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    Idaho pass bill to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

    In this undated photo provided by Aurora Police Department is James Craig. Investigators say the Colorado dentist intent on killing his wife put poison in her protein shakes before finally succeeding with a rush order dose of potassium cyanide powder he said he needed to perform surgery. Craig was arrested on Sunday, March 19, 2023, on a first-degree murder charge. (Aurora Police Department via AP)

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    Idaho pass bill to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

    In this undated photo provided by Aurora Police Department is James Craig. Investigators say the Colorado dentist intent on killing his wife put poison in her protein shakes before finally succeeding with a rush order dose of potassium cyanide powder he said he needed to perform surgery. Craig was arrested on Sunday, March 19, 2023, on a first-degree murder charge. (Aurora Police Department via AP)

    Police: Dentist killed wife by lacing shakes with poison

    State Treasury Firearms Auction Raises New Record Total For State Law Enforcement Agencie

    Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

    Report of a student with gun at Elementary School turns out to be BB gun

    Human remains identified as those of a man who has been missing for over a year

    Gov. Justice appoints interim superintendent of WV State Police amid probe

    Southern Communications Women’s Expo Mixer returning with 25th anniversary event

    US Marshalls arrest drive-by shooter after 19-year-old killed, 15-year-old shot in head

    Trending Tags

    • Raleigh County
    • Fayette County
    • Mercer County
    • Breaking
    • Crime
    • Local
    • National

      Idaho pass bill to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

      Beckley’s own Kamron Lawson wows American Idol judges, passes audition

      Dollar Tree can’t afford to sell eggs anymore

      Beckley singer’s American Idol audition to air Sunday

      50 most popular food and snack brands

      Louisiana works out deal for family to keep pet nutria

      Florida may ban girls’ period talk in elementary grades

      Sheetz Cuts Gas Prices for One Week

      FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) listens during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on Michael Regan's nomination to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 3, 2021. REUTERS/Brandon Bell/Pool/File Photo

      Members of West Virginia Delegation Stand Up for Domestic Hardwood Plywood Producers

    • Politics

      Biden issues first veto, defending Labor Dept. ‘ESG’ rule

      Sen. Mike Stuart eyes statewide run

      Some Trump rivals rally to his side as possible charges loom

      FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) listens during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on Michael Regan's nomination to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 3, 2021. REUTERS/Brandon Bell/Pool/File Photo

      Members of West Virginia Delegation Stand Up for Domestic Hardwood Plywood Producers

      Former President Donald Trump claims he will be arrested on Tuesday

      Key Democratic groups won’t commit to supporting Manchin re-election following party criticism

      FILE - In this Feb. 20, 1978, file photo, President Jimmy Carter listens to Sen. Joseph R. Biden, D-Del., as they wait to speak at fund raising reception at Padua Academy in Wilmington, Del. President Joe Biden says he plans to deliver the eulogy at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, who remains under hospice care at his home in south Georgia. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File)

      Biden says Jimmy Carter has asked him to deliver his eulogy

      Biden expected to sign new executive order on gun control

      WV law makes obstructing police, ‘causing death’ a felony

    • State

      State Treasury Firearms Auction Raises New Record Total For State Law Enforcement Agencie

      Human remains identified as those of a man who has been missing for over a year

      Gov. Justice appoints interim superintendent of WV State Police amid probe

      US Marshalls arrest drive-by shooter after 19-year-old killed, 15-year-old shot in head

      Stephen New of New, Taylor & Associates detailing the condition of Alvis Shrewsbury prior to his death at SRJ

      ‘No one should be forced to live in these conditions,’ – New details shed light on corruption at Southern Regional Jail

      Biden issues first veto, defending Labor Dept. ‘ESG’ rule

      Gov. Justice accepts resignation of Jan Cahill, will hold press briefing TODAY at 1 p.m.

      UPDATE: Nathan Rhodes to return to school after days of protest from Independence classmates

      Mountaineer Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry distribution schedule

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Texas becomes biggest US state to lift COVID-19 mask mandate

Gailyn Markham by Gailyn Markham
Thursday, March 4, 2021 2:47 pm

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas is lifting its mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday, making it the largest state to end an order intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that has killed more than 42,000 Texans.

The Republican governor has faced sharp criticism from his party over the mandate, which was imposed eight months ago, as well as other COVID-19 restrictions on businesses that Texas will also scuttle starting next week. The mask order was only ever lightly enforced, even during the worst outbreaks of the pandemic.

The repealed rules include doing away with limits on the number of diners or customers allowed indoors, said Abbott, who made the announcement at a restaurant in Lubbock. He said the new rules would take effect March 10, although leaders in Houston and other big Texas cities were already reacting with alarm.

“Removing statewide mandates does not end personal responsibility,” said Abbott, speaking from the crowded dining room where many of those surrounding him were not wearing masks.

“It’s just that now state mandates are no longer needed,” he said.

