Charleston Daily Mail

State Elections: ; Straight Ticket Vote Remains a Factor

The percentage of straight-ticket voters in Kanawha County dropped slightly in 2008 from the last two presidential elections, though the ballot option's existence remains a headache for Republicans and even nonpartisan figures. In November, 13,697 county residents voted a straight Democratic ticket, while 7,994 did the same on the Republican side. With 83,842 ballots counted in Kanawha County, that means 26 percent chose a straight ticket.

Cell-Only Usage in Homes On Rise: ; Those with Landlines Have Them for Security

A new survey shows that about three in 10 households rely solely on wireless for their phone service. Cell-only

Ravenswood Plant Faces Closure

Century Aluminum today told its 685 Ravenswood employees it is immediately shutting down one pot line and may shut down the entire plant in 60 days. The company said the plant could be shut down "unless the London Metal Exchange selling price for aluminum stabilizes and the company is able to materially reduce costs and stem monthly losses."

Charleston Daily Mail's Neediest Cases Appeal: ; Mother, Sons Struggle to Recover From Husband's Abuse

Case No. 15 This 31-year-old mother of two was bold enough to finally move on from a destructive marriage, but only after her husband beat her into a coma.

Lawmaker to Work As Substitute Teacher

MARTINSBURG - State Sen. John Unger is heading to the front lines to learn about issues faced by public schools. The 39-year-old Democrat was added to the Berkeley County school system's substitute teacher list on Monday.

Seven Charged, One Sought in Drug Ring

MARTINSBURG - Seven people are in jail and another is being sought in a cocaine and marijuana ring that authorities say operated out of Mineral County for at least 10 years. U.S. Attorney Sharon L. Potter says six men were arrested Tuesday by federal, state and local law enforcement officers. A seventh was already in custody on an unrelated charge and an eighth alleged coconspirator is still being sought.

Nitro Mayor Delays Discussion of Audits

Nitro city officials have had to postpone, for another month, a discussion of audits of city business from the past two years. City council was set to review the audits at a meeting Tuesday, but Councilmen Dave Casebolt and Bob Fields were all out with the flu, while Councilman Bill Javins had a death in the family. City treasurer John Young also was absent because of the flu.

Charleston Area Alliance Oks $1.9 Million Budget

The Charleston Area Alliance's board of directors has approved a $1.9 million budget for 2008, up from $1.7 million this year. The budget anticipates receiving $489,274 or 25 percent of revenues from member dues and events; $436,565 or 23 percent from rents and leases; $366,300 or 19 percent from government grants, including money from the state, the Kanawha County Commission and the city of Charleston; and $364,759 or 19 percent from direct private support of programs and sponsorships.

South Korean Court Convicts Actress of Adultery

SEOUL, South Korea - A South Korean court found a popular actress guilty of adultery today, months after she tried but failed to have a law that makes extramarital affairs a crime ruled unconstitutional. A district court sentenced Ok So-ri to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, Yonhap news agency reported. The court near Seoul gave Ok's lover a six-month suspended sentence.

Cake Request for 3-Year-Old Named After Hitler Denied

EASTON, Pa. - The father of 3-year-old Adolf Hitler Campbell, denied a birthday cake with the child's full name on it by one New Jersey supermarket, is asking for a little tolerance. Heath Campbell and his wife, Deborah, are upset not only with the decision made by the Greenwich ShopRite, but with an outpouring of angry Internet postings in response to a local newspaper article over the weekend on their flare-up over frosting.

Medical Milestone: ; Nation's First Face Transplant Complete

CLEVELAND - A woman so horribly disfigured she was willing to risk her life to do something about it has undergone the nation's first near-total face transplant, the Cleveland Clinic announced. Reconstructive surgeon Maria Siemionow and a team of other specialists replaced 80 percent of the woman's face with that of a female cadaver a couple of weeks ago in a bold and controversial operation certain to stoke the debate over the ethics of such surgery.

No Respite As Wintry Storms Spread Over Nation

Students went home for a snow day, stranded travelers waited at airports and drivers slid across icy roads in the second day of a bitter cold wave that blanketed much of the nation Tuesday. There was little relief in sight. Temperatures were forecast to drop below zero today in at least 12 states.

Fed at Its Limit On Rate Cuts

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve exhausted its most fundamental tool for managing the economy, slashing short-term interest rates to nearly nothing and promising aggressive new tactics to arrest a deepening recession. The central bank cut its target for the federal funds rate, at which banks lend to each other, from 1 percent to a range between 0 percent and 0.25 percent, the lowest rate on record. Although the Fed has no more room to reduce the interest rate - it has been cut 10 times now in...

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Nation & World

Santa gets ticket delivering presents

Ap Poll Results: ; Owners and Pets Understand Each Other

D dailymail.com Go online to see the poll results. WASHINGTON - Stephen King of rural Texas says he has his dog's vocabulary figured out. Molly Thibodeau says her cats comprehend her so well that they get it when she simply points.

Morning Accident

Medical Bills Stagger Family: ; Couple Glad for Help As They Cope with Skyrocketing Treatment Costs

Some would say 11-month-old Yeshua Michael Lynch is fragile. But his parents call him a fighter.

Wash. Workers Suffer Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Nearly 30 people at a seafood business were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning, officials said. Bellingham Fire Chief Bill Boyd said they were overcome by fumes at the Homeport Seafoods cold storage business. The fire department responded to a call Tuesday morning about a person passing out. When firefighters arrived, everyone was conscious, but people showing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can include headaches, nausea and vomiting.