Charleston Gazette

Work begins on Tri-State hotel: ; 150-room facility part of deal that brought table games to track

Backhoes and power shovels clawed the first scoops full of dirt Wednesday as construction began on a 150-room hotel at Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming Center. Officials for Hartman & Tyner Inc., which owns the racetrack and casino in Nitro, held an official groundbreaking ceremony for the new hotel on Wednesday. With Gov. Joe Manchin, Kanawha County Commissioner Hoppy Shores, Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and Nitro Mayor Rusty Casto looking on, Hartman & Tyner vice president Dan Adkins told about...

Woman recalls life as wife of Mallo: ; Farris Mallo accused of raping ex-spouse

Frances Hedrick says her children are afraid of coming back to live with her on Frame Street. "There are too many people here that are friends with the Mallos," she said. "I understand where the children are coming from. They have a lot of friends up here."

IN GAZZ l Everybody now

IN LOCAL l Jet ski races

GOVERNMENT: ; Holding meeting on toll hike in Charleston insulting, senator says

An outspoken opponent of pending toll increases on the West Virginia Turnpike said Wednesday it's an insult to residents of southeastern counties that next week's meeting to vote on the rate hike will be held in Charleston. "The people down here are outraged," said Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, R-Mercer. "The fact is, we're not being treated fairly in the southern and southeastern parts of the state."

Texas court releases men held in yogurt shop killing: ; Ex-Charleston man

AUSTIN, Texas - Two men awaiting retrial in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls at an Austin yogurt shop were released from jail Wednesday while prosecutors search for a match to new DNA evidence that didn't come from either of them. After his release from the Travis County Jail, Michael Scott held hands with his wife, Jeannine, and hugged her but didn't speak to reporters. Co-defendant Robert Springsteen, a former Charleston resident, said, "I'd like to thank God, my family and my attorne...

Rahall secures money for disabled veterans

Disabled and retired military veterans would collect full disability benefits as well as retirement pay for at least the next year, under legislation the House of Representatives passed Wednesday. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., says he played a role in getting funding for the new legislation, in his role as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Not everyone thinks that's a good thing.

Manchin denies speculation about plans to replace Byrd

Gov. Joe Manchin on Wednesday denied speculation he is making plans to replace Sen. Robert C. Byrd if the ailing senator can't return to work. "I'm not looking at anything right now," the governor told the Gazette after a grant awards ceremony at the state Capitol.

Road work

Traffic patterns around the new Dunbar/South Charleston bridge over Interstate 64 will change this week. From 9 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday, and from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday on June 24 and 25, eastbound traffic on Interstate 64 will be reduced to one lane, with temporary delays on the eastbound MacCorkle Avenue exit.

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June 24 traffic report MOST POPULAR

Data on suicide incomplete, WVU researcher says

A potentially important source of data about suicide is being neglected, according to a West Virginia University researcher who fears the lack of detail on death certificates could have consequences for suicide prevention strategies. Ian Rockett, along with researchers from WVU and other universities, has studied more than 140,000 death certificates from around the country for people who committed suicide between 1999 and 2003.

POLICE Briefs

Men sets fire to mobile home; commits suicide An Alum Creek man set his home on fire, then shot himself in the head on Sproul Road shortly before noon Wednesday.

Supreme Court reverses death suit precedent

In an unusual move Tuesday, the state Supreme Court overruled a precedent in certain wrongful death cases that the justices established less than three years ago. In a 24-page opinion written by Justice Margaret Workman, the court decided that the estate of Andrew James Murphy has standing to pursue a claim against his employer, S.W. Jack Drilling Co.

Obituaries: ; Obit

Obituaries Today Abbott, Lizbeth L. Armentrout, Madaline B. Bagyi, Andrea L. Blackshire, Geneva E. Brown, John L. Bryan, Clinton L. Butcher, Gerald Sr. Carr, V. F. Coleman, Newt Cox, Shannon C. Durham, David W. Ellis, Erma L. Harden, Audrey F. Hundley, Theron D. Larabee, Virginia C. Littleton, Clifford W. Jr. Litton, Conard C. McNutt, Don O. O'Daniel, Bess Siders, Enois F. Tennant, Oscar P. Vance, Allie S. Walton, Velma L. Ware, Roger N. Weeks, Norma G. Wright, Alex M. Lizbeth L. Abbott

Kanawha woman charged with neglecting 2 children

A Kanawha County woman was in jail on Wednesday, charged with leaving two special needs children in the care of her 15-year-old daughter. Lt. Bryan Stover of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department said deputies went to the home of 34-year-old Cathy Lynn Gorby at 212-A Virginia Ave. near St. Albans after neighbors told authorities they were worried about Gorby's children.

Around the world

Amsterdam 71 47 Clr Athens 84 68 Clr

Todays forecast around the country and Wednesdays temperatures to 8 p.m.

Anchorage 45 58 PCldy Atlanta 71 92 PCldy

Names in the games

LEADERS First-round scores (par:71)

Air pollution creates cancer risk, study shows

ONLINE: Read the EPA study at www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/nata2002/ index.html Residents across West Virginia face an increased risk of getting cancer because of toxic air pollution, according to a study released Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.