Charleston Gazette

Slowing Economy Won't Deter Tax Cuts, Axelrod Says

WASHINGTON - A top adviser to President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday that the country's slowing economy won't keep the new administration from fulfilling its plans for a middle-class tax cut. "We feel it's important that middle-class people get some relief now," Obama adviser David Axelrod said.

Diving for Clues: ; New Police Team Targets Waterways

Criminals who have used the Kanawha and Elk rivers as a 'safe' location to dump their weapons will need to find a different hiding place. The Charleston Police Department has formed an evidence recovery dive team, which will enable detectives to search underwater to recover evidence.

Israel Widens Gaza Attack: ; Death Toll Nears 300 As Air Offensive Targets Hamas Leaders

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israel widened its deadliest-ever air offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers Sunday, pounding smuggling tunnels and a central prison, sending more tanks and artillery toward the Gaza border and approving a reserves callup for a possible ground invasion. Israeli leaders said they would press ahead with the Gaza campaign, despite enraged protests across the Arab world and Syria's decision to break off indirect peace talks with the Jewish state. Israel's foreign minister s...

Hhr Chairman has Rare Disease

Just days before the opening of the 2002 legislative session, House Health and Human Resources Committee Chairman Don Perdue knew something was terribly wrong with his body. Perdue had pain in his joints. He was fatigued. His vision was failing him.

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Bulletin Board

FUTURE EVENTS * Charleston Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor its 14th annual Monopoly tournament on Jan. 24 at the Charleston Town Center Mall, Center Court. All game players must be 10 years of age and older. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended. The tournament is free. On-site registration begins at 10 a.m. and games begin at 11 a.m. To pre-register, contact Cheryl Gaynor at 304-348- 8008 or cheryl.gaynor@cityofcharleston.org.

The Read: ; Child Maids Now Being Exported to U.S.

Editor's note: In Africa, children of the poor are commodities, often traded like cows or donkeys by adults who value their labor. This story on child maids is the third in an occasional series on the exploitation of African children. Each story stands on its own. By Rukmini Callimachi

Lotteries: ; Lottery

Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 Hot Lotto:

First Lady, Rice Defend Bush Legacy

WASHINGTON - The two most influential women in President George W. Bush's White House - first lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice - are strongly defending the president's legacy against critics who are calling his administration one of the worst in history. "I know it's not, and so I don't really feel like I need to respond to people that view it that way," Laura Bush said in an interview that aired Sunday. "I think history will judge and we'll see later."

Illinois Lt. Gov. Predicts Blagojevich Impeachment

CHICAGO - The lieutenant governor of Illinois said Sunday he is certain scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be out of office in less than two months. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, speaking from Chicago, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" he believes Blagojevich will be impeached and convicted by the Illinois Legislature by Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial birthday celebration on Feb. 12.

Obesity Surgery Can Reverse Diabetes in Teens, Study Finds

NEW YORK - Obesity surgery can reverse diabetes in teens, just as it does in adults, according to a small study. All but one of the 11 extremely obese teens studied saw their diabetes disappear within a year after weight-loss surgery, the researchers reported. The 11th patient still had diabetes, but needed much less insulin and stopped taking diabetes pills.

20th Century Images: ; Wheeling Wharf, 1913; by Richard Andre

At first glance this might be a picture of the Charleston landing, but a careful examination will reveal that it is Wheeling, W.Va., on the waters of the beautiful Ohio River. The card is dated 1913 and the towboat name is barely visible and may be "Clerimond."

Does Popularity of Polar Plunges Dilute Fundraising, Organizer Asks

PORTLAND, Maine - The Lobster Dip was launched 21 years ago as Maine's first happening where people could raise money for a good cause by stripping down in the freezing winter air and running half- naked into the bone-chilling ocean. These days, it seems as if everybody's taking the plunge, and that's threatening to saturate the fundraising field.

Man Spent Days Unnoticed in Pa. Family's Attic

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - A family didn't realize they'd had an unexpected Christmas guest until a man who had been in their attic for days emerged wearing their clothes, police said. Stanley Carter surrendered Friday after police took a dog to search the home in Plains Township, a suburb of Wilkes-Barre about 100 miles north of Philadelphia. He was charged with several counts of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

State Struggles with Mine Inspector Shortage: ; Safety Not Suffering, Wooten Says

An inability to retain inspectors is hurting West Virginia's efforts to make the inherently dangerous business of coal mining safer. Faced with a turnover rate topping 20 percent, the state is scrambling - for the second consecutive year - to perform five mandatory annual inspections at each of the state's 230 coal mines.

Innerviews: ; 'I'm Still an Idealist'; Adventurous Health Secretary Sets Gender Standards

Fearless and forthright, eternally eager and upbeat, she has a trip-hammer mind and a can-do, cut-to-the-chase attitude laced with enough humor to disarm even the most determined detractor. The position suits her. With passion and grit, Martha Walker runs one of the largest and most challenging agencies in state government. She's secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. In the qualifications category, add height. She believes her imposing 6-foot frame works for...

Healthy Bites: ; Black-Eyed Peas Make a Tasty Start to the New Year

FOR ages, black-eyed peas have been symbolic of good luck for a new year and I think it's probably a state law that they be consumed on or around the first of January. They are a legume of legend and high up on the healthy scale, full of calcium (who would have thought since they aren't in the dairy case?) and vitamin A.

Around the World

Amsterdam 33 25 Clr Athens 48 44 Rain

Todays Forecast Around the Country and Sundays Temperatures to 8 P.M.

Anchorage 5 0 Clr Atlanta 61 47 Clr