Charleston Gazette

Pre-Kindergarten Program in Jeopardy: ; Move Intended to Save $34 Million

tomsearls@wvgazette.com Legislation eliminating a state-sponsored pre-kindergarten program was set for passage today in the House of Delegates.

Senate Votes to Criminalize Assaults On Fetuses: ; the Capitol Report; 2004 Legislature

philk@wvgazette.com Legislation that would create a separate crime for committing an act of violence with the intent of killing or harming a fetus unanimously passed the state Senate Tuesday.

Civic Center Crowd Abuzz for Hoops Showdown

mitchvingle@wvgazette.com Barbara Billings has worked as an usher for 21 years at the Civic Center.

Civic Center Crowd Abuzz for Hoops Showdown

Kerry Cements Nomination: ; Senator Nearly Sweeps Super Tuesday Primaries to Vanquish Edwards

John Kerry wrapped up the Democratic presidential nomination, driving rival John Edwards from the race with a string of Super Tuesday triumphs that catapulted the Massachusetts senator into an eight-month struggle to oust President Bush. "Change is coming to America," Kerry said, capping a remarkable race that began with his candidacy on the brink of extinction in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Inside

Gun bill fails, but ban to end The Senate defeated a bill to immunize the gun industry from lawsuits Tuesday after Democratic senators succeeded in passing two anti-gun amendments to the bill. So, in September, the gun industry can resume making, importing and selling military-style semiautomatic weapons that were outlawed a decade ago.

Group Wants Less Antibiotics for Ear Infections

ATLANTA - Parents of cranky children with ear infections be warned. Antibiotics may no longer be what the doctor orders. Two leading medical groups are expected to recommend this spring that doctors stop treating most ear infections in children with antibiotics, federal health officials said Tuesday.

Water 'Once Drenched' Mars Surface, Nasa Says

WASHINGTON - Mars once was soaked with water, enough to support life in a "good, habitable environment," NASA scientists said Tuesday after reviewing data from the Mars rover Opportunity, although they said the finding doesn't prove that life existed. "Opportunity has landed in an area of Mars where liquid water once drenched the surface," said Edward Weiler, associate NASA administrator for space science. "This area would have been a good, habitable environment."

Gop Scuttles Amended Gun Lawsuit Bill

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans abandoned an election-year bill to immunize the gun industry from lawsuits Tuesday after Democrats amended it to extend an assault-weapons ban and require background checks on all buyers at private gun shows. The National Rifle Association began pressuring senators to vote against the bill after Democrats won votes on the two key gun- control measures. The 90-8 vote against the bill virtually ends any chance for gun legislation to get through Congress this year.

Sc Must Ok Aid to Ensure City Help

mandyrorrer@wvgazette.com South Charleston could lose any help from Charleston firefighters on emergency calls if they don't approve a new automatic aid agreement, Charleston officials said Tuesday.

Midnight Fire Razes Belle Auction House

daveg@wvgazette.com Fire destroyed an auction house in Belle late Monday night. The State Fire Marshall's Office is investigating the blaze, which started just before midnight at The Auction House, 117 Dupont Ave., said Chief David Armstrong of the Belle Volunteer Fire Department.

Man Appeals Conviction in Dog Death

A man convicted last week for starving his dog to death appealed his conviction Tuesday. Kanawha Circuit Judge James Stucky was assigned to hear Hubert Wilmer's appeal on the misdemeanor animal-cruelty charge, according to court records.

Beaten Dog Will Recover, Officer Says

A 20-pound dog allegedly beaten Sunday by a man who weighs more than 300 pounds will recover from its injuries, according to Kanawha County Humane officer Gene Fields. James D. Anderson, 24, of South Charleston, allegedly beat the mixed-breed puppy named Scrappy with a baseball bat at his mother's home Sunday after threatening to kill the animal, Fields said Tuesday.

2 Arrested by Csx Agents in Alleged Theft of Copper

Two men were arrested by CSX Railroad agents Monday for allegedly stealing about 3 miles of copper wire along railroad lines in Kanawha County, then selling the wire for scrap. Arthur Franklin Collins, 33, of Gallagher and Rex Allen Brown, 41, of Hansford were being held in the South Central Regional Jail after allegedly stealing about 14,700 feet of insulated copper cable belonging to CSX on several occasions, according to criminal complaints filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Man Shot After I-64 Chase: ; High-Speed Pursuit Covered More Than 30 Miles, Police Say

cshumaker@wvgazette.com Officers from four police agencies in three counties said they pursued a Clendenin man early Saturday and eventually shot him three times.

Blasts Kill 143 in Iraq; Militants Want Civil War, U.S. Says

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Suicide bombers set off simultaneous attacks on Shiite Muslim shrines crowded with pilgrims in two Iraqi cities Tuesday, killing at least 143 people and turning the holiest day on the Shiite calendar into the bloodiest since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Unofficial casualty reports, however, put the toll in Baghdad and Karbala as high as 223. At least 430 were wounded. Authorities said there were about a dozen bombers in those cities as well as in Basra, several of whom were cap...

Haynes Named to Replace King in Race for Clerk

The chairman of the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee will replace outgoing County Clerk Alma King on the general election ballot later this year. Mike L. Haynes got the majority vote of 32 members of the committee Tuesday night, beating out Jackie Zakaib and Henry Thaxton. "I intend to run a very aggressive campaign and I intend to win," Haynes said Tuesday. "Alma has dome outstanding job and I want to follow in her footsteps."

Bill to Help Snowshoe with Convention Center

Drug, Higher-Ed Meetings Continue

philk@wvgazette.com Prospects for bills intended to cut prescription drug prices in the state and to create an independently governed community college system should become clearer today.

University Status Failing in House

Schedule Senate