Charleston Daily Mail

County Officials Targeting Those Who Don't Show Up for Court: ; Streamlined Process Means Warrants Will Be Issued Much Sooner

DAILY MAIL STAFF Life might have been a little easier - and a lot less embarrassing - for Gordon Shane Thomas if he had just appeared at his arraignment in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Gaming Bill May Get a Shot: ; Supporters and Foes Say This May Be the Year; for Lawmakers to Finally Address Table Games

It's a good bet the Legislature will consider a bill to legalize table games in West Virginia during this year's legislative session, and there's a good chance that both labor and business groups will support it. Both supporters and opponents believe this is the year they will take up such legislation after just talking about it for several years. It's not on Gov. Joe Manchin's agenda, but he won't stand in its way.

'His Smile Could Light Up a Room': ; Toddler's Struggle Against Cancer Appears to Be Coming to an End

Putnam Housing Market Booming: ; 15 Subdivisions Approved in 2004; 106 Housing Permits Sought in One Month in 2005

WINFIELD - Putnam County's housing market is booming, with 15 major subdivisions approved last year and developers showing no signs of letting up this year. "There has been a tremendous increase in preliminary plat (lot) approvals," County Planner Sandy Mellert said.

'His Smile Could Light Up a Room': ; Toddler's Struggle Against Cancer Appears to Be Coming to an End

AT A GLANCE Bracelets may be purchased for $5 each in one of several ways: * On the Web at http://www.bens-story.com. * In-store purchases at Adams Hallmark at the Huntington Mall or at Corridor G. n Mail a check or money order to: Ben Bowen Wristband Project P.O. Box 3411 Huntington, WV 25702-0411 HUNTINGTON - Experts in pediatric oncology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital knew from experience that the prognosis was very poor for a toddler who goes by the name of Big Ben Bowen.

Second City Official Now Facing Charges

RONCEVERTE - City Council wants Recorder Kenneth Hayes to stay away from city police officers except in emergency situations. Council members voted Monday night to seek a restraining order against Hayes to bar him from having contact with officers. The decision followed several grievances filed by officers against Hayes in recent weeks. He also faces charges of obstructing an officer, fleeing an officer and speeding.

Manchin Expected to Target Pension Controls, Lawsuits, Tax Code: ; Many Tough Issues Were Tackled Already During Special Session, Some Lawmakers Say

Lawmakers expect Gov. Joe Manchin to propose stricter pension controls, limits on lawsuits and tax code tinkering when he unveils his agenda today to the 76th Legislature for its 60-day session. Speculation has already begun about what the new governor will outline in his first State of the State address.

Israeli, Palestinian Leaders Work On Cease-Fire Details

SHARM EL SHEIK, Egypt - Israeli and Palestinian leaders returned home to hammer out the details of a cease-fire they declared at a dramatic summit meeting in an Egyptian resort, trying to restore trust in the post-Yasser Arafat era after four years of bloodshed. Committees announced at the Tuesday summit were to discuss thorny issues like the release of Palestinian prisoners and withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Palestinian towns. Despite the hopeful ambiance, the ghost of a 2003 truce that...

U.S. Soldiers Getting a New Look: ; Redesigned Army Uniforms Will Make It Easier for Troops to Camouflage Themselves

FORT STEWART, Ga. - Army soldiers are being issued new fatigues with a redesigned camouflage pattern that can help conceal them as they move rapidly from desert to forest to city in places like Baghdad. "It might give you the extra second you need, save your life maybe," Sgt. Marcio Soares said Tuesday after trying on the new camouflage uniform that is the first major redesign since 1983.

Final Iraqi Election Results to Be Delayed: ; Election Officials Must Re-Count Votes From About 300 Ballot Boxes

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi officials said today that the announcement of final results from landmark national elections will be delayed because the election commission must re-count votes from about 300 ballot boxes. Amid spiralling post-vote violence, gunmen killed an Iraqi journalist working for a U.S.-funded television station and his son as they left their home today in the southern city of Basra, an official said.

Philippine Troops Clash with Muslim Rebels

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of marines sailed to reinforce soldiers in the southern Philippines following fighting with followers of a jailed Muslim leader that killed at least 17 soldiers and as many as 30 rebels, officials said. Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the military's Southern Command, said air force helicopters and planes also were sent Tuesday to bombard gunmen holed up in Panamao on Jolo island. He said up to 600 marines were heading to Jolo from southern Zamboanga city.

Grand Jury Dismisses Charges Against Men for Telling Lawyer Jokes

NEW YORK - A man arrested after telling lawyer jokes at a courthouse got the last laugh when a grand jury dismissed the disorderly conduct charge against him. "It's still legal in America to tell jokes - even about lawyers," said 70-year-old Harvey Kash's lawyer, Ron Kuby, about Monday's decision.

Veterans Protest Health Changes: ; Bush Proposal Doubles Fee for Prescription Drugs, Adds $250 Charge for Using Government Health Care

West Virginia veterans are blasting a Bush budget proposal that would more than double the co-payment charged to many veterans for prescription drugs and would require some to pay a new fee of $250 a year for using government health care. "If the president is going to send folks to war, he and Congress need to be willing to take care of them when they come home," said Donald Young, adjutant quartermaster for the state Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Almanac

Yesterday's high 56 Record high 77, 1937

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers. Lows in the lower 40s.

Regional Forecasts

Akron 26 25 Cldy Charlotte 49 41 PCldy

National Forecasts

Anchorage 25 25 Snow Baltimore 43 40 Cldy

Nation & World

Terrorism suspect dies of heart failure in prison

Coonskin Park Struck by Vandals

Coonskin Park Struck by Vandals: ; County Park Systems Director Upset by Public Building Defacement

Vandals struck a Coonskin Park concession stand with spray paint sometime over the weekend, making it the first graffiti incident there, park officials said. Expletives and gesturing caricatures in red and blue paint were sprawled over the side of a concession stand at Schoenbaum Field, the park's soccer area.