In Around West Virginia today: two cities consider nondiscrimination ordinances, Handle with Care expands to Berkeley County, and more.
n Lewisburg's city attorney is conducting legal research in anticipation of a potential lawsuit if the city updates its nondiscrimination ordinance. The Register-Herald reports that Lewisburg City Council met with City Attorney Jesse Guills for three hours on Tuesday evening. The city is considering an ordinance to expand protection from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations to members of the LGBT community.
n Martinsburg City Council is also considering an ordinance that would expand protections to members of the LGBT community, according to The Journal. The Martinsburg mayor set a special meeting for this evening at 6:30 p.m. for the first and second readings of an ordinance to allow members of the LGBT community to sue if discriminated against in housing, employment or public accommodations because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
n Two elementary schools in Berkeley County were selected to pilot the Handle with Care program for the county, The Journal reports. Police who agree to follow the program, which originated in Charleston, notify children's schools when they see kids present at traumatic crime scenes, so that school officials know to "handle with care" the next day.
n The police chief of Paden City has been fired, according to the Tyler Star News. Joseph Richardson had been suspended after being charged with battery and unlawful restraint when he allegedly attacked a woman on Oct. 12. A warrant has been issued for his arrest for allegedly violating the terms of his bond agreement.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.