State |
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| State News |
| Posts from September 2012 |
Obama and Romney Court Virginia Voters Thursday
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 27 2012 8:38PM
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - President Barack Obama has appealed to veterans and military families in defense-focused southeast Virginia, casting himself as a president who is ending foreign entanglements and aiding returning soldiers with educational opportunities.
Obama chided rival Mitt Romney for saying, in secretly taped remarks months ago, that nearly half of Americans believe they are victims entitled to government help.
Obama said instead of victims, he sees veterans who have served "with bravery and distinction" and military families wondering if loved ones will "come home safe and sound." Obama was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, a conservative Virginia Democrat who is a former Marine and Navy Secretary.
Romney was campaigning nearly 200 miles away in Springfield, Va. Obama won the state in 2008; it is among the most competitive of the 2012 contest.
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Attorney Files Dismissal Motion in WikiLeaks Case
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 27 2012 8:36PM
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HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - An Army private charged with sending reams of U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks claims lengthy delays have violated his right to a speedy trial.
Pfc. Bradley Manning is seeking dismissal of all charges in a motion his lawyer posted on his website Thursday.
It's been two years and four months since Manning was detained in Iraq for allegedly sending hundreds of thousands of classified war logs and diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy website. His trial is set to begin in February.
Defense attorney David Coombs says the Military District of Washington commander rubber-stamped all prosecution requests to delay Manning's arraignment and improperly excluded other periods from the speedy-trial clock.
Coombs says the delays made a mockery of the requirement that an accused be arraigned within 120 days.
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UVa arts vice provost to step down in January
by AP
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posted Sep 27 2012 3:30PM
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - The University of Virginia's first vice provost for the arts will step down in January.
Elizabeth Hutton Turner has served in the position since 2007 when it was created. Her five-year term ends in January.
The university said Thursday that a search for Turner's successor began this week.
Turner also is a professor of modern art at U.Va. The university says she will take a two-year leave in January to work with the Terra Foundation for American Art, where she will serve as vice president for collections and curatorial affairs.
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9 sentenced in southwest Va. drug trafficking case
by AP
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posted Sep 27 2012 3:29PM
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ABINGDON, Va. (AP) - Nine people have been sentenced in a drug trafficking case in southwest Virginia.
Seven defendants are from southwest Virginia and two are from Detroit. All nine were convicted of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.
U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said Thursday that the convictions and sentences stem from a two-year investigation by local, state and federal authorities.
According to court records, the defendants brought oxycodone from Detroit to distribute in the Big Stone Gap area.
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Fort Lee tackling suicide prevention
by AP
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posted Sep 27 2012 3:29PM
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PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) - Fort Lee is raising awareness of suicide prevention.
The Petersburg base participated Thursday in an Army-wide day devoted to suicide prevention.
Fort Lee's "stand down" also focused on sexual assault and harassment prevention.
The day's events and training began with more than 10,000 soldiers and other military personnel participating in a 2-mile run.
Fort Lee has been investigating whether four deaths this year were suicides. If confirmed, it would represent a sharp increase in the number of suicides.
The Army is the largest of the services and it has the highest number of suicides. The Pentagon has been struggling with a spike in the number of self-inflicted deaths this year.
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Obama and Romney Head to Virginia Thursday
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 26 2012 7:36PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is set to play host to both presidential candidates on Thursday.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at Farm Bureau Live on Thursday morning in Virginia Beach.
And media outlets report that Republican Mitt Romney is set to hold an event for veterans at American Legion Post 176 in Springfield on Thursday.
The visits by both presidential candidates follow a Tuesday campaign event in Chesterfield County by Vice President Joe Biden.
Both campaigns have frequented Virginia, which is considered a battleground state.
Recent polls place Obama slightly ahead of Romney. Obama won Virginia in 2008, becoming the first Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson to gain victory here.
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Contractor Hired to Repair Quake Damaged Monument
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 26 2012 7:36PM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Park Service says a Massachusetts contractor has been named to repair earthquake damage to the Washington Monument.
The park service announced Wednesday that Perini Management Services, Inc. of Framingham, Mass., has been chosen for the $15 million project.