The decision comes as governors across the U.S. have been easing coronavirus restrictions, despite warnings from health experts that the pandemic is far from over. Like the rest of the country, Texas has seen the number of cases and deaths plunge. Hospitalizations are at the lowest levels since October, and the seven-day rolling average of positive tests has dropped to about 7,600 cases, down from more than 10,000 in mid-February.

Only California and New York have reported more COVID-19 deaths than Texas.

“The fact that things are headed in the right direction doesn’t mean we have succeeded in eradicating the risk,” said Dr. Lauren Ancel Meyers, a professor of integrative biology and director of the University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium.

She said the recent deadly winter freeze in Texas that left millions of people without power — forcing families to shelter closely with others who still had heat — could amplify transmission of the virus in the weeks ahead, although it remains too early to tell. Masks, she said, are one of the most effective strategies to curb the spread.

The top county leader in Houston, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, called the announcement “wishful thinking” and said spikes in hospitalizations have followed past rollbacks of COVID-19 rules.

“At worst, it is a cynical attempt to distract Texans from the failures of state oversight of our power grid,” said Hidalgo, a Democrat.

Early in the pandemic, Abbott stripped local officials of their power to implement tougher COVID-19 restrictions, but now says counties can impose “mitigation strategies” if virus hospitalizations exceed 15% of all hospital capacity in their region. However, Abbott forbade local officials from imposing penalties for not wearing a face covering.

Abbott imposed the statewide mask mandate in July during a deadly summer surge. But enforcement was spotty at best, and some sheriffs refused to police the restrictions at all. And as the pandemic dragged on, Abbott ruled out a return to tough COVID-19 rules, arguing that lockdowns do not work.

Politically, the restrictions elevated tensions between Abbott and his own party, with the head of the Texas GOP at one point leading a protest outside the governor’s mansion. Meanwhile, mayors in Texas’ biggest cities argued that Abbott wasn’t doing enough.

Most of the country has lived under mask mandates during the pandemic, with at least 37 states requiring face coverings to some degree. But those orders are increasingly falling by the wayside: North Dakota, Montana and Iowa have also lifted mask orders in recent weeks.

Ahead of the repeal in Texas, Democratic lawmakers urged Abbott to reconsider.

“Texas will experience more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths,” state Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, a Democrat from the border city of Laredo, told Abbott in a letter Monday.

Laredo, whose population is predominately Latino, has endured some of the worst outbreaks of the pandemic, running out of beds in hospital intensive care units as recently as January. The international trade hub has been among Texas’ most aggressive cities in trying to blunt the spread of the virus, taking measures that have included curfews.

“Elected by the people, your most fundamental obligation is their health and safety. Please do not abrogate your duty,” Raymond said.

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Gailyn Markham

Gailyn Markham

Gailyn Markham is a multimedia journalist for Lootpress. She joined the Lootpress staff in November of 2020. Gailyn graduated from Concord University in May of 2019 with a BA in English Journalism and a minor in Sociology. During her time there, she was a staff writer for the school’s newspaper, “The Concordian,” and received the 2019 Outstanding Journalist Award for her work. Before joining the Lootpress team, Gailyn interned for The Register-Herald and, upon completing her internship, was asked to continue working as a freelance writer. She freelanced for the newspaper for two years. A West Virginia native, Gailyn has always been devoted to telling the stories of the Mountain State. When she isn’t working, she enjoys taking advantage of West Virginia’s many outdoor adventures, reading, and renovating her home with her husband, Chris. For news tips or story ideas, email Gailyn at gailynmarkham@lootpress.com. You can also follow her on Facebook.

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Idaho pass bill to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

43 mins ago
In this undated photo provided by Aurora Police Department is James Craig. Investigators say the Colorado dentist intent on killing his wife put poison in her protein shakes before finally succeeding with a rush order dose of potassium cyanide powder he said he needed to perform surgery. Craig was arrested on Sunday, March 19, 2023, on a first-degree murder charge. (Aurora Police Department via AP)
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Police: Dentist killed wife by lacing shakes with poison

50 mins ago
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Idaho pass bill to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

March 20, 2023
In this undated photo provided by Aurora Police Department is James Craig. Investigators say the Colorado dentist intent on killing his wife put poison in her protein shakes before finally succeeding with a rush order dose of potassium cyanide powder he said he needed to perform surgery. Craig was arrested on Sunday, March 19, 2023, on a first-degree murder charge. (Aurora Police Department via AP)

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Idaho pass bill to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

March 20, 2023
In this undated photo provided by Aurora Police Department is James Craig. Investigators say the Colorado dentist intent on killing his wife put poison in her protein shakes before finally succeeding with a rush order dose of potassium cyanide powder he said he needed to perform surgery. Craig was arrested on Sunday, March 19, 2023, on a first-degree murder charge. (Aurora Police Department via AP)

Police: Dentist killed wife by lacing shakes with poison

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