Charleston Daily Mail

Mother Awaits Reunion: ; Daughter Presumed Dead in Fire Was Actually Kidnapped

PHILADELPHIA - An infant believed to have died in a 1997 fire actually was kidnapped and raised by a woman who set the blaze to cover her path, authorities said. Now, the child's mother - who recognized the girl at a party by a dimple - is eagerly awaiting a reunion. Police issued an arrest warrant for Carolyn Correa, 41, of Willingboro, N.J., on charges of arson, kidnapping and conspiracy. She remained at large Tuesday, authorities said.

South Charleston Man Charged with Beating Dog

A South Charleston man was in jail today after being charged with beating his mother's dog with a wooden bat. James D. Anderson, 24, allegedly hit the 20-pound beagle-terrier mix named Scrappy "over and over" during an incident late Sunday at his mother's house, Kanawha County Humane Officer Gene Fields wrote in a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Senator Says He Didn't Know About Salary

Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey considers Wyoming County senior service director Bob Graham a good friend and a boss, but the lawmaker says he had no idea until last week that Graham pulled down $302,000 in pay from the senior agency last year. Bailey said he's never even heard rumors that Graham's salary and the perks that might come with his job have been raising eyebrows in Wyoming County for years.

Graham Leading Political Group: ; Committee Aims to Secure a Third of Lottery Revenue

Bob Graham is heading up a political action committee for senior service centers around the state, and for the first time there's talk of the group interviewing and endorsing gubernatorial candidates. Graham, the Wyoming County senior service director who made $302,000 last year, is president of the state's association of senior and community service directors.

The Long Haul: ; by Bus or Car?; Transporting Student Athletes to Away Games Becoming a Concern.

The Long Haul: ; by Bus or Car?; Transporting Student Athletes to Away Games Becoming a Concern.

THE scene is an all too familiar one for parents of area high school athletes. At a far-away high school, several cars driven by parents pull up and drop off players from a Kanawha County prep team. A few weeks later, those same parents watch as the members of that other team pile off a school bus for the return visit.

Programming Director at Clay Center Resigns

The programming director for the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences said the center's low attendance and ticket sales contributed to his recent resignation. "It just took the fun out of it," Paul Helfrich said today. "From my personal standpoint, it was demoralizing."

Marshall Expanding Cell Phone Service

Bill Would Require Treatment: ; Measure Would Force Dui Offenders to Pay for Rehab

The most severe drunken driving offenders would be put through a mandatory rehabilitation program after they are released from jail, under legislation set for a vote in the House of Delegates today. Anyone convicted of two DUI offenses within a 10-year period or a 0.20 blood-alcohol content on a first offense would be forced to go through rehab.

Democratic Candidate for Governor Dies

PHILIPPI - Democratic gubernatorial candidate James Baughman has died at his Barbour County home. He died early Monday. He was 53. Baughman was among eight Democrats who filed candidacy papers to run in the May 11 primary.

Lobbyists Spend Big On Parties

Lobbyists are spending thousands of dollars on legislative receptions and dinners this session in an effort to influence how lawmakers vote. Costs for just the 10 biggest receptions disclosed to date total more than $100,000, according to initial filings of lobbyists' disclosures with the state Ethics Commission The deadline for filing the disclosures, which cover lobbyist spending from Jan. 1 to Feb. 22, was Wednesday.

Ex-Worldcom Chief Indicted

WASHINGTON - Former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers has been indicted on federal charges stemming from the multibillion-dollar accounting scandal at the telecommunications giant. The indictment was handed up late Monday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. A copy was obtained today by The Associated Press.

Attacks On Shiites Leave Scores Dead: ; at Least 143 Killed As Bombers Strike Shrines in Iraq

KARBALA, Iraq - Simultaneous explosions ripped through crowds of worshippers today at Shiite Muslim shrines in Baghdad and the city of Karbala, killing at least 143 people on the holiest day of the Shiite calendar, a U.S. official said. It was the bloodiest day since the end of major fighting. The attacks, a combination of suicide bombers and planted explosives, came during the Shiite festival of Ashoura and coincided with a shooting attack on Shiite worshippers in Quetta, Pakistan that kille...

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Gop Plans to Force Votes On Touchy Issues: ; Democrats Pulled Into Taking Stands

WASHINGTON - Republicans plan to use Congress to pull Sen. John Kerry and vulnerable Democrats into the cultural wars over gay rights, abortion and guns, envisioning a series of debates and votes that will highlight the candidates' positions on divisive issues, according to congressional aides and GOP officials. The strategy will be on full display today, as Kerry (Mass.) and Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), the leading Democratic presidential candidates, plan to interrupt their Super Tuesday campai...

News Briefs

Council to decide on ouster petition

City Says Video Casino Violates Ordinance: ; Woman Wanted to Establish Business in Kanawha City

A Clarksburg woman involved with opening a new video lottery casino at the former Risk's 35th Street Farmers Market said she had no idea Charleston officials had determined the establishment is a violation of a city ordinance. Nancy Stumpo of Clarksburg applied for a city business license for The Hot Spot, which would be operated by the Fraternal Order of the Owls. Stumpo said she talked Monday to Lottery Commissioner John Musgrave and he never mentioned the venue would be denied its license.

City's Dream a Step Closer: ; Groundbreaking for New Ballpark Set for Mid-March

The City of Charleston paid $6 million to developer Al Summers for the Morris Square property that will house the new ballpark for the Charleston Alley Cats, but that's not all he wants. "All I want now is two hot dogs when I go to the first game," Summers said today.

Cities' Fire Agreement Up for Vote: ; Charleston Wants Additional Coverage by S.C. Firefighters

As all four South Charleston Fire Department engines responded Saturday to a King Street house fire, a Charleston unit moved to South Charleston's downtown station to handle any other calls in the city. The Charleston unit covered for South Charleston as part of a mutual aid agreement between the two cities. Depending on how a South Charleston City Council vote goes on Thursday, that mutual aid may not be continued.