Charleston Daily Mail

Suspect Was Out Because of Fred Zain

DAILY MAIL STAFF The man accused of murdering a Cross Lanes woman and dumping her body in some Jackson County woods probably would still be sitting in a prison cell had it not been for discredited State Police chemist Fred Zain.

T.D. Jakes Coming Home for Multifest Tribute

DAILY MAIL STAFF Bishop T.D. Jakes, whose flock has grown from a handful of parishioners in West Virginia to millions throughout the world, will be in Charleston Sunday as part of the 17th annual Multifest at the state Capitol.

Hope Emerges for Putnam General

DAILY MAIL STAFF The day after an unexpected announcement from the owners of Putnam General Hospital that it would close, a glimmer of hope emerged that it could remain open.

'Kathy Never Met a Stranger': ; Victim Was Friendly to Everyone

DAILY MAIL STAFF Joyce Osborne said she wasn't allowed to see her daughter's face when police asked her to identify the woman's body found in eastern Jackson County.

Laura Bush Set to Attend Fundraiser

FAIRMONT - First lady Laura Bush is coming to Fairmont to help congressional candidate Chris Wakim build up his war chest. Mrs. Bush is scheduled to appear Aug. 16 at a political fundraiser for the Republican candidate at the historic Shaw House on Morgantown Avenue, said Mike Shaw, a Point Pleasant attorney and owner of the home.

Doctor Learns First Day That Hospital Will Close: ; Many in Community Saddened by News About Putnam General

DAILY MAIL STAFF SCOTT DEPOT - Dr. John Clark got up Tuesday morning looking forward to his new job.

Man Shot in Jaw in Serious Condition

A man was shot in the jaw after he arrived at his home just outside Charleston city limits near Kanawha City, deputies said. David Russell "Russ" Bowen, 42, apparently saw a single flash just after he got out of his truck Tuesday evening, said Lt. G.S. Young of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department.

Teenager Says He Found Mouse in Restaurant Salad

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A South Carolina teenager says he found a mouse in his salad at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant, but state health department officials said Tuesday initial indications are the restaurant is not to blame. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control shut down the popular salad bar after the incident Sunday, but did not find any evidence of mice infestation or droppings.

Tips at Issue in Minimum Wage Bill

WASHINGTON - Tip money earned by waitresses in Las Vegas, manicurists in Hollywood and bartenders in Seattle is on the table in the nation's capital, as lawmakers scrap over an election-year minimum wage bill. Nevada, California and Washington are among seven states where workers get to keep their tips on top of getting paid their state's full minimum wage. In other states, tip-earning workers get paid less and make up the difference with tips.

Man Wins Top Scratch-Off Lottery Prize Two Times

BEAUFORT, S.C. - Harold Gray once lived on Lottery Lane - now he's a two-time lottery winner. Gray won the top $100,000 prize Tuesday after buying a scratch- off lottery ticket in Beaufort County. The windfall came exactly 20 days after Gray won the $250,000 top prize in a different scratch- off game.

Iraqis Planning Security Takeover

BAGHDAD, Iraq - President Jalal Talabani said today that Iraqi forces will assume security duties for the whole country by the end of the year, taking over responsibility from U.S. and other foreign troops now policing all but one of the 18 provinces. The optimistic forecast came during a relative lull in the violence wracking Iraq. Police said nine people were slain today, a day after a wave of bombings and shootings killed more than 70.

Weather Almanac

Almanac Yesterday's high 94

Forecasts

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 86 73 Rain

National Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 63 51 Cldy

Nation & World

Evidence supports case against Marines

Agency Says Laptop with Client Information Stolen

BECKLEY - The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services is warning clients that one of its laptop computers containing their personal information has been stolen. The information includes clients' names, addresses, Social Security numbers and telephone numbers.

Council Passes 'Rules of Decorum' for Speakers

LOS ANGELES - The City Council passed "rules of decorum" that bar people at its meetings from using profanity, making offensive comments or expressing themselves too loudly. Violators will be warned once, then booted from the hearing if they don't stop.

Nitro Council Member Takes Issue with Financial Report

NITRO - Nitro's monthly financial report is a hot topic for at least one city council member. During Tuesday night's meeting, Councilwoman Gertie Estep grilled city treasurer Tifney Terry about what she alleged were missing documents from the report each council member received prior to each meeting.

Police Say Woman Was Reaching for Phone Before Accident

A driver told police she was reaching for a cell phone last month when the car she was driving crossed the center line in Summers County and crashed into a motorcyclist. Daniel Neely Jr., 56, of Oak Hill died July 16 from his injuries.