Manchin’s daughter received no favoritism, WVU says; Mylan stands behind COO

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Friday that West Virginia University rewrote records that originally showed that Gov. Joe Manchin’s daughter had completed only half of the required course work to earn her MBA degree at WVU in 1998. WVU says a clerical mistake is to blame for the appearance that Heather Bresch received favorable treatment regarding her MBA.

The Post-Gazette started looking into Bresch’s background in October after she was named chief operating officer of Milan Inc, a pharmaceutical company based in Pittsburgh.  

University spokeswoman Amy Neil says Bresch’s records were corrected, but only after an investigation showed that information contained in the College of Business and Economics files were not properly recorded in WVU’s admission’s office a decade ago.  Neil says similar problems were discovered in the records of a couple of other students. 

Neil: “We have admitted to the Post-Gazette and to Ms. Bresch and to any students that were impacted that it was the College of Business and Economics’ error back 10 years ago. It was, whether it be the lack of electronic recording of grades or the way the College of Business and Economics reported their records to the Office of Admissions and Records. Obviously, it was not done in the proper fashion, and the university has admitted to those mistakes, have corrected those errors from back ten years ago. And it’s not the most perfect situation, but it had nothing to do with favoritism, had nothing to do with names. It was just a matter of making sure that our records were correct and accurate which the Dean ensured that they were.”  

The Post-Gazette article quotes unnamed classmates of Bresch’s who didn’t think she had finished her coursework in 1998. It also reports that the university had no record that she had paid for her missing classes, citing an unnamed source within the university.

The dean of WVU’s College of Business and Economics, Stephen Sears, refused comment to the Post-Gazette. He also has not returned a call to West Virginia Public Broadcasting seeking comment.

Mylan Inc. issued a statement Friday in Bresch’s support. It reads, in part, “Rather than relying on anonymous and unsubstantiated sources, Mylan has received confirmation from West Virginia University that Ms. Bresch received her MBA in December 1998. Ms. Bresch has the full respect and confidence of Mylan’s Board of Directors and management team.”   

Mylan Inc. statement in support of COO Heather Bresch

“Mylan stands behind the integrity of its long-time employee and senior executive Heather Bresch. Ms. Bresch is a highly qualified and well-respected industry leader with an exemplary track record of success, established throughout her fifteen year career with the company. Rather than relying on anonymous and unsubstantiated sources, Mylan has received confirmation from West Virginia University that Ms. Bresch received her MBA in December 1998. Ms. Bresch has the full respect and confidence of Mylan’s Board of Directors and management team.”

Missing Marshall Student’s Body Believed to be Found

Huntington police believe they have found the body of missing Marshall University student Leah Hickman. 

They said they found the body Friday evening in a crawl space under the apartment building where Hickman lived. 

Police had not made an official identification as of Friday night, but they said they believed they had found Hickman’s body. 

The missing college student has been the subject of nationwide publicity and a massive search.

Street violence in Charleston, Huntington

Earlier this week, the Rev. Al Sharpton was in Charleston. He was part of a rally that urged prosecutors to file hate crime charges in the rape and torture of Megan Williams in Logan County. But as this case continues to gain attention, some say that leaders like Sharpton, local politicians and the community itself are ignoring more pressing issues.

Of particular concern is recent escalation of street violence. On December 8^th, Charleston was the scene of three separate-but-related shootings that criss-crossed the city.

One man was killed, two were seriously wounded and two others have been arrested. Murders are certainly not unheard of in Charleston, but the nature and circumstances surrounding them are changing in the view of Pastor Matthew Watts. He heads an organization in Charleston that works with at-risk youth and juvenile offenders.

  

He spoke with Beth Vorhees this week on our television program Outlook, as did Brandi Jones. She’s the director of administration in Huntington, and a former member of city council. Huntington is also a city that’s been the scene of high-profile murders and shootings in recent years, most notably the murder of four teen-agers on prom night in 2005.

Below is video of that conversation (and comments made by Al Sharpton), a transcript and a condensed version that aired on the radio program West Virginia Morning.

• Video, part 1
• Video, part 2
• Transcript
• Click here for radio version

It’s official: WV now a casino state

By Keri Brown

kbrown@wvbpubcast.org 

Two Northern Panhandle racetracks are officially full-fledged casinos. On Thursday, Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino Racetrack and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort started offering games like blackjack, roulette and craps.

• Click here for audio

 

Marshall student still missing; friends organize vigil

 Leah Hickman

By Clark Davis
cdavis@wvpubcast.org 

The search continues for 21-year-old Marshall University student Leah Hickman, as friends and family keep hope alive.

• Read story – Leah Hickman missing
• Click here for audio

ARH strike is over

The strike between Appalachian Regional Healthcare and its nurses is over. 

