News from March 2018
Herald-Dispatch makes bid to buy Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON – The parent company of The Herald-Dispatch has thrown its hat into the ring as a potential buyer of Charleston Newspapers. HD Media Co. LLC, which publishes the Huntington daily newspaper as well as several other smaller papers across southern West Virginia, filed documents Tuesday, March 6, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia to buy the Charleston Gazette-Mail. March 6 was the final day interested parties could file as interested parties and make bids.
Statewide teacher work stoppage ends with 5 percent raise agreement
CHARLESTON – After being closed 13 days because of a teacher work stoppage, schools across West Virginia opened March 7.
AGs push for swift passage of child pornography victim bill
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has joined a group of 55 attorneys general in pushing the U.S. House of Representatives to support timely and meaningful restitution for victims of child pornography.
McKesson officials to be deposed in state's opioid lawsuit
MADISON – Executives from McKesson Corp. will be deposed as part of the state’s lawsuit about the distribution of opioids in West Virginia.
Lane steps into new role on U.S. Department of Energy's Electricity Advisory Committee
CHARLESTON – Delegate Charlotte Lane (R-Kanawha) has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee. She will serve as a special government employee on the committee for a two-year term that will end in July of 2020.
Couple claims Teays Valley Builders did not use funds to construct house
WINFIELD – A Scott Depot couple claims construction loan funds paid to a company were used for its own purposes instead of for the construction of a home.
Woman alleges Logan Mingo Area Mental Health termianted her after taking leave for funeral
LOGAN – A Chapmanville woman alleges she was terminated for visiting a dying family member and to attend her funeral.
Former employee alleges Mercer County Board of Education breached confidentiality
PRINCETON – A Pennsylvania resident formerly employed by a West Virginia school district alleges she has lost employment opportunities because of the district's online posting of board meeting minutes.
ABA Spirit of Excellence Award recipient reflects upon distinguished military legal career
MORGANTOWN – Excelsior Bottom's most-famous son, retired Maj. Gen. Kenneth D. Gray, says he's honored to have received the American Bar Association's 2018 Spirit of Excellence Award and observed the military has a way to go toward gender and racial inclusivity.
Woman seeks injunction against Fidelity Life Association regarding insurance policy
NEW CUMBERLAND – A Weirton woman is seeking an injunction regarding a life insurance policy purchased by her late ex-husband.
Homeowners file fraud suit against Lewis and Ark Builders over work
BECKLEY – A Raleigh County couple alleges a Beckley company performed subpar work on their home.
Tanker truck driver seeks damages from Buccaneer Hauling, driver over U.S. 50 accident
HARRISVILLE – An Ohio man alleges he was injured while driving on U.S. 50 attempting to avoid a collision with a tractor-trailer.
One Sheets to the wind
A dozen roses, a heart-shaped box of chocolates, dinner at a fancy restaurant – those are some of the more common gifts given and received on Valentine's Day. Joshua Sheets of Danville might have settled for a cute little card signed in crayon by a secret admirer asking him to “Be Mine.” That would have been preferable to the unique Valentine's present that the Boone County attorney did receive this year.
West Virginia leading on national stage in election security
CHARLESTON – Imagine a geo-strategic judo match. All the power, strength, momentum, and confidence we have happens to be confronted by a failing, weak, corrupt regime. How does the weaker challenge the stronger? Use the mightier’s strengths against him. It’s classic judo. We are up against a corrupt Russia, but it’s led by a black belt, martial arts expert. This is precisely what Putin and the Russians are doing to the U.S. Allow me to explain.
Class action filed against drug firms for opioid-addicted newborns
CHARLESTON – A class action lawsuit has been filed against Purdue Pharma for babies who were born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, a condition suffered by babies of mothers addicted to opioids.
Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority grants $1.68M for repairs to state judicial buildings
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority has granted $1.68 million for projects around the state in 2018. Counties can receive grants of up to $100,000 each to modify existing courthouses or to build new facilities. Counties must provide at least a 20 percent match and can apply for a grant each year.
Partnership secures conviction in Berkeley heroin case
MARTINSBURG – A Maryland man was found guilty by a jury of trafficking heroin, yet another conviction credited in part to a continuing partnership between West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and U.S. Attorney Bill Powell.
Construction Services alleges Makor K9 owes more than $26,000
BECKLEY – A Raleigh County business is seeking to enforce a mechanic's lien it filed against another business and individual.
Woman allege she is owed coverage from State Farm for auto accident injuries
NEW CUMBERLAND – A Weirton woman alleges she is entitled to underinsured motorist benefits from an insurance company over injuries she received in an auto accident.
Cameron property owners allege concrete floor poured by Ohio company is defective
MOUNDSVILLE – The owners of a Cameron property allege that an Ohio company they hired to pour a concrete basement floor was negligent in its construction.