The Times West Virginian

Lawmakers mull ruling on e-mail secrecy
A state Supreme Court justice says West Virginia’s Freedom of Information laws are too narrow to fully serve the public’s right to know, and some lawmakers are willing to look at changing the code.
Justice Margaret Workman wrote Wednesday that the Freedom of Information Act should be changed so that the context in which records are produced can be considered when deciding if they qualify as public records open to view by all.
State officials pay tribute to Byrd
Beneath a life-sized statue of history’s longest-serving U.S. lawmaker, West Virginia officials were paying tribute to Sen. Robert C. Byrd.
Gov. Joe Manchin told a crowd of more than 200 in the state Capitol Wednesday that West Virginians have never lost confidence in the senior senator, who has been in Congress since 1953, with the last five decades spent in the Senate.
Senate salutes Byrd today
The Senate is a resolutely superlative place, so it was resolved that the august body on Wednesday will open its session by saluting Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Congress’ longest-serving member.
“United States senators, like baseball fans, love statistics,” the West Virginia Democrat, who turns 92 on Friday, observed during a 1986 floor speech.
Lawmakers addressing ailing municipal pensions
A group representing hundreds of West Virginia police officers sees the value in the special session legislation that aims to help ailing municipal pensions, one of its officials said Tuesday.
But the state’s Fraternal Order of Police also has concerns with Huntington’s plans to switch its newest officers to a new pension program once — and if — the bill becomes law, Vice President Joe Crawford said.
Five indicted in scam
A federal grand jury in West Virginia has linked five more people to an international scam that allegedly tricked government agencies in several states into paying at least $3.3 million to bogus companies with names that sounded like legitimate firms.
The charges unsealed Tuesday implicate Minnesota residents Michael M. “Mikie” Ochenge, 33; Robert M. “Robe” Otiso, 36; Paramena J. “Joseph” Shikanda, 35; Albert E. Gunga, 30; and Collins A. Masese, 20.
W.Va. county examines year-round schools
Members of one West Virginia county school board are taking a look at the idea of year-round schools, an issue that has some support from President Obama and Gov. Joe Manchin. Last month, Piedmont Elementary Principal Steve Knighton traveled to Marshall County in the Northern Panhandle, to discuss the year-round schedule at Piedmont, a school in Charleston’s East End.
Marshall marks anniversary of plane crash
The 39th anniversary of a plane crash that killed most of Marshall University’s football team has been marked by hundreds at a memorial service.
They gathered Saturday around the Marshall University Memorial Fountain to honor the 75 victims of the 1970 plane crash.
West Virginia city pensions top special session call
West Virginia cities with cash-strapped pension funds could be in store for some relief when the Legislature heads to the Capitol next week.
Gov. Joe Manchin issued a call Friday for a special session to coincide with the previously scheduled three-day series of monthly interim meetings that starts Tuesday.
Body found during search for ex-wife; man arrested
A Tucker County man has been arrested after investigators found skeletal remains under a shed behind his house during a search for the body of his ex-wife, State Police said Friday.
Wesley Cale Sr., 42, is charged with concealing a body and is being held on $150,000 cash bond at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, First Sgt. J.A. Wise said.

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