Free Republic

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Sierra Club has joined other environmental groups in intervening in Virginia proceedings to try to block a high-voltage multistate transmission line. The Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, said it filed papers Monday with Virginia's State Corporation Commission. SCC spokesman Ken Schrad says Monday was the deadline for intervening in the $1.9 billion line proposed by Pennsylvania's Allegheny Energy Co. and Ohio's American Electric Power Co. The Piedmont Environmental Council and the National Wildlife Federation also have filed notices of participation. The 765-kilovolt Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH, would run across parts of northern Virginia and...

The results of two polls prepared by the Family Policy Council of West Virginia suggest that marriage is too big of an issue not to be given to the people to decide. While the outcome of a popular vote in West Virginia is far from certain, what is clear is the fact that an overwhelming number of West Virginians desire the opportunity to have the vote - if only to prevent the decision being made without their input. Marriage as the union of one man and one woman is among the most unifying and important of issues to West Virginians....

The West Virginia Conservative Foundation is backing efforts to convince the U.S. Senate to reject new cap-and-trade legislation passed by the House of Representatives last month. The new legislation would take steps to cut back carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S., particularly those from coal-fired power plants. During a Tuesday-morning news conference on the Capitol steps, a few people held signs reading, "West Virginia Needs Jobs, Not New Taxes. Say No To Cap & Trade." Mike Stuart, who heads the Conservative Foundation, said, "I am here as a citizen. My dad is a coal miner. My grandfather died from black...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Police in Charleston have arrested a teenager in connection with the murder of an elderly woman. The suspect is a 14 year old male, so they are not releasing his name. Police say Phyllis Phares was found dead in her home on the city's west side Sunday evening. Police have yet to say how she died. Phares was 82-year-old and she lived alone. Right now, the teen is being charged as a juvenile, but prosecutors hope to try him as an adult.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The West Virginia Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a same-sex couple fighting to retain custody of an 18-month-old foster child. In an unsigned opinion issued Friday, the court barred enforcement of a Fayette County Circuit Court order that the girl should be taken away from Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess. Judge Paul Blake Jr. had ruled the child should be placed with a heterosexual couple who might adopt her. he court says that was an error. The justices say Blake blurred legal principles applicable to abuse, neglect and adoption. Current law, the court says,...

Bad news for top tier recruit. WEB EXTRA: See the criminal report press release from Tallahassee Police Department. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A future Marshall quarterback finds himself in trouble with the law. WCTV-TV in Tallahassee, Florida is reporting that A.J. Graham has been arrested on robbery charges. Tallahassee Police confirmed the arrest took place on Tuesday afternoon, however the alleged robbery happened on Friday in Tallahassee. Graham signed a scholarship to play football at Marshall University this fall. In a written statement Wednesday, Marshall University Head Football Coach Mark Snyder said Graham's scholarship had been revoked. Stay with WOWKTV.com for...

WINFIELD, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- There are thousands of children in foster care waiting, hoping for a loving, forever family. While many of those children are perfectly normal, there are quite a few with physical and mental handicaps that often fall at the bottom of the list. But one local family wants to adopt, and they only want a child with special needs. Their reasoning dates back nearly 20 years. “Kids like that are special," said Carie Jarvis, who wants to adopt. "They're not wanted. No one wants those kinds of kids. And that's just what I'm drawn to.” Carie wants...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Gov. Joe Manchin is asking President Barack Obama to help West Virginia's car dealerships. In a letter to Obama, the governor urged him to carefully consider the consequences of plans by General Motors and Chrysler to close a large number of their dealerships. Manchin said the plan would eliminate dozens of long-standing franchised dealers in the state and put hundreds out of work. He also said closing the dealerships would impact the state's road fund and result in a loss of payroll and sales taxes. Manchin also questioned how manufacturers that are receiving federal bailout dollars...

SPENCER, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Roane General Hospital and Roane County Family Health Care will stop delivering babies this summer. The hospital will stop its in-patient obstetrical services July 31. According to a news release, the services are being discontinued because of several reasons, including low birth rate, an aging population, and the difficulty of recruiting specialty physicians to rural communities. “We’ve done everything we can do to preserve the program. It’s just not possible anymore,” Larry Dent, chief executive officer at Roane County Family Health Care said. Roane General and Family Health Care will continue to offer prenatal and postpartum...

