RAESE ENDORSEMENT: U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate John Raese, according to a news release

"John Raese is exactly the type of common sense conservative that we need in the United State Senate," Coburn said in a prepared statement. "He is a successful businessman, has created hundreds of jobs in West Virginia and understands that government can help the economy by getting out of the way and decreasing its burden on taxpayers and businesses."

MANCHIN ENDORSEMENT: The West Virginia AFL-CIO has officially endorsed Joe Manchin for the U.S. Senate, according to a news release. Created in 1957, The West Virginia AFL-CIO is a group of more than 550 affiliated unions. It takes two-thirds vote of the 75 member statewide COPE committee to make an endorsement. Manchin received an unanimous endorsement.

"It is with great pride that the West Virginia AFL-CIO endorses Joe Manchin for the U.S. Senate," West Virginia AFL-CIO President Kenny Perdue said. "West Virginia needs strong leadership to look out for the needs of our working families."

Sheirl Fletcher, Ken Hechler and Manchin are candidates for the Democratic primary in the race for Sen. Robert C. Byrd's unexpired term. Harry C. Bruner Jr., Kenneth A. Culp, Albert Howard, Frank T. Kubic, Lynette Kennedy McQuain, John R. Raese, Daniel Scott Rebich, Thomas Ressler, Mac Warner, and Scott H. Williams are running for the Republican nomination. Jesse Johnson is running unopposed in the Mountain Party primary.

BIAS RALLY: Cabell County Commissioner Scott Bias is planning a campaign rally for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the Tri-State Fire Academy as part of his re-election bid.

The location was omitted in a story in Saturday's edition of The Herald-Dispatch.

Gov. Joe Manchin will be the featured speaker and Attorney General Darrell McGraw is the special guest. Barbecue will be provided by A.J.'s Pig Pickin and hot dogs by Hillbilly Hotdogs.

Bias, a Democrat, is running against Republican Anne Morton Yon, a Republican, in the Nov. 2 general election.

HADSELL REQUESTS SPECIAL SESSION: Ron Hadsell, Democratic candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives' 89th District seat, sent a request to Gov. Ted Strickland to call a special legislative session to address the licensure of pain clinics in the state, Hadsell said in a release Tuesday.

Legislation that would require all pain clinics to apply for licensing currently sits in the House, but it has yet to be sent to a committee for hearing.

In his letter to Gov. Strickland, Hadsell said an estimated 7,000 people have died in the last seven years from prescription drug abuse and accidental poisonings.

"These so-called 'doctors' are making a killing, literally, through both prescribing and dispensing controlled substances," Hadsell said in the letter. "The legislature has proven time and again that it can nearly move heaven and earth to pass a law when it is in their interest to do so."

Hadsell is running against Republican Terry Johnson and Green Party member Dennis Lambert in the November election.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL: The Huntington-Cabell Republican Women will host its annual Ice Cream Social from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, at the Museum of Radio and Technology, 1640 Florence Avenue, Huntington.

The event will feature ice cream, homemade cookies, cakes and pies. Cost is $3 per person or $10 per family.

Mark Bates will be the auctioneer.

For ticket information, call Lisa McComas 304-522-8253.

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