Federal officials say the contractor's parent company was the prime contractor for the construction of the Ronald Reagan Building, the district's largest federal building. The contractor's team also includes firms involved in a restoration of the monument completed in 2000.
The 555-foot-tall obelisk has been closed to the public since a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in August 2011. The upper portion of the monument sustained large cracks when it shook violently during the quake.
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Coastal Waters to be Explored for Wind Turbine Development
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 26 2012 7:35PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia plans to survey a vast expanse of the ocean floor and document wind, waves and wildlife offshore to smooth the way for the development of wind turbines.
The proposed exploration is 27 miles off Virginia Beach and encompasses 113,000 acres, or 133 square miles. Eight energy companies have said they're interested in building turbines in the federally designated wind development area.
The eight include Dominion Virginia Power, the state's largest utility, as well as international interests.
The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is proposing the two initiatives. One would assess the ocean bottom's suitability for placing the massive support structures for wind turbines. The other involves the construction of platforms along the edges of the commercial lease area. It would take an array of measurements.
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Contractor Chosen for Washington Monument Repair
by AP
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posted Sep 26 2012 11:08AM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The National Park Service says a Massachusetts contractor has been named to repair earthquake damage to the Washington Monument.
The park service announced Wednesday that Perini Management Services, Inc. of Framingham, Mass., has been chosen for the $15 million project.
Federal officials say the contractor's parent was the prime contractor for the construction of the Ronald Reagan Building, the largest building in the district. And the contractor's team includes firms involved in a restoration of the monument completed in 2000.
The 555-foot-tall obelisk has been closed to the public since a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in August 2011. The upper portion of the monument sustained large cracks when it shook violently during the quake. Engineers say scaffolding will have to be built around the monument, which will likely be closed until 2014.
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Inmate Death Investigated
by AP
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posted Sep 25 2012 10:31AM
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POCAHONTAS, Va. (AP) - Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at a state prison in Tazewell County.
Virginia Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor tells the Bluefield Daily Telegraph that the male inmate died at the Pocahontas State Correctional Center on Sunday.
The inmate hasn't been identified. An autopsy will be conducted by the state medical examiner's officer to determine the cause of death.
Traylor says the corrections department's inspector general is conducting an internal investigation.
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Ex-rescue Squad Member Sentenced in Fraud Case
by AP
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posted Sep 25 2012 10:30AM
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ABINGDON, Va. (AP) - A former Saltville Rescue Squad member will spend two years on probation for her role in a health care fraud scheme.
Monica Hicks also must pay $100 per month in restitution to help pay off $757,258 fraudulently obtained from insurers.
The Bristol Herald Courier says Hicks was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon. She pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Last week, a federal jury convicted the squad's former president, Eddie Louthian Sr., on health care fraud and perjury charges. Louthian was acquitted of money laundering charges.
The jury also acquitted the rescue squad as a corporation.
Prosecutors say Louthian and Hicks fraudulently billed insurers for transporting patients who didn't qualify for the service.
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Investigation Delayed Flights at Dulles Airport
by AP
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posted Sep 25 2012 10:28AM
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CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) - Officials say an investigation into a bomb threat at Washington Dulles International Airport delayed several arriving flights, but no bomb was found.
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokeswoman Kimberly Gibbs said early Tuesday that authorities conducted an investigation at the airport Monday night. Gibbs says the investigation involved two parking garages and that they were closed to the public until about 10 p.m.
No further details about the investigation or bomb threat have been released.
Gibbs said delays affected flights scheduled to arrive between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
No injuries or arrests have been reported. Flights were back to normal.
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More Than 3,000 Cited in Traffic Crackdown
by AP
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posted Sep 25 2012 10:26AM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A safety crackdown on five Virginia interstates yielded more than 3,000 citations for speeding, reckless driving and other traffic offenses.
Virginia State Police troopers also arrested three motorists on drunken driving charges and 11 others on felony and drug charges.
Troopers conducted the Operation Air, Land and Speed traffic safety program Sept. 22 on Interstates 81, 95, 64, 66 and 85. State police say it's the first time five interstates have been targeted simultaneously.
