Governor McDonnell speaking on Washington radio station WTOP now says that not only is he paying back all loans received from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, he is also returning all gifts. As VPR’s Tommie McNeil reports, as the Governor continues to do damage control, he is shifting the focus on a broken state gifting and disclosure system, NOT improprieties on his part.

Officials in Virginia  are  looking at  just how sequestration cuts are impacting military operations in the Commonwealth.
As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, it can be difficult to guage how families are adjusting to their first reduced paychecks as a result of sequestration furloughs.

Before the Virginia General Assembly adjourned this year, it took up the issue of child sexual abuse and whether Virginia laws effectively deter the crime or prosecute the offender. Months later, members of the State Crime Commission are faced with the daunting task of reviewing the laws, and making recommendations, without weakening current law. Tommie McNeil reports.

Several national publications rank Virginia within the top five for raising a child or providing a decent education but when it comes to finding an orphaned child a permanent home before they turn 18, the organization Voices for Virginia’s Children ranks the Commonwealth 49th. As VPR’s Tommie McNeil reports, it’s why the McDonnell administration is kicking off a series of events throughout the state to help promote adoption.

Virginia’s DMV is facilitating a unique relationship between the military and the transportation industry. While there is a shortage of commercially licensed drivers and fewer jobs for veterans, the DMV is making it easier for servicemen and women who have specialized driving experience to obtain their Commercial Drivers License when returning home.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the program is part of a statewide effort to translate the skills learned in the military into the certifications needed for civilian jobs. 

Despite the sources and their political leanings, pollsters are finding that the Star Scientific scandal is taking a toll on Governor McDonnell’s approval ratings.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, a new Quinnipiac poll also finds that overall, most Virginians still like their governor. 

The General Assembly’s watchdog agency says many of the factors driving up the cost of university tuition and fees are NOT directly related to instruction.  The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission has been examining higher education costs to determine the operational efficiency of the Commonwealth’s 15 four-year institutions—and whether ways can be found to reduce expenses.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, JLARC found that the soaring tuition increases have exceeded inflation.

A special cyber-security panel of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science has voted to move forward with crafting state legislation to enable many deployed military voters to cast their absentee ballots on-line.  The panel decided that the pilot program should focus on active-duty military personnel based outside of the continental U.S.–instead of also including spouses and other employees. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, some expressed concern about security challenges and ensuring the integrity of those ballots.

College students have just as much at stake in the upcoming November elections as any other Virginian, and what the next Governor does may significantly impact the choices students make.  It’s why a panel of university student leaders grilled both Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli during a Google “Hangout for Higher Ed.”  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, both gubernatorial candidates say tackling the costs of college and initiating economic development to help graduates are top priorities.

Chef Todd Schneider/FILE

The criminal trial of a former Executive Mansion chef accused of embezzlement will proceed as planned.  Richmond Circuit Court Judge Margaret Spencer had considered a motion by the defense to dismiss the case against Todd Schneider.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, she ruled late today Friday that there is no reason to do so.

On the heels of the recent Supreme Court decision striking down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Human Rights Campaign and other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations are throwing their support behind the three Democrats running for statewide office. The candidates pledge that upon being elected to office they’ll act to reverse certain restrictions on the LGBT community. But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, other officials say they will also champion the cause regardless of the election’s outcome.

Virginians will soon be able to register to vote on-line thanks to a new state system that will “go live” on Wednesday. Residents will still have the option of using standard paper applications … and can still register at the DMV or other agencies.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, state officials believe the digital forms can prevent the mistakes that sometimes accompany the paper versions.

Chef Todd Scheider/File

The judge presiding over the case of a former Executive Mansion chef accused of embezzlement says that she will make a decision by the end of the week on whether to dismiss the charges.  Richmond Circuit Court Judge Margaret Spencer also heard oral arguments by defense attorney Steven Benjamin–who asked for dismissal of the charges against Todd Schneider–and the special prosecutor, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Gregory Underwood, who argued against dropping the charges.  Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan has more details from the courthouse in Richmond.

More bills that have become state law as of July 1st include a series of changes in education policies that were key parts of the Governor’s legislative agenda during this year’s General Assembly session. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports that while the reforms were initially met with mixed reviews, many past and present education leaders on both sides of the political aisle now say that without them, some students could fall behind.

Nearly two dozen new or “tweaked” public safety laws are now in effect as of Monday.  Many, such as a two-year moratorium on the use of drones in the Commonwealth, may go unnoticed.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports in Part 4 of our series, lawmakers say that if they improve the quality of life for just one person, they’re well worth the debate, financial commitment, and paper they’re printed on.

Prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to suspend part of the Voting Rights Act, Virginia’s General Assembly had already passed some revisions to state election law.  Although the Commonwealth IS one of the states that the Act had mandated for Justice Department pre-clearance, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli believes at least some of the bills passed earlier this year are necessary.  In Part 5 of our series on the new state laws that just took effect, Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports that lawmakers passed them with a goal of ensuring the integrity of elections.

Texting-while-driving was already against the law, but now police have a new tool that will enable them to hand out more citations.  Supporters of the revised Virginia law hope that steep fines will deter drivers from taking their eyes off the road to read and send text messages.  But in part 2 of our series on new state laws that took effect this week, Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports that texting is not the only activity that’s targeted. 

Among the new state laws that take effect today is the marquis legislation of this year’s General Assembly session:  the long-term transportation-funding plan.  With road maintenance eating away at construction dollars and the gas tax losing ground as an adequate funding source, lawmakers decided that a wholesale revision of the transportation funding formula was necessary.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the changes will impact not only drivers but all consumers who make purchases.

A Virginia contingent including the group Environment Virginia is reacting to President Obama’s new EPA regulations and the crackdown on CO2-producing power plants.  The members are speaking out about how they believe Virginia is being affected by gas emissions …and note that the Commonwealth broke several heat, snow, and rainfall records last year.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, they also say that the rise over the years of a debilitating tick-born disease is just as disturbing.