Charleston Daily Mail

Man's Nomination to Bench Ends As Congress Convenes

It's been 20 months since President Bush tapped Martinsburg lawyer William J. "Bill" Powell to replace the late federal Judge Craig Broadwater in the Northern District of West Virginia. But Powell, 48, never got a chance to sit on the bench.

Lawmakers to Receive Pay for Short Session

Though lawmakers will officially convene in regular session for only about two hours next week and then adjourn for a month, they're in line for a pretty good legislative payday. The legislative session officially begins on Wednesday, Jan. 14. But lawmakers will only do about two hours worth of business before adjourning until Feb. 11 because of the governor's inauguration.

Heavy Rains, Flooding Plague Region: ; Mudslides, High Waters Inconvenience Area, Close Several Schools Early

When Donna Whitlow stepped into her darkened Kanawha City basement to fetch some clothes, cold water soaked right through her socks. Soon she was busy bailing 4 inches of water out of her basement.

Two Jailed for Boy's Overdose: ; Couple Watching Tot Allegedly Gave Him Dose of Methadone That Proved Fatal

A Lincoln County couple is facing felony child neglect charges after allegedly giving a 3-year-old boy they were babysitting a dose of methadone that led to his death. Theresa and Oscar Lee Hyatt of Griffithsville were arrested Wednesday and jailed on $100,000 bond each in connection with the Dec. 22 death of Daniel Cole Ross.

Guatemala Landslide Death Toll Increases

GUATEMALA CITY - The death toll from a landslide in northern Guatemala has risen to 37 after villagers discovered two more bodies. Rescue crew chief Sergio Cabanas said Wednesday that Aquil Grande residents found the bodies after spotting buzzards flying overhead.

Officials Trying: ; to Fix the State's Troubled Schools

A team of state educators began this week trying to fix the Randolph County school system and bring it out of a state of emergency. Assistant state superintendent of schools Jack McClanahan is leading the team, which is expected to come up with a plan for the county.

Police and Courts

Man charged with assaulting child

Burris Says He Expects to Join Senate 'Shortly'

WASHINGTON - Roland Burris said he should be able to join the Senate "very shortly," after talking to newly supportive Democratic leaders and working on lingering legal obstacles. Talking to reporters on the second day of a Washington power odyssey that would intimidate many, the 71-year-old Burris declared himself happy and said he was pleased with his meeting with Sens. Harry Reid and Dick Durbin.

Teen Birth Rates Highest in Miss.

ATLANTA - Mississippi now has the nation's highest teen birth rate, displacing Texas and New Mexico for that lamentable title, a new federal report says. Mississippi's rate was more than 60 percent higher than the national average in 2006, according to new state statistics released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The teen birth rate for that year in Texas and New Mexico was more than 50 percent higher.

Mexico Tells Citizens to Swallow Chewing Gum

MEXICO CITY - The country that gave the world chewing gum is getting gummed up: The average square yard of Mexico City sidewalk has 70 blobs of discarded chew. Now, Mexico is responding with innovations ranging from expensive sidewalk steam-cleaners to natural chewing gum that breaks down quickly. It's even telling its citizens to swallow their gum.

Five U.S. Presidents Make History

WASHINGTON - For the first time in a generation, the former and current U.S. presidents gathered for an historic meeting Wednesday at the White House to reminisce and offer some advice to the building's future occupant, President-elect Barack Obama. President Bush welcomed Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and his father, George H.W. Bush, in the Oval Office, before proceeding to a private hour-long lunch.

Many Companies Adopting Bare-Bones Mentality: ; Job Losses Expected to Continue; Labor Department to Release Employment Report Later This Week

WASHINGTON - Americans probably suffered a net loss of 2.4 million jobs last year, with the pain likely to stretch well into 2009 and possibly beyond, underscoring the recession's toll on employers and workers and the difficulty President-elect Barack Obama will face in reviving the economy. Already the New Year has gotten off to a rough start, and more bad news is expected this week when the government releases data on weekly jobless claims and December unemployment.

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Nation & World

Car shuts streets near Obama office

Pittsburgh School Officials Defend Grading System

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh Public Schools administrators are defending a policy that makes 50 percent the lowest score students can receive. The school board and teachers union prompted criticism of the policy in a joint memo in September. But administrators say the policy is necessary to help struggling students - and is being mathematically sound.

Moves in and Out of W.Va. About Even, Study Shows

The number of people moving into West Virginia last year was almost equal to the number moving out, according to an annual study by United Van Lines. Of the 1,119 interstate household moves in West Virginia handled by United last year, 562 or 50.2 percent were inbound and 557 or 49.8 percent were outbound, the company said.

Uc Suspends Plan for Riverfront Condos

The University of Charleston is putting plans to build riverfront luxury condominiums on hold. University President Ed Welch said Tuesday that the timing isn't right, given the nation's sagging economy.

Panel Nominates 3 to Fill House Vacancy: ; Randolph Democratic Chair Says Committee Was Chosen Illegally

Under accusations of being illegally seated, a special committee pushed forward and nominated three people to Gov. Joe Manchin to fill the House vacancy left by the death of Bill Proudfoot. The committee - made up of a man and a woman each from Randolph and Pocahontas counties - nominated Carl Randy Moore, former state senator Mike Ross and Denise L. Campbell. The House seat Proudfoot occupied represented both counties.