State briefs

W.Va. lottery revenue continues to drop

One of the expenses consumers seem willing to cut back on isgambling, as state lottery revenue continues a monthslong plunge.

Revenue from racetrack video lottery games, neighborhood videolottery machines and instant tickets sales totaled just over $104million in December, a drop of about $5.2 million from December2007.

Since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, revenues are down2.1 percent, or nearly $16 million, from the same period in 2007.

State Lottery Director John Musgrave says only scratch-offinstant tickets are showing growth.

Musgrave says people who curtail trips to racetracks and barswith gambling machines to save money still go to gas stations andconvenience stores, where the tickets are sold.

Six cited for trespassing during protest

PETTUS - Six protesters have been cited for trespassing at aMassey Energy coal mine in West Virginia.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Baylous says five of theprotesters chained themselves to heavy equipment at Richmond, Va.-based Massey's surface mine on Coal River Mountain on Tuesday.

Climate Ground Zero and Pan-Appalachian Mountain Justice say theprotest centers on safety at the mine. They contend the mine's coalsludge impoundment could flood nearby towns.

Spokesman Jeff Gillenwater says Massey has the appropriatepermits and the trespassers were rightfully charged.

Mountaintop mining opponents are promoting a wind farm on themountain instead of the surface mine.

The destructive practice of mountaintop mining relies on removingtons of rock and dirt to expose thin, shallow coal seams.

University establishes exchange program

WHEELING - Wheeling Jesuit University has established an academicexchange program with the Catholic University of Cardoba, Argentina.

Ryan Wall, director of Wheeling Jesuit's Office of GlobalOutreach, said Monday the partnership will allow students to enrollin any program or course offered by either institution.

Wheeling Jesuit says the first students from Argentina willarrive in Wheeling later this year. The agreement also allows forthe exchange of faculty, publications, academic programs andresearch projects.

COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS