Charleston Gazette

Bill Clinton Plans Visit to W.Va. This Week

The Democratic presidential primary shows no sign of slowing down in West Virginia, as former President Bill Clinton plans to visit the state this week on his wife's behalf. Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign announced Sunday that the former president plans to make stops in Parkersburg and Beckley on Wednesday. The campaign did not have any further details.

U.S. Deaths in Iraq War at 4,000

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed four U.S. soldiers in Baghdad on Sunday, the military said, pushing the overall American death toll in the five-year war to at least 4,000. The grim milestone came on the same day that rockets and mortars pounded the U.S.-protected Green Zone, underscoring the fragile security situation and the resilience of both Sunni and Shiite extremist groups despite an overall lull in violence.

Doh Project Cited for Water Pollution

kward@wvgazette.com The state Division of Highways has agreed to pay more than $125,000 in fines for repeated environmental violations on the construction of the new U.S. 35 in Putnam County.

Putnam's Aging Schools: ; Officials Want Two New Buildings, yet Funding Uncertain

alisonk@wvgazette.com Drive past Winfield Middle School on U.S. 35 and you might never know it.

School Leaders Split On Soft Drink Sales

davinwhite@wvgazette.com Education officials plan to pit the healthy benefits of a caffeine ban against the need for extra revenue at high schools.

State Teachers to Consider Switch to Old Pension Plan

The state is gearing up to help thousands of teachers decide how they should save for retirement. Gov. Joe Manchin announced that the Consolidated Public Retirement Board is preparing personalized statements for the roughly 19,000 teachers who had their retirement funds tied up in a defined contribution plan.

W.Va. Holds Its Own While Other States Face Budget Deficits

Even amid fears of a national recession, the Mountain State has stayed on course to end its budget year on June 30 with more revenues than expected. West Virginia's state government continues to buck a trend that has nearly half its counterparts wrestling with program cuts and tax hikes.

Protesters Disrupt Easter Mass at Chicago Cathedral

CHICAGO - Six people were arrested at Holy Name Cathedral today after disrupting an Easter Mass to protest the Iraq war. The group, whose members identified themselves as Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War, stood up at the beginning of Cardinal Francis George's homily and shouted their opposition to the conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary last week. As security guards and ushers tried to remove them from the service, the demonstrators squirted fake blood upon themselves and parishi...

Speeder Used Oreo Defense, Connecticut State Police Say

SALISBURY, Conn. - Police say a man's excuse for speeding through a small Connecticut town takes the cake - or, at least, the cookie. A state trooper who stopped the 1993 BMW last fall says its driver, 28-year-old Justin Vonkummer of Millerton, N.Y., blamed his driving problems on an errant Oreo.

Readers' Voice

* To the venter concerned about the city of Charleston and the Kanawha County school board publishing the salaries of the schoolteachers and the city employees, let's publish yours. I believe this borders on discrimination unless we publish everyone's salaries. And don't say anything about taxpayers' money because we do a job just like you do. * For the uninformed person who thinks that only doctors can write prescriptions, physician's assistants and nurse practitioners can also write prescri...

20th Century Images: ; Easter Parade, 1917; by Richard Andre

In 1898, the production of oil in West Virginia exceeded that of Pennsylvania and Parkersburg grew rich from nearby oil fields. Wealthy citizens wanted fine homes to reflect their success and several top-notch architects were glad to fill the bill.

Charleston Crime Report

The following crimes were reported to the Charleston Police Department between March 13 and 19: East district

On File

Kanawha and Putnam counties Marriage licenses

Sunday's Weather in Charleston:

Eyewitness News: ; Stormteam Weather; Wchs/Fox 11; Jim Barach's Outlook

Lottery: ; Lotteries

Saturday, March 22, 2008 DES MOINES, Iowa - None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Saturday night matched all six numbers drawn, which were:

World Weather

Amsterdam 42 28 Rain Athens 64 48 PCldy

National Weather

Anchorage 34 21 PCldy Atlanta 63 36 PCldy

Statehouse Beat: ; Makeover Does Not Stop at Chairs

Last week, I mentioned the sole-source purchase request for 45 custom leather chairs for the governor's press conference room, to be embossed alternately with either the state seal or the seal of the governor's office. However, that appears to be just the tip of the iceberg for what will be a complete makeover of the room, including new carpet, draperies, sound system, electrical and heating-and-cooling upgrades and other improvements.

Innerviews: ; 'I Always Look Forward'

He's one of the Kanawha Valley's most celebrated and beloved athletes, a star on the undefeated 1968 Charleston High state championship team who went on to excel at WVU. Curtis Price continued his success story at West Virginia State as a 21-year-old head basketball coach, probably the youngest in the country.