During the 10-hour operation, troopers cited 1,460 speeders, 455 reckless drivers and 103 people for failing to wear seatbelts.
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Raw Video: Giant Panda Cub at National Zoo Dies
by AP
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posted Sep 24 2012 7:45AM
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<VIDEO> A giant panda cub born last weekend at the National Zoo in Washington has died. Zoo officials say the cub was found dead Sunday morning after panda keepers heard sounds of distress from its mother, Mei Xiang.
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Virginia Jobless Rate Steady at 5.9% in August
by AP
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posted Sep 21 2012 12:03PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's jobless rate remained steady in August after increasing the previous two months.
The Virginia Employment Commission says Virginia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in August. That's 0.5 percentage points lower than a year ago.
Virginia's unemployment rate has been trending down since January 2010, when joblessness peaked at 7.3 percent. The rate had fallen to a three-year low earlier this year and increased during June and July in a pattern similar to last year.
The state's jobless rate is still below the national average, which edged down to 8.1 percent in August. But that was only because many people gave up looking for work.
The Labor Department says rates rose in 26 states last month. Rates fell in 12 states and Washington, and were unchanged in 12.
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More Arrests in Child Predator Sweep in Virginia
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Sep 20 2012 2:00PM
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An additional 11 arrests are announced Thursday as part of last year's "Operation Phalanx" child predator Internet sweep in Virginia.
The undercover, collaborative law enforcement effort was first announced in April with 20 arrests. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says this first-of-its-kind operation in Virginia. It was conducted over a week-long period in 2011 with the purpose of detecting and capturing online, child predators. The charges range from solicitation of a minor to distribution of child pornography.
Another 26 cases have also been referred for investigation and prosecution outside of Virginia.
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Senate Candidates Debate Today
by AP
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posted Sep 20 2012 10:47AM
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MCLEAN, Va. (AP) - Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican George Allen are set to square off in another debate in one of the nation's marquee U.S. Senate races.
The two former governors will participate today in the first of three debates to be held over the final seven weeks of the campaign. Their race is one of about a dozen that could decide who's in charge on Capitol Hill in January.
Thursday's debate is hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. It's been a staple for every modern statewide candidate for years and often generated news that affected the course of campaigns.
The debate will be moderated by David Gregory of NBC's "Meet the Press."
The candidates will face off again Oct. 8 in Richmond and Oct. 18 on the Virginia Tech campus.
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East Coast Storms Leave Thousands in Dark
by AP
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posted Sep 19 2012 9:48AM
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<VIDEO> Tens of thousands of homes and businesses were left without power from Maryland to Connecticut, after heavy rains and high winds pounded the East Coast on Tuesday.
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Raw Video: Giant Panda Gives Birth to Cub
by AP
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posted Sep 17 2012 11:28AM
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<VIDEO> The female giant panda at the National Zoo in Washington has given birth to a cub. The zoo says Mei Xiang gave birth late Sunday night.
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Paul Ryan Back in Virginia
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 14 2012 4:32PM
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HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - Republican vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan is returning to Virginia.
Ryan will attend a rally at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg on Friday, then head to Roanoke for a private fundraiser.
The Wisconsin congressman has made several stops in Virginia since he was announced as Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's running mate in the state last month. He spoke in Richmond two weeks ago in his first rally following the Republican National Convention.
Romney is deadlocked with President Barack Obama in Virginia. While Obama is stronger in the northern suburbs of Washington, D.C., Romney is favored in the south and rural areas.
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Remains from Libyan Attack Return to Maryland
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 14 2012 4:30PM
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ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. (AP) - President Barack Obama has paid tribute to Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others killed in the assault on the U.S. compound in Libya, calling them patriots who served America's ideals -- and laid down their lives for others.
Obama took part in a transfer of remains ceremony in a hangar at Andrews Air Force Base, joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
After meeting with families of the victims, Obama watched as flag-draped cases containing the remains were carried off of a transport plane and loaded into four black hearses.
Also killed in the Tuesday assault were Americans Sean Smith, Glen A. Doherty and Tyrone S. Woods.
Obama vowed to bring those responsible to justice -- and "stand fast" against attacks on U.S. embassies.
