Archive for January, 2015
Cab Drivers Rally for More Ride Sharing Regulations
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 30, 2015
Bob McDonnell’s Priest Says Former Governor is Hopeful
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 30, 2015
School Divisions Could Have Flexibility in Graduation Requirements
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 30, 2015
One Gun Control Bill Survives General Assembly Scrutiny
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 30, 2015
Bill Could Limit Law Enforcement Access to Data
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 30, 2015
Grading Virginia’s Schools – A Failing Idea?
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 29, 2015
In Virginia, lawmakers are taking action to REPEAL a system of assigning every school in the commonwealth with a letter grade. As Michael Pope of tells us, lawmakers are giving the idea and F.
General Assembly Debates Common Core
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 29, 2015
The Virginia Senate has postponed a final vote on legislation that would prohibit the state from adopting the national Common Core standards for public education without prior approval of the General Assembly. The standards have been widely adopted by states but have come under fire—in part, for their mandatory, one-size-fits-all approach.
VEA & PTA “Put Kids First” Campaign
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 28, 2015
The Virginia PTA and the Virginia Education Association have joined together to launch a new public awareness campaign called “Put Kids First.”
VEA President Meg Gruber pointed out that before the recent recession, Virginia ranked number one in the nation on the “chance of success” index for children, but that the state has now fallen to 9th place. And in spite of rhetoric at the Capitol about “holding the line” on education cuts, state funding has actually dropped 16% since 2009,when inflation is taken into account. Gruber said the new campaign aims to help the public recognize the troubling signs:
Gruber said elected leaders claim to be “friends of education”… so parents, teachers, and the public must compel them to take action to reverse these trends. The organizations will hold a rally in support of public education at the State Capitol on April 18th. More information can be found here.
Here’s the full audio of the news conference in Richmond:
Virginia Lawmakers Question Offshore Drilling
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 28, 2015
A bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers say the Interior Department move to open up Virginia’s coast to drilling is raising more questions than answers.
Party Affiliation Bill Dies in the General Assembly
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 28, 2015
Virginia Republicans Critical of President Barack Obama’s Agenda
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 28, 2015
The agenda President Obama is laying out at the start of this new Congress is being rejected by Virginia Republicans who now have more power at the Capitol than Democrats.
VA Could See Two-Term Governors
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 27, 2015
Virginia governors would be allowed to run for a second, consecutive term of office under a constitutional amendment that has passed the state Senate. The revision would change a tradition that has left Virginia as the sole state in the nation to forbid its governor from running for re-election. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the 24 to 15 vote for passage did not break down along party lines.
All Lives Matter
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 26, 2015
A coalition of Virginia civil rights and community organizations marched in downtown Richmond over the weekend.
In advance of the General Assembly meeting tomorrow, the march called for several legislative reforms including an independent review board to handle issues of police misconduct and the implementation of police body cameras.
While many in opposition to body cameras site both cost and privacy concerns, the majority of protestors believed the transparency of cameras would help rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement. Intern Reporter James Perla was there.
Rate Freeze Debate
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 26, 2015
VaNews: Mugshot Bill, William and Mary Mountain
Posted by kelseap6 in VaNews from VPAP on January 26, 2015
Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it illegal for a website to post mugshots online and then charge a fee to take them down. And the College of William and Mary wants a mountain in Colorado to bear its name — but the idea is encountering some resistance. Those stories have been among the most read over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link.
Overdose Epidemic in Virginia
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 26, 2015
An enormous surge in heroin and prescription-drug overdose deaths in Virginia has prompted the Centers for Disease Control to call it an epidemic. It’s also why state lawmakers of both parties have joined together to advance a multi-faceted package of bills to tackle the challenge. They believe it’s both a law enforcement AND a public health problem.
