The Lincoln News Sentinel

By SEÁN O'DONOGHUE

Managing Editor

WASHINGTON - The recent launch of the Congressional Coal Caucus has drawn various responses from congressional candidates throughout West Virginia.

Congressman Nick Joe Rahall (D-WV3) recalled that he had been involved in establishing a similar entity when he was first elected to Congress. And one Lincoln County candidate, with U.S. Capitol aspirations, has given a commitment to join the new group should he be elected in November.

A bipartisan group of congressmen and women launched the caucus earlier this month. Among the six initial members of the caucus was Rep. Shelley…

By SEÁN O'DONOGHUE

Managing Editor

HAMLIN - A number of Lincoln County residents are among those involved in $90,000 worth of fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits. The funds were recovered during the fourth quarter of 2009.

The Unemployment Compensation Division of WorkForce West Virginia announced recently that the division detected fraud in claims filed by 139 individuals. Warrants were issued for fraud in almost half of the state's counties, including Lincoln, Cabell, Boone, Kanawha, Putnam, Logan and Wayne.

In all cases where fraud is detected, the claimants are penalized. Penalties include a 52-week…