Byrd Remembers Ted Kennedy

Looking "frail," but with "a strong voice that hasn't been heard on the Senate floor since February," U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., paid tribute Thursday to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., The Associated Press reports.

"Byrd was steady as he bade a wistful goodbye to Kennedy, who died last month," the article said. "He remembered how Kennedy gave him dozens of roses on his wedding anniversary and would bring his dogs to Byrd's office for visits."

Footage from C-Span has been posted on YouTube.

W.Va. Judge on Capitol Hill as Obama Nominee

Kanawha Circuit Judge Irene Berger is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee today as President Obama's nominee to the bench of southern West Virginia's Federal Court district.

Live video showed Berger at the hearing's start sitting just behind U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

Statue Honoring W.Va. Women Veterans Finds Home

Perhaps in time for Veterans Day, a new statue representing West Virginia women who have served in the military will stand near the Veterans Memorial on the state Capitol grounds, The Associated Press reports.

The state Capitol Building Commission voted Wednesday to place the statue east-southeast of the popular visitor draw. It will be the same height as the memorial's four figures depicting fighting men.

"Award-winning Charleston sculptor Joe Mullins created all five statues," AP explains. "He was commissioned to sculpt the monument to women veterans more than a decade ago. The project was held up after complaints that the statue was too masculine and should be wearing a skirt. A panel of women veterans approved Mullins' design last year."

W.Va. Supreme Court Rehears Massey Appeal, Again

For the third time in nearly two years, West Virginia's Supreme Court heard arguments in a 2002 Boone County case that resulted in a $50 million verdict against Massey Energy Co.

As The Associated Press reports, while the two previous hearing yielded decisions overturning that judgment, "an almost entirely different court heard Tuesday's arguments."

This summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling set the stage for the latest round. And while it forced the recusal of Chief Justice Brent Benjamin, "three of the four remaining justices are also new to the case: Menis Ketchum and Margaret Workman were elected in November, while Thomas McHugh was appointed following the March death of Justice Joseph Albright," AP reports.

Others on hand for the latest hearing include The Charleston Gazette, WCHS-TV (with video), Public Broadcasting (with audio) and MetroNews (ditto).

Labor Day's Competing Rallies

The hoped-for turnout, headliners, corporate sponsorship and political themes at Monday's Logan County rally drew coverage from The Associated Press, The Charleston Gazette, the Charleston Daily Mail, MetroNews (with audio here, here and here), Public Broadcasting, WSAZ-TV (with video), and WOWK-TV (ditto).

The traditional and more sedate event at Boone County prompted reports from The Gazette, the Daily Mail, WSAZ-TV (with video), WCHS-TV, and WOWK-TV (with video).