W.Va. County To Abandon Electronic Voting

Apparently undaunted by the snafus during Kanawha County's recent table games election, Taylor County wants to give up its voting machines in favor of paper ballots, The Associated Press reports.

With about 8,900 voters, the county wants to return 27 iVotronic machines to the Secretary of State's office. Officials there report miscounted ballots, paper jams, costly repair jobs and other problems.

“Based on all the problems we had with the (2006) primary and general election, it was one of the worst experiences of my life,” County Clerk Nancy Fowler, a 32-year veteran of that office, told the AP's Tom Breen.

But as the state's chief election officer, the Secretary of State is questioning the move. “We’re kind of perplexed as to why they’re doing it,” Chief of Staff Ben Beakes said.

Quote of the Day

"What the hell does it take to shape up that agency?"

-- U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., to Richard Stickler during the Mine Safety and Health Administration chief's Wednesday appearance on Capitol Hill. (The Associated Press has a story, while C-Span offers video.)

Crooks On Film

Charleston Mayor Danny Jones has attracted some national attention as he pushes the capital city to install hundreds of surveillance cameras and follow the lead of New York, London and other communities.

The Associated Press' Tom Breen talked to Jones for a detailed look at his proposal. But he also hears from officials in places like Baltimore and Chicago who offer mixed views on the crime-fighting technique.

Paying For The Recount

The gambling counselor-turned-foe who requested the recount of Kanawha County's recent table games election has asked for more time to review the resulting bill, The Charleston Gazette reports.

Mia Moran-Cooper has been charged $5,496.29 after "30 county officials and poll workers spent about three hours recounting ballots in 44 of the county’s 175 precincts," the article said.

"County Commission President Kent Carper told Moran-Cooper the bill would be due at time of receipt," the Gazette reports. "Moran-Cooper said she wants more time to look at the bill and make sure the charges make sense."

The Charleston Daily Mail reported earlier that the bill from the recount was lower than expected.

West Virginia, Open To Suggestions

West Virginia residents can chime in on a new slogan for highway welcome signs.

According to The Associated Press, Gov. Joe Manchin is willing to retire the "Open for Business" mantra he debuted last year.

"Manchin said it's time for the people of West Virginia to choose a permanent welcome slogan, one they'd want all the world to see," AP reports.

Folks can vote online and by calling a toll-free number, 1-866-SLOGAN-4.

Voting ends Sept. 19.

Manchin also noted that an "Open for Business" sign played a bit part in the latest Die Hard film.

As observed here earlier, the debate over the welcome signs has simmered for much of this year, and was even a (minor) topic during the regular legislative session.

Offering some historical tidbits, Manchin's office said "The often-discussed phrase, “Wild, Wonderful” was only on those large signs from 1975 until 1991. The phrase, “Land for Relaxation” also was used on the signs from 1967 to 1975."

MetroNews also has today's story, as does the Charleston Daily Mail.

Orientation in West Virginia

An agency in West Virginia's second-largest city may follow Charleston's lead and add sexual orientation to an anti-discrimination ordinance.

The Herald-Dispatch reports that "The Huntington Human Relations Commission next week will consider seeking a ban on discrimination in housing and employment."

The Charleston Gazette reported last month that the capital city's council unanimously passed a measure "that adds sexual orientation to the list of categories by which businesses and landlords are forbidden to discriminate under the city’s human rights ordinance."

The West Virginia Family Foundation has vowed to fight such moves.

Kanawha Relents On Funding Question

The dispute over funding libraries with property tax revenue in nine counties remains unresolved, but West Virginia's largest county has relented in its position on the issue.

As The Charleston Gazette reports, "A slim majority of the Kanawha County school board voted to restore about $2.3 million in funding to the county’s public library system Tuesday, after a room full of library supporters turned out to protest last month’s decision to withhold the money."

The article also said that "Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, asked board members to consider holding off on their decision to cut funding, saying the Legislature could reach a compromise."

(Update: Other lawmakers question what more they can do to address the issue, according to the Charleston Daily Mail.)

Public Broadcasting earlier weighed the statewide consequences of this funding dispute (with audio).

