| CULP FAMILY BRINGS SUIT - The family of a murdered Jackson County woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit
against her husband's estate.
The Linda Culp family is suing the estate of Gary Culp, who was found dead last week of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in
a Missouri hotel room. Linda Culp's body was found in a shallow grave, apparently murdered by her husband. Her family is
seeking $3 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages, according to the lawsuit filed Friday in
Jackson Circuit Court by Parkersburg lawyer Richard Hayhurst. The money would go to Linda Culp's four sisters and their
children, who were supported financially by her.
DROP FOR NO REASON? - Insurance companies might do business in the Mountain
State if they could drop West Virginians more easily or for no reason at all,
lawmakers were told at an interim session last weekend. Insurers can refuse to
renew when a policyholder fails to pay premiums, lies to get the policy or violates
its terms. For auto policies, an insurer can non-renew for a suspended or revoked
driver's license.
COAL HAUL ROADS BEING APPROVED - Residents are now studying a state plan to
increase the legal weight limit for coal trucks on some of the state's steepest and
roughest terrain. New maps highlighted more than 1,700 miles of public highways
where trucks hauling coal can carry more than twice the current legal limit of
65,000 pounds. 80,000 pound limits are on the interstate system.
Whether the new 120,000 pound limit is an improvement on the status quo is
somewhat doubtful, if you listen to Massey CEO Don Blankenship, who views the
120,000 pound limit as a restriction. Trucks were allowed to haul up to 200,000
pounds with little police intervention.
WHEELING CHURCH GROUP ASSAULTS UNHOLY GROUND - The Reverend James
Kelley of Wheeling has some hope a church group could change parts of the city for
one night. Armed with salt, holy water and prayer, 28 Wheeling area church groups
will get on several buses and travel to the worst spots in town.
The group will target at least six areas in town, prostitution alleys, strip clubs and
drug infested blocks. The churchgoers will pray, sprinkle holy water and salt on the
ground in a symbolic attempt to reclaim each site for the community.
DEBATE OVER NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND - State lawmakers are divided over whether
President Bush is giving West Virginia enough money for "No Child Left Behind."
The federal law is a mandate that brings sweeping changes to the nation's schools.
Republican legislators said a press release from the federal government says that
Bush has increased education funding to the Mountain State by $63 million
dollars.
But Democrats say that figure is some kind of estimate on various funding sources
that could come to the state. Lawmakers believe West Virginia needs another $71
million to pay for changes required by the law.
"SAVING JESSICA LYNCH" - Actress Laura Regan will portray Army Private Jessica
Lynch in the NBC movie "Saving Jessica Lynch." NBC President Jeff Zucker said
the film will be a compelling action-adventure told from the perspective of
Mohammad Odeh al-Rehaief, the Iraqi lawyer who alerted the US military to Lynch's
situation. Zucker has said the film is being made without Lynch's participation.
STATE SUING FREDDIE MAC - The state is suing Freddie Mac. The state says there
are accounting irregularities that have been acknowledged by the finance housing
giant. It has cost the state $1.7 million in investment losses. The West Virginia
Investment Management Board's investment committee voted yesterday to pursue
a class-action lawsuit against the McLean, Virginia, company.
VETS WILL HAVE LICENSE PLATES - Governor Bob Wise helped unveil the latest
vanity plates from the DMV Wednesday morning. All five honor veterans who served
their country. Bronze Star recipients as well as World War II, Korea, Vietnam and
Persian Gulf vets all have a license plate to call their own.
WV GETTING THE BUCKS - In West Virginia it is called pork, in other states it's called investment. Uncle Sam has been
generous with West Virginia and four other states receiving a better return for their federal tax dollar in 2002.
For every $1 in federal taxes, West Virginia got back $1.82 in federal expenditures.
New Mexico got the best return, $2.37 for every $1 in taxes.
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