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Cabell County Sheriff Tom McComas said the body found alongside Interstate 64 Monday afternoon is that of a 62-year-old man. The sheriff's department is not releasing the cause of death at this time, but say the man died of a homicide. The state medical examiner was able to identify the man through the serial numbers on his pacemaker, which was removed during the autopsy. The pacemaker was installed at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina in 2004. The man may or may not have lived out of state, according to Sheriff McComas. McComas says next of...

CHARLESTON W.Va.-- CBS' 60 Minutes' look into the future of coal Sunday has raised awareness of just how difficult it is to balance the electricity needs of the world versus saving the world's environment. The head of the nation's third largest electric utility says he can't stop building coal-burning plants right now -- even though he believes it contributes to global warming. "It took100 years to get where we are and we can't do this overnight." explains Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy. Job one for him is to keep power flowing to his customers and removing the carbon dioxide...

A container is found with what is human remains on interstate near Milton. MILTON W.Va. -- Cabell County Sheriff's Deputies and State Police are on the scene of confirmed human remains found on Interstate 64. Around noon Monday, Division of Highways crews discovered a black container on the side of the highway near the Milton Exit. Crews reported to Cabell County 911 that inside the container there was what they believed to be human remains. West Virginia State Police, Cabell County Sheriff's Department and representatives from the Cabell County Prosecutor's Office are on the scene. An investigation is underway and...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia is injecting another $293.6 million from its share of federal stimulus funding into the state's economy. Governor Joe Manchin signed legislation Friday that divvies up the amount among several dozen agencies. More than $126 million will help the Medicaid, foster care, child support enforcement, food stamp and independent living programs. The state Department of Education is earmarked for $72 million, with $40 million benefiting its aid for exceptional children program. The Department of Environmental Protection will get $35.6 for its projects. Other recipients include Military Affairs and Public Safety, the Crime Victims Compensation Fund...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it is conducting an investigation at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Beckley. While a spokeswoman for the agency in Washington, D.C., did not specify the focus of the investigation, she said that "allegations of harassment or potential abuse" are taken seriously. Debbie Voloski, a spokeswoman at the Beckley VA Hospital, confirmed an investigation into "certain issues." She also declined to discuss the nature of the investigation.

The mother of a 22-year-old Logan County woman reported the incident to the FBI. Logan County, W.Va. -- FBI agents are investigating the alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman by three law enforcement officers. The victim's mother reported the incident to the FBI and said the deputies had been harassing her daughter and following her through town back in January. According to published reports, three Logan County Sheriff Deputies and one former Chapmanville police officer were allegedly involved in the rape of the Logan County woman. The victim alleges that three officers raped her and another was present but was...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Families are continuing to put pressure on the West Virginia Legislature to require insurance companies in the state to cover autism treatment and therapy. Do you think insurance companies in West Virginia should cover autism treatment and therapy? Yes No Right now, many families have to pay for the health care costs with no help from their insurance companies. Do you think insurance companies in West Virginia should cover autism treatment and therapy? We would like to hear from you in our WSAZ Charleston poll. You can also give us your ideas by filling out the...

Pattie Carson is being held at the Southern Regional Jail. PRINCETON W.Va.-- A woman is behind bars after attempting to steal thousands of dollars from a 91-year-old St. Albans woman. Pattie Carson is charged with misappropriation of funds and assets of the elderly. State Police said she tried to steal a $25,000 cashier's check from Sophia Nelson of St. Albans. Police say Carson left Nelson in the tub for several hours at the Princeton Comfort Inn. The room flooded and hotel workers called an ambulance for Nelson. When Carson came back to the room police saw her trying to pack...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia lawmakers hope to help The Greenbrier resort make the most of its recently won authority to open a casino and enhance its appeal to potential buyers. Legislation introduced Friday would parallel the rules for any video lottery machines or table games at the world-famous resort with that of the state's racetracks. The bill slightly reduces the gross receipts tax set when the resort was first eyed for a casino in 2000. It also allows The Greenbrier to recoup some proceeds for employee benefit costs. Greenbrier County voters approved gambling at the resort in November...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A divided state Senate has passed a bill that would ban discrimination in employment and housing because of sexual orientation. Kanawha County Sen. Brooks McCabe, one of the bill's sponsors, says it's essentially an economic development bill that will help the state attract high-tech companies that currently operate in states where similar laws exist. Senate Minority Leader Don Caruth, though, argues the bill is too broadly worded, since it includes heterosexuals along with gays and lesbians in its protections. The Mercer County Republican says that makes virtually everyone in the state members of a protected class....

