WAJR LOCAL NEWS

The defense will continue to call witnesses today in the James Degasperin murder trial. The defense is trying to paint Lori Casteel as a drug addict who acted irrationally in suppor tof their claims that Degasperin killed her out of self defense after she threatened him with a shotgun. Prosecutors have poked holes in that defense by providing evidence that shows Casteel was likely killed in the basement instead of outside as Degasperin claims.

Three federal inmates being held at the Hazelton Federal prison in Preston County face drug and assault charges. 30-year-old Michael Cabassa is charged with attacking a corrections offier back in February an posessing s substance containing heroin and cocaine. 32-year-old Steven Taylor was also charged with possessing heroin in the prison. 32-year-old Samuel Valois is charged with assaulting an individual with the intent to do bodily harm with a dangerous weapon.

Morgantown police arrest a Charleroi, Pennsylvania man on an outstanding warrant. 23-year-old Luke Kovalchuk was wanted for burglary. He turned himself in yesterday.

A 910-million dollar deal will make Dominion Hope a privately owned company. The utility, which services more than 100-thousand West Virginians, is being sold to a San Francisco based infrastructure fund. This is not the first time parent company Dominion Resources has tried to sell Dominion Hope. The company had a deal in 2007 to sell Dominion Hope and Dominsion Transmission to Equitable Resources for 970 million dollars. That deal fell through. Dominion Hope officials were unavailable for comment on the new deal with Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Fund North America.

Four people are named to the Fairmont State University Board of Governors. Governor Joe Manchin announced the appointments of James Kettering, Ron Tucker, Mark Pallotta, and Skip Tarasuk today.

The new WVU College of Business and Economics Interim Dean is on the job. William Trumball took over yesterday for Stephen Sears who stepped down in the wake of the Heather Bresch degree scandal and expects to be in the position for quite awhile. (Trumball Audio Clip) Also taking over this week is Jane Martin who is the interim Provost in place of Gerry Lang who also resigned his position yesterday.

Westover's new mayor is making some changes. Dave Johnson fired longtime City Clerk Lahomma Fowler and demoted street department director Dave Huggins who both have an opportunity to appeal. (Johnson Audio Clip) Johnson wouldn't say why he made the personnel moves, citing privacy laws, but says the residents of Westover will see an immediate improvement.

MUB will begin work this week laying water and sewer lines for the new WVU daycare center. The eight million dollar facility will be built next to Krepps Park. WVU officials also say a recetn study 
 

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