Natural Gas Utilties Seeking Adjustments

• {West Virginia}...Two of the state's largest natural gas utilties are seeking adjustments for the 2011-2012 heating season. Dominion is asking for a 44 percent increase, while Mountaineer Gas is hoping to decrease its rates. The two companies serve almost 90 percent of the residential market in West Virginia. The requested rates are not yet approved and could be different in the final orders issued at the end of the month. If approved, Dominion's increase change would take an average residential customer's bill from about $61 per month to about $74 per month. Mountaineer Gas is seeking a 9 percent decrease for purchased gas. That would take an average monthly residential bill from about $73 to about $69. New rates go into effect November 1st.

Putnam County Deputies Make Drug Arrests

• {West Virginia}...Forty-two year old Tracy Scarberry, 33 year old Michelle Lynn Scarberry, 39 year old Troy Scarberry, his girlfriend, 29 year old Tina Louise Ball, and 21 year old Eric Tyler Scarberry were all arrested Monday night after Putnam County Deputies pulled them over in the Scary Creek area for not wearing seat belts and found ingredients to make meth. Deputies say they could smell meth inside the car, and, when they searched it, they found 5 boxes of Pseudoephedrine based pills hidden under the seats, needles, and other drug paraphernalia. They admitted to traveling to the Walmart in Ashland, Kentucky to get the ingredients and bringing them back to trade them for meth or sell the pills for cash in the Saint Albans area. They also told police they are addicted to meth and have been making the trip to Kentucky for months. All are charged with purchasing materials to make drugs, possession, and conspiracy.

Trial Set After Woman Allegedly Threatens Judge

{West Virginia}...Hermie Ginger Moore, 48, of Winfield, is set to go on trial November 21st after being accused of threatening Kanawha Circuit Judge Carrie Webster who placed Moore's child in state custody. Police say  Moore made references to hiring hit men and kidnapping on her MySpace page. Moore has been held at South Central Regional Jail on a $250,000 property bond since she was arrested on April 18th. Retired Cabell County Circuit Judge John Cummings has been appointed to preside over the case.

Man Accused Of Kicking Girlfriend's Face

{West Virginia}...Jay Jerry Hunter, 33, was charged Tuesday with malicious wounding after he allegedly kicked his girlfriend in the face after a trip to Mardi Gras Casino late Monday night. Nitro Police say, after the couple left the casino,  Hunter pulled into a nearby business parking lot, pulled his girlfriend out of the car and kicked her in the face three times while she was on the ground. Hunter left but was arrested a short time later. His bond was set at $25,000.

Huntington City Council To Discuss Budget

• {West Virginia}...Tuesday night, the Huntington city council will meet to talk about their $4.2 million budget shortfall. Finance Committee Chair Steve Williams says nothing less than a total solution is acceptable, and he will be very disappointed if, by this time next week, the city hasn't identified the 4.2 million dollars in cuts and revenue that's needed. The city is struggling with the debt in large part due to a miscalculation of how much it would cost for new fire and police pension provisions adopted in 2010. Two-point three million dollars of the debt dates back to 2009 and 2010. The other $1.9 million is a shortfall in this year's budget. Williams says it's going to take massive cuts, and there will be job eliminations, but police and fire service are safe. The city's budget for 2011-2012 is $40 million with 77 percent of the total budget going to personnel costs.

Quicken Loans Loses $3 Million Appeal

• {West Virginia}...Quicken Loans CEO Bill Emerson says the company will keep its strong commitment to West Virginia following a $3 million verdict and an appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. After an eight day bench trial that took place over a course of 17 months, an Ohio County Circuit Judge determined that Quicken Loans mislead homeowners into paying excessive loan fees, falsely promised to refinance loans and concealed balloon payments from its borrowers. Quicken appealed the verdict on September 6th. Emerson explained the Michigan-based company is the No. 1 online lender in America and has been in business for a total of 26 years and has conducted business in West Virginia since 2000 when others have stepped away. The legal battle began when 45 year old Lourie Brown-Jefferson of Wheeling filed a complaint in 2006 against the company, claiming she was the victim of a “predatory lending scheme” relating to a $144,800 loan. According to her lawsuit, a Quicken appraiser deemed her duplex was worth $262,500, but Brown-Jefferson’s appraiser said the residence was worth $46,000 as a duplex.

WV To Elect Senate President

{West Virginia}...Marshall County State Senator Jeff Kessler, who has served as Acting Senate President since Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin moved to the Governor's Office last November, says he will seek and win the position permanently later this year. The Senate will go into special session to choose a President after Governor Elect Earl Ray Tomblin formally resigns from his role as Senate President. Kanawha County Senator Brooks McCabe and Raleigh County Senator Mike Green have also indicated they would like to run for Senate President. Tomblin will take his Oath of Office by the middle of November.