NBC Washington is apologizing to West Virginians. An article posted on the station's website last week took a few shots at the Mountain State and its citizens.

Author Chris Needham wrote a piece called "West Virginia Discovers The Internet." It was about the state's efforts to put its public records online. But the story wasn't very flattering.

Teresa O'Cassidy, who puts out the "Buzzardbilly" blog and keeps a close eye on how West Virginia is perceived across the country calls the article ridiculous.

In his piece, Needham used just about every negative state stereotype you can think of, including, "Isn't it enough that they have to poop in their backyard, running through the cold, fearing that the trap door on their red flannel pajamas should pop open early, exposing their nether regions to the bite of the winds? Why do we have to make fun of them for their misfortune?"

Reacting to the article, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said, "You feel sorry for the ignorance that people have. That don't take time to find out who we are and then they basically put their foot in their mouth."

Following a firestorm of criticism from the bloggers, NBC Washington released this statement, "The article intended to take a tongue in cheek approach. However, upon further review, we have removed it from our website. We apologize to anyone who might have been offended by its content."

But blogger O'Cassidy said more than an apology is warranted for what Needham did. "He threw in inbreeding. He threw in outhouses. He said considering no one in West Virginia would have electricity to power a Commodore, which was a computer in what...the 80s or the 70s?"

Although Needham has released no statement or comment about his article, a person identifying himself as the reporter apologized in the comments section of the blog "Girl Of Words."

Needham said, "It was stupid. It got pulled, and you're right: I shouldn't have written it, and it shouldn't have been published."

Governor Manchin says this is just the latest example in a long line of slights and insults to the state and its people.

"Sometimes people have nothing better to do," Manchin said. "Maybe they better look at themselves a little closer, right?"

The governor says he plans to ask NBC Washington for a retraction.

To read more about the controversy and what the blogosphere is saying about it, you can go to buzzardbilly.blogspot.com or www.girlofwords.com.

There you will find what those bloggers are saying...and what their readers are saying back to them.