Milton, W.Va. Every week, Joyce Meadows says the Milton Flea Market has gotten calls from someone wondering when the local landmark would reopen. Now, there's hope for a grand opening on April 17, 2009. The local landmark, which draws thousands of customers to eastern Cabell County, is being rebuilt. Ronnie Robertson showed up to the offices on Thursday afternoon looking to find a place for his furniture business. Mr. Robertson says he's ready to get back to work but he's a little worried about the economy. Mr. Robertson says, " I'm sure it's going to hurt some, I'm sure it...

HARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Barbie could get an unwelcome present for her 50th birthday: outlawed in West Virginia. Do you think Barbie and other dolls like it should be banned? Yes No A state lawmaker proposed a bill Tuesday to ban sales of the iconic Mattel doll and others like her. The proposal from Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge says such toys influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development. A Mattel spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The Barbie doll officially turns 50 on...

Jameelah Josiah racked up more than $4 thousand from credit cards. CHARLESTON W.Va.-- A temporary office worker is indicted on federal charges for allegedly stealing people's identities at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. Jameelah Josiah faces charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, access device fraud, and identity theft. Josiah reportedly obtained credit cards using stolen information and racked up more than $4-thousand in charges. She worked for the Health Department on a temporary basis during November and December.

LOGAN COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- An investigation is underway in Logan County after someone found some indecent pictures on a school computer. West Virginia State Police tell WSAZ.com that the file was found on a computer at Chapmanville High School. Investigators say the file contained provocative photos of students, some of them contained nudity and partial nudity. Right now, no one knows who took the pictures or where they came from. The Logan County Superintendent tells WSAZ.com the pictures were found by a technician when he was cleaning the county's computers. State police were contacted immediately to investigate the incident....

The owner of an escaped tiger in Pocahontas County said the animal ambushedf him in snow-filled woods so he had to shoot it dead. David Cassell and a state conservation officer had been looking for the female tiger since Saturday evening, when Cassell noticed it squeezed through a hole in a chain-link cage on his exotic animal farm, said Hoy Murphy, spokesman for the state Division of Natural Resources. There was apparently more than one tiger in the cage, but only one escaped. The DNR is investigating the incident and could end up charging the owner, Cassell, because the exotic...

Audio Unearthed ATTN: Coal states Virginia , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Indiana and more guess what Obama told San Francisco about you. San Francisco Gate Interview January 17 2008

Democrat Senator Robert Byrd is President pro tempore of the U. S. Senate. As such he is 3d in line to be President of the United Sates in the event of the death, removal or incapacitation of the Prez, VP and Speaker of the House. He is 90 years old. This is incredible, rambling, off-topic video of him, a week ago, He seems drunk, stoned, crazy or senile, (or possibly a combination of all of the above) on the Senate floor, live on national (and international) TV! As a qualification for Democratic Senator from West Virginia, he is a fomer...

WEIRD BUT TRUE By LUKAS I. ALPERT, Wire Services May 23, 2007 -- Some people sleep like the dead, but one West Virginia man took it to a new extreme. Michael Lusher somehow managed to sleep through being shot in the head, not realizing he had been struck until he woke up four hours later and noticed he was bleeding. The shot was one of five that an unknown gunman sprayed through Lusher's mobile home as he slept.

The president spoke with UN SG Kofi Annan about the international force being assembled for Lebanon; the Iranian regime's statement on its nuclear program; and the need to improve the situation in Darfur. He attended a fundraiser for Senator George Allen, R-VA. President Bush met with Rockey Vaccarella, Louisiana victim of Hurricane Katrina, to discuss rebuilding efforts there.

Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) temporarily relinquished his position as the top Democrat on the House ethics committee Friday, two weeks after questions surfaced about his financial dealings. “I have reluctantly concluded that the interests of both the [ethics] committee and my constituents would best be served by my temporarily stepping aside as ranking member while I deal with this attack,” the West Virginian wrote to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) Friday. Pelosi accepted his request in a press release, praising his work and calling the attacks “an attempt to deflect attention from the long list of Republican criminal investigations,...

WINFIELD, W.Va. -- National Guard jets tried unsuccessfully to make contact with the pilot of a private plane Friday night before it crashed near a rural home in West Virginia. The body of the pilot, the only person on board, was found in the wreckage. He's been identified as 56-year old William Cammack, of St. Paul, Minn.

