West Virginia

Keith Judd, who is currently behind bars in a federal prison, received 41 percent of the vote to President Barack Obama's 59 percent in West Virginia's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday. He beat Obama in several counties, making him eligible for at least one delegate to the Democratic convention.

Judd is serving a 12 1/2 year sentence at a federal prison in Texas for making threats at the University of New Mexico in 1999. He got his name on the ballot by paying a $2,500 fee and filling out a form.

One West Virginian who voted for Judd told The Associated Press that it was more about voting against Obama than for Judd. more >>

A pastor who ministers in several churches in West Virginia has his mind set on converting a shuttered strip club into a church. He is hoping to raise $795,000 to transform the "devil's dominion" into a place of worship and healing.

Art Hage, who is a pastor at churches in Putnam and Cabell counties and also operates a local mission, has been eyeing the building that used to be home to the Pink Pony, a local strip club that was also the scene of a controversial robbery in 2003.

The strip club has been up for sale for over a year, according to The Associated Press. more >>

West Virginia prisoners surprised a 6-year-old girl suffering from leukemia with a care package, which contained among other goodies a check for $1,029.30.

The patient’s mother, Amy Chandler of Louisa, Ky., was shocked when she learned that the package for her daughter Mailyn was from inmates from the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, a maximum-security state prison, CBS News reported.

A picture of the prisoners surrounding a fundraising table was also given to the mother, who was able to see the faces of those who had contributed to the gift. more >>

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) investigating a “Bible in the Schools” program established in Mercer County, W. Va., as to whether the school system is violating the separation of church and state.

While no legal action has been taken as of yet, the organization, infamous for filing lawsuits against schools who purportedly walk a fine line in religious matters, is seeking more information from the county about the program in question.

This is not the first time the program has come under scrutiny, Tom Chaffins, the Supervisor of Secondary Education, told West Virginia News Station. more >>

The search for four missing miners in Naoma, W. Va., came to another halt on Friday after rescuers encountered smoke.

With the possibility of an explosion, the rescue crews were ordered to evacuate. Safety officials are now pumping nitrogen into the mine to inert the atmosphere.

"I don't need to tell you all how difficult this is for all of us, especially for families," said Governor Joe Manchin at a press conference. more >>

As four miners remain missing after a deadly explosion in Montcoal, W.Va., churches across the state began prayer vigils in support of affected families and in hopes of a miracle.

"We pray for the safety of those miners who are yet unaccounted for in this mishap. Place your arms of protection around them and the members of the rescue teams that have been deployed to the scene," said Resident Bishop Ernest Lyght of the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, in a recent prayer.

At least 25 people died in Monday's explosion, which was the worst blast in decades. Rescuers drilled into the coal mine on Wednesday to vent poisonous gas so searchers could enter to look for the four missing people. more >>