Charleston Daily Mail

Family's Plea for Leniency Is Rejected in Car Wreck Case

After a Charleston man was sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in a car wreck that killed a woman last year, his family called the decision unfair and said the judge should have taken into account a brain injury he experienced as a boy. Larry Alan McCoy, 33, whose pickup truck struck a vehicle driven by James E. McDaniel on Barlow Drive on Feb. 23, 2006, had been indicted by a Kanawha grand jury for negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

Mylan Boss Says Governor, Her Dad, Persuaded Her to Give Company a Try

Heather Bresch, a top executive at Mylan Inc., credits advice from her father - Gov. Joe Manchin - for her decision to take a job at the generic drug maker almost 16 years ago. Bresch, 38, was named Mylan's chief operating officer on Tuesday.

Manchin Warns Lottery Parlors: ; Restrictions Threatened If Flashy Signs, Ads Are Used

Gov. Joe Manchin has issued a warning to video lottery parlors that might be tempted to put up flashy neon signs or images of dice and slot machines because of a federal judge's ruling allowing them to advertise. "For those thinking about putting those signs up, beware that you might be taking them back down," the governor said.

New Wvu President Puts Daycare On the Front Burner

New Wvu President Puts Daycare On the Front Burner: ; Garrison Says There Are Not Enough Child Care Options for Students and Faculty

MORGANTOWN - "I know it will not be a quiet press conference," said West Virginia University President Michael Garrison with a laugh. Both Mike and Heather Garrison welcomed WVU faculty, friends and their children into their home for a press conference Wednesday afternoon to announce plans for the design and construction of the university's first official child-care facility.

Deer Disease Found in 20 Counties Likely to Continue Spreading

An insect-borne disease isn't done with the state's deer population yet, even though the coming cold weather means its days are numbered. The malady - epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD - has so far spread to at least 20 counties, wildlife officials said, and they expect it will be detected in others as laboratory samples taken from dead deer are studied.

Police Say Boy Killed Brother Over Dessert

ORLANDO, Fla. - A 13-year-old choked and beat his 8-year-old brother to death because the younger boy ate a dessert and the older one worried he would be blamed, authorities said. Demetrius Key was arrested on first-degree murder. The boys' mother, Tangela Key, told police she was visiting a cousin nearby and left him in charge of Levares Key and other younger siblings Saturday.

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 86 61 PCldy

Forecasts

Almanac Yesterday's high 88

National Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 44 36 Rain

Korean Leaders Seek Peace: ; Countries Sign Pact at Second-Ever Summit

SEOUL, South Korea - The leaders of North and South Korea pledged today to seek a peace treaty to replace the Korean War's 1953 cease- fire and expand projects to reduce tension across the world's last Cold War frontier. The pact came a day after a deal at China-hosted arms talks among North Korea, the U.S. and other regional powers, in which Pyongyang promised to disable its main nuclear facilities and fully declare its nuclear programs by Dec. 31.

More Women Entering U.S. Military Academy

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Cadet Karyn Powell falls in with the guys at midday formation. Same gray uniform. Same straight-ahead stare. Same dressing down from the platoon sergeant for the plebes' imperfectly kept rooms - except for the bit about long hairs in the sink. "I understand your guys' hair falls off," he tells Powell and her roommate. "Clean it up."

More Gold Miners Rescued: ; More Than 2,000 Brought Safely From South African Mine; Hundreds Remain Trapped

CARLETONVILLE, South Africa - More than 2,000 trapped gold miners were rescued in a dramatic all-night operation, and efforts gathered speed today to bring hundreds more to the surface. There were no casualties when a pressurized air pipe snapped at the mine near Johannesburg and tumbled down a shaft Wednesday, causing extensive damage to an elevator and stranding more than 3,000 miners more than a mile underground.

Nation & World

Archbishop says he may deny Giuliani communion WASHINGTON - A Roman Catholic archbishop is threatening to deny Holy Communion to Rudy Giuliani over his support for abortion rights, spotlighting the ex-mayor's break from his church - and his political party - on an issue of critical importance to both.

Senate to Consider Bill to Protect News Sources

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee is trying again to tackle a bill that would shield reporters from being forced to reveal their sources in federal court. The Bush administration opposes the bill on grounds it would make it harder to trace the source of leaks.

Aide Says Demand Is 'Laughable': ; Hughes Says Group's Demands Are 'Politics, Plain and Simple'

An assistant to Attorney General Darrell McGraw said the West Virginia Business and Industry Council's demand that McGraw reimburse the 'old' Workers' Compensation Fund more than $2.2 million is "laughable." The business group, made up of state business and professional associations, on Tuesday demanded that McGraw send the fund $2.2 million won in a lawsuit against the maker of OxyContin.

Man Run Over by Truck Awarded $3 Million

A Kanawha jury has awarded a Hernshaw man $3 million after he was run over by a tractor-trailer at the Marmet Go-Mart in June 2005. Joe Meadows, 46, who admitted that he drank a number of beers before the accident, lost his leg in the incident involving a truck making a late-night delivery.

Student Hit by Car Still Hopes for Crown: ; Homecoming Queen Candidate Was Checking On Dog When Struck

A Capital High School student who was hit by a car is among those vying for the title of homecoming queen. Leah Smith has wanted that crown since she was 8 years old.

Six County Pools Failed Inspection This Summer, Report Says

Six Kanawha County pools were closed in July because of water contamination, equipment breakdowns and excessive or insufficient chlorine and pH levels, according to the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. The health department released its report this week.

Defense Witness Nixed in Pregnant Woman's Death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A woman accused of strangling a pregnant woman and cutting the baby from her womb received a blow on the eve of her trial: An expert cannot testify she was mentally ill. U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner's ruling Wednesday was a victory for the prosecution, who argued the neuropsychologist's "testing methods were scientifically invalid."