An Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony and unveiling of a new garden in front of the Governor’s Mansion provided an opportunity for First Lady Maureen McDonnell to showcase her new pride and joy.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, it also was an opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of planting trees and starting gardens.

The Virginia Senate has finally agreed to an amended redistricting bill after Governor McDonnell vetoed the first version.  But although there are some Republicans who were ready to sign off on this new plan, others say that the Democratic majority still protected their own interests.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports from the Capitol.

Eight people are dead and more than 50 injured after heavy storms and tornadoes swept through the Commonwealth overnight. Virginia Public Radio’s Beverly Amsler reports.

The Virginia Attorney General’s office is backing a new set of initiatives aimed specifically at helping victims of child sexual violence.  During an information-sharing event, the Attorney General revealed staggering statistics that one in three girls and one in seven boys will be sexually assaulted in their childhood.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, abused children often tell no one—and have no way of coping with their pain.

Virginia Senators continued their negotiations Tuesday in an effort to draw a new redistricting map that might be acceptable to both Democrats and Republicans.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, time may be running out to hold their election primaries as scheduled.

The House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate went back to work Monday to develop new plans that outline boundaries for their General Assembly districts. The previous version had been vetoed by Governor McDonnell and, as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the second version has its own hurdles to overcome.

The unveiling of 17 historic markers to tell the story of the Richmond Slave Trail has drawn attention to a tragic chapter in Virginia’s history.  The markers show the route traveled from a James River port by thousands of Africans in bondage.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War includes remembering a dark past as the nation’s largest slave market.

This week marks the 150th anniversary of Virginia’s secession from the Union … which eventually led to a traumatic Civil War.  And although critics of the South say it has yet to get over that conflict, one historian says the U-S can learn lessons on how to resolve issues such as immigration and social-economic disparities by examining the post-Civil War era. 

The General Assembly may be divided on the issue of redistricting, but while Democrats and Republicans continue to draw lines in the sand over political boundaries … they stand undivided over domestic and sexual violence, the rights of victims, and how to better protect Virginians from harm.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.

Governor McDonnell and the Virginia Department of Education have rolled out the state’s teacher merit-pay plan—inviting select districts to compete for grants to award teachers in ‘hard-to-staff’ schools.  Virginia Public Radio’s Connie Stevens reports.

Virginia’s law firms have been competing statewide to see who can gather the greatest amount of donations for the Commonwealth’s food banks during the fifth annual Legal Food Frenzy.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, food donations and other charitable contributions are especially needed right now.

Members of the House of Delegates were back at work this week… a few days after the Governor vetoed a bill that reconfigured the General Assembly’s legislative districts.  The House Privileges and Elections Committee unanimously approved new legislation … but as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, a consensus among ALL players has yet to emerge.

Many may think the unused prescription medications flushed away in Virginia and around the country are gone forever, but millions of people are consuming a cocktail of drugs unknowingly because treatment plants are not able to remove many of the toxins from the water.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the state Attorney General is teaming up with others to not only educate the public about proper medication disposal … but also to address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse among teenagers.

A coalition of gay rights advocates is urging the Governor to reconsider his stance on proposed regulations that would affect whether gay and lesbian couples have the right to adopt within the Commonwealth.  The new rules were first proposed during former Governor Tim Kaine’s administration.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.

When Governor Bob McDonnell designated April as Confederate History Month, a student at the University of Virginia decided to make her own declaration to honor some of history’s little known heroes, including a Norfolk native named Ella Baker.  Virginia Public Radio’s Sandy Hausman has that story.

The state Senate has introduced its own plan for redrawing Virginia’s 11 Congressional districts … setting up a confrontation with the House of Delegates, which just approved competing legislation.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the Senators have very different ideas about where the boundaries should be drawn.

The General Assembly returned to Richmond today (4/11/11), this time to take action on legislation that reconfigures the Commonwealth’s 11 Congressional districts.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the House Privileges and Elections Committee quickly approved a plan that’s not dramatically different from the current map.  

A statewide coalition of citizen reformers says it’s not too late for a redistricting compromise that actually benefits the voters—instead of incumbents and the majority party within each legislative chamber.  The members say before the legislation arrives at the Justice Department, that last line of defense is Governor McDonnell… and they are urging him to consider a nonpartisan commission’s recommendations before signing off on the House and Senate plans.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports.

While the House passed its own redistricting plan Wednesday night, the Senate debate continues.  Democrats and Republicans submitted competing plans in a Senate Privileges and Elections Committee and the Democratic majority prevailed….but as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling says the battle is just beginning.

State lawmakers took a break from redistricting to conduct their annual Reconvened Session…where they considered Governor McDonnell’s recommendations to 134 bills, four vetoes, and 86 budget amendments.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the House agreed to a gubernatorial amendment that would once again cut Public Broadcasting funding.

Former Governor Tim Kaine has announced that he’s running for the seat currently held by U-S Senator Jim Webb.  Kaine, who is also the Democratic National Committee Chairman, made his announcement by tweeting, “I’m running” on the social media Website, Twitter.  Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan has more from the State Capitol.

State lawmakers have convened their redistricting session …where they will configure new maps of the General Assembly’s legislative district boundaries.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the session’s first day began with constituents and even some lawmakers unhappy with their handiwork.