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First Lady Says Virginia is a Key State for November
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 13 2012 3:54PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - First lady Michelle Obama emphasized Virginia's importance in the presidential election in an appearance before several hundred supporters in Richmond.
Obama said Thursday that the election could come down to a few battleground states such as Virginia. She said President Barack Obama's 235,000-vote margin of victory in Virginia four years ago works out to only a couple of votes per neighborhood, which is why it's important to get people to the polls in November.
She also touted the president's record on job creation, health care reform, women's issues and other matters.
The crowd greeted Obama with a chant of "four more years" and later erupted in cheers when she asked, "Are you fired up?"
In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Virginia since 1964.
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Facebook 'like' leads to Md. fugitive's capture
by AP
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posted Sep 13 2012 1:01PM
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TAZEWELL, Va. (AP) - A Maryland fugitive is in custody after his girlfriend's "like" of a Virginia sheriff's Facebook page led authorities to him.
The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office says 29-year-old Dyllan Otto Naecker was captured Wednesday at his girlfriend's residence near Bluefield.
The sheriff's office tells media outlets that the girlfriend, Samantha Dillow, has been charged with obstruction of justice.
Police determined Dillow's identity after she "liked" the sheriff's office's Facebook page.
The sheriff's office in Queen Anne's County, Md., says Naecker is a registered sex offender who was living in Grasonville, Md. Police learned in late July that Naecker had left his residence and possibly fled to the Bluefield area.
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Va. gets another $52M from feds for transportation
by AP
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posted Sep 13 2012 1:00PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is getting $52 million in federal transportation funds that other states didn't use.
Gov. Bob McDonnell said Thursday that the Federal Highway Administration reallocated the funding to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
States have to return allocated funding if they can't obligate it for projects. The money is reallocated to states that have obligated all their allocated funding and have additional projects ready for construction.
McDonnell says the Virginia Department of Transportation wants to use the extra dollars primarily for repaving and rehabilitating sections of Interstates 95 and 85 in the Richmond region and Interstate 264 in Hampton Roads. The Commonwealth Transportation Board must approve the plan.
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3 big Lottery prizes unclaimed, including $1M
by AP
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posted Sep 13 2012 12:59PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Lottery says a $1 million Powerball prize and two other big prizes will expire later this month if they're not claimed.
The winning Powerball ticket was sold at a Food Lion in Virginia Beach for the March 31 drawing. The ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball.
A $250,000 Mega Millions prize for the March 30 drawing and a $100,000 Cash 5 prize for the March 26 drawing also haven't been claimed. The winning Mega Millions ticket was sold in North Tazewell and the Cash 5 ticket was sold in Henrico County.
The winning Powerball ticket expires Sept. 27. The deadline to claim the Mega Millions prize is Sept. 26. The Cash 5 ticket expires Sept. 22.
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'Mainstream' and 'Progressive' War Recreations
by AP
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posted Sep 13 2012 8:20AM
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<VIDEO> Two private groups have prepared large-scale recreations of The Civil War Battle of Antietam. The first was held last weekend near Boonsboro. The second is this weekend near Sharpsburg.
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White House Big Dig Ending, West Wing Re-emerges
by AP
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posted Sep 12 2012 9:19AM
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<VIDEO> As the massive underground construction project in front of the White House West Wing ends, the mystery deepens as to what was actually built there -- and what's coming next.
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Congressman Asks Feds to Reject Toll Proposal
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 3:00PM
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PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) - Congressman Randy Forbes says the federal government should reject a proposed toll plaza on Interstate 95 in Sussex County.
Forbes sent a letter sent Monday to federal highways administrator Victor M. Mendez urging rejection of the proposal.
Forbes wrote that the proposed toll would dilute the economic benefit that Southside Virginia receives from I-95 and restrict access to the interstate. The Virginia Republican's 4th District includes the economically struggling region.
Seventeen local governments and regional government and economic development bodies in the region also oppose the toll proposal.
The state plans to use revenue from the tolls to finance upgrades to the interstate.
