Davis named chief justice in W.Va.



CHARLESTON (AP) — Robin Jean Davis will become the next chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court.

The court decided during its final administrative conference to maintain the chief justice rotation that has been in place since 1980.

She follows current Chief Justice Brent Benjamin in the rotation.

Her new duties will begin in January.

In cases where Davis recuses herself, Justice Margaret Workman will serve as chief.

The 53-year-old Davis has been on the Court since 1996, when she was elected to an unexpired term.

The most senior member of the current court, she previously served stints as chief justice in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2007.



Online hunting licenses surge



CHARLESTON (AP) — West Virginia Treasurer John Perdue says the purchase of hunting licenses online is growing in popularity.

Perdue’s office processed roughly 9,000 licenses online since last weekend, bringing the state more than $570,000 in revenue.

During the same time last year, about 8,200 licenses were processed electronically.

The Division of Natural Resources partners with the treasurer’s office to process hunting licenses online.

The DNR expects there will be roughly 280,000 licensed hunters in West Virginia deering this year’s gun season for bucks.

The division says deer hunting is worth roughly $233 million annually for West Virginia.



Panel targets spousal finances



CHARLESTON(AP) — The West Virginia Ethics Commission wants lawmakers to require public officials and candidates to reveal their spouses’ financial interests.

A commission committee on Tuesday signed off on the final draft of a bill that the commission plans to submit to the Legislature in January for the next regular session.

The legislation would require public officials and candidates to disclose their spouse’s employment and business interests.

It also would require officials and candidates to disclose real estate holdings valued at $10,000 or more, along with any interests in sales or contracts with government agencies.

In June, the Center for Public Integrity gave the Ethics Commission an “F” for not having these requirements.



Restaurant to pay back wages



FAIRMONT (AP) — A restaurant has agreed to pay nearly $30,000 to workers at its Fairmont and Clarksburg locations after a federal probe turned up payroll violations.

The U.S. Department of Labor says Grand China Buffet and Grill will pay the back wages to 35 workers.

A labor department investigation found that the restaurant was paying workers below minimum wage and not paying overtime rates if they worked more than 40 hours a week.

Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act have to be paid at least minimum wage, and must get paid at least time-and-a-half for working overtime.

Calls to the restaurants were not immediately returned Tuesday.



Man competent to stand trial



MARTINSBURG (AP) — A Virginia man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death during a 26-hour standoff with police in West Virginia will go to trial in February.

According to court records, a West Virginia University assistant professor of psychiatry found that 37-year-old Donald B. Surber Jr. is competent to stand trial.

The Winchester, Va., resident is charged with the kidnapping and first-degree murder of Katherine Nicole Sharp at her home near Hedgesville in June. He also is charged with attempted escape and several other crimes.

Surber’s trial is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Berkeley County Circuit Court.



Woman’s effects found with body



PARSONS (AP) — State Police say personal effects found with remains buried under an outbuilding in Tucker County belonged to a woman who disappeared in 2002. Sgt. R.L. Stump says the effects were identified as belonging to 35-year-old Bonnie Woods-Cale.

Troopers found the effects and the remains earlier this month behind Woods-Cale’s home about six miles north of St. George near the Tucker-Preston county line.

First Sgt. J.A. Wise says the remains have not been identified.

Woods-Cale’s husband, 42-year-old Wesley Scott Cale of Parsons, is charged with concealing a body. He was being held Wednesday at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.