Charleston Daily Mail

Official Denies House Education Group has Conflicts of Interest

The chairwoman of the House Education Committee disagrees with the notion that her committee has been a stumbling block for education reform in West Virginia. Over the years, the 25-member committee has been criticized because the majority of its members are current and former teachers or other types of education employees.

Special: ; Election to Be Different; Debate Rages Whether to Require Conventions or Primary to Pick Nominees

The Democratic and Republican nominees for governor may ultimately be chosen by a few thousand West Virginians in rooms that, even if they aren't smoke-filled, are nowhere nearly as open as the regular polling booth. Unless the Legislature can agree to change the state's election laws, the two major parties will need to hold statewide nominating conventions to choose their standard-bearers in time for the Oct. 4 gubernatorial election.

Dunbar Village for Sale: ; Owner of Shopping Center Allegedly Defaulted On $4.5 Million Loan

The owner of the Dunbar Village Shopping Center has allegedly defaulted on a $4.5 million loan, and the property is scheduled to be sold next week at auction in front of the Kanawha Courthouse. Details of the alleged default and planned auction were described in a legal advertisement published Monday.

No Toll Express: ; Truckers Decry U.S. 35 Tolls

A convoy of truckers rolled in to the Monday meeting of the state Parkways Authority to voice opposition to a plan to place tolls on U.S. 35 in Mason and Putnam counties. Calling themselves the "No Toll Express," the drivers told board members that placing tolls on the road would cause significant economic damage to the area.

Car Show Week: ; Show Attendees Can Enter to Win Mustangs; Free Sweepstakes Open to All Visitors 18 and Older

Attendees at this week's West Virginia International Auto Show will have an opportunity to enter - for free - a sweepstakes to win two Mustangs, a fully restored 1969 Boss 302 and a special-edition 2012 Boss 302. The show will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center.

Landfill Converts Trash Into Electricity: ; Plant Help Keeps Methane From Being Released Into Atmosphere

Local officials got an up-close look at the gas-to-electricity project at the Charleston landfill Monday afternoon. The plant is the first of its kind in the state. The city paid no money for the project but stands to gain as much as $100,000 a year in royalties.

Tomblin Seeks to Boost Veterans Office Prominence

The state agency assigned to help West Virginia veterans could gain a seat in the governor's cabinet this legislative session. Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wants the Division of Veterans' Affairs to become the Department of Veteran's Assistance.

Pope Asks Online Catholics to Be Respectful of Others

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI told Catholic bloggers and Facebook and YouTube users Monday to be respectful of others when spreading the Gospel online and not to see their ultimate goal as getting as many online hits as possible. Echoing concerns in the U.S. about the need to root out online vitriol, Benedict called for the faithful to adopt a "Christian style presence" online that is responsible, honest and discreet.

Capitol Event to Raise Awareness of Asthma

Free asthma testing, equipment demonstrations and educational information will be provided from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the state Capitol in recognition of Asthma and COPD Awareness Day. Legislators will also have the opportunity to learn about asthma and how they can reduce the thousands of hospitalizations due to asthma each year. Charges for asthma hospitalizations totaled more than $26 million in 2008.

Emanuel Off Chicago Ballot

CHICAGO - An Illinois appeals court threw former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel off the ballot for Chicago mayor Tuesday because he didn't live in the city in the year before the election. The decision cast doubt over Emanuel's candidacy just a month before the election. He had been considered the front-runner and had raised more money than any other candidate.

Loughner Pleads Not Guilty

PHOENIX - The man accused of carrying out a mass shooting in Tucson pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he tried to kill Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides. The plea by Jared Lee Loughner marked his second court appearance since he allegedly shot the congresswoman and 18 others at Giffords' meet-and-greet event on Jan. 8 outside a grocery store in Tucson. Six people died, including U.S. District Judge John Roll and a 9- year-old girl. Thirteen others were wounded.

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron, Ohio 33 18 Cldy

National Wreather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 30 20 Cldy

Economy to Be Focus of State of Union Address

WASHINGTON - Standing before a nation clamoring for jobs, President Barack Obama will call for targeted spending to boost the economy but also for budget cutting in tonight's State of the Union address, his first in a new era of divided political power. Though war and other issues bid for attention, Obama will put the economy above everything else.

An Unusual Ice Sculpture

By JESSICA GRESKO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON A water main break iced over a major commuter highway in Washingtons Maryland suburbs, snarling Monday morning traffic and swamping parked cars. Authorities said the pipe ruptured in an office park that backs up to Capital Beltway in Prince Georges County and sent water down a small hill onto the road, where it froze. Officials closed all southbound lanes of Interstate 95, approximately two miles, between Ritchie Marlboro Road and Route 214 e...

Moscow Terror Attack Kills 35: ; Suicide Bomber Wounds 180 Others at Airport

MOSCOW - A suicide bomber carrying a suitcase walked into Moscow's busiest airport and set off a huge explosion Monday, killing 35 people and wounding 180. The international arrivals terminal at Domodedovo Airport was engulfed by smoke and splattered with body parts after the mid- afternoon terror attack sprayed shrapnel, screws and ball bearings at passengers and workers. Hundreds of people were in the loosely guarded area at the time.

Nation & World

Woman allegedly killed 'devil dog' COLUMBIA, S.C. - Authorities have charged a South Carolina woman with felony animal cruelty, saying she hanged her nephew's pit bull from a tree with an electrical cord and burned its body because the dog chewed on her Bible.

Police Officials Say Officers, Suspect Killed in Firefight: ; Suspect Allegedly Shot at Officers, Marshals Who Were Serving Warrant

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Authorities and a fugitive holed up in an attic fired more than 100 shots at each other Monday in a firefight that killed two officers, wounded a deputy U.S. marshal and led to an hourslong standoff that ended when the suspect was found dead inside the home. St. Petersburg Police spokesman Michael Puetz said the suspect was found dead when officers went into the home Monday afternoon, about six hours after the shootout, the latest in a recent rash of shootings across th...

Argentine Woman Lives After 23-Story Fall

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Witnesses say they saw a woman throw herself from the 23rd story of a Buenos Aires hotel Monday and survive. The woman landed in a sitting position on the roof of a taxi whose driver got out just before the impact deeply dented his roof and shattered the windshield.

Judge to Decide If Photos, Confession Admissible

A Kanawha Circuit Judge will decide this week if a confession made by a homeless man and photos of his homeless girlfriend's slashed body will be admissible at his trial next week. Clayton "Gino" Rogers was arrested and charged with first-degree murder the day after the body of Laura Amos, 35, was found inside a vacant St. Albans house Aug. 29.