In Around West Virginia: Jim Justice openly says he won't vote for Hillary Clinton, more on transgender students and bathrooms, warrants for a couple that allegedly overdosed with their kid in the vehicle, and more.
n Jim Justice, billionaire businessman and the Democratic candidate for governor in West Virginia, explicitly said Monday on MetroNews "Talkline" that he "cannot be a supporter of Hillary Clinton." He said Clinton's "position on coal is diametrically, completely wrong in many, many different ways" and said he sees "good days in front of us as far as the metallurgical market." He didn't say who he planned to support. "Fortune" magazine reported last month that Donald Trump's similar promises to bring back coal jobs are "pure fantasy."
n Three superintendents from southern West Virginia sent The Register-Herald statements about a Texas ruling Sunday on transgender students and bathroom access. The ruling blocks a federal directive that had stated transgender students must be permitted to use the restrooms corresponding with their gender identity. Wyoming County School Superintendent Deirdre Cline didn't say in her statement whether transgender students would be permitted to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity. She said "the courts will have to sort this out."
The Gazette-Mail had previously surveyed state superintendents on the issue, and Cline refused to specifically answer then, as well.
Raleigh County Superintendent David Price, who the Gazette-Mail couldn't reach, said he couldn't speak to the Texas ruling but that the school district would follow the law.
Jeff Bryant, Greenbrier schools superintendent, said "it is our understanding that the legal issue of whether a transgender student has the right to use a particular restroom facility has not been definitively decided" and that they would look at each situation on a "case-by-case" basis. He made similar comments to the Gazette-Mail.
n Police have obtained warrants for a couple that overdosed while traveling with their 4-year-old child in Huntington, the Herald-Dispatch reports. Chad Fry allegedly crashed the vehicle into a tree when he overdosed, and the child was subsequently injured. He and Betty Fry were revived at the scene. They are being charged with child neglect resulting in injury.
n A 20-year-old Martinsburg woman allegedly bit Morgantown police officers, MetroNews reports. Meghan Delores Losh is charged with two counts of battery on an officer, resisting and obstructing officers, underage possession and consumption of alcohol, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. She allegedly fought with the officers outside LUX Nightclub on Wall Street.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.