Happy New Year, West Virginia

New fiscal year, that is. West Virginia is among all but a handful of states that start their budget years on July 1.

The Associated Press reports that the Mountain State emerged from the previous, recession-plagued year with "a trio of positive signs for state government’s finances:" a slight general revenue surplus, lottery revenues on track to at least meet projections, and rebounding Wall Street investments.

But the article continues that continuing economic troubles and other factors "overshadow each fiscal indicator."

AP reported earlier on the 2009 legislation that took effect July 1. Those new laws include "Gov. Joe Manchin's proposal to boost alternative and renewable energy sources."

West Virginia also received some bad, but not necessarily unexpected, numbers to kick off the new fiscal year. As AP, MetroNews and Public Broadcasting (with audio) report, "a new national study calls West Virginia the third-fattest state in the country."

W.Va. Auditor Scam Suspect Arraigned

West Virginia's was not the only state government hit by an international fraud ring, but the money it unwittingly gave to the scammers is less likely to be recovered, The Associated Press reports.

Federal prosecutors provided new details in the case Tuesday while arguing for the continued jailing of Angella Muthoni Chegge-Kraszeski, "the sole suspect so far arrested and identified in the alleged scheme," the article said.

A U.S. magistrate judge agreed, after setting the 33-year-old's trial for Aug. 31.

As AP reports, the scam allegedly sought to dupe officials into rerouting payments meant for businesses that provide goods and services to their state's agencies and programs.

The indictment alleges that they succeeded in West Virginia, where they tricked the auditor's office into sending them $919,000 due a vendor.

Prosecutors alleged Tuesday that more than $3 million had been diverted as a result of the scheme, and that it had also targeted Florida, Kansas and Massachusetts.

But the money scammed elsewhere apparently did not reach Kenya, as nearly all the West Virginia funds had. Two weeks before her arrest, Chegge-Kraszeski found she could not access some of the dummy bank accounts set up to funnel defrauded money, her lawyer said.

Federal prosecutors credited the financial crimes unit of the North Carolina state Bureau of Investigation with developing the case. Their officers arrested Chegge-Kraszeski in May.

Toll Hike Looming for W.Va. Turnpike (Updated)

The parent agency of the West Virginia Turnpike is poised to increase toll rates on the 88-mile roadway, The Associated Press reports.

AP's Tom Breen sets the stage for Wednesday's meeting of the Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority on the subject.

(Update: Breen reports that the authority voted unanimously to hike the tolls, effective Aug. 1. As expected, they will rise "for passenger vehicles from $1.25 to $2 and for large trucks from $4.25 to $6.75."

The updated article also said that "steep discounts were approved for motorists who purchase EZ Pass commuter passes. They will pay $1.30 for passenger cars and $5.40 for large trucks.")

The agency held several public hearings on the toll rate question, after releasing an engineering report and projections on traffic and toll revenues as well as other information to get the ball rolling.

"The authority said toll increases are needed to keep the 88-mile highway between Charleston and Princeton from falling into further disrepair," Breen writes, adding that area residents and their elected officials "say the toll discriminates against southern West Virginia residents. They oppose any increase."

Both The Charleston Gazette and The Register-Herald of Beckley reported that toll hike critics were "insulted" that the authority is holding Wednesday's meeting in Charleston instead of the Beckley area as originally planned.

Others previewing Wednesday's meeting include the Charleston and Beckley newspapers, as well as MetroNews.