In Around West Virginia today: Martinsburg Police to limit vehicle pursuits, the West Virginia Hive Network assists entrepreneurs, and more.
n The Martinsburg Police Department will begin pursuing suspects in a vehicle only when they are suspected of "violent forcible felonies," The Journal reports. Police said the policy was meant to protect innocent bystanders who could be struck during a pursuit. "It must be so important to apprehend the suspect that officers are justified in placing an innocent third party at risk of losing their life and/or property," the new policy says.
n The West Virginia Hive Network is building six facilities in the southern part of the state where potential business owners can find assistance opening and sustaining a business, according to The Register-Herald. At the hives, entrepreneurs can find out if their business idea is viable and connect with mentors. The first, in Beckley, includes work stations and conference spaces, free Wi-Fi, a lounge, a 3D printer and more. The facilities are also planned for Summersville, Richwood, Oak Hill, Lewisburg and Hinton.
n A Berkeley County lawmaker suggested to a teacher who contacted him about PEIA budget cuts via Twitter that she should get a second job, work during the summer, or contribute less to her retirement fund. Gina Pratt, a Title I teacher at Back Creek Valley Elementary, had contacted Republican Delegate Eric Householder, assistant majority whip, to ask him to support more funding for PEIA, after the insurance company approved cuts to benefits last year. She told The Journal she already has a second job. She also said Householder must not understand that public workers who work during the summer, such as police officers, will pay more as a result of PEIA budget cuts as well. Householder told The Journal that many West Virginia families, including his, have had to cut back on spending or obtain second jobs.
n Police are charging four people with murder more than a year after Franklin Borders was killed in Oak Hill, according to WVVA. Joseph Lawson, of Beckley; Quantel Saunders, of Beckley; Corte Lawson, of Beckley; and Sabrina Gray, of Oak Hill are being charged with murder. Police said a witness had come forward, saying she had heard gun shots then saw two men fleeing from the area in a silver Dodge Neon on Nov. 2, 2014.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.