And Then There Were Ten

That's how many names were submitted for the West Virginia Republican Party's 2008 presidential convention by Saturday's deadline.

As The Associated Press reports, those joining Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani on the roster include Fred Thompson and John McCain.

There are also two surprises on the list.

MetroNews also has the story.

Justice Thomas Coming To West Virginia

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is scheduled to address the Huntington chapter of AARP 6 p.m. Monday at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center of Marshall University.

The Charleston Daily Mail has details.

Deadline Passes for W.Va. GOP Convention

The 2008 Republican presidential candidates, or their supporters, had until Saturday to add their names to the roster for the Feb. 5 "Super-Duper Tuesday" convention planned by West Virginia's GOP.

The Associated Press previews the situation, in advance of Tuesday's expected announcement of who has committed.

Front-runners Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani signed up in August. The state GOP hopes to enhance that coup by attracting Fred Thompson, who plans to launch his campaign Thursday via webcast.

Stateline.org has been tracking the 2008 presidential primaries and caucuses.

Hsu's Money Reached West Virginia

Beneficiaries of Norman Hsu, who apparently became a generous Democratic fundraiser while on the lam from a felony fraud conviction, include U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller.

Hsu contributed $4,000 to the West Virginia Democrat's 2008 re-election campaign, giving half the amount as recently as June 8, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

As The Associated Press has reported, Hsu has donated $260,000 to Democratic candidates and causes since 2004. "After reports surfaced this week of his fugitive status, politicians at all levels scrambled to distance themselves," the AP article said.

Several candidates and party committees have given their Hsu money to charity, including Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., among the presidential contenders.

Update: Rockefeller's campaign has returned Hsu's money, MetroNews reports.

Mine Safety: Back To The Drawing Board

All 254 underground coal mines in West Virginia must rework their plans for providing miners with individual wireless communication and tracking systems, The Associated Press reports this afternoon.

The AP's Tim Huber has scored a letter from state regulators rejecting the mines' plans, after concluding that "the proposals lacked detailed descriptions on how the systems would be developed and used."

Director Ron Wooten of the Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training has given the coal operators until Sept. 21 to fix their proposed plans or risk citations, AP reports.

But Wooten still hopes to have systems installed statewide by mid-2008. "Some mines have already started," he told AP.

Huber also notes that similar federal requirements don't take effect until June 2009. West Virginia _ home to more than a third of the nation's 670 underground coal mines _ "mandated two-way wireless communications equipment after last year's deadly Sago Mine explosion," the AP article said. "The state has since certified a half dozen systems that are designed to help rescuers pinpoint the location of missing miners and talk with them."

Legal Fight Looming Over Library Funding - Updated

A dispute over scarce funding that has simmered since last year may boil over as a lawsuit in West Virginia's largest county, The Charleston Gazette reports today.

Kanawha County's public library system may take the county school board to court over its decision to end annual payments from property tax revenues.

These revenues fund more than a third of the library system's budget, including $2.5 million this year. But school officials cite legislation passed during this year's session that they say gives them "discretion to decide whether schools have extra money for libraries," the Gazette reports.

(Update: the school board apparently hatched its plan to yank the funding in a secret meeting, the Charleston Daily Mail reports. "School Superintendent Ron Duerring defended the closed session, saying it was permissible under provisions of the West Virginia open meetings law," that article said. "County Commission President Kent Carper said it may have been legal, but it was certainly unnecessary. Carper said the board and Duerring had an obligation to conduct open discussions on such a controversial action.")

Property taxes are also a key source of school funding. Kanawha and eight other counties operate under special laws that have dedicated some of these revenues for libraries.

In a separate article, leaders of the state Senate and House education committees tell the Gazette that the move by Kanawha County schools "was not their intention. They believe the Kanawha school board needs to pay the library system the money collected from county taxpayers."

Some of the other counties with special library funding laws have expressed concern over the recent development, The Journal of Martinsburg reports today.

“If the Berkeley County school board interprets the law the same way, then we could have one-third of our funding cut without any advance notice,” Pam Coyle, executive director of the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library, told The Journal.

