Charleston Daily Mail

Workers Comp: ; State Averts Coverage Crisis

Although some volunteer fire departments must acquire a new workers' compensation insurance policy starting Friday - July 1 - none of the 26 departments in Kanawha County is facing a crisis. New coverage is required because state law requires employers to carry workers' comp insurance but BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. has quit writing it for VFDs.

Clendenin Soldier Wounded in Afghanistan: Reed

Stephen Mitchell Sr. got the call that no military parent ever wants to hear. His son, Stephen Mitchell Jr., had been wounded in Afghanistan.

Change in the Game: ; Lottery Officials Say Hike a Gamble; W.Va. Powerball Jump,; but Other States Say There Will Be More Winners

West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave voted against raising Powerball ticket prices from $1 to $2 next year, lottery officials said Wednesday. "We were a little apprehensive about what this may or may not do to ourselves," said Nikki Orcutt, deputy director of marketing for the agency.

Edgewood Summit Will Expand: Cost of About $15 Million

Charleston's Edgewood Summit retirement community is planning a $15 million expansion to add two new specialized units. The West Side community located near Cato Park currently offers both independent and assisted living units but no skilled nursing care facility and no facility that specializes in the care of those with Alzheimer's or dementia.

Putnam Commission Addresses Redistricting: Residents,; Do Not Understand Issues

WINFIELD - A bipartisan plan for precinct and magisterial changes will simplify and cut costs of ballot preparation, address convenience and safety and equalize population in line with 2010 Census, Putnam County Brian Wood clerk told commissioners. But equally important, the committee that developed the plan hopes legislators will consider their work, Wood said Tuesday.

Deer Trapped Against Library Fence Thrashes Way to Freedom

A deer lost its way in downtown Charleston Tuesday morning and had an unfortunate run-in with a parked van and a fence. The deer was reported to wildlife resources officials at the state Division of Natural Resources. At the time, it was at the corner of Summers and Quarrier streets.

Federal Funds Given to Weirton, Wayne County

Rural development projects in Weirton and in Wayne County will receive federal funding. U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller and Congressman Nick Rahall announced Tuesday that the Wayne County Building Commission will received $300,000 toward construction of a new emergency services center.

Police & Courts

Phone cable stolen from state office

Woman Chosen to Head Imf: ; Christine Lagarde Is Lending Organization's First Female Director

WASHINGTON - French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has been chosen to lead the International Monetary Fund. She will become the first female managing director of the global lending organization. Lagarde's selection became all but assured when the Obama administration endorsed her earlier Tuesday. Hours later, the IMF's 24-member board voted to appoint her to the position. She had also won support from Europe, China and Russia.

Regional Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Akron, Ohio 77 50 Clr

National Weather

Hi Lo Otlk Anchorage 60 51 Cldy

Nation & World

Nancy, the sheepdog Chihuahua, stands watch with a Border Collie. Chihuahua shows

Senate Panel Oks Libya Resolution: ; Similar Proposal in House Failed; Vote Heads to Full Senate

WASHINGTON - A Senate panel voted Tuesday to give President Barack Obama limited authority to continue the U.S. military operation against Libya, exposing deep divisions in Congress over the commander in chief's actions. Just three days after the House overwhelmingly rejected a similar step, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee endorsed a resolution to authorize the effort against Moammar Gadhafi's forces for one year while prohibiting U.S. ground troops in Libya. The vote was 14- 5 and mud...

Some Flood Refugees Choose to Camp Out

MINOT, N.D. - When the Souris River swamped their home as it roared through Minot, the Schaan family could have taken refuge in a shelter. Instead, they headed to Walmart, plunked down $54 on a new tent and joined hundreds of others in a makeshift campground outside the city ice rink. "We wanted to go camping all summer, but not like this," said Galen Schaan, 48, a burly but soft-spoken man who works as a roughneck in North Dakota's oil patch.

General Supports Us Troop Drawdown: ; Marine Named to Head Troops in Afghanistan Backs Withdrawing Forces

WASHINGTON - The Marine general tapped to take over as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan told Congress on Tuesday that he supports President Barack Obama's decision to withdraw U.S. reinforcements by next September. Under questioning by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lt. Gen. John R. Allen said he had no say in the internal deliberations that led to the decision announced by Obama last week to withdraw 10,000 U.S. troops by the end of this year and as many as 23,000 more ...

State Briefs

Morgan courthouse to use solar energy BERKELEY SPRINGS - People visiting the Morgan County Courthouse will be able to see how much electricity is being produced by the building's new solar panels.

Congressman to Renew Military Medical Lawsuits Legislation

TAMPA, Fla. - A congressman says he'll renew efforts to remove malpractice liability shields for military hospitals after theSupreme Court declined to hear the latest case that could have done away with protections. Without comment, the Supreme Court refused on Monday to hear a California case that activists had considered their best chance in a generation to strip military hospitals of protections against lawsuits when they make mistakes while treating service members.

N.J. Court Rules Desk Job Led to Death

TRENTON, N.J. - The husband of an obese woman who died of a blood clot after working long hours at her home office is eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits, a New Jersey appeals court ruled Monday in a case that raised questions about the broader implications of the sedentary desk jobs of millions of Americans. The case pits claims of whether poor health contributed to her death against whether poor work environment did.

Obituaries: ; Obit

Today's Obituaries Albright, Jesse Bacchus, Thelma Barnhouse, Frances E. Brightwell, Michael C. Bumgarner, Charles T. Burdette, James B. Carnes, Ruth H. Cassell, Joseph M. Cobb, Anna M. Coffin, Rosemary D. Combs, Lucille C. Crimmel, Charles P. Cummings, Anna D. Edwards, Warren P. III Frame, Emma J. Given, Dorma C. Hamrick, Mamie H. Harris, Shirley L. Jones, Eanis T. Kilmer, Ruth F. Lanham, Ruth E. Lockhart, Robert R. Luoni, Debbie L. McIe, Gracy Miller, Jennifer L. Morgan, John C. Murphy, Phy...

Us Official Critical of Trade Barrier

WASHINGTON - Trade and investment barriers that U.S. companies face in India are limiting economic growth and job creation in both countries, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Tuesday. Geithner spoke after talks with Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that underscored deepening ties but also U.S. pressure for New Delhi to expedite reforms.