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Federal funds for homeland security drying up
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 2:59PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The flow of federal money into Virginia for state and local homeland security initiatives continues to dry up 11 years after the terrorist attacks that prompted the surge in such spending.
The state is receiving $13.1 million in homeland security and emergency planning grants this year. That's about $16 million less than a year ago and $37.3 million less than in 2008, just before the economy soured.
Funding for regional homeland security initiatives in the Richmond and Hampton Roads regions is gone. So are federal grants for emergency medical response in metropolitan areas.
Some officials worry the decreased funding points to complacency. But others say it instead shows that efforts are evolving into filling in the gaps and sustaining the programs and equipment already purchased.
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Va. memorial project receives $50,000 gift
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 2:58PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A project honoring public safety personnel killed in the line of the duty has received a $50,000 donation.
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the contribution Tuesday. The money comes from excess private funds raised to support the recent National Governor's Association conference in Williamsburg.
The Virginia Public Safety Foundation plans to raise $2 million to pay for construction of the Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial. The memorial will be built at Capitol Square in Richmond.
McDonnell challenged business leaders in Virginia to contribute to the project.
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Work Begins on $168M Medical Center in Richmond
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 9:12AM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Work has begun in Richmond on a $168 million center in Richmond that is billed as the most advanced outpatient facility for children in the region.
Construction began Monday on the new children's pavilion at Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University. The 640,000-square-foot center will have 72 examination rooms, two operating rooms and areas for diagnostic testing.
The pavilion is scheduled to open in 2015.
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Virginia Tech Board Approves $3.5M Propulsion Lab
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 9:10AM
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BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors has approved the development of a $3.5 million propulsion laboratory to boost the university's capacity for high-tech defense and energy research.
The board on Monday approved the resolution directing the Virginia Tech Foundation to develop the 8,100-square-foot facility in the Corporate Research Center. It will be operated by the college of engineering.
Four new Gov. Bob McDonnell appointees took their seats on the board Monday, including new Rector Michael Quillen of Bristol.
The Roanoke Times reports that the board also approved loans of up to $4 million for new equipment at the National Tire Research Center, which is affiliated with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
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Lack of Progress Costs Virginia Bay Cleanup Funds
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 9:09AM
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NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Virginia is losing federal aid for Chesapeake Bay restoration projects because regulators aren't satisfied with the state's efforts to address stormwater pollution.
The Virginian-Pilot says the Environmental Protection Agency notified the state late last month that it is withholding $1.2 million in grant money. Virginia was supposed to receive more than $2.4 million this year.
The EPA cited Virginia's lack of progress in reducing stormwater runoff from city streets, parking lots and urban storm drains. If Virginia makes improvements, it can reapply for the funding.
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation spokesman Gary Waugh says the state has been working to improve its stormwater program.
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Teen Shot at Md. School Released From Hospital
by AP
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posted Sep 11 2012 7:47AM
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<VIDEO> A 17-year-old Maryland boy with Down syndrome who was shot and seriously wounded in his school cafeteria on the first day of school has headed home after recovering for two weeks in the hospital.
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9/11 Artwork Displayed at the Pentagon
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 10 2012 4:46PM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Large-scale artworks created by children who lost parents or siblings in the 9/11 attacks are being shown together for the first time at the Pentagon.
The exhibit is part of the Pentagon's tour for visitors through the end of 2012. It includes reproductions of art pieces created by more than 500 children at America's Camp.
The summer camp was held for 10 years in Massachusetts to support victims' families. It included children of executives, police, firefighters and others from New York, Washington and elsewhere.
Artistic Director Traci Molloy says one piece, "The Features of the Phoenix," is inspired by mythology. The phoenix rises from the ashes to live again. Its feathers include images of hundreds of parents.
The artworks are part of the 9/11 Museum's collection.
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Raw Video: Md. Trooper Hit by Truck
by AP
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posted Sep 10 2012 10:52AM
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<VIDEO> Maryland State Police say a trooper is recovering from being hit by a tractor-trailer as he stood along Interstate 70 near Hagerstown. A spokesman said Friday that Trooper David Avila suffered shoulder, back and leg injuries.
