West Virginia
Capito addresses job cuts at NIOSH, NETL during call with West Virginia reporters – Dominion Post
dbeard@dominionpost.com
MORGANTOWN – Sen. Shelley Moore Capito fielded some questions during her Thursday briefing with West Virginia reporters on this week’s job cuts at the Morgantown NIOSH office, and the earlier cuts at the Morgantown National Energy Technology Laboratory.
About 185 researchers in the NIOSH division in Morgantown received layoff notices on Tuesday as part of the Department of Health and Human Services plan to cut about 10,000 employees from the department.
“I am extremely concerned about this,” Capito said. “This is impacting and will impact not only the folks that were let go, and their families, but also the health and safety of our coal miners and firefighters.”
She said she talked to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week about his plan in general, urging him to avoid cutting HHS to the bone. She understands the desire to trim duplication and bloating, “but in this case I have strong disagreements with the administration.”
And she was slated for another call with RFK Jr. on Thursday afternoon to delve into the issue again.
Asked if she looked for any jobs being restored, she said she’s concerned about the people and what they do – how they keep the miners and firefighters safe. “I’m hoping to effect a brighter outlook from him, that you have cut into the bone here in an essential service for workplace safety.”
She hopes he will restore the functions and the people, she said. She’s seen layoffs and administrative leaves reversed earlier in this Trump administration government trimming process.
She’s been in contact with some of those who’ve lost jobs, she said, to offer assistance. She believes agencies have offered assistance as well. Some might take up the standing offer of early retirement.
MetroNews’ Mike Nolting asked Capito if she knows how many are left at NIOSH.
She said, “We’re trying to get clarification, precisely. It appears that there’s not much left.” The question is on the nature of the jobs – do they duplicate functions provided elsewhere at HHS.
The Dominion Post asked Capito about the probationary employees laid off at NETL in February as part of the nationwide elimination of probationary positions.
As it turned out, the NETL director was in her office before the press call, she said. The employees were asked to return, and of 51 cut, 41 are back to work.
“The goal of what’s going on here,” she said, “as painful as it is, is to shrink government, to make it right sized … to make it work more efficiently and better.” If those goals are met, the services delivered will be as good as they’ve been, possibly better.
The press call came between Capito trips to the Senate floor for votes, and she noted that the Senate was starting work on the reconciliation measure to extend the 2017 Trump tax bill, the Tax and Jobs Investment Act. This one is called the Job Creation and Tax Act.
“It created a lot of prosperity across the country,” she said. “Everybody got tax relief and I want to continue that.”
The measure also addresses border security, national security and – a topic crucial to West Virginia, she said – unleashing American energy. It’s an extended process, and the next step is to craft policies to match the aspirational goals they’re formulating now.
Dalton Ramsey is being charged with with rape, kidnapping, aggravated assault with a weapon, and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. (Coweta County Sheriff’s Office)
COWETA COUNTY, Ga. – A 31-year-old West Virginia man was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including rape, kidnapping, and possession of child pornography.
SEE ALSO: App, alligator leads to rape suspect’s arrest, investigators say
What we know:
Dalton Allen Ramsey, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, took a plea deal on Monday in the Superior Court of Coweta County, just before his trial was set to begin.
Ramsey pleaded guilty to one count of rape, one count of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of possession of a knife during the commission of a felony, and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Senior Superior Court Judge Matthew Simmons presided over the case and ordered Ramsey to serve life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, as mandated by Georgia law.
The backstory:
The charges stem from an incident on Sep. 5, 2022, when Ramsey began communicating with a 17-year-old victim via social media. The following day, he traveled from Buckhannon to Columbus, Georgia, under the pretense of helping the victim travel out of state. Instead, Ramsey drove her to the BT Brown Reservoir in Coweta County, where he strangled, bound, and raped her at knifepoint.
A sign outside of B.T. Brown Reservoir Park warns about alligators. (FOX 5)
After the assault, Ramsey attempted to drive the victim northbound against her will. However, the victim managed to text emergency personnel, leading law enforcement to locate and stop Ramsey’s vehicle in Habersham County. Deputies arrested Ramsey and seized knives, tape, rope, and other evidence from the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed child sexual abuse videos and images on Ramsey’s phone, including communications requesting “rape porn” prior to the kidnapping. The disturbing content included videos of child rape.
