Charleston Daily Mail

Man's Lengthy Sentence Shakes Up Courtroom: ; Judge Says He Is Making Example of School Computer Technician, Now 24

A judge said he wanted to send a strong message to teachers and staff who cross boundaries with students and sentenced a former Capital High School computer technician to 11 to 25 years in prison for having sex with a 10th grader. Casey Casto, 24, bowed his head and appeared shaken, as were his family members as the sentence was delivered by Kanawha Circuit Judge Louis "Duke" Bloom. The judge called his behavior "repugnant."

In the Line of Duty: ; W.Va.S Fallen Heroes Honored; Plaque Memorializes W.Va. Soldiers Killed in Iraq, Afghanistan

Perched on a gold easel in the marble halls of the Capitol building is a gleaming wooden display board commemorating 35 fallen soldiers with ties to West Virginia. The board, which honors soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the idea of Robert Ferguson, secretary of the state Department of Administration Secretary. The legwork was done by Corie Lynch, a department intern.

Store's Heyday Recalled by Workers: ; Former Employees and Customers Say It Was the 'Diamond' Standard for Shopping in the Area

The glitzy Diamond Department Store is gone, but memories of it continue to sparkle. Since the Diamond Department Store in downtown Charleston closed in 1983, former employees have gathered the second weekend in September every year for a reunion.

Officials Upset Over Mine Permits: ; Manchin, Rockefeller Especially Bothered by Agency's Decision to Halt Operations at Spruce Site

West Virginia's elected officials on Thursday again lashed out at the Obama administration for holding up mountaintop removal permits. Gov. Joe Manchin and Sen. Jay Rockefeller separately attacked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for challenging surface mining operations in the state. The agency is expected to release as soon as today a list of mountaintop removal permits it wants to examine more closely.

State Wants Grant Schools Infighting to Stop

State School Superintendent Steve Paine has threatened a possible takeover of Grant County schools if administrators don't stop their infighting and settle their differences Paine made the announcement at Thursday's state Board of Education meeting, saying the relationships between Grant school board members and its superintendent is so tumultuous that student learning is being affected.

U.S. Muslims Still Fear 9/11 Backlash

NEW YORK - There is the dread of leaving the house that morning. People might stare, or worse, yell insults. Prayers are more intense, visits with family longer. Mosques become a refuge.

Top U.S. Copyright Official Joins Opposition to Google Book Deal

SAN FRANCISCO - The nation's top copyright official has joined the mounting opposition to a class-action settlement that would give Google Inc. the digital rights to millions of out-of-print books. Her objections cast further doubt on whether the agreement will be allowed by a federal court, even as Google offered a concession Thursday aimed at smoothing the way for approval.

Disgraced Lawmaker Denies Affair

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A pro-family values California lawmaker who resigned after being caught on tape boasting about his sexual conquests denied that he had extramarital affairs, saying "my offense was engaging in inappropriate storytelling." Mike Duvall stepped down Wednesday after a videotape surfaced in which he was overheard telling a lawmaker about having sex with a lobbyist and another woman, including salacious details about how one mistress wears skimpy underwear and likes to be spanked.

Obama Accepts Wilson's Apology

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama accepted a South Carolina Republican's apology for shouting, "You lie!" during his speech to Congress, and House Democratic leaders showed no interest in sanctions against Rep. Joe Wilson. Obama said Thursday that Wilson apologized "quickly and without equivocation" and the congressman told reporters the shout-out was "spontaneous."

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron 73 52 Cldy

National Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 60 m PCldy

Nation & World

Wis. baby's birth hits all the nines

Singapore Officers Get Police Training: ; Country Sends Four of Its Delegates Over to Learn

State Police welcomed four delegates from Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs to their training facility in Institute for a look at how police officers train in West Virginia. The delegates, escorted by two special agents from the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, arrived here Thursday morning. After a quick meeting with Gov. Joe Manchin, the group went to the West Virginia State Police Academy.

St. Albans Clarifies Wording in Suspended License Ordinance

To help ease some confusion with the Division of Motor Vehicles, the city of St. Albans is clarifying the wording in a new ordinance that would impose fees on some drivers with suspended licenses. City officials approved an ordinance earlier this week imposing what they called a "reinstatement" fee for city drivers who lost their licenses through municipal court.

Rabies Vaccine Drop Set for Seven W.Va. Counties

BUCKHANNON - The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's going to start dropping rabies vaccine this weekend. It will drop 1.19 million vaccine cubes in parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Nicholas, Raleigh and Summers counties.

Amount of Marijuana Farming at New High

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Machete-wielding police officers have hacked their way through billions of dollars worth of marijuana in the country's top pot-growing states to stave off a bumper crop sprouting in the tough economy. The amount only got bigger Thursday when helicopter spotters in Tennessee discovered a pot field near the Kentucky border with hundreds of thousands of plants.

Man Demands to Drink Stolen Beer Before Arrest

BAYOU GEORGE, Fla. - Authorities in the Florida Panhandle say they arrested a convenience store shoplifter who demanded to drink the 12-ounce beer he had stolen before being taken into custody. The Bay County Sheriff's office says the man told the deputy he had recently lost his job of 13 years and wanted to drink beer. The man became combative when the deputy wouldn't let him finish it.

State Briefs

No-show jurors ordered to pay fine

Georgia Tech Squanders Lead, Wins Late

ATLANTA - Georgia Tech looked unstoppable. Then it was Clemson's turn. In a game of remarkable twists, the Yellow Jackets finally took control when it mattered most. Scott Blair threw a touchdown pass early on, kicked a 36-yard field goal with 57 seconds remaining and No. 15 Georgia Tech rallied to beat Clemson 30-27 after squandering a 24-point lead Thursday night.

Tethering Stance Remains: ; Hunting Groups Wonder If a 'Hidden Agenda' Exists

Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said he is not budging on an anti-tethering ordinance that restricts when and how dogs can be tied up and left outside, despite complaints from hunting groups. Gary Knapp, president of the West Virginia Bear Hunters Association, said the ordinance that passed last month would be "the end of outside dogs, period."