Daily Bacon's | November 12, 2009

Today’s Topics

• Weather
• The McDonnell Administration
• Development
• Energy
• Economy
• Education
• Environment
• Crime
• Transportation
• Local

Weather

Kaine declares state of emergency in Va. | The Washington Post

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) declared a state of emergency Wednesday evening authorizing state and local agencies to take necessary precautions against coastal flooding, as the state is walloped simultaneously by the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida and a coastal Nor’easter.

Gov. Kaine declares state of emergency as big nor’easter brings wind, rain | The Daily Press

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency for Virginia on Wednesday evening in response to a coastal storm battering Hampton Roads.

UPDATE: Officials urge motorists to curtail driving | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

RICHMOND, Va. — State highway officials encouraged motorists in Hampton Roads today to avoid driving if possible. People who have to drive should use extreme caution.

Richmond Marathon course appears safe from flooding | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

The head of the group that runs the SunTrust Richmond Marathon says it appears that the course for Saturday’s race will not have to be altered because of rain-induced flooding.

Richmond freight train wreck blocks Richmond-Newport News Amtrak service | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

A freight train westbound from Newport News to Richmond derailed east of the Fulton yard near Darbytown Road in Henrico County at 6:10 a.m.

The McDonnell Administration

McDonnell to meet with House Democratic Caucus | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Ten days after his lopsided victory diminished their numbers, Governor-elect Bob McDonnell will meet tomorrow with members of the House Democratic Caucus.

Development

The face of a changing Columbia Pike | The Washington Post

Despite the tough economy, the majority of plans to revitalize and enhance Arlington County’s Columbia Pike Corridor have remained on schedule, county officials said.

Energy

Charlottesville firm, U.Va., work on new turbine design | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

CHARLOTTESVILLE — A Charlottesville company and researchers at the University of Virginia are developing a new turbine to harness wind power for electricity.

Coal company to keep headquarters in Southwest Va. | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources chose to build a new corporate headquarters in Bristol for economic reasons and to stay close to its roots in rural Southwest Virginia, its chief executive officer said.

Economy

Foreclosure filings down in Virginia for month, year | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

The number of homeowners on the brink of losing their homes dipped in October, the third straight monthly decline, as foreclosure-prevention programs helped more borrowers.

Education

UVa posting its doctors’ financial deals online | The Daily Progress

The University of Virginia has begun posting its doctors’ financial dealings online for the world to see.

U.Va. center to undertake Bush presidency history | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

President George W. Bush has selected the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia to conduct an oral history of his presidency, the Miller Center and the George W. Bush Foundation announced today.

School Construction Plan Faces Shut Down | Leesburg Today

While two versions of the schools’ portion of the Capital Improvement Program were presented to the School Board Tuesday, neither option meets the fiscal guidance adopted by the Board of Supervisors last week, highlighting the complexity of the tough choice county leaders will be called on to make in developing the FY11 budget in the wake of still declining revenues.

Teacher has a gift for making math add up | The Washington Post

Woodbridge Senior High School freshman Tina Warner said math never came easily to her, until a unique teacher sent her in a new direction.

A lesson in dedication | The Washington Post

Thirty years of service in Virginia schools and at least 50 years old: That’s the formula to be able to retire with full benefits from Prince William County public schools.

VUU hosts planning session for Civil War sesquicentennial | The Richmond Times-Dispatch

Elvatrice Belsches found the evidence on microfilm and Tuesday night presented an enlarged copy to the president of Virginia Union University.

Radford provost’s ouster urged | The Roanoke Times

RADFORD — Faculty senators from Radford University asked President Penelope Kyle to replace Provost Wil Stanton at a special meeting called Tuesday to discuss a no-confidence vote taken by the senate last month.

Class to share green ideas | The News Leader

STAUNTON — For two months, students from the University of Virginia School of Architecture’s Green Lands class have been assessing Staunton’s existing green infrastructure, enhancing the city’s Geographic Information Systems map, and compiling recommendations for the city.

Environment

‘Toxic stew’ of chemicals blamed for intersex fish in Potomac | The Washington Post

Pollutants that mimic natural hormones have created a “toxic stew” in the Potomac River, altering the sexual development and the immune systems of fish, a local nonprofit group warned in a report Wednesday.

Crime

Police crack ring of thieves targeting South Asians in Va. | The Washington Post

Fairfax County police think they have cracked a ring of burglars who were stealing only gold from Indian and South Asian homes, after a U.S. deputy marshal spotted a suspected vehicle in Centreville Tuesday night and arrested three people.

Authorities seize heroin headed to Roanoke | The Roanoke Times

Authorities on Sunday seized about $30,000 worth of heroin from a vehicle en route to Roanoke from New York City, the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Transportation

Pessimism abounds that McDonnell can fix transportation | The Washington Examiner

Bob McDonnell won election as governor on the promise of digging Virginia out of its transportation mess, without raising a cent of new taxes. But the Republican governor-elect’s plan to fund a languishing road and rail network has done little to spark optimism that his administration will succeed where others have failed.

Drivers are looking for the exit on I-95 | The Washington Post

Travelers responding to my suggestions [Dr. Gridlock, Nov. 1] about long-term solutions to Interstate 95’s traffic congestion had their own practices and policies to propose.

Local

New chapter in Loudoun library history | The Washington Post

In 1997, Karen Montgomery of South Riding began advocating for a library her three children could use. At the time, the Loudoun County branch closest to her was in Middleburg. Driving into Fairfax County took her less time, even after Ashburn got a library in 2003.

City left with surplus in fiscal ‘09 | The Daily Progress

Charlottesville still had a surplus at the end of the last fiscal year, despite that the economy is forcing many localities to deal with growing budgetary holes and fewer ways to plug them.

Council OKs $100,000 for Battle of Manassas event | The Daily Press

Members of the Manassas City Council like the idea of commemorating the 150th anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas so much that they’re ready to give up $100,000 to make it happen in 2011.