One revealing anecdote from Ambassador Bremer's book, My Year in Iraq, involves West Virginia's Jay Rockefeller. On September 23, 2003, Bremer briefed the Senate Democratic caucus on Iraq. I started to explain why the supplemental appropriation was important by noting "the lessons of history," having in mind the failures following World War I and the success after World War II. Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia rudely interrupted, "We all know our history, Mr. Ambassador. Don't bother us with history." I paused and then continued to describe how after World War I, the Allies had withdrawn after saddling Germany with...

CAMP AL QA’IM, Iraq (August 2, 2005) -- Lee D. Hale played with firecrackers when he was a young boy growing up in Huntington, W.Va., but little did he know that when he grew up he would be in Iraq using explosives as a part of his job as a combat engineer. Lance Cpl. Hale, 22, 4th Combat Engineers Battalion joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Huntington High School in 2001. Hale decided to join the Corps to help put himself through college at Marshall University, where he was studying business management prior to deploying. He decided to become...

Kerry camp pulls plug on TV ads W.Va. spokeswoman insists that doesn't mean state was written of John Kerry's presidential campaign has pulled advertisements from area television stations only two weeks before the election. "I guess they figured the ads were no longer going to change the outcome of the election, so either they thought they were going to lose or they thought they had it locked up," said Bray Cary, president of West Virginia Media Holdings, which owns WOWK- TV 13. Area television station officials said the Kerry campaign got in touch with them on Friday, and the pullout...

Heads up!

Statement from the General President Regarding the Events in Huntington, WVThe International Union of Painters and Allied Trades believes in the fundamental right for civil discourse, freedom of speech and activism to support our candidates and issues. What happened in Huntington, West Virginia yesterday is an affront to everything we, as a union, pride ourselves to represent. We extend our apologies to the Parlock family, especially Sophia, for the distress one of our overzealous members caused them. I have personally taken steps to address this issue internally, and will take immediate disciplinary action to the full extent allowed under U.S....

Check out the photo from yahoo. Only Kerry Supporters would do something so low.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. A second Lincoln County resident has been indicted in the widening federal probe of election fraud in southern West Virginia. The grand jury alleges 35-year-old Jackie Adkins of Harts bribed four unidentified voters to influence the ballots they cast in May's primary election. The Division of Highways employee is the fifth person to be charged overall in a probe that has ensnared Logan County's sheriff, the city of Logan's police chief and a prominent Logan lawyer. A Lincoln County resident was indicted earlier in the probe. She was charged with falsely denying under oath that she and her...

<p>HUNTINGTON -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Capehart Wednesday outlined a plan for West Virginia’s workers’ compensation program that would give workers incentives to return to private payrolls.</p> <p>Capehart, meeting with The Herald-Dispatch editorial board, said his plan would focus on what happens to workers after they are placed on the workers' compensation role. Injured workers would be required to participate in physical rehabilitation and vocational retraining, so that they would eventually return to work in some capacity.</p>

Jessica Lynch Awarded Bronze StarLynch Gets Medals Ahead of Homecoming ELIZABETH, W.Va. - Former POW Jessica Lynch was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Washington Monday as she prepares for her homecoming. Lynch, who returns to the hills of West Virigina Tuesday, also received Prisoner of War medals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. The Bronze Star is given for meritorious combat service, a Purple Heart is most often awarded to those wounded in combat, and the POW for being held captive during wartime. "The Purple Heart ... was not necessarily about being wounded or injured...

Discrepancies in reports of POW's capture, rescue raise questions Posted: May 6, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Diana Lynne © 2003 WorldNetDaily.com Hollywood writers could not have imagined a more gripping and rousing story as that of the capture of Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch and the dramatic Special Ops rescue caught on videotape and instigated by an Iraqi lawyer who reportedly put his life on the line for hers. But some question whether elements of the saga are more hype than fact, created to spin the POW's experience to serve political purposes. An avalanche of movie and book offers flooded the Lynch...

the saga of Saving Private Lynch. Branded on to our consciousness by media frenzy, the flawless midnight rescue of 19-year-old Private First Class Jessica Lynch hardly bears repeating even a month after the fact. Precision teams of U.S. Army Rangers and Navy Seals, acting on intelligence information and supported by four helicopter gunships, ended Lynch's nine-day Iraqi imprisonment in true Rambo style, raising America's spirits when it needed it most. All Hollywood could ever hope to have in a movie was there in this extraordinary feat of rescue — except, perhaps, the truth. So say three Nasiriya doctors, two nurses,...