Privacy Versus Public Safety
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 23, 2015
Lobbying for Better Access to Contraception
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 23, 2015
Lower Rates for Higher Education
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 23, 2015
Virginia’s Senators Expect to Work Across the Aisle
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 23, 2015
Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Debated in General Assembly
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 23, 2015
It’s a marijuana decriminalization bill – NOT a marijuana legalization bill – that a Northern Virginia lawmaker is fighting for during this General Assembly session. Senator Adam Ebbin contends that there’s a significant difference, and the legislation is necessary in order to stop making criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens.
Outdated Trafficking Laws Could Soon Be Reformed
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 22, 2015
Virginia lawmakers say while they ARE crafting more laws to nab sex traffickers, the perpetrators they label as “evil” are getting more aggressive and elusive—which is why it’s time to create one standalone statute to be able to prosecute the traffickers.
Legislation Barring Some Immigrant Students from In-State Tuition Defeated
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 21, 2015
Undocumented immigrant students who’ve been granted the federal status that defers them from deportation would still be able to qualify for in-state college tuition — thanks to the Virginia Senate’s defeat of legislation that would have barred them from receiving the less expensive rates. The bill was killed by a single vote following a lengthy floor debate.
Both Sides of Gun Debate Rally in Richmond
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 20, 2015
Lines were long at the state capitol Monday as supporters of gun rights passed through security on their way to lobby lawmakers against additional restrictions. They wore stickers that read: Guns Save Lives. Later, supporters of gun control would arrive to press for new laws restricting purchase and possession of weapons.
General Assembly: Party Agendas
Posted by kelseap6 in Assembly Conversations on January 20, 2015
House of Delegates Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate held dueling news conferences at the General Assembly Monday to highlight their policy agendas. The Democrats focused on bills that they say will help reign in gun violence, while the Republicans emphasized what they called “kitchen table” issues.
Remembering the Richmond Theater Fire Over 200 Years Later
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 20, 2015
Virginia’s House Representatives Outline Priorities on Capitol Hill
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 20, 2015

Flickr User Ron Cogswell https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Virginia’s House delegation in Washington has a long wish list in the new Congress. Capitol Hill reporter Matt Laslo has the story on their priority list for the commonwealth in the newly seated 114th Congress.
New Coalition Aims to Keep General Assembly Transparent
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 19, 2015
There’s a new coalition in town, and it aims to police the General Assembly and its policies so that citizens are always in the know. “Transparency Virginia” introduced itself to the public this week, and says it has a non-confrontational yet aggressive agenda to promote best practices in public accountability.
VaNews: Questionable Fencing, New State Song
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 19, 2015
Virginia could soon have a new state song nearly 20 years after the first one was banished…and a fence to be built underneath a new bridge in Richmond is raising some questions. Those stories have been among the most read over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link.
Education Reforms and Proposals
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 16, 2015
Virginia’s school superintendents are applauding the General Assembly’s recent efforts to reduce the number of standardized SOL tests administered to students from 34 to 27. But they also say that more reforms are needed moving forward—and they’ve outlined them in a new Blueprint for the Future of Education.
More Menhaden
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 15, 2015
Atlantic Menhaden, the tiny fish that, two years ago, created big trouble between Chesapeake Bay environmentalists and commercial fishermen, is surfacing once more. Scientists have found new data that may prove there’s more of the fish than once thought. Pamela D’Angelo reports.
Lawmakers Debate How to Handle Joe Morrissey’s Re-election
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 15, 2015
The 2015 General Assembly convened on Wednesday with an undercurrent of drama. Ostracized by his former party leaders and denounced by others, newly re-elected Democrat-turned-Independent Delegate Joe Morrissey left his jail cell and returned to his legislative office. Morrissey acknowledges that many colleagues don’t want him there after his misdemeanor conviction. But the embattled delegate says his constituents DO want him there -and he’s preparing to fight for that.
Handcuffed Preschooler Reinstated in Greene
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 15, 2015
General Assembly: What to Expect in 46 Days
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 14, 2015
Bill Addresses Campus Sexual Assault
Posted by kelseap6 in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 14, 2015
Campus police would be required to notify their local commonwealth’s attorney within 48 hours of starting a sexual assault investigation under a bill that’s been introduced at the General Assembly. Several measures have been proposed since November, when Rolling Stone magazine published allegations of rape at the University of Virginia. This bill was first introduced several years ago to make public college campuses safer and help victims obtain essential support.
