Tag: Government

Four More Charged in Steubenville Rape Case

A school superintendent and three more people have been charged by a grand jury that investigated whether other laws were broken in the rape of a…

A school superintendent and three more people have been charged by a grand jury that investigated whether other laws were broken in the rape of a 16-year-old West Virginia girl last year in eastern Ohio.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the charges Monday in Steubenville.
 
The grand jury had investigated whether adults like coaches or school administrators knew of the rape allegation, but failed to report it as required by state law.
 
The Steubenville superintendent faces the most serious charges, including obstructing justice. A principal, a strength coach and a volunteer coach also are charged. They’re accused of interfering with the investigation or failing to report possible abuse of a minor.
 
A judge convicted two Steubenville football players with raping the girl in August 2012.
 

How to "BEWARE" of Fraud During Holidays

The holiday season is often thought of as a time for giving, but state officials want West Virginians to be cautious as they choose who to donate to this year.

To protect yourself and your family from scams, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office is urging you to ask questions of solicitors calling your home, research each organization before you decide to give and report any charity you believe may be fraudulent.

The office advises using the “BEWARE” method as warning signs for potentially fraudulent charities:

Bills or invoices are sent to you even though you never pledge money to the organization

Evasive, vague, or unresponsive answers to specific questions about the organization and how the money is used

Words making up a charity’s name that closely resemble a more-well known charity

Allowing you no time to reconsider your pledge; they insist on collecting your money immediately

Refusal to answer questions about where your money will go or refusal to send more information about the charity

Emotional appeals and high pressure tactics to get you to make a quick donation, or they make you feel guilty if you do not wish to contribute

The Secretary of State’s Office keeps a database of all charities licensed to solicit donations from West Virginians.

If you are contacted by an organization you believe to be fraudulent, call the Charities’ Division at (304) 558-6000.

State Supreme Court Upholds Monsanto Settlement

The state Supreme Court has upheld a judge’s approval of Monsanto Co.’s massive settlement with thousands of West Virginia residents.
 
     In a 4-1 decision Friday, the court affirmed a January ruling approving the class-action settlement of a lawsuit alleging that the Nitro community was contaminated with dioxin from the former Monsanto chemical plant. The plaintiffs said Monsanto polluted their community by burning waste from production of the defoliant Agent Orange.
 
     Under the $93 million settlement, thousands of Nitro-area residents will be eligible for medical monitoring and property cleanups.
 
     The Charleston Gazette reports that the court’s majority said it found “no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error” in various appeals of the settlement order.
 
     Chief Justice Brent Benjamin dissented.  
 

State Police Say Latest Meth Busts Underscore Funding Needs

  West Virginia State Police say they’ve arrested dozens of people in southern West Virginia on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine during targeted efforts in the past month.

Since October 26 state troopers in Webster, Pendleton, Randolph, and Braxton counties found 2 meth labs, arrested 14 people and seized a little over $1000.

This resulted in 28 felonies and 2 misdemeanor charges.

During the same time, troopers in Greenbrier, Raleigh, Fayette, and Summers counties found 9 meth labs, 3 abandoned dump sites, arrested 18 people who were charged with 47 felonies.

First Sergeant Michael Baylous reported the numbers today in Beckley.

He said one of the reasons why the effort to bust these labs is so important is the number of children troopers have seen exposed to these toxic chemicals.

“They’re the innocent victims,” he said.

Baylous reported state police have seized just under 500 meth labs this year.

He called for more community input and an increase in state funding to battle the growing problem.

Eastern Panhandle Residents Discuss Child Poverty

The forum started with opening remarks from State Sen. John Unger (D-Berkeley) and Del. Tiffany Lawrence (D-Jefferson). Participants then watched part of…

The forum started with opening remarks from State Sen. John Unger (D-Berkeley) and Del. Tiffany Lawrence (D-Jefferson). Participants then watched part of the PBS film Poor Kids and a short preview of a film about child poverty in the state being produced by West Virginia PBS.

They then met in smaller groups to talk about how poverty affects children academically and socially, stereotypes associated with being poor, what resources are available in the community and what can be done to prevent families from becoming poor.

United Way of the Eastern Panhandle Executive Director Pete Mulford shared his observations about the film clips.

“There was the one young kid that still had a dream,” Mulford said. “The nice thing was that the fact that you can still dream or hope or desire to have something better wasn’t lost yet in the kids.”

School teachers in another group talked about how hunger affects their students’ attitude and academic performance. Each group created a list of how they see poverty impacting children and what can be done about it.

Suggestions included having more people to work directly with poor families to help them find jobs and housing, breaking down barriers that prevent people from getting jobs and making more mental health services available.

The goal of the event was to encourage participants to take action by volunteering, donating money to organizations that help the poor and advocating for policies that help families dealing with poverty.

New Jackson County Plant to Bring 60 Jobs

Governor Tomblin made his third major jobs announcement in two weeks Tuesday in Charleston. A supplier for the steel industry, the newest company locating…

Governor Tomblin made his third major jobs announcement in two weeks Tuesday in Charleston. A supplier for the steel industry, the newest company locating in West Virginia will not just create jobs, but also heavily rely on coal to do it.

“Today, 60 more West Virginians will have good paying jobs and the coal industry will have a new customer,” Tomblin said.

He made the announcement surrounded by executives from Carbonyx International USA and representatives of the state Department of Commerce.

A Texas-based company, Carbonyx uses coal to produce a coke substitute for the steel industry. The company plans to locate their newest facility in Millwood in Jackson County.

“It’s fitting that a company finding bold new uses for coal,” Tomblin said. “It’s appropriate that a company has created a more environmentally friendly use for coal and would do it in our state.”

With the initial investment, Carbonyx will create 60 jobs and plans to add more than 150 over the next seven years.

Secretary of the state Department of Commerce Keith Burdette said the West  Virginia Economic Development Authority awarded a $15 million loan equipment loan to Carbonyx Thursday, calling it the most significant incentive for the company to locate in the state.
 

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