After a strike that lasted nearly three months, both sides have announced that they reached a tentative agreement. Details of the agreement will be kept confidential until the approximately 700 registered nurses represented by the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations have the opportunity to vote on the new proposal tomorrow and Saturday. 

Pat Tanner, chief negotiator for the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations, said that the last three months have been a difficult time for everyone, but, “I am happy to report that in this proposed tentative agreement – the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations remain strong and intact.  No nurse is left behind and our issues have been addressed.”  

ARH official Dan Fitzpatrick said the agreement reflects compromises by both parties. Governor Joe Manchin said in a statement that he is “pleased that they were able to come back to the table and reach an agreement that gets our nurses back to work, and enables ARH to continue providing quality health care for southern West Virginia.”  

About 650 nurses walked off the job Oct. 1. Earlier this month, they rejected a contract offer in a 455-5 vote. The strike forced Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital to lay off 17 workers and close one floor. The hospital was seeing fewer patients because many refused to cross the picket line. 

Nurses say their main purpose for striking is the well-being of their patients. They say that staffing levels are spread too thin and mandatory overtime has become the norm. Hospital officials say that federal and state regulators have never found that ARH’s staffing levels adversely affect patient outcomes. 

Groups seek state money for land conservation

By Cecelia Mason

cmason@shepherd.edu

West Virginia is among a handful of states that don’t set aside money to conserve farmland, forest and open space. Sixteen of the 55 counties have boards that protect farmland.  And the state Department of Natural Resources collects about $1 to $1.5 million a year that can be used for wildlife conservation.  But as Cecelia Mason reports, conservation proponents say neither program raises enough to protect much of the state’s land.

• Click here for audio
• Read Transcript – Land Conservation

Cabell wants to drug test students who drive

By Clark Davis
cdavis@wvpubcast.org 

The Cabell County Schools superintendant wants to put a drug testing system in place for middle and high school students. You wouldn’t necessarily have to be involved in extra curricular activities to be tested for drugs.

• Click here for audio
• Read story – Drug testing 

WVU, Rodriguez rift gets nasty

Greg Hunter, editor and publisher of Blue & Gold News, analyzes the war of words between big money WVU donors and WVU officials over the departure of football coach Rich Rodriguez.

• Click here for audio

Wheeling approves home rule application

By Keri Brown

kbrown@bethanywv.edu

Wheeling officials want to resolve local issues with local legislation. They are one step closer to getting their wish. City Council approved a home rule proposal Tuesday night that would give them more power and more flexibility to raise revenue.

Wheeling is one of a handful of cities applying for the Home Rule Pilot Project approved by lawmakers last year. But not everyone thinks that giving local government more power is a good idea.

• Click here for audio
• Read story – Wheeling home rule

Williams case brings Sharpton to Charleston; local minister says message ignores larger issues

By Anna Sale

asale@wvpubcast.org

It’s been more than three months since Charleston resident Megan Williams was found stabbed and bruised in a Logan County trailer. Williams is black, and six white defendants face charges that include kidnapping and rape. 

Early last month, Malik Shabazz and his group Black Lawyers for Justice organized a march in Charleston to call for hate crimes to be filed in this case. But at the time, local black ministers and organizations did not join the march in part because of controversy that surrounds Shabazz.  He’s been criticized by civil rights groups like the Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center for making anti-Semitic statements. 

Last night, another rally was held at a Charleston church. This time the star was the Rev. Al Sharpton.  But after a rash of violent shootings involving black young men in Charleston, some local black leaders find their message off-target.

• Click here for audio
• Read story

Police searching for missing Marshall student

 Leah Hickman 

Clark Davis
cdavis@wvpubcast.org

Huntington police are searching for a Marshall University student that’s been missing since last Friday. Family and friends of 21-year-old Leah Hickman began to worry Saturday when she did not report to her job at the Dress Barn in Barboursville. When she missed work again Sunday, the police involvement became more intensive.

John Williams: “At this point we’re giving this 100 percent of our attention,” Huntington Police Sgt. John Williams said. “As you know with any investigation, the first few days are very critical from the time the reports are received, so we’re acting accordingly on that. No, nothing’s pointing to it one way or the other. Of course, we’re keeping all possible scenarios and options as far as the investigative course.” 

Williams says the case is perplexing. There is no evidence of foul play, but it isn’t like Hickman to disappear.

John Williams:  “Intensive is we’re checking all options, checking the background, we have several agencies assisting us and checking some information and stuff. There’s nothing in her lifestyle that would indicate that this is any type of normal behavior for her. It causes us concern and that’s unlike her. ”

Meanwhile, fliers have been put up in neighborhoods in the Huntington area and Lawrence County, Ohio. Hickman is a junior from Mason County majoring in journalism.

