Charleston Daily Mail

Water Company Chief Wants to Expand: ; Acquisitions, Waste Treatment, Partnerships Provide Ways for Growth

West Virginia American Water Co. has grown by about 25 percent over the past 14 years - a trend Wayne Morgan wants to continue. "The big picture is to continue to grow West Virginia American Water similar to the Clendenin and East Ceredo acquisitions that happened recently," said Morgan, the company's new president. "I look forward to continuing to work with Kanawha, Boone and all of the counties we serve throughout the state."

This Rookie Is Older, Apparently Wiser: ; New Hurricane Police Officer, 48, Garners Several Top Honors at State Police Academy

HURRICANE - Larry Angell has taken some ribbing from his fellow officers at the Hurricane Police Department. After all, at 48 years old, he's the oldest rookie patrolman ever on the force.

Manchin to Tout Plants in Address: ; Developers Looking for Sites for Five Proposed Coal-to-Liquid Facilities

On the Web Visit www.daily mail.com for a complete transcript of Wednesdays State of the State address after Manchin speaks. West Virginia's energy independence could bank on the development of five coal-to-liquid plants, which Gov. Joe Manchin hopes the state can accommodate by 2030.

Rich's Mom Says Family Threatened: ; Insults, Vandalism Began After Rodriguez Departed Wvu

Rich Rodriguez's mother says her family has suffered insults, vandalism and even death threats in the wake of the coach's sudden departure from WVU. "To me, he put seven years into WVU and now everybody thinks he's garbage," Arleen Rodriguez said Monday. "Think like a parent. That's all I can say. Think about it. Think about what you're doing."

Kanawha Passes Drug-Testing Policy: ; School Board Also Writes to Supreme Court About Library Funding

A new drug testing policy for Kanawha County Schools employees should be in effect in the next 30 days, said Kanawha County Schools attorney Jim Withrow. School board members unanimously passed a final version of the policy at a board meeting Monday night, but not before board member Pete Thaw tried to amend it.

Dunbar Adds Two Officers to Police Force

The Dunbar Police Department has hired two new officers, and is looking to boost the size of the force even more. The hiring of Carmella Suggs, 25, and David Brace, 26, brings the force up to 15 officers.

Record Temperatures Recorded Across State

The calendar says January but it feels more like April. West Virginians basked in record-breaking temperatures Monday and National Weather Service forecaster Ken Batty says more records could fall today.

This Rookie Is Older, Apparently Wiser

Good Weather for Working Outside

Woman Pleads Guilty in Purse Snatching

A Belle woman has pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree robbery in connection with a purse-snatching that injured a Boone County woman. Marlena Ann Williams, 29, faces at least 10 years in prison when sentenced by Kanawha Circuit Judge Jim Stucky on Feb. 8.

Town Gets Early Start On Voting

DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. - Residents of two tiny towns stayed up late to give Barack Obama and John McCain early victories in the New Hampshire presidential primary. Voters in two small New Hampshire villages, Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, cast the initial ballots just after midnight Tuesday.

Writers Strike Axes Golden Globes Show

HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood's awards season locomotive was derailed when NBC pulled the plug on its highly rated Golden Globes, choosing not to broadcast what promised to be a virtually celebrity-free ceremony. The scrapped program just might be the first awards show to fall victim to the Writers Guild of America strike, and February's Academy Awards also could be in jeopardy.

Mayor's Racy Myspace Page has Town Buzzing

ARLINGTON, Ore. - Some residents of this small town wish their mayor felt like she had something to hide. Mayor Carmen Kontur-Gronquist created a stir with her MySpace page, where at one time anyone could see photos of her on one of the town's fire engines, clad only in a black bra and panties.

Ultraviolet Light Causes Blue Hope Diamond to Glow Red

WASHINGTON - The famed Hope Diamond glows a mysterious red when exposed to ultraviolet light, a finding that scientists say can help them "fingerprint" blue diamonds and tell the real ones from the artificial. The phosphorescence comes from boron in the gem, the same element that makes it appear blue in normal light, explained Jeffrey Port, curator of the National Gem Collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Weather Almanac

Yesterday's high 71 Record high 71, 1937, 2007

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 43 39 Cldy

National Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 12 1 Clr

Nation & World

Winter tornadoes flatten Midwest

Utility, Agency Reach Agreement On Power Line

Allegheny Energy and the state Public Service Commission's Consumer Advocate Division reached a settlement over the routing of a new multistate power line in northern West Virginia that would supply free electricity to affected residential landowners. "We think it's good," Consumer Advocate Byron Harris said Monday of the four-part settlement. "We think we have hopefully captured for landowners many of the conditions they requested if the line is to be built."

Restaurant Firm Buys Longhorn, Sells Smokey Bones: ; Darden Said Barbecue Eatery Was in Good Location, Just Lacked Sales

The company that owns the Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurant chains has purchased LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants and has agreed to sell its Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill restaurant chain. Darden Restaurants Inc. purchased Rare Hospitality International Inc., on Sept. 29 for $38.15 a share, according to documents filed with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. Rare Hospitality owned, operated and franchised 292 LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants and 29 The Capital Grille restaura...