| TURNPIKE TRAVEL BIG DECLINE - The West Virginia Turnpike experienced its deepest decline in commercial traffic since the economic downturn.
General Manager Greg Barr says truck traffic dipped 16 percent from the previous year.
Barr says overall traffic has been down more than 9 percent for the first two months of the calendar year. That equals a $750,000 decline in revenues.
The Parkways Authority is moving toward approving a toll increase on the 88-mile highway.
Barr says without some more revenue the Parkways Authority could find itself in technical default of the $90 million in bonds still owed.
STATE'S PREMIER RESORT IN TROUBLE -
There's little comment from CSX Corporation on the future of The Greenbrier Resort, but all watchers say it is in deep trouble.
Governor Joe Manchin wants CSX to sell the resort, which is getting a boost with gambling revenue.
Manchin says adding gambling, video lottery machines and table games, to bring in additional dollars could make The Greenbrier more attractive to any potential buyers.
Those potential buyers could save hundreds of jobs.
ANOTHER JACKSON COUNTY BLOW - KS of West Virginia, an auto parts maker in Silverton, Jackson County, announced it has laid off 19 workers because of a reduction in orders.
"KS of West Virginia is doing what most other companies are doing at this time, shrinking its workforce to match its production needs," the company said.
KS of West Virginia's 35 remaining employees will continue to produce parts and ship orders.
The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kato Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Japan, headquartered in Nagoya, Japan.
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