Friday, July 01, 2011
EKB Capsule News...West Virginia...7-2-'11
- Testimony is set to continue Monday, July 11th, in the murder trial of 38 year old Christopher Bowling, a Raleigh County man accused of fatally shooting his wife Tresa in their Daniels home in January 2010. The proceedings were put on hold for a week Friday to accommodate some jurors with vacation plans. This is Bowling's second trial after the first ended in a mistrial after two jurors were dismissed.
- The investigation into the January 27th mine death of 19 year old John C. Lester Jr. is complete. Investigators say it appears Lester attempted to cross a moving conveyor belt where a suitable belt crossing facility was not provided and became trapped in the structure. The accident occurred at Jim's Branch No. 3B mine near New Richmond in Wyoming County.
Charleston Police say an argument on Washington Street East in Charleston Thursday night turned violent when James Wesley Green, 56, of Charleston, struck Bruce Morgan, 56, several times with a hammer, causing him to suffer several minor injuries to his face and hands. Green was charged with malicious wounding.
- About 20 new laws went into effect Friday, July 1st, the start of the new fiscal year for West Virginia. West Virginia’s Division of Veterans’ Affairs became the Cabinet-level Department of Veterans’ Assistance. Marcellus shale natural gas field developers are eligible for new tax credits, and both public and private insurers are required to cover autism spectrum disorder treatment. Insurers do not have to adjust their coverage until the 2012 plan year.
- More than 300 uninsured West Virginia children are now eligible for coverage by the state Children's Health Insurance Program. Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved the coverage expansion proposed by the program's board in February, extending coverage to children of families with a gross income of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. A family of four can have a household income of about $67,000, up from about $55,000. Families also must pay a $35 monthly premium for one child or $71 per month for two or more children.
Public Service Commission staff lawyer John Auville has asked the regulatory agency to require American Electric Power, FirstEnergy and other electric utilities to report the conditions of their high-voltage transmission lines and provide plans to ensure their continued service. Auville is asking that the utilities submit their reports within 30 days. The state has more than 5,700 miles of high voltage transmission lines.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:08 PM 
