Bresch will lose degree; panel comes down hard on WVU

By Emily Corio

Governor Manchin’s daughter, Heather Bresch, will lose her degree, but it’s unclear if anyone at WVU will lose their job. A panel investigating whether Bresch earned an MBA degree in 1998 says she did not.

The panel also looked at why WVU officials decided to change her transcript last fall—adding 22 credit hours–to indicate that she earned the degree. This came after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called WVU to verify Bresch’s resume after she was named Mylan Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer. The investigative panel concluded WVU officials showed “seriously flawed” judgment in granting Bresch the degree. Emily Corio reports.

• Click here for audio
• Click here for video of Outlook television story

 

 

 

 

Builder turns to modular Eco Structures

By Chuck Kleine

Chuck Kleine produced this story on John Garlow’s efforts to build green, affordable homes that do not rely on the electric grid. This story aired April 10 and 13, 2008, on the telelvision program “Outlook” on West Virginia PBS.

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ABC News runs investigation of WV Supreme Court

By Anna Sale

 

ABC News ran a story on Monday night about the West Virginia Supreme Court. It focused on Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship’s ties to Justices Spike Maynard and Brent Benjamin. It included Justice Larry Starcher’s criticisms of Massey and video of a tussle between an ABC producer and Blankenship.

• Listen to story
• Web Extra video: Analysis/Review of ABC News/Nightline investigation

Veterans nursing home cited with more violations

By Anna Sale  

The new veterans nursing home in Clarksburg still hasn’t received its state license because it’s failed to pass inspection. A surprise inspection last month revealed previous violations had not been fixed along with a new set of citations. Joe Thornton, spokesman for the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety, addresses the ongoing problems.

• Listen to story
• Video of interview on televison program Outlook

Mountaintop-removal hearing generates strong turnout

Here’s a sample of opinions from supporters and opponents of mountaintop-removal mining who spoke Wednesday at a public hearing. Sen. Jon Hunter, D-Monongalia, scheduled the hearing for a bill he introduced that would effectively ban the mining practice by making it illegal to dump excess rock and dirt into streams.

This video also includes an update on efforts to put Blair Mountain on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Click here to watch video

Inside the world of graffiti artists, and the cost of their ‘work’

Is graffiti art or vandalism? And what’s the point of risking jail just to spray paint on public property? Producers Jeremy and Chuck Kleine peer inside the world of graffiti artists, and the costs to victims of their work.

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Chamber president discusses First Amendment concerns with bill

Steve Roberts, president of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, talks to Anna Sale about the free speech concerns that businesses have with the Worker Freedom Act.

The legislation, which passed the House of Delegates this week, would allow employees to opt out of employer-sponsored meetings concerning unions and politics. This interview aired on the television program Outlook. Below are links ot the interview, and segments that first aired on The Legislature Today and West Virginia Morning.

• Click here to watch Steve Roberts interview
• Additional video/audio: House passes legislation; Examination of Worker Freedom Bill

Lab 304: Governor’s School for Math and Science

This is the second installment of the series “Lab 304” on ourtelevision program “Outlook.” Mike Youngren produced this story on the Governor’s School for Math and Science at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank, West Virginia. Bob Wilkinson and Chuck Frostic are the videographers. Wilkinson was also the video editor.

• Click here to watch story

Lab 304: Great Big Telescope

This is the first installment of the series Lab 304 on our television program “Outlook.”

Mike Youngren produced this story on the Robert C. Byrd Telescope at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank, West Virginia. Bob Wilkinson and Chuck Frostick are the videographers. Wilkinson is also the video editor. This segment aired Feb. 7 and Feb. 10.

• Watch video

Super Tuesday and the West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention

Anna Sale talks to Bob Fish, CEO of the West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention. This interview aired Feb. 7 on the television program “Outlook,” two days after Mike Huckabee won the convention.

• Click here to watch video

Meg Bulger discusses WVU career, future plans

On Tuesday, WVU’s women’s basketball team defeated fourth-ranked Rutgers. One of WVU’s best players, Meg Bulger, had to watch the game in street clothes. Last week she re-injured a knee that has given her problems throughout her career at WVU.

Producer Pat Sergent spoke to Bulger before this latest injury. Despite her many setbacks, Bulger says she has no regrets. This segment aired Jan. 31, 2008, on our telelvision program Outlook.

