Charleston Daily Mail

Coach Digs Deep for Victory

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - With 13 men trapped in a mine back home, West Virginia's football team took the field against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. It was Jan. 2, 2006, and one of the proudest moments in state history was about to collide with one of its most tragic.

Big Game Divides Families

Outside the home of St. Albans High School Principal Tom Williams hangs a homemade flag sporting the colors and insignias of West Virginia University and Marshall University. Nicknamed the "House Divided" flag by the Williams' family, it's a symbol of a friendly rivalry involving the principal and Kim, his wife of 18 years.

'My Son Is Not a Terrorist,' Mom Says

Family members say a 20-year-old WVU student who was arrested for having bomb-making materials is a good kid whose hobby has landed him in a homeland security nightmare. Junior chemistry major Eli Tyo, a 2004 Promise Scholarship winner from Braxton County, is in jail this week on $100,000 bond and could face up to 20 years in prison after State Police arrested him.

Food Tax Reduction a Priority

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Gov. Joe Manchin said he remains committed to reducing the state sales tax on food, even though the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce wants to abandon the effort and instead reduce income taxes on the poor. The chamber has recommended that efforts to further reduce the sales tax on food be abandoned. This directly contradicts Manchin's stated objective to reduce the tax if it can be done without endangering the state's budget.

Bulk of Rain Expected in Eastern Panhandle Counties

Tropical Storm Ernesto was expected to compound already serious weather problems for parts of West Virginia, especially the Eastern Panhandle. Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency for 13 counties earlier today. The declaration means West Virginia National Guard troops will be able to assist with local emergency response teams.

Manchin Says He's Cut State Government Size

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Gov. Joe Manchin announced here that he has reversed the long trend of growth in state government. "There are 440 people fewer in state government than we had last year," Manchin said Thursday evening in a speech to the 2006 Business Summit at The Greenbrier.

Tests Find Problems with Mine Air Packs

Testing of nine emergency air packs carried by state mine inspectors found decay and other problems, prompting the Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training to issue a notice to all underground coal operations in West Virginia. All the SR100 air packs were manufactured in 1998 by Monroeville, Pa.-based CSE, before the company began installing a heat damage indicator on each air pack in July 2004. Since mine inspectors store their air packs in vehicles, "it is possible that the extreme heat...

City Native May Get Record Book Spot with Speedy Unicycle Rides

A Charleston native apparently set two new Guinness world records for his unicycle exploits. While Guinness officials must still confirm the results, it appears Zach Warren, now a Harvard divinity student, beat the official record for the fastest mile while riding a unicycle.

Hardesty Retirement Package Could Total $294,000 a Year

MORGANTOWN - West Virginia University has revised its numbers on President David Hardesty's retirement package, saying he'll be eligible for $294,000 a year in salary and benefits if he continues to teach when he hits 65. The 60-year-old Hardesty announced earlier this month that he would retire next fall after leading WVU for more than a decade. Hardesty now earns $275,000.

Mtv Suffers From Quarter-Life Crisis with Tame Video Awards Show

NEW YORK - When a wooden politician delivers the best line of the MTV Music Video Awards, you know the thrill is gone. So was the decadence, outrageousness and spontaneity that used to make the VMAs such a guilty pleasure.

Famous 'Scream' Recovered, Masked Gunmen Stole Two Paintings From Museum Two Years Ago

OSLO, Norway - Police recovered the Edvard Munch masterpieces "The Scream" and "Madonna," two years after masked gunmen grabbed the national art treasures in front of stunned visitors at an Oslo museum. Art lovers had feared the priceless paintings were gone for good. Norwegian news media spent the months speculating about the works' fate - whether they had been burned to escape the police hunt, sold to a wealthy collector for private viewing or suffered harm in their hiding place.

Forget 15 Percent:: ; Man Leaves $10,000 Tip On $26 Bar Tab

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The regular customer eating dinner at the end of the bar always tipped well - $15 or so on $30 tabs. The $100 tip two weeks ago was a nice surprise, but the amount he left bartender Cindy Kienow this week left her stunned. On the check, the tip read: $10,000.

Immune Therapy Can Kill Cancer

A deadly skin cancer spreading through 53-year-old Mark Origer's upper body has disappeared thanks to the first successful gene therapy for metastatic cancer, federal researchers will report today in the journal Science. Two of 17 patients are now in remission. Experts say this is "proof of principle" the therapy can work. Scientists believe they can figure out why the immune therapy infusions didn't work for the others, all patients with advanced cancer who had exhausted available treatments.

Weather,: ; Forecast

Tonight Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain. Lows in the upper 50s.

National Weather,: ; Temps

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 67 56 Rain

Weather,: ; Temps

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 59 45 PCldy

Nation & World

Iran defies U.N. deadline on enriching uranium TEHRAN, Iran - Iran defied a U.N. deadline to stop enriching uranium, opening the door for sanctions, but U.S. and other officials said no action would be sought before a key European diplomat meets with Tehran's atomic chief next week to seek a compromise.

Chamber Study Says Court Continues to Be More Evenhanded: ; , Report Concludes Decisions Have Become More Business Friendly Since Mcgraw Left Bench

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - The state Supreme Court continued to be more evenhanded in its decisions affecting businesses during the past year than it was before Brent Benjamin replaced Warren McGraw on the bench, a business group reports. Court Watch is an annual report on the high court's business- related decisions issued by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The report is presented each year at the chamber's Business Summit at The Greenbrier.

Magistrate to Rule in Shelter Case Abused Dogs

The Roane County Animal Shelter has slapped a Speed woman with an $18,372 bill for taking care of 57 dogs authorities seized from her farm. Helen Franklin, 71, is facing six counts of animal cruelty after authorities allegedly found her living with 86 dogs in squalid conditions. She surrendered 29 of them. Authorities took the rest later.

Brickstreet Chief Announces Formation of Preferred Provider Organization

BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. Chief Executive Officer Greg Burton today announced the formation of a preferred provider organization for the treatment of injured workers employed by BrickStreet's 38,000 policyholders. The preferred provider organization, commonly referred to as a PPO, will operate under the brand name StreetSelect. It is BrickStreet's private label of Acordia's CompNET, a product that has historically been offered to self-insured employers.