| CHANGING TIMES - Some Nitro firefighters may soon be carrying weapons. If a new ordinance that is in the drafting
stages is adopted by Nitro City Council, a few firefighters in the city would be able to carry the same weapons as the Nitro
police force and would be able to arrest people in certain situations.
COAL INDUSTRY WANTS BIGGER TRUCKS - About 300 people were shouting at the committee room
where delegates spent three hours reviewing the increased weight coal bill. James LeFew, of the West Virginia Coal
Association, said coal companies, trucking companies and other coal-related businesses need to get the message to
lawmakers that the weight limit increase is essential. "They have to understand that without trucks there's no coal. Without
coal, there's no West Virginia," he told the group.
The bill would raise the weight limit to 126,000 pounds, 120,000 pounds plus a 5 percent variance, on roads in
Kanawha, Boone, Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne,
Webster and Wyoming counties.
Sen. Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, sponsor of the bill, said that competition from foreign coal producers would put everyone in
Southern West Virginia out of work unless the legislature and governor approve the weight increase.
CHARLESTON UNIT JOINS BUILD-UP - Charleston's 130th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard has been activated
and will deploy within the next week, joining the several thousand in the impending war with Iraq.
About 200 airmen, mostly Charleston residents, are headed to the U.S. Central Command to aid the ongoing war on
terrorism, said Capt. David Lester with the 130th Airlift Wing.
WATER CONTROL PROBLEMS - Business groups are concerned about losing rights to use state water, as well as its
tax-free status. They say a Senate bill would lay claim to West Virginia's water resources.
Several dozens of large companies located out of the state currently use its water.
The bill sounds harmless enough.
It says all water resources within or bordering West Virginia are held for the use of all of its citizens and gives the state the
power to "protect and preserve" its waterways.
The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia Manufacturers' Association, the West Virginia Farm Bureau and
others say the bill could erode water users' rights and lay the foundation for the state to start taxing water.
The state has little control over the state's water resources, which some believe may become the state's biggest natural
resource.
PAX HAS NO PEACE - No peace in Pax. The mayor, city recorder and four City Council members have resigned, the
latest action in a two-year battle over a businessman wanting to buy City Hall.
BUSH SEEKING TO PRIVATIZE MEDICARE BENEFITS - President Bush would encourage seniors to join private
plans by offering comprehensive prescription drug coverage.
Democrats say Bush, who has proposed $400 billion over 10 years for a Medicare overhaul, does not want to spend what it
takes to offer a real prescription drug benefit for all seniors. The president's proposal is another attempt to privatize the
popular program, they charged.
"To date, the president has shown virtually no leadership on Medicare," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, a long-time
leader on health care issues.
"After campaigning on a prescription drug platform, the president has put forth minimal concepts with no details on how they
would work," he said.
President Bush just outlined broad-brush changes to the health care plan that serves 40 million older and disabled Americans.
Among the options, a new "enhanced Medicare" plan would offer comprehensive drug benefits, full coverage of preventive
care and government assistance to pay for hospitalization. Participants would choose from private sector plans, with several
plans offered in each of 10 multi-state regions. Medicare beneficiaries would enroll in health maintenance organizations
(HMOs), which reportedly would offer full drug coverage and lower expenses for consumers. HMOs are managed care
organizations.
HOUSE PASSES MEDICAL MALPRACTICE BILL -
The House of Delegates voted 91 to 4 to adopt a compromise medical malpractice bill that would help doctors create
their own insurance company. The bill would also shield doctors from some negligence lawsuits and damage awards.
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