March 10, 2009
State briefs: March 9,2009
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Mother, son killed in weekend fire

PULLMAN - The state Fire Marshal's Office and Ritchie County sheriff's deputies are searching for clues to what caused a weekend fire that killed a woman and her son.

The sheriff's department said Monday the victims were Lola Eakle, 91, and her 67-year-old son, Teddy Eakle.

According to the Fire Marshal's office, the fire broke out in the Eakles' Pullman home about 5 a.m. Saturday. A cause of the fire has yet to be determined because the blaze caused extensive damage.

Slot techs accused in theft at Nitro track

Two slot technicians are accused of stealing money from slot machines at Tri-State Racetrack and Casino in Nitro.

State Police on Sunday charged Jason M. Wright, 34, of Cross Lanes with grand larceny and conspiracy. Curtis D. Dotson, 37, of Nitro was charged with petit larceny and conspiracy.

The state Lottery Commission's Security Division alleged in a complaint that the men stole money from cash boxes inside the slot machines.

W.Va. says coal drove big export surge in 2008

The state Department of Commerce says strong foreign demand for coal boosted West Virginia exports 41 percent last year.

Figures released by the agency Monday show coal and oil exports surged 144 percent from 2007 to 2008. Exports of mining equipment jumped 31 percent, but plastics dipped 0.4 percent.

Moreover, the agency says U.S. Commerce Department figures show the value of exports increased more than 43 percent to $5.6 billion in 2008, from $3.9 billion in 2007.

Factors including the value of the U.S. dollar, ocean freight rates and shipping bottlenecks in Australia combined to create strong international demand for Appalachian coal last year. Prices at times more than doubled, particularly for coking coal used to fire steel blast furnaces.

Employment, training to get $14.5 million

West Virginia is getting about $14.5 million from the federal stimulus package for employment and training programs.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the state's share of funding Monday. A total $3.5 billion has been allocated to the nation's work force investment system.

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