The Charleston Gazette -

Komen changes mind on Planned Parenthood grants

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:26:27 -0500

NEW YORK -- After three days of controversy, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity says it is reversing its decision to cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood. "We want to apologize to the American public for rece...

Wojcik working his magic

dougsmock@wvgazette.com (Doug Smock) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:46:00 -0500

For its next act, Marshall will travel to the state of Oklahoma, where it hasnt won since the Nixon administration, and face the hottest team in Conference USA.Southern Mississippi may beg to differ, but Tulsa has the leagues top winning streak at six game...

Lincoln commissioner in question attends meeting over telephone

rustymarks@wvgazette.com (Rusty Marks) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:33:22 -0500

HAMLIN, W.Va. -- Lincoln County Commissioner Thomas Ramey Jr. appears to be clinging to his seat despite a federal probe of voter fraud. Ramey did not even attend a regular meeting of the Lincoln County Commission on Thursday, instead calling in by ...

Regional jails chief steps down after 10-month tenure

ericeyre@wvgazette.com (Eric Eyre) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:19:42 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Theres been another shakeup at the West Virginia Regional Jail Authoritys central administrative office. The authoritys executive director, Larry Parsons, abruptly resigned late last week, after spending less than a year heading the ...

Alpha contractor gets 6 months in jail

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:22:29 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An Alpha Natural Resources contractor was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison after he admitted he lied to federal investigators about training practices at an Alpha mine in McDowell County. Raymond C. Dawson, 57, of Rays...

State carbon monoxide death prompts look at regs

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:42:54 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County officials are looking into whether carbon monoxide detectors should be required in buildings open to the public following the death of a Rhode Island man at a hotel.A task force established by the Kanawha-Charleston Heal...

Police looking for suspect in St. Albans robberies

( ) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:45:07 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- St. Albans police are looking for a man believed involved in two robberies in the past week. Police have gotten two arrest warrants for Shawn L. Gilmore, 41, of St. Albans for two alleged robberies on Jan. 28 and on Thursday, said C...

DeForest could follow Holgorsens climb up the coaching ladder

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:48:16 -0500

MORGANTOWN - When Joe DeForest helped Dana Holgorsen get a job as Oklahoma States offensive coordinator in January of 2010, it kick-started Holgorsens rapid ascension in the coaching ranks.Within 11 months he was hired as West Virginias head coach for 2013...

Richwood mayor arrested

(Travis Crum) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:48:30 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Nicholas County mayor was arrested Wednesday after the West Virginia Ethics Commission alleged that he took money from a city account. Richwood Mayor John D. McClung, 65, was charged with fraudulent schemes and obtaining money b...

Crewmen were ready for carbon monoxide -- on job site, not at hotel

rustymarks@wvgazette.com (Rusty Marks) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:57:25 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An official from a Rhode Island-based construction company said his crew received new carbon monoxide detectors before they came to West Virginia. The men thought they would need the detectors for their work undergrou...

All in-home care programs for seniors in W.Va. have waiting lists

philk@wvgazette.com (Phil Kabler) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:58:57 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In-home care programs for West Virginia seniors at the state and county levels all have waiting lists -- and those lists are growing longer, the new commissioner of the Bureau of Senior Services said Thursday. "That is our gr...

Virginia firm to help pick developer for Tamarack land

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:38:04 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Virginia firm will help the West Virginia Parkways Authority choose a developer for property at Tamarack.The Register-Herald reports that the authority voted Thursday to pay Land Planning and Design Associates of Charlottesville, Va....

Spring is in the air ... and the ground (photo)

( ) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:31:25 -0500

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West Virginians concerned about Komen/Parenthood dispute

pjnyden@wvgazette.com (Paul J. Nyden) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Although the growing dispute between reproductive health-care provider Planned Parenthood and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure might not affect West Virginia directly, local leaders of both groups say theyre worried about impact...

In-season break is rarity for Huggins

dphickman1@aol.com (Dave Hickman) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:50:42 -0500

MORGANTOWN - For the most part, the light weeks for West Virginias basketball team arent really all that light. Practices under Bob Huggins can be far more grueling than games at times, so if theres a break in the schedule it usually means its time to buck...

Tomblin rejects funding development plan with severance-tax hike

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:53:48 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said Thursday he would not take up a proposal to increase West Virginias coal and natural gas severance taxes to pump money into a trust that would fund long-term economic development, education and infrastruc...

Proposed aircraft cuts could affect W.Va. Guard

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:52:46 -0500

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Aircraft cuts proposed by the Air Force could affect West Virginia Air National Guard units in Charleston and Martinsburg.The Air Force released a "white paper Wednesday that indicates 133 mobility aircraft are being considered f...

