Charleston Daily Mail

Knock Knock: Democrat Calling,: ; Party Members Going Door-to-Door to Inform; Voters of Policy Stances

Just days after the state's registered voter tallies showed the number of West Virginia voters is in decline, the Democratic Party is waging a statewide door-to-door campaign to get its message out. On Saturday, with less than two weeks to go before the May primary, the state Democratic Party plans to canvas neighborhoods in at least 35 cities and towns talking to people about the party's stance on a number of issues, from health care and insurance to energy policy and national security.

Bill Could Limit Cancer Screenings

A controversial plan developed in part by Sen. Robert Byrd to offer lower-cost health insurance to small businesses has drawn ire from cancer awareness groups and state attorneys general. Senate Bill 1955, dubbed the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006, is an expansion of a bill Byrd co-sponsored. It would let private insurers create lower- cost health care plans that would be cheaper but would offer less comprehensive health coverage.

Families Call for Safer Mines

BUCKHANNON - Federal regulators are scrambling to reassure the nation's 42,000 coal miners that the air packs they rely on in an emergency will work, even though the only survivor of the Sago Mine disaster says four of his crew's devices malfunctioned. Politicians and some of the Sago victims' relatives, meanwhile, are calling on the federal government to make mines safer - upgrading air packs and requiring the use of tracking devices and communication systems to make sure West Virginia's hea...

Charleston Buying Final Batch of Digital Parking Meters

Charleston is buying 260 state-of-the art digital parking meters in a final push to replace older, less accurate mechanical meters. The city has already changed out 814 of the 1,074 outdated meters, which are maintenance hassles, said Parking Director Gary Taylor.

Hot Stretch Burns Speeders

Clendenin Mayor Bob Ore is worried about his municipality appearing to be a speed trap after officers issued more than two thirds of their speeding tickets in the past month on a small stretch of Spencer Road between Interstate 79 and town. Of the 20 citations by the three-man police department in the past month, Officer C.L. Burkhammer wrote 16 along a quarter-mile section of Spencer Road with a posted speed limit of 25 mph.

Tyson to Shut Some Plants During Immigration Rallies

SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, says it will temporarily shut down nine of its beef and pork plants Monday because many of the workers plan to attend immigration rallies. "While we understand the sentiment behind the May 1 events and support comprehensive immigration reform, we are not encouraging workers to participate in the rallies," Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said.

Nitro Native Who Was an Executive with Ncr Dies of Heart Attack

Nitro native Joseph K. Kniceley died of a massive heart attack while playing golf Thursday in Dayton, Ohio. Kniceley graduated from Nitro High School in 1975 and Glenville State College in 1979. Following graduation from Glenville, he went to work for NCR. He worked his way up through the company.

Boston Catholic Mass Attendance Way Down, Numbers Dipped: ; After Sex Abuse Scandal

BOSTON - Church on Sundays was a habit for Frank Gaul growing up Roman Catholic in the coastal Massachusetts town of Hingham in the 1980s. Now, it's Mass on holidays, at most. The distractions of college life first interrupted Gaul's regular Mass attendance.

School Board Tables Library, Radio Issues , Members Seek More Information; Thaw Votes Against Both Decisions

Kanawha board members delayed decisions on keeping AM-FM radios on school buses and floating a bond issue for the construction of a new library. Board members said they need additional information on both items.

Attempt at Stunt Gets Host in Trouble

NEW YORK - The host of a cable television show - who passed through security at the Empire State Building wearing a rubber mask and a foam fat suit - was arrested when he tried to parachute from the skyscraper, authorities said. J. Ray Corliss IV, a Discovery Channel host from Malibu, Calif., was being charged with assault, reckless endangerment and other offenses, said Police Inspector James McCarthy.

Novel by Harvard: ; Student Is Pulled From Store Shelves

NEW YORK - Rarely has an author succeeded, then failed, so quickly as Kaavya Viswanathan, the Harvard University sophomore who acknowledged lifting material for her debut novel, "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life." Just weeks after her book was released with a first printing of 100,000 and a wave of favorable attention, publisher Little, Brown and Company announced Thursday that it would be pulled from store shelves and that retailers had been asked to return unsold copies.

Police Kill Man On Run After Amber Alert,: ; Father Allegedly Beat and Tied Up Child's Mother, Then Fled with; 2- Year-Old Daughter

SEYMOUR, Ind. - Police shot and killed a man fleeing with his 2- year-old daughter a day after an Amber Alert had been issued for the child, authorities said. The alert went out Wednesday after officers found the girl's mother, Brenda Evans, bound with ropes at her wrists and ankles. She told officers her husband had bound and beaten her over previous days in an ongoing dispute, Hayes said.

Rare Coin Fetches Far More Than Just Chump Change

COLUMBUS, Ohio - It cost a lot more than a nickel to buy this half dime. A 1792 half dime, believed to be one of the first coins minted by the United States, was sold at auction for more than $1.3 million Thursday night at the Central States Numismatic Society convention, officials said.

Star-Spangled 'Bandera' Blasted , Record Label Wants Latino Stations to Play Spanish Anthem Across Nation This Evening

MIAMI - British music producer Adam Kidron says he just wanted to honor the millions of immigrants seeking a better life in the U.S. when he came up with the idea of a Spanish-language version of the national anthem. The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem" comes out today and features artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon.

Weather,: ; Almanac

Almanac Yesterday's high 70

Weather,: ; Forecasts

Tonight Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s.

National Weather, Temps

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 65 35 Clr

Weather,: ; Temps

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 43 31 PCldy

Nation & World

Mother pleads no contest in smothering of infant OSHKOSH, Wis. - A woman accused of smothering her infant after she drunkenly fell asleep atop the 4-month-old while breast-feeding pleaded no contest to child neglect resulting in death.

Buffalo Coal Appeals Fine for Alleged Pollution, Company Was Ordered to Pay $50,000 for Discharge Into Stream

HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Buffalo Coal Co. Inc. has appealed a state order to pay a $50,000 fine and stop polluting a stream in Allegany County near the company's Phillips surface mine near Lonaconing, the company and a Department of the Environment spokeswoman said. The company, based in Oakland, has requested a hearing on the administrative complaint, order and penalty issued April 12.