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Romney Works to Put Virginia in His Win Column
by AP
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posted Sep 10 2012 9:50AM
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<VIDEO> Mitt Romney is back in tightly contested Virginia, where he's trying to deny President Barack Obama another victory in a state that typically goes for Republican presidential nominees.
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New Head of VRE Moves from Austin, Texas
by Deirdre Blake
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posted Sep 7 2012 3:54PM
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The former Executive Vice President of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas moves east to take over as the new head of the Virginia Railway Express.
The Operations Board appoints Doug Allen as its new Chief Executive Officer. One of his key priorities is maintaining VRE's hallmark service. He also hopes to implement an adopted plan to bring in a commuter rail agency to explore new ways to expand service to areas like Gainesville and Haymarket, and bring commuter rail service to Spotsylvania County.
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Ann Romney to Campaign in Leesburg Friday
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 6 2012 1:23PM
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LEESBURG, Va. (AP) - Ann Romney will campaign for her husband Mitt at a Loudoun County riding stable.
The wife of the Republican presidential nominee will lead a "Women for Mitt" rally Friday at the Twin Oaks Riding Academy in Leesburg.
Ann Romney is an avid equestrian who co-owns a horse that participated in the London Olympics. She rides horses as part of her therapy for multiple sclerosis.
Wealthy Loudoun is considered a swing county in Virginia, which is itself a key swing state in the November election.
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Engine Failure Caused Crash of F-16C Falcon in May
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 6 2012 1:20PM
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NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Air Force says one of its jets crashed during a training mission in Utah this May because of an engine failure.
Details of the accident were released in a report on Thursday by Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
The F-16C Falcon crashed about an hour after takeoff in the Utah Test and Training Range about 60 miles west of Salt Lake City. The Air Force says the engine failed because an 8-year-old fan blade broke free, causing catastrophic damage.
The pilot safely ejected, but the jet was destroyed on impact. The Air Force values the loss at nearly $24 million.
The pilot and the jet were assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
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Monument at 2nd Manassas to honor Texas' role
by AP
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posted Sep 6 2012 7:09AM
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MANASSAS, Va. (AP) - The Texans who played a key role in the Civil War Battle of Second Manassas are being honored with a monument.
The Texas Historical Commission will dedicate the monument Thursday to Hood's Texas Brigade at the northern Virginia battlefield. The monument will pay homage to the Texas soldiers who played a critical role in Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's decisive battle in late August 1862.
On the third day of the battle, the Texas Brigade helped Lee's men collapse the Union's left flank, forcing the retreat of the Union Army of Virginia. It opened the way for a Confederate invasion of Maryland.
The Texas monument in Manassas is not the first dedicated to Civil War soldiers from that state. Others are in the Wilderness and Gaines' Mill outside of Richmond.
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NASA delays Va. sounding rocket test flight
by AP
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posted Sep 6 2012 7:08AM
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WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (AP) - A problem in the payload has delayed the test flight of a suborbital sound rocking from NASA's Wallops Island Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
The space agency says the problem would have interfered with transmission of data during the flight.
The launch was scheduled for Thursday morning. NASA says a new launch date hasn't been determined.
The three-stage vehicle's flight is meant to support high-altitude space science research.
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Va. couple to be sentenced in W.Va. slayings
by AP
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posted Sep 6 2012 7:06AM
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HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - A Virginia couple faces sentencing on charges stemming from the deaths of a West Virginia family.
Sentencing hearings for Lorie Ann Taylor-Keller and her husband, Nakia Keller, are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg. Each faces life in prison under plea agreements.
The Fulks Run couple pleaded guilty in June. The charges include crossing state lines to kill Taylor-Keller's ex-husband, 36-year-old Dennis "Chip" Taylor; his wife, 39-year-old Alliana Taylor; and her 5-year-old daughter, Kaylee.
The victims were fatally shot and their home in Hardy County, W.Va., was burned in October 2009.
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Neil Armstrong Artifacts Displayed at Smithsonian
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 5 2012 5:53PM
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CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) - Neil Armstrong's space suit gloves and visor worn during his historic first walk on the moon are going on temporary display at the Smithsonian Institution following the pioneering astronaut's death.