The Gazette also earlier set the stage for today's meeting of library officials.

Bastress Running For Supreme Court

West Virginia University Law Professor Robert Bastress plans to seek the Democratic nomination for one of two state Supreme Court seats up in 2008.

The Associated Press has a story, drawn from an article by The Charleston Gazette. MetroNews also interviewed Bastress during an appearance this week on Talkline.

Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard earlier announced his plans to seek another 12-year term on the court.

Changing of the Guard

The end of summer also marks several departures from West Virginia's government and political scene:

* Warden Thomas McBride, who has overseen the Mount Olive Correctional Complex for six of its 12 years, is retiring, WOWK-TV reports.

* Andrew Schneider is stepping down as executive director of the oft-embattled West Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, to take a similar post in Connecticut. MetroNews has a story, while The Charleston Gazette profiled Schneider earlier this month.

* The Legislature is losing two two veterans. Director Ted Shanklin of Post Audits, who has been with this office since 1978, is retiring. So is Audit Manager Nick Arvon, who started with the Legislative Auditor's Office in April 1961.

Friends and co-workers plan to fete the long-toiling duo today at the Capitol.

User Fees In West Virginia

Folks who work in the home county of West Virginia University could soon start seeing a "user fee" deducted from their paychecks, Public Broadcasting reports.

Following the lead of Charleston, Monongalia County is eying the fee to aid the burdened road system in their growing community.

The link also offers audio.

A companion piece examines the region of West Virginia seeing the biggest boom, the Eastern Panhandle, but finds that "a user fee is not the answer to their traffic problems." Also with audio.

Giuliani Commits to W.Va. GOP Convention

Rudy Giuliani has added his name to the growing roster of GOP presidential candidates who have signed up for the West Virginia Republican Party's nominating convention on "Super-Duper Tuesday," Feb. 5.

The Associated Press has the story. So does The Charleston Gazette and MetroNews.

The former New York mayor is considered the front-runner among declared Republican candidates, given his performance in national polling.

Update: Mitt Romney signed up for the W.Va. GOP Convention earlier this month. The rest of the Republican field has until Saturday, Sept. 1, state party officials say.

Bill Clinton Coming To West Virginia

The 42nd president will headline this year's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, the annual fundraising event of West Virginia's Democratic Party, on Oct. 13, The Associated Press reports.

Recounting The Table Games Votes - UPDATED

Update: Wednesday's recount slightly changed the vote tally but not the outcome.

"Yes:" 23,196
"No:" 22,857

The Associated Press has the details.

* * *

Kanawha County began recounting ballots 7 a.m. this morning from the 44 voting precincts selected by an opponent of the table games referendum.

The Kanawha County Commission is hosting a live online video of the recount. WSAZ-TV is offering streaming coverage as well.

Earlier update: Audio is also available.

The Charleston Gazette previewed the recount, as did MetroNews.

West Virginia's four racetracks have sought table games amid competition from neighboring Pennsylvania, which began opening slot machine casinos late last year. With table games approved for three of the tracks (pending Kanawha's recount) but not yet installed, the Lottery Commission blames the Keystone State for an 8 percent drop in its racetrack-related revenue.

The Associated Press has the figures, drawn from a Gazette article that also reports on the tracks' quest to remain open around the clock, 24/7, once their table games debut.

MetroNews also hears from Lottery Director John Musgrave about the decline in revenue.

West Virginia's Uninsured Masses

Census figures released Tuesday fail to reflect the actual number of Mountain State residents lacking health coverage, local officials tell The Associated Press' Shaya Tayefe Mohajer.

"I wish it was right, I'd love it if we had achieved that, but we just haven't," Perry Bryant, executive director for West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, told AP.

"A study from the West Virginia University Institute of Health Policy Research, expected to be released later this year, 'should be much more accurate,'" Perry said.

The Charleston Gazette also hears from critics of the U.S. Census report, and from U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller in a separate but related article. The West Virginia Democrat fears President Bush will carry out his threats to veto recent legislation that would expand the state-based Children's Health Insurance Program for low- and middle-income families.