What they’re saying:
District Attorney John Herbert Cranford, Jr. commented on the case, stating, “Dalton Ramsey is an example of the evil and depravity that exists in communities throughout Georgia and the United States where sexual predators create and distribute child pornography. By acting on his sick fantasies, Ramsey’s case demonstrates why the policy of the Coweta Circuit is that every possessor of child pornography should be sent to prison and forced to register as a sex offender for life. I am relieved for this victim and what would have been Ramsey’s future victims that he will now spend at least the next 30 years in a Georgia prison.”
Coweta County deputies say surveillance images show the vehicle of a rape suspect. (Coweta County Sheriff’s Office)
What you can do:
The arrest was facilitated by the victim’s use of a smartphone app called Noonlight, which allowed her to send a distress signal and share her location with authorities. An alligator warning sign at the reservoir helped confirm the location of the crime, leading to charges against Ramsey.
The Source: The Coweta County District Attorney’s Office provided the update to this story. Additional details were sourced from previous FOX 5 Atlanta reports.
Lake Charles (La.) Sam Houston 2027 offensive lineman Albert Simien wasn’t expecting to receive an offer from West Virginia when he did but he was excited about the news.
Simien, 6-foot-5, 280-pounds, spoke with offensive line coach Jack Bicknell and he was able to touch on a number of topics, including football, family, and his school life.
But after that is when Simien found out the news that West Virginia was offering.
The Rivals.com four-star prospect was impressed with how Bicknell carried himself on that first call between the pair and the message from him was clear.
“Keep working and playing the game how I do and have fun,” he said.
Simien doesn’t know a whole lot about West Virginia yet but is interested in learning more as the recruiting process continues to develop.
The Mountaineers are targeting Simien at either offensive tackle or guard, which is what many programs are targeting him between at this stage of his recruitment.
“It will depend on if I get better at one or the other,” he said.
Simien plans to stay in state to train and prepare for his season in terms of visits but then could look at taking trips in the fall or winter. That includes a possible trip to Morgantown.
“If I have an opportunity to visit, I will,” he said.
Simien plans to major in psychology at the college level.
The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.
June 22, 1926: Earl Olgebay died in Cleveland. He was one of West Virginia’s most successful industrialists and a generous benefactor.
June 22, 1949: Artist Paula Clendenin was born in Cedar Grove, Kanawha County. She has earned national acclaim for her paintings, richly colored, textured shapes that merge West Virginia’s mountain landscape with mystical and spiritual symbols.
June 23, 1944: A tornado struck Shinnston and the surrounding area, killing 103 people and injuring hundreds more.
June 23, 1952: The Toledo Mud Hens moved to West Virginia’s capital city, making the Charleston Senators part of the Class AAA American Association for the first time.
June 23, 2016: Eight inches of rain fell in a 12-hour period. The Meadow, Cherry and Elk rivers, as well as Howard Creek, flooded downtowns and The Greenbrier resort, killing 23 people.
June 24, 1842: Author Ambrose Bierce was born. Bierce found the setting for some of his famous short stories in the mountains of Civil War-era West Virginia.
June 25, 1811: Bridge builder Lemuel Chenoweth was born near Beverly, Randolph County. His many bridges also included the earliest covered bridge at Beverly and the famous Philippi covered bridge.
June 25, 1950: The Korean War began when the armies of Communist North Korea pushed across the 38th parallel into South Korea. Army private Kenneth Shadrick of Wyoming County was among the first U.S. servicemen killed in action, on July 5, 1950.
June 26, 1887: Sheriff Don Chafin was born in Logan County. Chafin was a bitter foe of union organizers and, with financial support from coal companies, used his many deputies to keep labor organizers out of Logan County, most notably during the Battle of Blair Mountain.
June 26, 1892: Pearl Buck was born in Hillsboro in the home of her maternal grandparents. She received the Pulitzer Prize for The Good Earth and was the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
June 26, 1936: Basketball star Hal Greer was born in Huntington. Greer was the first Black athlete to play at Marshall College (now University). When his pro career ended in 1973, he held the NBA record for most games played and ranked in the top 10 in points scored, field goals attempted, and field goals made.
June 27, 1897: Musician Maceo Pinkard was born in Bluefield. Pinkard became one of the most successful songwriters of the 1920s Jazz Era.
June 27, 1961: Honey in the Rock was first performed at Grandview State Park near Beckley. The play by Kermit Hunter depicts the founding of the Mountain State in 1863.
June 28, 1936: Athlete Chuck Howley was born in Wheeling. Howley played linebacker for 12 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. He was an All-Pro six times and named to six Pro Bowls.
June 28, 2010: Robert C. Byrd died at the age of 92. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1958 and served until his death.
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