Charleston Gazette

Majority Wants Permanent Slogan: ; Top Picks Will Be Up for Final Vote

philk@wvgazette.com This is one election that will need no recount: Nearly 96 percent of the 61,516 participants in the governor's office survey voted for a permanent, official slogan for state welcome signs.

Sex Attack Reported Inside Jail: ; Woman Says 2 Male Inmates Assaulted Her

gharki@wvgazette.com The West Virginia State Police is investigating the alleged sexual assault of a female inmate by two male inmates at the South Central Regional Jail, said Joe Thornton, spokesman for the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Reworked Medicaid Program Expanded: ; Sluggish Enrollment Leaves Some Wondering About States Move

Injunction sought in DHHR suit, 1C ericeyre@wvgazette.com

Ind. Man Is Suspect in Slaying: ; Man Who Police Say Is Boyfriend May Waive Extradition Today

gharki@wvgazette.com RAVENSWOOD - Larry S. White, who police say killed an Egyptian- born Jackson County man on Monday, is expected to waive his extradition hearing to be brought back to West Virginia from Indiana today.

Many Voters Still Undecided On a Candidate to Back

PELLA, Iowa - Just off the quaint town square, a pizza shop owner and an employee took a break to banter about politics one recent late summer day. They did not always agree, but like many others, found common ground on their preference for president - no one yet. "I am turned off," said Chad Ver Steeg, a 42-year-old Republican who runs the Pizza Ranch restaurant. He lamented the mudslinging by both parties and said, "I don't look forward to this election."

Former Va. Game Officials Accused of Misusing State Funds

RICHMOND, Va. - A former game and fisheries director and two former game wardens are accused in indictments of misusing state funds - allegations also raised in an audit that questioned the purchase of hunting gear for an African safari and use of state- owned watercraft. The indictments unsealed Thursday don't specify the circumstances but say funds were misused between 2003 and 2004. A state audit in 2005 accused department officials of waste, cronyism, misuse of state property and retaliat...

65-Year-Old Man Awaits Execution Order

MOBILE, Ala. - A week before the scheduled lethal injection of Tommy Arthur, questions about DNA testing in his case were before a federal appeals court, but Gov. Bob Riley rejected a call to stay the execution to allow the DNA test. A state's attorney also said Thursday he hopes a federal judge's ruling that halted a lethal injection in Tennessee would not impact Alabama's execution procedures.

Nitro Mayor, Treasurer Under Fire: ; Resident Files Contempt of Court Motion

rustymarks@wvgazette.com Nitro resident Karen Fritz wants Mayor Rusty Casto and Treasurer Tifney Terry held in contempt of court for not complying with a July circuit court ruling.

State Briefs

Flags lowered in honor of fallen soldier Gov. Joe Manchin has ordered all national and state flags at state facilities lowered to half-staff today in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Jeffery Scott Angel II.

Fred Thompson Taps State Director

tomsearls@wvgazette.com Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson pushed his West Virginia campaign into another gear Thursday, naming a veteran of state GOP politics to be state campaign director.

Ohio Man Gets Probation, Restitution Over Missed Child-Support Payments

A federal magistrate in Charleston sentenced an Ohio man to five years probation on Thursday for failing to pay child support. Brian Hudnall, 38, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, must also pay nearly $50,000 in restitution after he pleaded guilty last year to not paying child support to the mother of his children, who lives in West Virginia, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Sentencing Delayed in Pharmacy Holdup

Geoffrey Harold Harvey will have to wait until Oct. 11 to find out how much time he will spend in a federal prison for holding six people hostage during an attempted robbery of a Logan County drug store last year. Harvey's lawyer asked for additional time Thursday after U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin said he was inclined to impose a harsher penalty after hearing from several victims. Goodwin said their testimony gave him a "greater sense of the violence that occurred that day."

Psc Looks at Cabell 911 Fees: ; Kent Carper Alleges Monetary Bait and Switch

rustymarks@wvgazette.com Members of the state Public Service Commission have given officials in Cabell County 15 days to explain why they used money from the county's 911 service fee to pay for courthouse raises.

Readers' Voice

* How come we aren't reading in the paper or hearing on the radio how great a football team Marshall is after playing another good half of football like we did last week? * I could say politicians after tax money are like buzzards after a dead animal, but then I wouldn't want to insult any buzzards.

Man Fined for Phoning Women About Shoes, Feet

MARTINSBURG - A man who made more than 600 telephone calls to a shoe store and other businesses to ask women about their shoes and feet must pay a $200 fine. James Lee Fink, 31, placed 119 calls from his cell phone to the Chambersburg (Pa.) Mall, 513 calls to a Holiday Inn in Havelock, N.C., and 17 calls to a Comfort Inn in Chambersburg between Jan. 1 and May 8, 2006, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jeff Bopp said Thursday.

Class-Action Lawsuit Figure Faces Charges

LOS ANGELES - The co-founder of a prestigious New York law firm that made an estimated $250 million by filing class-action lawsuits against some of America's largest corporations was indicted Thursday on charges that he conspired to pay kickbacks to people who agreed to be plaintiffs. Melvyn Weiss was added to an existing indictment in the seven- year investigation involving his firm, Milberg Weiss, and other lawyers.

Presidents of Six Universities, Colleges in W.Va. Get Pay Raise

jdavison@wvgazette.com Presidents at six West Virginia colleges and universities will receive pay raises after the state's Higher Education Policy Commission approved them Thursday.

Sc Council Retains Law Firm's Services

Rather than have an in-house attorney, South Charleston will instead retain the services of a local law firm to handle the city's legal affairs. Mayor Frank Mullens announced Thursday night the firm of Spilman Thomas & Battle would now be representing the city. Attorney Mark Clark appeared on behalf of the firm during the council session.

Book Too Violent, Nitro Parent Says

davinwhite@wvgazette.com Pat Conroy's novel "Beach Music" is too violent for high school students, a Nitro High School parent told Kanawha County school board members Thursday night.

Author Promotes Reading to Kids

alisonk@wvgazette.com Reading aloud to children could do wonders to close the achievement gap between rich and poor students, an author and reading advocate said Thursday evening.