could be seen as sensationalist language.
>u0022The safety of our team, guests, and neighbors is our top priority," Target said in a statement over email to USA TODAY Friday. <br> >
><b>Appeal to Authority</b>
Water supply has been limited due to the slipping hill causing hindrances for other businesses in the area.
The safety of our team, guests, and neighbors is our top priority
Target will start removing the damaged portion of the store this week
Additional steps will be taken to prepare for construction in the coming months
`Chill slip'' is the term used by WOWK to describe the landslide
Accuracy
, Further slipping of the ground at the Barboursville Target began to cause significant damage to the building overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning.
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by quoting a spokesperson for Target without providing any context or evidence to support their claims. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the damage caused by the land movement as 'significant' and 'massive'. Additionally, there is no clear distinction between formal and informal fallacies in this article.
The safety of our team, guests, and neighbors is our top priority
We are continuing to work on our Barboursville store to address the recent land movement. Starting this week, we will be removing a damaged portion of the store and taking additional steps to prepare for construction in the coming months.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Kimberly Keagy has a conflict of interest on the topic of Barboursville Target as she is an employee of WSAZ which owns and operates the site.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
Kimberly Keagy has a conflict of interest on the topics of Barboursville Target and demolition work as she is reporting for WSAZ which owns the property.
. The Barboursville Target landslide occurred in September and October of 2001.
The Merritt Creek Development site broke ground in 2001, with a failure of an engineered fill slope at the southeast corner of the area known as the Target store occurring about five weeks after construction began.
In late 2002, damage to the Shops A building was observed due to settlement.
The West Virginia Supreme Court gave its opinion in 2011, reversing a judgement against the general contractor's firm that built Target and citing they could not have known groundwater was significant contributing cause of settlement until 2007 engineering report.
A new federal study completed in 2021 with FEMA, state emergency management and West Virginia University suggests the back corner near Barboursville target had a 70 to 100% probability of slope failure or landslide at least 33 feet wide.
Rod Watkins, a retired construction administrator believes there could have been water intrusion as other cause for the failure besides just site preparation.
A Target spokesperson stated that safety of team, guests and neighbors is top priority and they are continuing to work on Barboursville store to address recent land movement.
Demolition efforts continue but no timetable for reopening of the store has been made available.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title suggests that a study has been conducted which found a high probability of slope failure behind the Barboursville Target store. However, this is not entirely accurate as the study only provides an estimate and does not definitively state whether or not there was actually a 70-100% chance of slope failure. Secondly, the article quotes experts who suggest that water intrusion could have been a contributing factor to the landslide at Barboursville Target store. However, this is speculation as no evidence has been presented to support this claim.
The title suggests that a study found a high probability of slope failure behind the Barboursville Target store. However, the article does not provide any details about the study or its findings.
Fallacies
(50%)
The author of the article makes several appeals to authority without providing any evidence or explanation for their claims. For example, they cite a federal study that suggests the hill behind Barboursville Target had a high probability of slope failure, but they do not provide any details on how this study was conducted or what factors were considered. They also quote Rod Watkins, a retired construction administrator who gives his opinion on the current landslip without acknowledging any potential biases or limitations in his expertise. The author does not explain why these sources are credible or relevant to the issue at hand.
The study suggests the back corner near the Barboursville target had a 70 to 100% probability of slope failure or landslide at least 33 feet wide.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains several examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the landslide victims and implies they are responsible for their own deaths.
> First responders said engineers hired by Target will have to continue reevaluating the hillside's condition amid more rain and snow. <br> According to documents gathered by Eyewitness News, about five weeks after the Merritt Creek Development site broke ground in 2001, there was a
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Daniel Burbank has conflicts of interest on the topics of Barboursville Target and Merritt Creek Development site. He is an engineer hired by Target to work on the landslide at their property in Barboursville.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Daniel Burbank has conflicts of interest on the topics of Barboursville Target and landslip. He is an engineer hired by Target to work on the Merritt Creek Development site, which may have contributed to groundwater settlement issues that led to a West Virginia landslide. Additionally, he reports for WCHS, which may have financial ties with or be influenced by the Barboursville community.
Daniel Burbank is an engineer hired by Target to work on the Merritt Creek Development site.
The landslide has also caused ground settling under the store
Three homes behind the store have been given a voluntary evacuation notice and Target has offered to cover their relocation costs
`Issues with the land's stability are not new in relation to the property'' as there was a lawsuit over a landslide in 2``,
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a source of information on landslides. However, this does not necessarily mean that the CDC's information is accurate or reliable. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of landslides by stating that they can be caused by heavy rains or follow droughts, earthquakes or volcanic eruptions without providing any evidence to support this claim.
The CDC's information on landslides is not necessarily accurate or reliable.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains a statement that the landslide in Barboursville is causing damage to the Target store. This implies that there may be bias towards portraying this event as negative for the Target store rather than an objective reporting of events.
]A landslide in Barboursville, West Virginia, is forcing the demolition of a portion of a Target store.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest with the topic of landslide as they are reporting on damage caused by a landslide to a Target store. The article also mentions that the West Virginia Department of Transportation and Logistics (DOT&L) is involved in the incident which could indicate financial ties or professional affiliations.
The author reports on damage caused by a landslide to a Target store, indicating personal interest in the topic.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of landslide as they are reporting for Cox Media Group National Content Desk which is owned by Charter Communications. The company owns and operates cable television systems in several states including West Virginia where the article takes place.
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