Charleston Daily Mail

Ohio Convict Saved From Execution

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's governor spared the life of a man facing execution Tuesday for killing a 3-year-old, in part because the convict had an undiagnosed medical condition that led to developmental disabilities and large breasts as a child. Sidney Cornwell's sentence will be commuted to life without the possibility of parole, Gov. Ted Strickland said Monday.

Hearing for Fort Hood Suspect Ends; Defense Offers No Evidence, Witnesses

FORT HOOD, Texas - The last day of a hearing to determine if Maj. Nidal Hasan should stand trial for last year's Fort Hood shooting rampage ended Monday after three minutes when defense attorneys presented no evidence and the Army psychiatrist declined to make a statement. After a three-week break, Hasan was back in court at Fort Hood to resume his Article 32 hearing. His lawyers chose to call no witnesses at the military court proceeding, later saying they had not received key government rep...

'Recovery' Continues for Missing Three: ; Sheriff Says Missing Ohio Family May Be Dead

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - It's possible that three people still missing in central Ohio have been killed, a sheriff conceded Monday, a day after the 13-year-old girl who disappeared along with them was rescued from the home of a man later charged with kidnapping. Authorities still want to remain optimistic that 32-year-old Tina Herrmann, her 10-year-old son, Kody, and Herrmann's friend, 41-year- old Stephanie Sprang, are alive, Knox County Sheriff David Barber said at a news conference.

Massey to Decide Whether to Sell

Massey Energy Co.'s board of directors plans to meet next week to decide if the company should put itself up for sale after inquiries from potential buyers, said three people with knowledge of the matter. The Nov. 21 to Nov. 23 meeting, scheduled as a regular annual review of the coal producer, will focus on whether Massey should formally begin a sale process, said the people, who declined to be named because the talks are private. Board members haven't reached a decision, the people said.

Panel to Deliberate Charges Against Rangel

WASHINGTON - Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., pleaded with a House panel Monday to delay his long-awaited public trial on corruption charges, saying he needed time to find a new lawyer, but his request was rejected and the session went ahead without him. The panel later deemed the charges against Rangel to be "uncontested" and decided to deliberate on them, dispensing with the trial phase of the case.

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Nation & World

Police called on kids' cupcake sale

Building Collapse in India Kills 32

NEW DELHI - A four-story building collapsed in a congested neighborhood in New Delhi Monday, killing at least 32 people and injuring 60 others, a top police official said. Many more people were trapped under debris after the building on the Indian capital's east side collapsed, said B.K. Gupta, New Delhi police commissioner.

Court Upholds Tuition for Some Immigrants

SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that some illegal immigrants are entitled to the same tuition breaks offered to in-state high school students to attend public colleges and universities. While the ruling applies only to California, the case was closely watched nationally because nine other states including New York and Texas have similar laws.

Report Says Ailing Economy Affects Family Eating Patterns

WASHINGTON - Nearly 17 million families in America - roughly 15 percent of all households - had trouble putting enough food on their tables at some point last year, a federal report released Monday morning shows. The United States Department of Agriculture also found that 5.6 million of these households had chronic problems throughout the year that severely disrupted normal eating patterns. Between 500,000 and 1 million of the people affected in the homes were children.

Police & Courts

Police say driver had opened beer A St. Albans man accused of driving under the influence was arrested after State Police found an opened, still-cold beer in his pickup.

Judge Postpones Trial

Tomblin Takes Gubernatorial Oath: ; Manchin's Successor Says Fiscal Responsibility, Jobs, Education Are of; Paramount Importance

State Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin became West Virginia's 35th governor Monday, taking his oath before heading to Washington, D.C., to see his predecessor sworn in as a U.S. senator. Tomblin, 58, took over from fellow Democrat Joe Manchin, who resigned at noon after a term-and-a-half as the state's chief executive. The Nov. 2 winner of the seat held by the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Manchin was to assume that post later in the afternoon.

Rand Man Pleads Guilty to Incest, Abuse Charges

A Rand man pleaded guilty to incest in Kanawha Circuit Court, admitting he had sex with his daughter, subsequently impregnating her. Larry William Darby, 41, told Judge James Stucky, "I had sex with my daughter and we had a baby."

Nicholas County Fugitives Arrested in N.C.

A young boy was reunited with his father after his mother and her boyfriend took him to North Carolina, where they were fleeing from local authorities investigating at their Nicholas County home. Detective Roger Hosey of the Landis Police Department in North Carolina said Esther Kay Hodges, 41, of Richwood and Timothy Lee Rigsby, 37, of Camden-on-Gauley were arrested Friday in Landis. Hodges' 10-year-old son was unharmed and found with them in the van.

Caterpillar Agrees to Purchase Bucyrus for $7.6 Billion

NEW YORK - Caterpillar, the world's largest construction and mining equipment maker, moved aggressively to capitalize on demand in emerging markets Monday with a $7.6 billion buyout of Bucyrus International. As growth remains slow in developed nations like the U.S., global companies like Caterpillar Inc. have driven further into China, India and Brazil, where the appetite for raw materials used in construction and mining are strong.

In Electronics, Retailers Start Dealing: ; Best Buy, Amazon, Others Hope to Score Big During Holidays with Price Cuts, Promotions

WASHINGTON - Consumers in the market for gaming consoles or flat- panel television sets will find no shortage of deals this year as electronics retailers make an aggressive play for holiday dollars. Electronics proved to be a bankable commodity last year, exceeding holiday sales expectations and closing the shopping season up 6 percent from 2008. Retailers are looking to replicate that success with steeper discounts and an earlier jump on Black Friday promotions.

Lowe's Says Shoppers Wary of Big Projects

NEW YORK - Lowe's Cos.' said Monday shoppers are spending on smaller painting and gardening projects but still avoiding major renovations because of worries about the economy. But the home-improvement retailer said Monday it is focused on reining in inventory and costs, which helped its third-quarter profit improve, and gaining a bigger chunk of the market.

Area Mcdonalds' to Host 'Hiring Day'

Seven McDonald's restaurants in the Kanawha Valley will host a "hiring day" Wednesday. "Interested individuals should arrive between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ready to be interviewed," according to a prepared statement. "Potential employees will learn about McDonald's employment opportunities including pay, flexible scheduling, benefits and management training courses that count toward two- and four-year college degrees."