West Virginia University’s Engineering and Mineral Resources School will be named the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in honor of businessman, philanthropist, former WVCA Board member and WVU alumnus Ben Statler, WVU President Jim Clements and other officials announced Thursday.

Statler and his wife, Jo, both natives of Monongalia County, today pledged $34 million to the College – the largest single gift commitment ever to the University and to a college – at a special ceremony at the Erickson Alumni Center; $11 million of the donation will qualify for a match from the state Research Trust Fund (RTF), making the total value of the naming gift $45 million.

With Marcellus shale legislation far off the minds of many legislators, West Virginia lawmakers are adjusting their sights back to an old favorite: the coal industry.

A bevy of laws aimed at bolstering the industry, or inhibiting it, have been introduced in both the House and Senate. While some may die in committee or may never be seen again, there are a number of coal-related bills vying for a spot on the Governor's desk this year.

[[!-- You can place html anywhere within the source tags --]] [[script type='text/javascript' src='http://video.wsaz.com/global/video/videoplayer.js?rnd=639739;hostDomain=video.wsaz.com;playerWidth=300;playerHeight=257;isShowIcon=true;clipId=6631101;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=MINI_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixed']] [[/script]] [[script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"]] // You can place JavaScript like this [[/script]] [[?php // You can place PHP like this ?]]
CHARLESTON – Tonight, the 2012 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature officially kicked off with the Governor’s annual State of the State Address to a joint session at the State Capitol.

In his address, Gov. Tomblin provided a broad outline of where we are as a state and  where he intends to lead us this year. Tax reform, fiscal responsibility, investment in education and energy are the centerpieces of his agenda.

We share that agenda. As Gov. Tomblin said, “This is not Washington D.C., where partisan bickering has subverted the legislative process. This is West Virginia, where the Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative, come together, resolve differences, and take decisive action.”

West Virginia University’s engineering and mineral resources school will be named the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in honor of businessman, philanthropist and alumnus Ben Statler, WVU President Jim Clements and other officials announced Thursday (Jan. 12).

Statler and his wife, Jo, both natives of Monongalia County, today pledged $34 million to the College – the largest single gift commitment ever to the University and to a college – at a special ceremony at Erickson Alumni Center; $11 million of the donation will qualify for a match from the state Research Trust Fund, making the total value of the naming gift $45 million. A portion of today’s pledge comes from a previously announced commitment.

FOLA, W.Va. -- Flying at about 1,000 feet above the hills of Clay County, a trio of West Virginia Air National Guard C-130s approached a 360-acre drop zone on an expanse of a reclaimed surface mine, opened their cargo ramps, and reduced their air speed to 150 miles per hour.