Charleston Daily Mail

Jackson Discloses Interest: ; Candidate Says Family has Stake in Media Company

Under pressure from rival Joe Manchin, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lloyd Jackson today said his family owns a $175,000 interest in West Virginia Media Holdings, which has television stations across the state. Jackson said he personally owns $50,000 in the company and other family members have the remaining $125,000. He declined to identify the family members.

Office Defends Choice: ; Mcgraw Relative Suggests Lawyer for Investment Board

A New York lawyer seeking business from the state won the backing of state Attorney General Darrell McGraw's office after a McGraw family relative introduced the lawyer to the attorney general and one of his top aides. The aide, Deputy Attorney General Fran Hughes, said there was nothing improper about it.

Board to Pay Out $460,000: ; Money Being Paid to Settle with Mother of Autistic Student

The Kanawha County school system has agreed to pay $460,000 to end its long and often contentious relationship with the mother of a 20-year-old autistic student. Documents released as part of the settlement disclose that an "individualized education plan" for the student, Logan Gentry, called for:

Fighting Halted Briefly: ; U.S. Forces End Fallujah Cease-Fire After 90 Minutes

FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. forces today retook a southern city seized by a rebellious Shiite militia, but an American-declared halt in the embattled city of Fallujah was undercut by bursts of gunfire on the first anniversary of the fall of Baghdad. Iraq's top U.S. administrator, L. Paul Bremer, announced a unilateral pause in the 5-day-old Fallujah operation to allow Sunni clerics and American military leaders an opportunity to talk with anti-coalition insurgents.

Pay, Conditions Contrast: ; Similarities Few Between Two Wyoming County Senior Centers

CLEAR FORK - An employee at a senior center in Wyoming County said controversy over the agency director's $460,000 pay had many of his minimum-wage workers fearing for their jobs, but the dispute hasn't interrupted senior service programs in the county. The outreach coordinator at the Elk Lick Senior Center, about an hour from Bob Graham's posh senior center in Itmann, said most other employees who provide in-home health care, serve meals and help drive seniors around the county had no idea t...

Group to Honor Women for Public Service

The West Virginia Women's Commission plans to honor 12 women and one man who have helped shape the state through their contributions to society. This year's honorees include: Catherine Miller of Buckhannon for the arts; Charleston Daily Mail Editor Nanya Friend of Charleston for business; Barbara Bias of Huntington for education; and Sharon Weaver of Clarksburg for government.

State Fire Marshal's: ; House Catches Fire

SCOTT DEPOT - State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis is accustomed to investigating fire damage at other people's homes. This time it was his own. Lewis' Teays Valley house caught fire Tuesday between 4 and 4:30 p.m., office spokeswoman Kim O'Brien said Thursday.

Former City Police Officer Faces Two Felony Charges

A former Charleston police officer has been charged with two felonies after a department inquiry determined he was clocked in at his off-duty job at the Charleston Town Center while investigating crime. James L. Nowling Jr., 44, of Dunbar was fired after the inquiry determined that the double-dipping had been going on for about two years, Charleston Police Chief Jerry Pauley said.

Governor, Mayor Vow to Fix Road: ; Garrison Avenue Is in Disrepair After Being Hit by Floods

Gov. Bob Wise and Charleston Mayor Danny Jones said the state and city will work together to have Garrison Avenue fixed by July. That may not be soon enough for some neighborhood residents who crowded around the two Thursday with questions about the exposed sewage that flows down the open channel box in front of their homes.

Rice Blames Failures On 'Vague' Intelligence: ; Cia, Fbi Next to Tell Sept. 11 Panel What Went Wrong

WASHINGTON - Condoleezza Rice emphatically assigned blame for the pre-Sept. 11 failures on "frustratingly vague" U.S. intelligence, setting the stage for the top men at the CIA and FBI to explain next week what went wrong and what's been done to fix it. In a long-anticipated public appearance, President Bush's national security adviser on Thursday repeatedly cited flaws in U.S. intelligence agencies for hampering the administration's ability to foresee or stop the deadly suicide hijackings.

Haitians Still Living in Fear: ; Quest for Power Plagues Many Towns in Country

LES CAYES, Haiti - More than a month after President Jean- Bertrand Aristide was ousted and a new government installed, Haitians in this dusty port town of 50,000 are still terrified to venture out on the streets. Here, as in countless other Haitian towns, the battle for control is still being waged, despite the presence of a 3,500-strong, U.S.- led peacekeeping force.

Companies Praise Pension Legislation: ; Bill Lets Business Owners Divert Funds for Investing, Hiring

WASHINGTON - Employer sponsors of pension plans heaved a collective sigh of relief with congressional passage of a bill that could allow them to divert $80 billion otherwise heading for pension contributions into new investment and hiring. "It is a responsible solution that will preserve and protect jobs, and help spur our nation's economic recovery," said John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable, after the 78-19 Senate vote Thursday that sends the legislation to the president. T...

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News Briefs

Bill would allow Canadian drugs WASHINGTON - A powerful Senate Republican wants to allow Americans to get their prescriptions filled in Canada and elsewhere, part of a growing movement in Congress to address soaring drug costs.

Wise's Veto Could Be His Last

Gov. Bob Wise wielded the veto for likely the last time, killing a bill that he said would have given an edge to two alarm system companies in the state's home security market. Wise also signed 25 bills on Wednesday before the midnight deadline for action on legislation passed during the regular session. No bills became law without the governor's signature, his office said Thursday.

Money Called Key to Inner City: ; House Candidates Discuss Solutions to Help 31st District; Election 2004; 31st District

For four years, Delegate Carrie Webster has been the voice for the state's only minority-influenced legislative district. Now she has at least one political challenger pledging a better and louder voice to call for economic change in Charleston's African- American and inner city communities.

Riverside Students Work to Go to Europe

One student bags groceries after school at Foodland. Another leads exercise classes at Curves for Women. But the sweat will be worth it, they believe.

Taking a Break

Fewer Leaving Kanawha, Census Figures Say: ; Putnam County Continues to See Population Rise

The exodus from Kanawha County slacked off in 2003 while Putnam County grew at a slightly faster rate, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released today. The official 2003 population estimates show the county's population fell by 471 to 195,413. By comparison, Kanawha County's population fell by 1,787 in 2002 and, ironically, 2,001 in 2001.