West Virginia on Thursday May 08, 2008

Archive of West Virginia on Thursday May 08, 2008

New plant to add 65 jobs to area by 2010
By Jean Tarbett Hardiman, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington)
PRICHARD, W.Va. - Allevard/Sogefi announced Wednesday it will construct a new plant to manufacture automotive filters, adding 65 jobs to the area by 2010.
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New union chief says higher pay will draw more teachers
By Kelly Holleran, Charleston Daily Mail
The new president of the state's largest teachers' union said he wants to focus on attaining and retaining highly qualified teachers during his administration.
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W.Va. Democratic race considered 'wide open'
By Joselyn King, The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
WHEELING, W.Va. - West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey said it was just two days ago he thought U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton had a lock on winning the Democratic presidential nomination in West Virginia.
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Candidates look to final five states and Puerto Rico for victory
By Nick Timiraos and Matt Phillips, The Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Even before polls closed in Indiana and North Carolina, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were shifting their attention to the five states and one territory that have yet to vote.
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Response picks up in teacher pension switch
By Staff, Charleston Daily Mail
State officials say they've received many notices in the past day from teachers and school personnel who want to switch from a 401(k)-style investment plan to the Teachers Retirement System.
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WVU Foundation says giving is unharmed so far
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Cash fundraising for West Virginia University is about where it was this time last year, those in charge of the effort say, despite months of publicity about a degree scandal involving the governor's daughter, academic officials and President Mike Garrison.
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Poll shows high court race close
By Tom Searls, Charleston Gazette (registration)
Two challengers are leading in a tight race for two spots in the Democratic primary race for state Supreme Court, according to a poll to be released today.
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WVU faculty plan rare assembly in wake of degree scandal
By Vicki Smith, the Associated Press, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - As best as anyone can tell, it's been more than 30 years since the full-time instructors at West Virginia University considered anything important enough to call a special meeting of the little-known University Assembly.
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Lawyers, coal, docs help fuel Supreme Court races
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
Lawyers remain the most generous source of campaign cash for West Virginia's Supreme Court races, with the coal industry and physicians also contributing significant sums to this year's candidates, the latest finance reports show.
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At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

After a pair of hard-fought primaries, North Carolina joins Missouri, Washington and Indiana on Out There's list of states where partisan control of the governorship could flip this fall.
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Massey subsidiary cited for 3 violations in W.Va. mine fatal
By The Associated Press, The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
Coal operator Massey Energy Co. has been cited for safety violations that federal investigators say contributed to the death of a West Virginia miner late last year.
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W.Va. magistrate convicted of retaliation charge
By The Associated Press, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington)
SUTTON, W.Va. - A Braxton County magistrate has been convicted of trying to retaliate against a witness who testified against her son in a drug case.
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Sen. Clinton to hold rally at the Capitol on Thursday
By Staff and Wire Reports, Charleston Gazette (registration)
Former President Bill Clinton will campaign through five West Virginia counties as his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, rallies in Charleston Thursday, Sen. Clinton's campaign announced late Tuesday night.
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008)

When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.
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Will states fix 2012 primary process?
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Parents turn to states for autism help
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.

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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
By Daniel C. Vock and John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure.
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More states offer choice in long-term care
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.

'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
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W.Va. projects a split personality
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 2008 presidential election will test whether Republican George Bush’s victories were a fluke in the Mountain State, where Democrats continue to dominate in state and local contests.
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Gay marriage decisions ripe in Calif., Conn.
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated March 6, 2008)

More than four years after its historic court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, Massachusetts stands alone in blessing gay marriages — more than 10,000 to date — and its example has spurred no imitators but lots of backlash. All eyes now are on the highest courts in California and Connecticut.
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.

Summary of the State of the State Address

Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) used his Jan. 9 speech to announce a campaign to stop student bullying, a first-in-the-nation health-screening program for kindergarten pupils and a free prescription-drug program for uninsured workers. He also asked the Democratic-controlled Legislature for better mental-health counseling for returning Iraq soldiers and a tougher anti-drug program.
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
By Gene Gibbons, Stateline.org Executive Editor

This column was published simultaneously by The Politico.

It took a while for most of the presidential candidates to figure out that voters want “change” and action on a variety of issues that affect their lives. They might have gotten it sooner if they had noticed the way that many states, led by innovative governors, are moving forward in areas like health care, immigration and global warming.
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AG contests attract serious attention
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Once, races for state attorney general were quiet affairs. No longer. Attorneys general can wield enormous power in such areas as consumer protection and criminal prosecutions – and can use the job to vault into higher office. Here's how this year's 10 state races for attorney general are shaping up.
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
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Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org columnist
So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. California corrections officials install “flushometers” to control wasteful toilet flushing in prisons. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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Embryonic stem cell research divides states
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
President Bush’s second veto of a bill to allow federal funding of stem cell research puts the ethical issue squarely in states’ hands. So far, seven states have moved to fund the research, six have banned it, three have affirmed its legality but do not fund it and a handful of others continue to debate the issue.
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States outpace feds on minimum wage
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
When the new federal minimum wage takes effect July 24, 30 states will require employers to pay hourly workers more than federal law requires.
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