The protective visor and gloves are usually kept in storage. They were designed to address the hazards of working on the lunar surface. Armstrong's helmet had two visors for moon walks, one with a gold reflective coating for UV protection and one with thermal protection.
The Apollo 11 artifacts were placed on public view Tuesday at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in northern Virginia. They will be exhibited for two weeks in a special display case.
Next week, NASA will hold a public memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 13 to honor Armstrong.
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Labor Day weekend traffic fatalities decline
by AP
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posted Sep 5 2012 9:01AM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia State Police say fewer people were killed on the state's highways this Labor Day weekend than the same holiday weekend the last three years.
Six people died in traffic crashes between 12:01 a.m. Friday and midnight Monday. Sixteen were killed the previous Labor Day weekend. Thirteen died during the 2010 and 2009 holiday periods.
This year's fatalities occurred in Bedford, Fauquier, Rockingham, Russell and Stafford counties and the city of Hampton. The Rockingham victim was a pedestrian, and the fatality in Hampton involved a motorcycle. The other four were not wearing seat belts, and alcohol was a factor in at least one of the crashes.
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Embattled college announces Sept. 24 start
by AP
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posted Sep 5 2012 8:59AM
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LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. (AP) - Saint Paul's College says it will begin its fall semester Sept. 24 now that its loss of accreditation has been put on hold.
Registration runs from Sept. 21 through Sept. 28.
The historically black liberal arts school in Lawrenceville is appealing a June denial of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. A federal judge in Atlanta last month issued a preliminary injunction reinstating the college's probationary status while the appeal is pending. The college remains eligible to participate in state financial aid programs and Title IV federal student assistance programs.
Saint Paul's was founded in 1888.
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Local officials want transportation solutions
by AP
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posted Sep 5 2012 8:57AM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Local officials in Virginia's urban crescent are calling on the governor and lawmakers to find solutions to the state's transportation funding problems.
Officials from 38 counties, cities and towns sent a letter to Gov. Bob McDonnell and leaders of the General Assembly urging them to address the issue.
According to the letter, 26 percent of state-maintained roads are in poor conditions. But there isn't any money for secondary and urban road system construction.
McDonnell spokesman Jeff Caldwell says the governor agrees that investing in transportation is vital. He says McDonnell has advanced several new revenue sources, such as exploring sponsorships for rest areas and highways.
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Neil Armstrong to be Memorialized at the Washington National Cathedral
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 4 2012 7:28PM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation will have a chance to say goodbye to Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, in a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 13.
The 10 a.m. service will be broadcast live on NASA Television and streamed on the websites of the cathedral and space agency. It will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis.
Armstrong died Aug. 25 and had a private service in Ohio. The Apollo 11 crew delivered a moon rock to the cathedral in 1974 on the fifth anniversary of the moon landing.
The service will be 50 years and one day after President John F. Kennedy announced a goal of sending a man to the moon by the end of the 1960s.
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Virgil Goode to Appear on Virginia's Presidential Ballot
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 4 2012 4:22PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Conservative former Rep. Virgil Goode will appear on Virginia's presidential ballot after state election officials rejected a Republican-led effort to keep him off. Republicans fear Goode will drain votes from their candidate, Mitt Romney, in a swing state where polls show a deadlocked race.
Virginia's State Board of Elections acted Tuesday after the state GOP challenged Goode's qualifying petitions and sought an independent review.
But the Republican-dominated board also asked Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (koo-chih-NEHL'-ee) and the state police to investigate.
The former congressman is the nominee of the conservative Constitution Party, and has held office as a Democrat, independent and Republican. He lost the seat to Democrat Tom Perriello in 2008.
Goode has called the GOP's action a heavy-handed effort to control ballot access and intimidate third-party participation.
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U.Va. sets panel discussion on June upheaval
by AP
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posted Sep 4 2012 7:40AM
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - A panel discussion is set at the University of Virginia on the short-lived ouster of university President Teresa Sullivan.
The event is set for Sept. 12 at 4:30 p.m.
The Faculty Senate and the Institute of the Humanities and Global Cultures are sponsoring the panel discussion. It's intended to answer faculty members' lingering questions about the Board of Visitors' actions in June. Sullivan was forced to resign, but was reinstated by the board about two weeks later after a campus and community backlash.
