Carte Goodwin replaces late senator Byrd; Scott McInnis to repay foundation

WEST VIRGINIA

Ex-aide named to replace Byrd

Carte Goodwin, a member of a prominent West Virginia family, will succeed the late Robert C. Byrd in the U.S. Senate, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) said Friday.

Goodwin, 36, is Manchin's former chief counsel; he will hold the seat until November.

The governor wants general-election voters to decide who will serve the final two years of Byrd's term. The legislature has begun a special session to consider Manchin's proposal.

Goodwin ruled out running for the seat Friday. Manchin has said it's highly likely that he will seek the seat, but he has yet to officially announce his plans.

-- Associated Press

COLORADO

Candidate vows to repay foundation

Scott McInnis, a Republican candidate for Colorado governor, said Friday that he will fully repay the $300,000 he received for plagiarized essays about water rights, adding that it should bring the issue to a close.

The offer for repayment came after the Hasan Family Foundation board said it wants its money back, noting that McInnis has admitted some of the work wasn't his own. The board also said McInnis didn't do the work he was obligated to do as a senior fellow of the foundation.

McInnis, who served six terms in the U.S. House, faces Dan Maes in the primary election Aug. 10.