• Video: Meg Bulger

Marshall basketball player has international experience

Last summer, Marshall women’s basketball player Chanetelle Handy played for England’s national women’s basketball team.
Clark Davis and Russ Barbour produced this story for our television program Outlook. It aired Jan. 31, 2008.

• Video: Chantelle Handy plays for England

A history of the Wheeling Jamboree

In late 2005, the Northern Panhandle received another big blow. The new corporate owner of Wheeling’s Capitol Music Hall put an end to the Wheeling Jamboree.

The Jamboree had been around since 1933. By the time its run ended, the Jamboree was the second oldest live radio music program in the country – just behind the Grand Ole Opry.

A new non-profit organization recently announced that it’s trying to revive the Jamboree. A show is scheduled for April 12^th.

To understand what the Jamboree means to the region, we went through our archives. We thought it was appropriate to rebroadcast this story from December 2004 that aired on our television program Outlook. It was produced by Russ Barbour and Steve Chapman.

• Video: The Wheeling Jamboree, part 1
• Video: The Wheeling Jamboree, part 2

A ride on the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad

Producer Glynis Board takes a scenic trip from Elkins to Durbin, W.Va., on the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. This piece aired Jan. 17, 2008, on the program Outlook.

• Watch Video

Culture & History Commissioner Reid-Smith fires back at critics

                                                                    
By Scott Finn
For months, the commissioner of the state Division of Culture and History, Randall Reid-Smith, has been the subject of much criticism and scrutiny in the media. On Monday, he struck back at his critics during a meeting of the Senate Government Organization Committee.

• Listen to story
• Video from The Legislature Today
• Education & Arts official discusses archives, museum on Outlook

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

Traumatic brain injuries focus of summit

A coalition of military groups, doctors and the National Guard were in Charleston on Thursday for a summit on how to meet the needs of people suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Many of these patients are veterans returning from war. Outlook host Beth Vorhees speaks to Mike Davis of the Better Brain Injury Care Coalition.

• Watch video of Outlook segment

• Read transcript

W.Va., China and Coal — W.Va. Trade Mission to China 2007

By Scott Finn 

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin led a trade mission to China in November. The goal was to sell more coal equipment and technology in the world’s most-populous nation. But they couldn’t escape the environmental and safety issues that surround coal.

• Watch W.Va., China and Coal

• Watch reporter Scott Finn talk about China trade mission

• Read transcript of WV – China story

• Read Finn’s China blog

A conversation with Bill Withers

By Anna Sale  

At 69, Bill Withers proudly points out that he’s the youngest member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.  Withers was born in Slab Fork in Raleigh County, the youngest of six children. His father, a coal miner, died when Withers was 12. He was raised by his mother and grandmother, and then entered the Navy after high school. That’s when Withers started writing and recording.  

His hits include “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Just the Two of Us,” and “Lean On Me.” Anna Sale spoke to Withers about growing up in West Virginia as an African American in the era of segregation. Below are radio and television versions of the interview. 

• Listen to Bill Withers

• Video of Bill Withers interview on Outlook

The future of coal in West Virginia’s energy plan

Earlier this week, Governor Manchin held a coal summit at Stonewall Jackson Resort in Lewis County. Political leaders and coal industry officials discussed how to make coal viable in a world concerned about climate change, and our dependence on foreign oil.

 The Manchin Administration is developing an energy plan. The governor’s goal is to make West Virginia independent of foreign oil by the year 2030. To do that, he wants to build five coal liquefaction plants.

The governor’s plan has received a lot of praise from the coal industry, and criticism from environmentalists who believe he’s relying too much on coal. Beth Vorhees spoke to two people who represent these views:

• Roger Lilly, the marketing manager for Walker Machinery, a company that serves the coal industry. You’ve probably seen his work in pro-coal marketing. He coined the phrase “Coal keeps the lights on.”

• Allan Tweddle, a Charleston businessman and environmentalist who serves on the governor’s Public Energy Authority. He’s also received training in Al Gore’s Climate Change Project.

 This segment aired on the television program Outlook. A version also aired on the radio program West Virginia Morning.

• Click here for video, part 1

• Click here for video, part 2

• Transcript of coal discussion on Outlook

• Click here for radio version audio

• Web Extra: Energy Summit news conference video