Kaine and Warner Call for Ethics Reform
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 13, 2015
General Assembly: Legislative Preview
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 13, 2015
McAuliffe Advocates Equal Opportunity
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 13, 2015
VaNews: Composting Roadkill, Hookah Smoke Banned
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 12, 2015
Virginia is following the lead of several other states and looking to get some use out of roadkill…and smoking has been declared illegal inside a Blacksburg hookah lounge. Those stories have been among the most read over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link.
Healthcare Reforms Could Help Enhance Patient Accessibility
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 12, 2015
Bills that are being introduced in both the Virginia House and Senate could make a trip to the doctor’s office less burdensome. While bills sometimes do not have the input of various stakeholders, THIS legislation is strongly supported by doctors and other medical professionals.
House Republicans Outline Education Agenda
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 8, 2015
Ahead of next week’s start of the Virginia General Assembly Session, GOP lawmakers are rolling out new initiatives in public education. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, one reform is a revamped version of an unpopular law—which they say should be more useful to parents and stakeholders.
Bill Might Halt Handcuffs On School Kids
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Virginia's News on January 8, 2015
Last fall’s controversial handcuffing and shackling of a Greene County pre-schooler might have been prevented by a new bill that could soon make its way through the General Assembly. Hawes Spencer reports.
Budget Cuts Effects on Public Safety
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 8, 2015

Flickr user Kate Ter Haar, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Fervent opposition to a governor’s budget cuts is not at all unusual. But one group in particular says it has been cut to the bone-and now it’s a public safety problem. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil explains why the state chapter of the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers tells the General Assembly’s budget committees that it’s time to restore, NOT cut funding.
McDonnell Sentenced
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 7, 2015
Former Governor Bob McDonnell has been sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of probation on federal corruption charges. U.S. District Judge James Spencer announced his decision after receiving 450 letters and listening to a parade of witnesses who testified to McDonnell’s character and decades of public service. Spencer also said he would exercise his discretion as he departed from a pre-sentencing report’s recommendation for a lengthy prison term.
Congress is Back in Session
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 7, 2015
Former Governor Sentenced: Two Years in Prison
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 6, 2015
Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has been sentenced to two years in prison for corruption. He’s due to report to prison by February 9th.
The judge’s punishment was far below the 10 years prosecutors wanted, but still more than the community service that the former governor and hundreds of supporters asked for.
Speaking to reporters after the sentencing, McDonnell said he was a fallen human being.
But McDonnell reiterates that he never betrayed his oath of office. He says he disagrees with the jury’s verdict, and his attorneys have already begin the appeal process with the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
McDonnell’s wife Maureen faces sentencing February 20th, after being convicted on eight counts of corruption.
You can hear his complete comments to the media following the sentencing.
Former Governor Awaits Sentencing
Posted by Virginia Public Radio in Daily Capitol News Updates on January 5, 2015
When he’s sentenced tomorrow will a former Virginia Governor get a slap on the wrist with community service or a short time in prison for 11 corruption convictions—or will U.S. District Judge James Spencer sentence him to a lengthy stint behind bars?
Tommie McNeil reports, one analyst says it’s probably the latter, and it will be interesting to see whether Bob McDonnell will remain free as he appeals his convictions.
Fixing Wallops Island
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 5, 2015

Credit Steve Jurvetson, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Although a private company runs it, Wallops Island Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore will get a fresh start in the New Year and a financial boost from the federal government after a failed launch months ago caused significant damage. October’s explosion of a rocket caused an estimated $20-million in damage–and the repairs will be paid for by Congress.
VaNews: Surprise Pearl, Mysterious Humming
Posted by kelseap6 in Virginia's News on January 5, 2015
A woman in Virginia Beach found out pearls really do turn up in clams now and then….and a mysterious humming noise in Greene County remains unexplained. Those stories have been among the most read over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link.