We wrote in early March about the federal EPA’s plan to start testing the air quality around some the nation’s schools, following a major investigation by USA Today, in which air monitoring “showed pollution at levels that could make people sick or significantly increase their risk of cancer if they were exposed to the chemicals for long periods.”

Today, EPA announced which schools will be part of this new testing plan, and the list includes four schools in West Virginia:

– Follansbee Middle School

– Jefferson Primary School in Follansbee

– Cabell County Career Technology Center in Huntington

– Neale Elementary School in Vienna

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James P. Clements’ salary of $900,000 over two years is nearly $200,000 more each year than former WVU president Mike Garrison earned. Clements will also receive annual salary increases as long as he remains as president, according to his employment agreement with WVU. (You can also view that letter here.)

The agreement with the WVU Board of Governors also spells out automobile, air service and other means of transportation and travel available to Clements, his wife and children. Vehicles will be provided to Clements and his wife, Beth, no later than July 1.

Clements will also have access to a presidential discretionary account, as determined by the WVU Foundation, for any University-related purpose, which includes business entertainment.

Beth Clements can be reimbursed by the university or the WVU Foundation when she devotes “substantial time and energy” to WVU activities.

President-elect Clements will also be reimbursed up to $24,000 for moving expenses, which might include short-term housing needs.

If Clements is terminated without cause prior to June 30, 2010, he would be entitled to 12 months salary after the termination date. If he is terminated without cause after June 30, 2010, but prior to June 30, 2011, he would be entitled to six months of pay.

Mary Jane Bowling, mother of convicted Cross Lanes business executive Martin Bowling, went to extraordinary lengths to avoid having her picture taken and answering our questions yesterday in a Kanawha County Courtroom.

Mary Jane Bowling, as you may recall, distributed a $100,000 federal grant to Comar Inc. and its subisidary Vec3, where her son worked as chief technical officer. She did this two months after he was indicted on computer fraud charges, and continued to pass along the grant money even after her son pleaded guilty and was awaiting sentencing. Martin Bowling used a part of the money to attended computer conferences throughout the U.S.

Well, Martin Bowling was in court yesterday, begging a judge to reduce his three-year prison sentence, and Mary Jane Bowling wasn’t about to let anyone take her photograph. (This is as close as we got).

After the hearing, Bowling’s supporters — the unidentified man pictured above is one of them — locked the courtroom door while we waited outside. We eventually got inside, but Bowling’s backers formed a tight circle around her and ushered her outside the courtroom and onto an elevator. As we tried to follow, one of Bowling’s associates stuck his foot in the courtroom door, trapping us inside until the elevator arrived and whisked Bowling downstairs.

Mary Jane Bowling is a state employee who makes $53,800 a year with Workforce West Virginia. Last week, she hung up on us when we tried to ask about the grant that she administered and her son used. Rest assured, we’re still trying to find a photograph of Ms. Bowling, and we’ll continue to try to get an explanation for her actions.