Huntington father shoots man with son present, police say

(Staff reports) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:23:28 -0500

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- A Huntington man allegedly shot a Charleston man in the arm on Thursday night, and police said the alleged shooters young son was in the mans van at the time. Huntington Police were called to Cabell Huntington Hospitals ...

Things to do Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012

(Staff reports) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:46:52 -0500

Music MOLLIE OBRIEN and RICH MOORE with DOUG AND SHELLY HARPER: 7:30 p.m. Adults $18, children $15. Part of the Woody Hawley Series. Clay Center Walker Theater (entrance on Brooks Street). Call 304-561-3570 or visit NEW YORK -- A drop in the unemployment rate to its lowest in three years propelled the Dow Jones industrial average Friday to its highest close since before the 2008 financial crisis. The Nasdaq composite index hit an 11-yea...

Unemployment rate hinges on more than job gains

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:04:39 -0500

WASHINGTON -- For most people, the 8.3 percent unemployment rate is the most visible sign of the economys health. The rates every movement is closely watched, especially in an election year.

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Coal conference ends with attacks on Obama

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:15:21 -0500

Doggone good food (photos)

kennykemp@wvgazette.com (Kenny Kemp) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:33:30 -0500

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Police arrest suspect in two St. Albans robberies

(Staff reports) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:05:12 -0500

ST. ALBANS, W.Va. -- Police said a man robbed two people by attacking them and running off with their belongings or cash at the same St. Albans apartment complex. Shawn Lamar Gilmore, 41, of St. Albans, was arrested in connection to robberie...

Police investigate broken window on school bus

(Staff reports) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:37:09 -0500

HICO, W.Va. -- Police are trying to determine if a someone shot out the window of a school bus transporting Fayette County students with a pellet gun Thursday. A school bus driver called Fayette County 911 dispatchers at about 3 p.m. to say a wi...

W.Va. considers restrictions on wild pets

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:44:19 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia has joined a string of states looking to regulate or ban exotic animals kept as pets following the release of dozens of wild animals in an Ohio town last year. The Senate introduced a bill this week that would requ...

Dem. candidate commits $1M to justice bid

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:47:43 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Democrat running for West Virginias Supreme Court is pledging $1 million from her personal wealth toward her primary campaign.

Candidate Tish Chafin i...

Panel seeks applicants to fill two state judgeships

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:49:38 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Applicants are being sought to fill a vacant circuit court judgeship in the Northern Panhandle.

The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is accepting ap...

Human trafficking bill takes shape

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:51:29 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Taking a passport or other identifying documents to coerce a person to work would be illegal under a human trafficking bill being considered by the House of Delegates.

LEWISBURG, W.Va. -- Thomas Taylor has been reinstated as mayor of White Sulphur Springs, capping off a months-long ordeal.

Media outlets report that Greenbrier Chief Cir...

Kanawha announces spring cleanup schedule

(Staff reports) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:54:06 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Kanawha County Commission has announced its spring cleanup scheduled at four locations in the county. Each event is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The dates and locations are as follows: March 3: Sou...

George Esper, Vietnam war correspondent and WVU professor, dies at 79

(Travis Crum) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:56:58 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- George Esper, a longtime Associated Press correspondent best known for his coverage of the Vietnam War and a West Virginia University graduate and journalism professor, died Thursday at the age of 79. Esper covered t...

Governor seeks statewide nominations for volunteer awards

(Staff reports) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:07:12 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced that nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Governors Service Awards.

The Governors Service Awards, which are coordinated b...

Cracker tax break could cost locality $300 million

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:07:50 -0500

Read the report CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A tax break that Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin rushed through the Legislature to try to lure a natural gas "cracker" plant to West Vir...

Alpha, Patriot announce coal production cuts

kward@wvgazette.com (Ken Ward Jr.) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:31:11 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Alpha Natural Resources announced late Friday that it plans to idle several Appalachian coal mines and reduce work schedules at others, citing reduced coal demand as more electricity utilities move toward using natural gas. The ...

Druggist enters plea; sentencing in May

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:47:22 -0500

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A pharmacist has pleaded guilty in Charleston federal court to charges he illegally dispensed controlled substances in Mingo County.The government says 76-year-old James P. Wooley of Louisa, Ky., entered his plea on Thursday and is sch...

U.S. inmate in state gets 8 years for assaults

webmaster@ap.org ( The Associated Press) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:49:40 -0500

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- A federal inmate serving time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Beckley has been sentenced to eight years in prison for separate assaults on guards.The U.S. attorneys office says 36-year-old Sylvester Cuevas was sentenced Thursda...