The panel discussion is being billed as "The June Events and After: The Future of the University." It's open to the public.
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WWI memorial trees in Danville to be removed
by AP
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posted Sep 4 2012 7:11AM
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DANVILLE, Va. (AP) - Danville officials are preparing to remove more than a dozen oak trees planted to honor World War I soldiers.
Recent storms felled four of the 14 trees.
Public Works director Richard Drazenovich tells media outlets that the trees are a safety hazard.
Each tree is more than 90 feet tall.
City officials plan to replace the trees. But Drazenovich says the replacements won't be oaks because oaks don't do well in constricted areas.
The memorial trees were planted in medians.
Crews will begin removing the trees this week. The project is expected to take three weeks t
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Concealed-Carry Permits on the Rise in Virginia
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 3 2012 4:17PM
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia is issuing a rising number of concealed-carry gun permits to people who live in other states in a trend that may be helped by online gun classes.
The commercial courses allow applicants to seek a permit from Virginia that is valid in their state, but without having to meet tougher requirements, such as firing a gun with an instructor.
Virginia State Police issued 1,632 concealed-carry permits to nonresidents through the first half of 2012, topping the previous year's total of 1,321 nonresident permits.
There are no hard numbers on the cause because state police do not track how many people take online training compared to other types of training.
But state police note the increase came after Virginia law was changed and follows online marketing to other states.
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Metro Service Returns After Heavy Rain
by Associated Press
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posted Sep 3 2012 4:16PM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Metro says service is operating normally following heavy rains that pelted parts of the Washington region.
Caroline Lukas, a spokeswoman for Metro, says service was suspended about 8 p.m. Sunday on the green and yellow lines between the Mt. Vernon Square and George Avenue-Petworth stations due to standing water on the tracks. Lukas says the water was removed by about midnight and service Monday was not affected.
In northwest Washington, flooding was reported in the Bloomingdale, Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods.
The National Weather Service says Baltimore's Inner Harbor area and Middleburg in Loudoun County, Va., saw the most rainfall over a 24-hour period from Sunday morning to Monday morning. It says 1.3 inches of rainfall was recorded in Baltimore, and 1.65 inches was recorded in Middleburg.
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Va. revising bear plan as population grows
by AP
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posted Sep 3 2012 5:09AM
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LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Virginia is revising its management plan for black bears in response to a growing population across the state.
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says hunters killed about a 1,000 black bears annually a decade ago. That number has more than doubled since then.
The management plan addresses bear populations, habitat, human-bear interactions and bear-related recreation. It originally was developed in 2001.
Game and Inland Fisheries bear project manager Jaime Sajecki said that hunters are the primary tool for keeping the bear population in check.
The management plan also strives to keep bears and people apart.
Bears occasionally wander into residential areas looking for food. But biologists say they don't pose an immediate threat to humans.
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Fire stops flights temporarily at DC airports
by AP
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posted Sep 3 2012 5:07AM
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Flights at 3 Washington area airports were stopped briefly because of a fire at a regional air traffic control facility.
Flights were stopped for about 25 minutes Sunday morning at Reagan National, Dulles International and BWI Marshall airports. The Federal Aviation Administration says a refrigerator caught fire in an office area at an air traffic control facility for the Washington area.
The FAA says the outage affected fewer than 20 flights. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown says flights were stopped at 8:40 a.m. when the facility was evacuated because of the fire. Brown said she did not have any other details on the fire.
BWI spokesman Jonathan Dean says the impact at BWI was minimal.
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Loudon schools chief says student growth continues
by AP
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posted Sep 3 2012 3:59AM
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ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Loudon County's schools chief says the student population is expected to grow by 2,000 a year for the forseeable future.
Schools head Edgar Hattrick said that the student population was 14,000 when he took over 21 years ago and now is about 68,000. He predicts that enrollment could eventually reach 100,000 based on current zoning.
To handle that growth, the county opened a new high school and elementary school this year and two more high schools are expected to open by 2015. The county now has 13 high schools.
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