The Boy Scouts of America passed a resolution yesterday that ends a century old ban on openly gay scouts beginning next January. Sixty-one percent of votes from those attending the annual national meeting in Grapevine Texas voted yes on the resolution. The ban still applies to openly gay scout leaders.

The McDowell native and Concord student was selected to represent West Virginia in a national conference. His passion and pride in his home county for the 19-year-old, helped Trey Lockhart to be selected.

The Kanawha County adult drug court celebrated six graduates yesterday after they successfully completed a minimum 12-month program. Those in the program are subjected to intensive treatment and supervision, including random drug testing and regularly scheduled court appearances.

Traffic fatalities are more common in Appalachia than in the rest of the country, according to a study published by some WVU researchers.

This week the governor announced a new head for the state Department of Health and Human Resources. Gov. Tomblin chose Beckley resident and Mullens native Karen Bowling to replace current acting Secretary Rocco Fucillo.