Homegrown country thrives at Dunbar joint

By Anna Sale

All of the WV Music Hall of Fame’s first class of living inductees spoke about the importance of their WV roots, but none of them live here anymore. At local watering holes and music joints like the Pour House, homegrown music is alive and well.

• Listen to story

• Read PourHouse transcript

W.Va. a judicial hellhole? Hell no, study says

By Scott Finn 

Earlier this month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named West Virginia its fourth-worst “judicial hellholes” in America – the places it says where the courts are most unfair. Last year, West Virginia topped the list.

But a new study by two West Virginia University professors disputes the Chamber’s claims. It says the number of tort cases are actually declining, and the state’s judges don’t see an increase in frivolous lawsuits. 

Reporter Scott Finn interviewed one of the study’s authors, WVU Professor John Kilwein.

• Listen to Kilwein interview

Commentary: Replace Rodriguez with another Mountaineer who’s defeated Michigan

By Andy Ridenour

It’s been a tough few days for Mountaineer fans with the departure of Rich Rodriguez.In a press conference yesterday, Rodriguez explained why he left WVU for the University of Michigan. His comments didn’t satisfy our own Andy Ridenour. But they did give him an idea of who the next WVU football coach should be.

• Click here for audio

Congress seeks to close borders to sweatshop ornaments

By Sara Sciammacco
Capitol News Connection

It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling to hang up those shiny and colorful trinkets on the Christmas tree. But here’s a chill to the joy. Many Christmas ornaments are made in sweatshops in China. Some in Congress say they’ll fix the problem.

• Click here for audio

Love of food, music leads to ‘Potluck’ CD

By Beth Vorhees
bvorhees@wvpubcast.org 

There are two things we love talking about: food and music. Singer-songwriters Colleen Anderson and Julie Adams and story teller Karen Vuranch have combined our two favorite things and recorded a CD of songs and stories about food. It’s called Potluck.

• Click here for audio

Greg Hunter of Blue & Gold News discusses Rodriguez departure

Greg Hunter, editor and publisher of Blue & Gold News, joined Beth Vorhees on West Virginia Morning to discuss the departure of football coach Rich Rodriguez.

• Click here for audio

WVU’s Rodriguez to leave for Michigan

• Audio, 12/17/07 story on West Virginia Morning
• Transcript, 12/17/07 story on West Virginia Morning

By Scott Finn  

WVU Football Coach Rich Rodriguez is leaving to take over as head coach at the University of Michigan.  

Michigan athletic officials confirmed that Rodriguez was leaving WVU on Sunday afternoon. Earlier Sunday, Rodriguez announced his decision to his players, according to several players at the meeting.  

Rodriguez himself has declined to comment. But Michigan officials say they will introduce Rodriguez as their new head coach at a 9 a.m. press conference Monday.  

As of Sunday afternoon, Rodriguez still hadn’t told WVU President Mike Garrison or athletic director Ed Pastilong about his decision.   

In a prepared statement, Garrison said, “Above all, we will bring into our program only people who understand and value the incredible opportunity that it is to be the head coach of the WVU Mountaineers—a team that represents not just our University, but the entire state of West Virginia.”  

Rodriguez, 44, is a native of Grant Town and has deep roots in West Virginia. He had a record of 60 wins and 26 losses in seven seasons at WVU.  

This year, the team was ranked as high as second and briefly was favored to go to the national championship, until unranked Pitt upset the team earlier this month.  

It won’t be cheap for Rodriguez to leave WVU. His contract includes a $4 million buyout clause. That means someone will have to pay WVU $4 million over the next two years for Rodriguez to break the contract.  This is the second time Michigan has raided WVU for coaching talent in the last year.

Earlier this year, the Wolverines hired WVU basketball coach John Beilein.  Beilein had a $2.5 million buyout clause, but WVU and Michigan officials agreed to reduce that to $1.5 million.

Andrew Bernstein of Charleston blamed it on the loss to Pitt. 

“I’d say it had everything to do with it. If we beat Pitt, he stays. There’s no way he can leave going into a national championship game. Now, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have done the same thing next year if things didn’t go exactly to plan,” he said. “I just don’t think he can take criticism. I think that he ran out of town at the first sign of something going badly.”

For Chris Weikle of Scott Depot, it’s not just about football. It’s about the whole country’s attitude toward West Virginia. 

“You would think that someone like Coach Rodriguez, who was born in Grant Town, small-town West Virginia…he should have stayed, he should have realized how much people care about the university, how much we care about the state,” he said. “It may be a better job, he’ll probably get paid more money, but it’s just what everybody thinks, that West Virginia’s not good enough. And he’s wrong.”