Charleston Gazette

Camc Psych Plans Ditched: ; Funding Issues Between State, Hospitals Keep Facility Closed

mkelly@wvgazette.com Local hospital officials have scrapped plans to build a psychiatric hospital near downtown Charleston because of a dispute with the state over reimbursement.

Retailers Prepare for 5% Tax: ; Fears of Confusion Over Trimmed Food Tax Give Way to 'Comfort Level'

philk@wvgazette.com Grocers and other retailers around the state are in the final countdown to the rollback to 5 percent for the sales tax on certain food items, which begins with the New Year on Jan 1.

President's New Year to Be Busy: ; Tax Cuts, Immigration, Iraq, Rebellious Gop Likely Will Top Agenda

WASHINGTON - President Bush, bruised by months of setbacks, enters the new year working to win congressional battles over tax cuts and immigration, get rebellious Republicans back in step and nurture a new democracy in Iraq - the make-or-break issue of his legacy. Expect the president to bring in 2006 the same way he ended the old: Trumpeting good economic news and talking, reassuringly, about Iraq where excitement over a historic ballot has been tempered by a death toll of U.S. troops that t...

2-Year-Old Missing in Teays: ; Police: Aunt Said She Left Autistic Boy in Running Car

sfinn@wvgazette.com TEAYS VALLEY - A 2-year-old autistic boy disappeared Monday after a trip with his aunt to a convenience store.

Coming Wednesday

U.S. Military Dead in Iraq

As of Monday, at least 2,168 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,696 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers. The figures include five military civilians. The AP count is six more than the Defense Department's tally, last updated at 10 a.m. Friday.

Shiites Targeted As Iraq Violence Picks Up: ; Opposition Wants World-Body Review of Election Results

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Violence increased across Iraq after a lull surrounding the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections, with at least two- dozen people including a U.S. soldier killed Monday in shootings and bombings mostly targeting the Shiite-dominated security services. Officials blamed the surge in violence on insurgent efforts to deepen the political unrest surrounding the contested vote. Preliminary figures - including some returns released Monday from ballots cast early by expatriate Iraqis and s...

Haiti Suffering Through Plague of Kidnappings

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Quesnel Durosier walked out of a bank with $3,500 tucked into his sock, buoyed by thoughts of his upcoming wedding. Seconds later, a car cut him off, gunmen sprang out and shoved him into the car along with a woman passer-by. What followed was a nightmare of torture and death threats for these latest victims of a wave of attacks that has made impoverished Haiti the kidnapping capital of the Americas.

Russian Store Hit with Sickening Gas Attack: ; Many Employees, a Few Customers Made Ill, Perhaps by a Competitor

Kanawha Family Court Honors Deputy, Lawyer

sarahkwinn@wvgazette.com Each year, the Kanawha County Family Court and the family bar recognize those who help keep the family court system running.

Oregon Surfer Describes Attack by Great White Shark

SEASIDE, Ore. - A surfer says he reacted on instinct when he punched a great white shark that grabbed his leg near the northern Oregon coast. Brian Anderson expects to make a full recovery from the lacerations he suffered on his ankle and calf. And the attack isn't going to stop him from surfing.

Readers' Voice: ; Call 357-4451 or E-Mail Readersvoice@ Wvgazette.Com

* If anyone hasn't driven out to Coonskin Park to see the lights that they have on display there you are really missing a great, great treat, so I hope you will go. * It recently came to light that President Bush did nothing different than President Clinton and President Carter. They both tapped phones with no court orders, so wrap that one in a hot dog bun and eat it, Democrats.

Entitlements Eat Growing Share of Spending: ; Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid Surpass $1 Trillion in 2004 Budget

WASHINGTON - Three growing entitlement programs consumed nearly half of all federal spending in 2004, and budget analysts expect them to make up an even bigger share in the future. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid accounted for more than $1 trillion in the 2004 budget year, according to the Consolidated Federal Funds Report being released today by the Census Bureau.

Christmas Church Donations Stolen

EDISON, N.J. - Holiday generosity made the collection basket a tempting target at the Church of the Guardian Angels. The basket, placed on the altar, was emptied of about $8,000 and checks, police and church officials said.

Two N.J. Police Officers Believed Dead

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Two police officers in an emergency truck plunged more than 40 feet off an open drawbridge in thick fog. One was killed; the other was missing and feared dead. The vehicle fell into the Hackensack River on Sunday night, after the officers crossed the Lincoln Highway Bridge and placed flares to warn motorists that the bridge's safety warning system was not operating, said Police Chief Robert Troy.

Minimal Changes to Promise Seen

House and Senate education chairmen say West Virginia's merit- based scholarship program shouldn't be tampered with because the program is still in its infancy and "we don't want to beat it up too much." "It's just into its fourth year of implementation," Senate Education Chairman Robert Plymale said of the PROMISE program. "It's too early to put caps on it."

Jobs to Be Focus in Pushing Gambling Bill

WHEELING - If the third time's the charm, 2006 could be the year West Virginia lawmakers open the doors to poker, blackjack and other table games at four racetrack casinos. The president of Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center isn't betting on it just yet, but he will wager this: If they don't let the four host counties vote soon, jobs will start to disappear.

Obituaries: ; Obit

James Christopher Adams James Christopher Adams, 51, formerly of Richwood died Dec. 23, 2005. Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Mountain View Memorial Park, Richwood. Friends may call one hour prior to service at Simons-Coleman Funeral Home, Richwood.

Truck Crash Cuts City Power

A truck crashing into a power pole in downtown Charleston shut down power in parts of the city early Monday, but service was quickly restored. About 300 customers on Virginia and Lee streets from the South Side Bridge east toward the Capitol lost electricity in the early morning. But it was restored by 9:30 a.m., said Phil Moye, Appalachian Power Co. spokesman.

India Warms Pakistan by Freeing 8 Prisoners

LAHORE, Pakistan - India freed eight Pakistani prisoners Monday as part of peace efforts between the South Asia rivals, while the two governments scheduled new talks to resolve their long-standing dispute over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Indian authorities handed over the eight - including a teenage boy - to Pakistani officials at the main border crossing near Lahore, said Mohammed Sarwar, a senior Pakistani border guard.