Military opens combat jobs to women in phased plan
Defense Secretary Ash Carter endorsed plans to start recruiting women for combat roles including Navy SEALs with entry training possible by September and October. Marine Corps projects about 200 women per year into ground combat posts and Special Operations Command expects a small number of volunteers. All services report facility modifications and monitoring for training, injuries, and harassment as reforms begin next month.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Navy Seals
Army
Marine Corps
Defense
Ash Carter
Associated Press
U.S. Special Operations Command
Navy
Pentagon
Carter
Services
Ray Mabus
Lawmakers Veto West Virginia Concealed Weapons Bill
The governor vetoed a bill expanding concealed weapons rights citing missing tax details and unclear provisions. Sheriff Steve Tanner praised the veto, arguing training and background checks are essential before carrying any weapon. The House and Senate await potential override votes in the coming session.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tomblin
Raleigh County
Steve Tanner
West Virginia
Tanner
House of Delegates
Senate
Jared Hunt
House
Jacque Bland
Mercer County to open female substance abuse program
A recovery program will operate under drug court supervision in Mercer County with 12 beds for intensive outpatient treatment at Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center. The initiative, funded by a Governor’s grant, targets substance abuse and aims to use education and resources to reintegrate participants into society drug free. The plan covers 150 new inpatient beds, a women’s recovery residence, and services across multiple counties including Berkeley, Cabell, Kanawha, Raleigh, and Wyoming.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center
Weiss
Greg Puckett
Community Connections
Mercer County
Berkeley
Cabell
Fayette
Grant
Greenbrier
Hampshire
Hardy
Jefferson
Kanawha
Logan
Mason
Mercer
Mineral
Mingo, Morgan, Pendleton, Putnam
Raleigh
Summers
Wyoming
Charles Boothe
Cboothe
Bottonline
McDowell County Faces Decline Amid Coal Loss and Aid Gaps
West cites worsening conditions in McDowell County Charleston trip three years ago yielded no help. He notes no tax base no four lane highway and school cuts while Wal Mart left and overdoses rise. He says state leaders and Governor Tomblike ignore the county despite its prior coalwealth and current budget pinch.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charleston
Wal-mart
House
McDowell County
Tomblike
Martin West
McDowell County Officials Clash Over Grants and Veto
Sheriff Martin West denounces a bill to end permit requirements as lawmakers prepare to override. He links McDowell’s woes to lack of jobs, schools, and services and cites his Haiti experience to condemn political priorities. Senator Cole notes the toll of drug abuse and grants’ denial to McDowell.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West
Haiti
McDowell County
Bill Cole
McDowell
Coalfield
Va Senate cannot overturn veto on Clean Power Plan bill
Virginia's Republican led Senate failed to override Gov. McAuliffe's veto of a bill giving lawmakers a say in implementing the federal Clean Power Plan. The 21-19 vote fell short, with supporters arguing for economic protection, especially coal, while the governor warned of constitutional separation of powers. Virginia proceeds with the plan despite a Supreme Court stay.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senate
Richmond
Virginia
Terry McAuliffe
General Assembly
McAuliffe
Supreme Court
House panel halts cigarette tax hike and budget plans
Charleston lawmakers, led by House Finance, gutted a Senate bill raising per pack taxes by $1 and extinguished a 45 cent increase plus new tax on e liquid and data packages. They say taxes should not disincentivize smoking while aiming for a balanced $4.3 billion budget with cuts and no new taxes. Budget gaps persist as SB 555 remains under study and a Rainy Day Fund withdrawal was approved.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charleston
House Committee On Finance
Senate
Eric Householder
Berkeley
Householder
Public Employees Insurance Agency
Earl Tomblin
Tomblin
House
Obituaries: Richard Swaney and David Toney service details
Richard Norman Swaney 76 of Princeton died March 1 2016 after a career as a meat cutter and longtime area resident. Survived by wife Peggy four children seven grandchildren nine great grandchildren and other relatives. Funeral 1:00 PM Saturday March 5 at Burns Wornal Chapel with burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. David M Toney 73 of Bluefield died March 2 2016 born January 3 1943 NASA engineer on Apollo missions. Survived by wife Carolyn two children a sister and several nieces and nephews. Memorial service 2:00 PM Saturday March 5 at Mercer Funeral Home Chapel. donations suggested to Bluefield Union Mission or Bland Street United Methodist Church.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Swaney
Princeton
Richard Norman Swaney
Thornton Avenue
Altoona
Norman E. “Pete’ Swaney
Betty M. Garland Swaney
U.S. Marine Corp
Peggy
Andy Griffith
Margaret Jo
Peggy” Hughes Swaney
Tammy Lynn King
Beth Ann Theida
Mark
Terry W. Swaney
Lisa
Kegley
Alessia Hawkins
Krystin Robinette
Joshua Swaney
Allison
Family & Friends
David M Toney
Bluefield
Bluefield Regional Medical Center
Toney
Maple Fork
Cecil and
Macie Lilly Toney
Welch High School
Marshall University
NASA
Kennedy Space Center
Titusville
Florida
Smithsonian
WV Armature
Mida, Inc
Pemco
Watts Transformer
DMT Enterprises
Fincastle Country Club
Jerry Toney
Mark Toney
Carolyn Williams Toney
Michelle Toney Altman
Mac
Galivants Ferry
David M. Toney
Kris
Cynthia Williams
Hayley Altman Kelly
Wes
Rock Hill
Jay Altman
Conway
Katie Altman
Hartsville
Max and
Jacob Toney
Adalynn Toney Kelly
Jeanne Toney Hartzel
Beckley
Charles Toney
Beverly
Joey Nigro
Sarah Stephenson
Stephanie Wells
Mercer Funeral Home
Gary Shepard
Bluefield Union Mission
Bland Street United Methodist Church
David
MercerFuneralHome.com
Funerals scheduled for today across multiple towns
Funerals listed include Therese Margaret Allen at 2 p.m. in Princeton with burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Kenneth Johnson Bailey at 3 p.m. in Bluewell with burial at Grandview Memory Gardens Bluefield, Va. Robert Alan Lunsford at 7 p.m. memorial in Bluefield. Debra Kaye Yest Neal at 2 p.m. in Bluefield with burial at Monte Vista Park Cemetery Green Valley. Bishop Robert Swanson Prunty at noon in Princeton. Florence St.Clair at 11 a.m. graveside in Kissimmee Fla. James Lee Tabor at 1 p.m. in Princeton with burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Therese Margaret Allen
George W. Seaver
Seaver Funeral Home
Princeton
Roselawn Memorial Gardens
Kenneth Johnson Bailey
Cravens-Shires Funeral Home
Bluewell
Grandview Memory Gardens
Bluefield
Robert Alan Lunsford
Debra Kaye Yest
Athens Road
Also Mentioned on This Page
Military
A-1
Larimer
Justice
Samantha Perry
Sperry
Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety
Division of Justice and Community Services
Cole
Maynard
del. Clif Moore
The
Daily Telegraph
A-3
Richard Norman
Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory
Mercerfuneralhome
Bdtonline.com
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!