The Charleston Police Department has received a pair of grants to help curb gang and drug activity. At a City Council meeting on Monday, the funds for an anti-gang grant from the state Division of Criminal Justice and a U.S Department of Justice grant aimed at deterring methamphetamine production were discussed. The anti-gang grant, which totals $77,392, will provide funds for travel, training and overtime for the city's Gang Task Force. The task force is made up of two police officers that cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to get gangs off the streets. [continues 328 words]
County Commission President Kent Carper believes a proposed drug-testing policy for the county does not go far enough. The commission had an initial review of the proposal on the agenda for its meeting on Thursday. The proposal would require employees in safety-sensitive positions to be randomly tested for drugs. The positions include any commission employee who routinely operates a vehicle, carries a firearm and uses dangerous tools, equipment or chemicals. Carper said positions he considers safety-sensitive were left out of the plan. He said the definition in the proposal needs to be expanded. [continues 328 words]
After two and half months in the hands of legal counsel, an employee drug proposal is ready for action by the Kanawha County Commission. But Commission President Kent Carper said the plan would not be approved until it's discussed with all county officials. "I want our elected officials to see it," Carper said. "They should have the opportunity to comment on it before we do anything." The commission will unveil the proposal to officials at a regular meeting on Thursday. [continues 376 words]
Kanawha County is one step closer to a drug testing policy for employees after commissioners agreed to hire lawyers to oversee the effort. The commission voted Thursday to hire local attorney Jan Fox to advise the commission before it implements such a policy. Commissioner Dave Hardy said he hopes the county will adopt a plan similar to the one used by the City of Charleston. He said Fox should review that plan and make it fit the county's needs. "It's exactly what we want and I can't imagine why anyone would oppose it," Hardy said. "It's a very fair policy." [continues 454 words]
Private lawyers will pocket $3.3 million of the state's $10 million settlement with the manufacturer of the potent painkiller OxyContin, according to an order on file in McDowell County Circuit Court. In 2001, Attorney General Darrell McGraw sued Purdue Pharma, claiming the giant pharmaceutical company had engaged in deceitful marketing practices. McGraw's office contended Purdue Pharma withheld information about OxyContin's addictiveness in an effort to boost sales. In December 2004, on the eve of a trial before Judge Booker Stephens in Welch, the company settled the case for $10 million. [continues 462 words]
