Nation IN BRIEF : WEST VIRGINIA : Governor, Striking Teachers Square Off

Gov. Gaston Caperton and West Virginia’s largest teachers union are girding for a showdown today, with the union refusing to end its strike and Caperton warning that teachers who stay off the job can be dismissed. “The law’s pretty clear,” said Caperton, referring to a state attorney general’s ruling that the strike is illegal. The West Virginia Education Assn. had accused the governor of backing off a promise to call a special legislative session to discuss pay if teachers returned to work. Caperton said the union’s contention that he promised to call a special session was “a total lie.”