Fairs, festivals that scale back to survive the recession see record crowds of ’staycationers’

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fun-seekers venturing out to farm fairs, art festivals and other mainstays of the American summer are finding either crowds or cancellation notices this year — and sometimes for the same reason.

Patriot Coal to shut down W.Va. surface mine, focus production at lower-cost operations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Another major U.S. coal mining complex has fallen victim to the slumping demand for energy.

Roberts re-elected president of UMWA; Kane wins new terms as secretary-treasurer

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Cecil E. Roberts has won a new five-year term as president of the United Mine Workers of America.

Alpha transforms itself into nation’s No. 3 coal producer with takeover of rival Foundation

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Alpha Natural Resources completed the takeover of rival Foundation Coal Holdings on Friday, winning shareholder approval of a deal that creates a national power out of two regional players even as the recession hammers energy demand.

Pilot dies as single-engine plane flies 300 miles past destination, crashes in W.Va. woods

RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — A single-engine plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of West Virginia after the pilot apparently lost consciousness and flew hundreds of miles past the airport in Indiana where he was supposed to land.

As other states lay off their workers, W.Va.’s governor proposes giving his $500 extra

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While economic woes are forcing many states to lay off or furlough their workers, West Virginia’s governor wants to give his a little something extra.

Shareholders of Alpha Natural Resources, Foundation Coal approve $1.4 billion deal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Shareholders approved Alpha Natural Resources’ takeover of rival Foundation Coal Holdings.

Massey rehires miners as Asian steel markets show signs of recovering from recession

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Massey Energy Co. said Wednesday it’s begun rehiring miners amid growing demand for coking coal from Asian steelmakers.

Massey Energy reports $20.2 million in 2Q, citing sales to power plants

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal producer Massey Energy Co. said Tuesday it turned a better-than-expected profit in the second quarter as it booked fewer charges and increased shipments to power plants despite slumping demand for electricity amid the recession.

Emergency officials: West Virginia mine worker killed when excavator rolls into pond

ORGAS, W.Va. — Emergency officials in Boone County say a worker at a coal mine has been killed in an accident.

Coal producers ICG, Alpha and Foundation cut production further to cope with sluggish demand

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal producers are making further cuts in production as the recession throttles demand for energy and steel, undermining second quarter sales and profits, three of the nation’s largest producers said Monday.

Massey drops lawsuit challenging W.Va. Supreme Court’s recusal procedures

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal producer Massey Energy Co. said Friday it is dropping a lawsuit challenging the West Virginia Supreme Court’s recusal procedures.

Alpha Natural Resources reaffirms commitment to buy rival Foundation Coal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Alpha Natural Resources is confirming its commitment to buy rival mine operator Foundation Coal.

W.Va. high school principal fired for jumping on pile of students during cafeteria food fight

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. — A high school principal who admitted jumping atop a pile of students during a cafeteria food fight has been fired. The Upshur County Board of Education voted Tuesday to oust Brenda Wells from Buckhannon-Upshur High School. She’d been suspended since late May.

CEO charged with embezzling more than $1 million from failed W.Va. credit union

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Federal prosecutors say the former chief executive of a failed West Virginia credit union has been charged with embezzling more than $1 million.

4 workers injured after train derails, knocking down building at coal plant in southern W.Va.

WHARNCLIFFE, W.Va. — Four workers are injured after a freight train derailed at a West Virginia coal plant and caused a nearby building to collapse.

West Virginia’s Greenbrier planning to open casino by fall

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Greenbrier’s new owner says he plans to open a small casino at the four-star southern West Virginia resort by fall, and he wants the dice rolling and cards being dealt at a full-scale gambling operation by April 1.

Coal company Massey Energy wins court injunction barring protesters from W.Va. mine properties

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Coal giant Massey Energy Co. has obtained a court order barring 14 anti-mining protesters from returning to one of its southern West Virginia mines where the demonstrators were arrested in June.

Southwest Airlines inspected nearly 200 aircraft after hole in plane forced emergency landing

DALLAS — Federal safety officials are investigating how a foot-long hole opened in the top of a Southwest Airlines jet, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Charleston, W. Va.

Passengers hug pilot after hole in Southwest plane’s fuselage forces emergency landing in WVa

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Passengers on a Southwest Airlines plane applauded and hugged the pilot for a safe emergency landing in West Virginia after a football-sized hole appeared in the fuselage.

Southwest Airlines inspecting nearly 200 aircraft after hole in plane forces emergency landing

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Southwest Airlines ordered inspections of nearly 200 aircraft after a football-sized hole opened up in the passenger cabin of a plane during flight, forcing an emergency landing in West Virginia.

Southwest 737 makes emergency landing in WV after hole appears in fuselage; no one injured

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Southwest Airlines 737 aircraft made an emergency landing in West Virginia after the passenger cabin became depressurized after a hole appeared in the fuselage.

W.Va. Lottery player still on a roll, wins 9th prize of $7,000 with instant ticket

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Brenda Bailey is still on a roll.

W.Va. Lottery player wins 9th big lottery prize, this time $7,000 in the Gem 7s instant game

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Brenda Bailey is still on a roll.

Obama nominates former UMW, Penn. officials to head federal mining regulatory agencies

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Obama administration nominated officials Monday to head two key agencies that oversee the health and safety of the nation’s 392,000 miners and environmental issues at thousands of surface mines across the country.

Apologetic W.Va. reservist and face of Abu Ghraib scandal hopes biography brings redemption

KEYSER, W.Va. — More than two years since leaving her prison cell, the woman who became the grinning face of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal spends most of her days confined to the four walls of her home.

Chief Justice Roberts says court only offers clarity, not policy, for school administrators

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Don’t look to the Supreme Court to set school rules, only to clarify them when officials have abdicated that responsibility, Chief Justice John Roberts said Saturday.

Daryl Hannah, scientist among mountaintop removal protesters arrested at W.Va. mine site

NAOMA, W.Va. — Actress Daryl Hannah and NASA scientist James Hansen were among 31 people arrested Tuesday as they protested mountaintop removal mining in southern West Virginia.

Darryl Hannah, NASA scientist among mountaintop removal protesters arrested at W.Va. mine site

NAOMA, W.Va. — Actress Darryl Hannah, NASA scientist James Hansen and other mountaintop removal mining opponents have been arrested during a protest in southern West Virginia.

W.Va. couple get souvenir from bridge demolition, blast sends piece into their spare bedroom

MASON, W.Va. — A West Virginia couple got an unexpected souvenir from the demolition of the Pomeroy Mason Bridge when a piece of it landed in their spare bedroom. When workers imploded the top half of a pier Wednesday, the blast sent a football-sized piece through the siding of Steve and Kelly Stewart’s house in Mason. Kelly Stewart said the piece landed in a bean bag chair and missed her by a few feet.