Charleston Daily Mail

Ban On Texting While Driving Taken Up Again by Legislature

Lawmakers once again will try to prohibit texting behind the wheel and impose other restrictions on drivers using cell phones in West Virginia. A bill introduced in the state Senate Tuesday would make it a misdemeanor and primary offense to write, read or send a text message while operating a motor vehicle.

Huntington Doctors Lead Mission: ; State Medical Team Met with Gratitude; Group of 22 Say They Felt Safe and Appreciated During Their Trip to Most Devastated Parts of Haiti

Members of a medical team who just returned from Haiti say the real heroes are the Haitian people who show courage in the wake of suffering. "We met as a group before we went to Haiti and said this is going to change our lives," Dr. Ali Oliashirazi said. "That was an understatement. We learned so much from these people. They were the kindest and most compassionate people I have ever met."

Rowdy Wvu Fans Have yet to Be Quieted: ; Mountaineer Maniacs Plotted to Address Coach's Alleged Affair Through Chants at Louisville Game

WVU students cleaned up their language somewhat at Saturday's basketball game against Louisville but still filled the Coliseum with a chant that did not include an obscenity but was certainly offensive. It was aimed at Louisville Coach Rick Pitino.

Coal Will Be Key Issue in Rahall Race: ; Analysis

Former state Supreme Court Justice Elliot "Spike" Maynard's effort to oust Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., is not only the first serious test of the 17-term congressman in a generation. It's also a pivotal race in a Democratic stronghold dominated by the state's top industry and could be a bellwether of the state's economic and political future.

D.C. Police Conduct Anti-Terror Drill

WASHINGTON - Police conducted an anti-terrorism drill at one of the Washington subway system's busiest stations, launching a new initiative aimed at deterring terrorist activity. Metrorail officials conducted the exercise between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday at Union Station. About 50 officers participated, including agents from Metro's anti-terrorism unit.

Sobriety Checkpoint Set for City's West Side

Charleston Police will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on the city's West Side. City officers, in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, will set up another high-visibility checkpoint Thursday night.

High-Speed Chase Ends in Two Arrests

State Police say two Ohio men led officers on a brief high-speed chase through South Charleston because the driver feared there were warrants for his arrest. Trooper M.J. Napier was patrolling in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday near the Montrose Drive exit when he spotted a white Chevrolet SUV with a temporary tag covered by a tinted license plate cover, troopers said.

Police and Courts

Police say woman pawned stolen TV

Papers to Run List of Unclaimed Property in State

The state Treasurer's office is preparing to publish its latest list of people entitled to shares in millions in unclaimed property. The inserts are expected to run in newspapers in all 55 counties, said office spokesman Greg Stone.

Ohio Priest Indicted On Molestation Charges

State Police say an Ohio priest has been indicted on molestation charges stemming from an incident that occurred in a Roane County church 18 years ago. Sgt. Michael Baylous, spokesman for the State Police, said Tuesday that Fr. Robert F. Poandl of Cincinnati was indicted Jan. 26 by a Roane County grand jury.

Ahmadinejad Suggests Exchange for U.S. Hikers

TEHRAN - Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested in a television interview Tuesday that Iran would release three jailed U.S. hikers in exchange for Iranians currently serving in American prisons. Ahmadinejad said that there were currently negotiations about possibly exchanging the hikers for Iranians in the United States.

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron, Ohio 33 23 Snow

National Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 14 03 PCldy

Icy House Draws Eye to Housing Crisis: ; Artists Coat Abandoned House with Water and Illuminate It to Catch the Attention of Passers-By

DETROIT - The two-story house and its boarded-up, broken windows have been covered with sheets of ice that glow in the sunlight, and icicles reach from the edges of the roof almost to the ground. The steps, porch and shrubs that glisten with ice in the rundown neighborhood are part of the Ice House Detroit project. Its creators want to draw more attention to the nation's housing crisis and inspire people by showing what's possible in a city with tens of thousands of vacant homes and a foreclo...

Obama, Chamber Pledge Job Creation: ; Administration and Chamber of Commerce Have Constantly Disagreed On Legislation

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, at odds over taxes, health-care legislation, financial regulations and elements of the budget, are publicly joining hands on an item of mutual interest: jobs. "Businesses will always be the true engine of job creation in this country," Obama wrote in a Feb. 1 letter to Thomas Donohue, the Chamber's president. "But there is much the government can do to create the conditions necessary for business to expand, hire more worker...

Top Officer Says Gay Ban Should Be Lifted: ; Man Says There Are Practical Obstacles to Abandoning 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

WASHINGTON - The military's top uniformed officer declared Tuesday that gays should be allowed to serve openly in uniform, arguing that it is "the right thing to do." Adm. Mike Mullen's statement was the strongest yet from the uniformed military on this volatile issue, although he stressed that he was "speaking for myself and myself only." He told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday he is deeply troubled by a policy that forces people to "lie about who they are in order to defend thei...

Nation & World

Punxsutawney Phil tries paw at texting

Congressman Placed in Intensive Care

Police Say Girl Locked in Closet for About a Year

Governor Proposes Business Tax Leeway: ; an Amendment Could Give Counties Power to Exempt New Businesses From Fees

County governments should have the option to exempt new commercial and industrial business property in their jurisdictions from the personal property tax, Gov. Joe Manchin said. During his State of the State address earlier this month, Manchin recommended an amendment to the state constitution "that will give us the flexibility we need to lower taxes on commercial and industrial property, while also considering the impact on local governments."