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Australian Skies Rain Fire, Ash: ; Winds Create a Firestorm in Victoria State; 128 Dead, Homes Razed

HEALESVILLE, Australia - Entire towns have been razed by wildfires raging through southeastern Australia, burning people in their homes and cars in the deadliest blaze in the country's history. The number of dead this morning stands at 128, a grim toll that rises almost by the hour as officials reach farther into the fire zone. Searing temperatures and wind blasts created a firestorm that swept across a swath of the country's Victoria state, where at least 750 homes were destroyed and all of ...

Insurance Surcharge Endorsed to Fund Pensions for Vfds

INSIDE: More on state 9A, 11A West Virginians could see a small increase to the taxes they pay on insurance policies, as lawmakers try to find ways to help the state's volunteer fire department recruit and keep members.

Kanawha Drug Court Hopes to Break Cycle of Addiction

When Kanawha County launches its drug court in the next few months, officials hope to draw on the collective wisdom of the more than 2,100 drug courts already in operation nationwide. "They know what works, and they know what doesn't work," Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey Walker said of the National Drug Court Institute, an umbrella organization that provides education, research and scholarship to court-based intervention programs.

Jay Pushes for School Funds in Stimulus

Sen. Jay Rockefeller said West Virginia's children need new schools. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has pushed for approval of a $14.9 billion American Better Classroom Act, which has been a portion of the massive economic stimulus bill that could open up $109 million for school construction in West Virginia.

Splashdown Pilot Tells of 'Sickening' Thuds of Geese

NEW YORK - The pilot who ditched his jetliner in the Hudson River and saved the lives of everyone on board said he had a "sickening" feeling when a flock of birds disabled both engines with violent thuds, crippling the plane at 3,000 feet over the nation's most populous city. Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger said in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" that the sound of the geese hitting the plane and the smell of burning poultry entering the cabin was "shocking."

Drama Unfolds On Both Sides of Camera at Grammy Awards: ; Brad Paisley Wins Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal

LOS ANGELES - A tearful Jennifer Hudson won her first Grammy, thanking her family "in heaven and those who are with me today" to kick off an evening already stoked with drama when police said they were investigating double nominee Chris Brown for an alleged assault on an unidentified woman. Brown and longtime girlfriend Rihanna, each nominated and slated to perform, separately dropped out of the Grammys at the last minute and their whereabouts were not immediately known Sunday night. The vict...

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Lottery: ; Lotteries

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Monday Q&A

On Monday, we take our readers pulse on a question in the news. This weeks question YES OR NO: Should the eMBA degree taken from Heather Bresch be reinstated? o Yes o No Answer the poll on the Web at g ONLINE wvgazette.com

Obama Faces Tough Week On Economy

WASHINGTON - President Obama plunges into a difficult test of his leadership this week, struggling to get a divided Congress to agree on his economic recovery package while pitching a new plan to ease loans to consumers and businesses. The Senate's $827 billion stimulus legislation seems assured narrow passage by Tuesday. Harder work for Obama and the Democrats comes in the days ahead, when the House and Senate attempt to reconcile differences in their two versions.

'We're Teaching Our Students How to Be Ethical Leaders' Wheeling Jesuit Universitys Charleston Center Offers 2 Business Degree Programs for Nontraditional Students

When Wheeling Jesuit University opened a classroom and recruiting office in downtown Charleston last September, it was a coming-out party of sorts. The Jesuit college had quietly been offering a degree program to Kanawha Valley business professionals since 1995. Students met in hotel conference rooms.

Statehouse Beat: ; Lobbyists Are All Set for Next Session

If there's one profession that appears to be recession-proof, it might be legislative lobbying. As of Friday, more than 300 lobbyists had already registered with the Ethics Commission for the 2009 regular session - at a minimum registration fee of $100, plus $100 for each entity represented - and that should keep them on pace to reach the usual number of about 400 lobbyists.

Innerviews: ; a Full Life Transcended Bigotry

Through boyhood, through two decades in the military, racism lurked at every turn. There was the time he offered blood to a supervisors son who was undergoing surgery. The family refused it. Black blood? No thank you. Thats just how it was back then. We forget, he said. Clarence Brown tolerated what he couldnt change and rose above it. A military policeman and drill instructor in the U.S. Air Force, he retired as a tech sergeant in 1974. He served all over Europe, in Newfoundland and Vietnam....

Woodrow Wilson Wins State Science Bowl

MORGANTOWN - Woodrow Wilson High School is the winner of this year's West Virginia Regional Science Bowl. The Beckley high school's four-person team defeated 15 other teams Saturday in the 18th annual competition to win an expense- paid trip to the National Science Bowl, scheduled for April 30 to May 5 in Washington, D.C.

Holocaust Denier Sparks Merkel Call to Pope Benedict

BERLIN - The German chancellor called the pope Sunday, days after she demanded that he clarify the Vatican's stance on the Holocaust because it lifted the excommunication of a bishop who denies that 6 million Jews were killed by German Nazis. Chancellor Angela Merkel initiated the "good and constructive conversation" and it was characterized by "common deep concern about the perpetual warning of the Shoah for humanity," said a joint statement with German-born Pope Benedict XVI. Shoah is a Heb...

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For the week of Feb. 9-13 Monday

Obituaries: ; Obit

Obituaries Today Addair, Charles T. Allen, Wallace Bennett, Major Bivens, Rosetta Brabbin, Katherine Brown, Mary E. Burns, Virgil T. Callaghan, Marion L. Chaney, Michael L. Clark, Robert Coffman, Catherine L. Cruikshanks, Mae DeRaimo, Martha K. Dean, Stephen G. Garrett, Mary L. Gessel, Lewis O. Jr. Hunt, H. S. Jones, Florence L. Joslin, Jeannette P. Kinder, Inez C. Owens, Jerry D. Sisk, Deanna D. Stewart, Pearl C. Turrentine, Edward Wade, William D. Workman, Georgia H. Charles Thomas Addair

Former St. Albans Mayor 'Jack' Gessel Jr. Dies at 81

Lewis Oliver "Jack" Gessel Jr., a former mayor of St. Albans, died Friday at his St. Albans home from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was 81. Gessel served as the city's mayor for four years from 1998 to 2001. He also was a member of City Council for 12 years.