CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A federal judge in West Virginia on Wednesday refused to toss the misdemeanor conviction of former coal CEO Don Blankenship for conspiring to violate mine safety...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Former coal CEO Don Blankenship's misdemeanor conviction for conspiring to violate mine safety laws should be tossed out, a federal magistrate judge in West Virginia...

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is capitalizing on a fellow Republican's attack by selling "Cocaine Mitch" shirts on his campaign's website.

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. (AP) — Former coal baron Don Blankenship is suing several news outlets and media personalities, claiming he was defamed during his failed bid for a U.S. senate seat in West...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The state Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a last-minute bid by former coal CEO Don Blankenship to get his name on the ballot in November's U.S. Senate race in West Virginia.

The court upheld a decision by the secretary of state denying Blankenship's application for a third-party candidacy.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Latest on a bid by former coal CEO Don Blankenship to get his name on the ballot in November's U.S. Senate race in West Virginia (all times local):

4:10 p.m.

The state Supreme Court has denied a bid by former coal CEO Don Blankenship to get his name on the ballot in November's U.S. Senate race in West Virginia.

The court made its ruling Wednesday after hearing Blankenship's appeal of a decision denying his third-party candidacy application.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Former coal executive Don Blankenship has filed a court challenge to a denial of his third-party candidacy application to run in West Virginia's U.S. Senate race.

Blankenship filed the challenge with the state Supreme Court on Thursday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Democrats make up the bulk of signatures so far on a petition to let ex-coal executive Don Blankenship run in West Virginia's U.S. Senate race as the Constitution Party's nominee, preliminary data shows.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An election official has blocked former coal executive Don Blankenship's bid to run in West Virginia's U.S. Senate race as the Constitution Party's nominee.

News outlets report Secretary of State Mac Warner announced Thursday that he won't approve Blankenship's candidacy application, based on the state's "sore loser" law. The law prohibits major party primary candidates who lose from switching to a minor party. Blankenship finished third in the Republican primary.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Former coal executive Don Blankenship has filed paperwork to run in West Virginia's U.S. Senate race as the Constitution Party's nominee.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Blankenship filed the documents at the secretary of state's office Tuesday with signatures of an estimated 11,000 registered voters.

Blankenship's campaign has said it will "vigorously challenge" any denial of his efforts to be on the ballot.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Former coal executive Don Blankenship has filed to run in West Virginia's U.S. Senate race as the Constitution Party's nominee.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Blankenship filed documents at the secretary of state's office Tuesday with an estimated 11,000 registered voter signatures.

It's unclear whether the bid violates West Virginia's "sore loser" law, which bars major party primary candidates who lose from switching to a minor party.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An undeterred Don Blankenship wants to continue his fight to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. But if he gets the opportunity, it could end up helping Manchin instead.

After losing the Republican primary in a distant third place, the convicted ex-coal baron announced Monday that he's re-emerged as a third-party candidate. The Constitution Party nominated Blankenship by a unanimous vote, his campaign said in a news release.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Despite losing the Republican primary in a distant third place, convicted ex-coal baron Don Blankenship announced Monday that he will continue his bid for U.S. Senate as a third-party candidate, though it's unclear if the move violates West Virginia's "sore loser" law.

Blankenship will run as a member of the Constitution Party, which nominated him by a unanimous vote, his campaign said in a news release.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Latest on convicted ex-coal baron Don Blankenship's announcement that he'll run for U.S. Senate as a third-party candidate (all times local):

4:15 p.m.

A professor says if Don Blankenship is successful in making the U.S. Senate campaign a three-way race in West Virginia this fall, it "throws everything into uncertainty."

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republican voters rejected ex-convict Don Blankenship in a West Virginia Senate primary in which he sold himself as "Trumpier than Trump" but was vigorously opposed by Trump himself. GOP voters in Indiana, meanwhile, chose wealthy businessman Mike Braun over two sitting congressmen to lead the party's charge against a vulnerable Democratic senator in the fall.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Key takeaways after voters in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia — all states won in 2016 by Donald Trump — picked nominees for Senate, House and some state offices ahead of the November general elections:

REPUBLICANS TAKE A DEEP BREATH IN APPALACHIA

National Republicans were terrified that West Virginia Republicans might nominate a convicted ex-coal executive for the Senate and give up an opportunity to unseat Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Latest on Tuesday's primaries in four states (all times local):

7:35 a.m.

President Donald Trump says the GOP "had a great night," after West Virginia Republicans rejected ex-convict Don Blankenship in state's Senate primary.

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. IRANIAN OFFICIALS LASH OUT AFTER US WITHDRAWAL

Iran's supreme leader chastises Trump over his decision to pull America out of the 2015 nuclear deal, while lawmakers lit a paper U.S. flag on fire inside parliament, shouting, "Death to America!"

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Tuesday's primaries in four states (all times local):

1:20 a.m.

Republican voters have rejected ex-convict Don Blankenship in a West Virginia Senate primary in which he sold himself as "Trumpier than Trump" but was vigorously opposed by the president.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey claimed the nomination instead, promoting his record of challenging policies of the Obama administration.

LOGAN, W.Va. (AP) — A former coal company CEO who went to prison on charges stemming from the deadliest U.S. mine disaster in decades kicked off his U.S. Senate campaign by trying to persuade a largely working class audience that he identifies with them. But one father whose son died in the 2010 tragedy called the GOP businessman's jump into politics "more of a slap in our face."

LOGAN, W.Va. (AP) — A former coal company CEO who went to prison for charges stemming from the deadliest U.S. mine disaster in decades kicked off his U.S. Senate campaigning Thursday, seeking to persuade a largely working class audience that he identified with them. But one father present whose son died in the 2010 tragedy called the GOP businessman's jump into politics "more of a slap in our face."

LOGAN, W.Va. (AP) — The Latest on the Senate campaign of former coal executive Don Blankenship (all times local):

8:20 p.m.

A West Virginia man whose son was killed in the deadliest U.S. mine disaster in four decades says a former coal executive's candidacy for U.S. Senate has brought up some bitter memories for his family.

Robert Atkins' 25-year-old son, Jason Atkins, died in the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion that killed 29 men in southern West Virginia.

LOGAN, W.Va. (AP) — A former coal company CEO who went to prison is hosting a town hall meeting for voters next week as he revs up his U.S. Senate candidacy.

Ex-Massey Energy boss Don Blankenship's campaign said in a news release Wednesday the meeting will be Jan. 18 at the Chief Logan Lodge, Hotel and Conference Center in Logan.

Blankenship will face U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in the May 8 GOP primary. Democrat Joe Manchin is seeking re-election.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — In an interview about running for the U.S. Senate from West Virginia, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship is jabbing at incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin and Republican Congressman Evan Jenkins.

Blankenship, whose filing was received Friday, is running as a Republican, like Jenkins and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, who went to prison after a mine explosion, plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat in West Virginia held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a spokesman said Wednesday.

The formal filing was expected Wednesday, spokesman Greg Thomas told The Associated Press. The Senate clerk's office said it hadn't received it shortly before closing at 6 p.m.