America shared his joy at her rescue and, as the days passed, her speedy recovery. Within a week of the daring raid Lynch had undergone surgery to set her broken bones — including fractures in both legs, her right arm, ankle and foot, and damage to her spine — and was once again eating small servings of her favorite foods: turkey, french fries and steamed carrots. Her doctors now say they are certain some of her injuries — which went untreated for her nine days in captivity, leading to infection — were caused by gunshots. "The injuries are open fractures,...

Dr.: Lynch to Be Hospitalized for Weeks By LARRY MARGASAK .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Rescued POW Jessica Lynch will stay at the Army's premier medical facility for at least a few weeks and, like others there who were wounded in Iraq, will have mental and emotional evaluations, the medical center chief said Sunday. ``She seems to be in good spirits,'' said Major Gen. Kevin Kiley, a physician, commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The 19-year-old private first class and some four dozen other wounded soldiers arrived Saturday in the United States after leaving a hospital in...

<p>LANDSTUHL, Germany (AP) Rescued U.S. POW Jessica Lynch is steadily improving and spending less time in bed since she was moved out of intensive care at a military hospital, a spokesman said Thursday.</p> <p>Lynch, a 19-year-old Army private first class from Palestine, W. Va., was moved to a regular ward at Germany's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on Wednesday.</p>

Family Not Pressing U.S. POW on Details By COLLEEN BARRY .c The Associated Press LANDSTUHL, Germany (AP) - The family of rescued POW Jessica Lynch said Tuesday her strong will helped her survive captivity, but that they weren't going to press for details of her ordeal until she's ready. Still stunned by their daughter's capture by Iraqi forces and dramatic rescue nine days later, Pfc. Lynch's parents described their relief at finally laying eyes on Jessica in her hospital bed in southwestern Germany. ``We said, 'Hi, Baby, how are you doing?' and she said, 'Fine,''' Gregory Lynch Sr. told reporters...

Father says Lynch in good spirits after POW ordeal LANDSTUHL, Germany, April 8 (Reuters) - The father of U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch, a prisoner of war rescued by American forces in Iraq, said on Tuesday she was in good spirits and only wanted to go home. "Her spirits was real high and we was real glad to see her. We was kinda figurin' it'd be a lot worse," Greg Lynch said outside the hospital that is treating her. Jessica, 19, spent nine days as a POW in Iraq with back injuries, two broken legs, a broken arm, broken foot and...

POW Father Denies Daughter Shot, Stabbed 2 hours, 47 minutes ago By ALLISON BARKER, Associated Press Writer PALESTINE, W.Va. - The father of rescued POW Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch said Thursday she was in great spirits following her first surgery and said she had not been shot or stabbed during her ordeal. "We have heard and seen reports that she had multiple gunshot wounds and a knife stabbing. The doctor has not seen any of this," Gregory Lynch Sr. said. "There's no entry (wounds) whatsoever." Lynch said his 19-year-old daughter, who is at a military hospital in Germany, had surgery...

Rescued U.S. soldier put up fierce fight - Wash Post WASHINGTON, April 3 (Reuters) - Rescued U.S. soldier Jessica Lynch shot several Iraqi soldiers prior to her capture, firing her weapon until she ran out of ammunition, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials. The 19-year-old Private First Class continued firing at the Iraqis even after she sustained multiple gunshot wounds and watched several other soldiers in her unit die around her, one official told the newspaper. "She was fighting to the death," the official was quoted as saying. "She did not want to be taken alive." Lynch...

POW Reportedly Fought Captors With Gun By JOE COLEMAN .c The Associated Press LANDSTUHL, Germany (AP) - Spirited but hungry, rescued prisoner of war Pfc. Jessica Lynch arrived in Germany for treatment of two broken legs and bullet wounds reportedly suffered in a fierce gun battle she waged against her Iraqi captors. The Washington Post reported Thursday that the 19-year-old Army supply clerk shot several Iraqi soldiers during the March 23 ambush that resulted in her capture. She kept firing even after she had several gunshot wounds, finally running out of ammunition, the newspaper said, citing unidentified U.S. officials. ``She...

Monday, April 07, 2003 During their tour at Fort Bliss, a sprawling military base on the western tip of Texas, Jessica Lynch and Lori Ann Piestewa had little choice but to spend time together. As logistics and supply specialists, their military duties constantly intertwined. When Private First Class Lynch needed to stock up on toilet paper or shaving kits for deploying troops, she ordered the gear from Private First Class Piestewa, stationed in a nearby warehouse. When they were not at work -- a rarity in the weeks leading up to the Iraqi war -- the pair shared a tiny...