Today’s Topics
- Development
- Energy
- Terrorism
- Storm Cleanup
- Education
- Health
- Economy
- Legal
- Politics
- Agriculture
- Local
Development
Fairfax snares center for genetic research | The Washington Post
A $200 million genetic research facility planned for Fairfax County could bring with it thousands of jobs over the next decade and spur spinoff businesses that would focus on the fast-growing field of personalized medicine, Virginia officials and researchers said Monday as they announced the move.
H3 id=”section2″>Energy
Study: Va county would reap $9.2M from wind farm | The News & Messenger
TAZEWELL, Va. (AP) — An economic impact study says a proposed wind farm on East River Mountain would give Tazewell County $9.2 million in tax revenues over 20 years.
Webb opposes cap-and-trade, pitches ‘doable’ plan | The Virginian Pilot
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb signaled his resistance Monday to the current cap-and-trade legislation in Congress and introduced with another senator a new $20 billion energy bill that focuses on expanding nuclear power and funding research into alternative energy sources.
Energy upgrade rebates going fast in Danville | The Danville Register & Bee
There are still federal stimulus funds available for energy upgrades to homes and businesses, but only if people act fast.
H3 id=”section3″>Terrorism
Chance of terrorism trials in Va. divides state leaders | The Washington Examiner
The Obama administration’s decision to try accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a federal civilian court has left Virginia leaders sharply divided on the possibility that terrorist trials might come to the commonwealth.
H3 id=”section4″>Storm Cleanup
Kaine: Storm victims not guaranteed federal aid | The Daily Press
NEWPORT NEWS – Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Monday that victims of last week’s nor’easter might not qualify for automatic federal emergency aid because the overall storm damage might not cost enough.
H3 id=”section5″>Education
Tuition hike grows likely at university | The Daily Progress
The University of Virginia is likely both to raise tuition and ask alumni to dig deeper into their pockets as the university seeks to find a more sustainable funding model in an era of dwindling state support.
UVa researcher working to help women increase low sex drives | The Daily Progress
New hope may be on the horizon for women suffering from a frustrating lack of sexual desire.
Virginians like their public schools but still would like more nonpublic options, a poll released yesterday shows.
Budget woes frustrate foreign language goals | The Washington Post
The Fairfax County School Board took a sharp detour from America’s aversion to learning foreign languages when it adopted an ambitious goal in 2006 that language instruction should start early and graduates should be able to speak two languages.
Everything old is new again | The Washington Post
Almost everyone has a grandparent who claims to have walked two miles to school every morning. Uphill. In the snow. Etc.
Richmond School Board picks schools for replacement | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
With as much as $175 million potentially burning a hole in its collective pocket, the Richmond School Board voted 6-1 last night to include seven schools in the first phase of its construction plan, with a new Huguenot High School at the top of the list.
H3 id=”section6″>Health
Survey: Virginia ranks “D” on premature births | The Virginian Pilot
Virginia’s “D” on a premature birth report card has not budged from last year’s grade, but there are some signs of improvement.
Danville providers jump into health care debate | The Danville Register & Bee
Local health care providers and a hospital leader debate whether current health care legislation addresses the issue of affordability.
H3 id=”section7″>Economy
Northrop gets $635 million Navy contract for support work on submarines | The Daily Press
NEWPORT NEWS — Northrop Grumman Corp. has received a $635 million Navy contract for engineering, design and support work on submarines, the company said Monday.
WR Systems wins $26.9M contract from the Navy | The Hampton Roads business Journal
WR Systems Ltd. has been awarded a $26.9 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide engineering technical support services for navigation systems in the U.S and abroad, according to a press release issued by the company. Seventy-five percent of the contract work will be performed in Hampton Roads through the Fairfax-based company’s Engineering Services Division in Norfolk. The value of the contract could reach an estimated $140.6 million if all options are exercised.
House committee to hear state budget forecast | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
State and local officials are bracing for another round of bad news from Virginia budget analysts today, as the House Appropriations Committee opens a two-day annual retreat at the Capitol.
Housing shows positive signs in Prince William | The News & Messenger
All indicators seem to point to a rebounding housing market in Prince William County.
Company cutting 185 jobs at Norfolk call center | The Virginian Pilot
Advanced Services Inc., a subsidiary of GE, will close its customer call center here next year, laying off 185 workers, a company executive said Monday.
H3 id=”section8″>Legal
Study criticizes Va.‘s handling of youth offenders | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
The authority of Virginia’s juvenile-court judges is being usurped by prosecutors and higher courts in a process that too often mixes juvenile offenders and adults and that helps transform juvenile lawbreakers into career felons, according to a study released today.
Juvenile sentencing rule scrutinized | The Daily Progress
A statewide children’s law program is calling on legislators to reconsider changes made in 1996 about when a juvenile case could be moved to adult circuit courts.
Regional jail expansion nearly complete | The Roanoke Times
DUBLIN — In less than two months, the New River Valley Regional Jail will open at double its current size, allowing it to house hundreds more inmates and provide more than 100 additional jobs.
H3 id=”section9″>Politics
Va. House caucuses choose leaders | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Virginia House of Delegates’ Democratic and Republican caucuses each elected their leadership for the 2010 General Assembly session during the weekend.
Democrat Deeds ran without his base, Kaine says | The Washington Post
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Monday that Democrat R. Creigh Deeds lost his campaign for governor because he was unable to energize his base, falling into a Republican trap that led him to shrink from the president and his policies.
Kaine says he would ‘definitely’ have run again if allowed | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine told Virginia Board of Education members this morning that if he could run for governor again that he “definitely” would have and continue his efforts to improve education for the state’s 1 million-plus students.
H3 id=”section10″>Agriculture
Va. crop outlook muddied by deluge | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Last week’s torrential rainfalls have caused damage and delays to some Virginia farm crops, but the extent of losses is unknown, some agriculture experts said yesterday.
H3 id=”section11″>Local
Norfolk council could raise hurdle for citizen petitions | The Virginian Pilot
Several local civic activists said they oppose a proposal city officials will likely approve today that would make it more difficult for residents to challenge council decisions.
Board rejects both offers to sell regional trash authority | The Virginian Pilot
The board of the regional trash authority voted this morning not to sell, opting instead to sell perhaps its most expensive asset.
Richmond fills human services post | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has filled the last vacancy in his leadership team with the hiring of Carolyn N. Graham as deputy chief administrative officer for human services.
City facing gloomy economic future | The Daily Progress
Despite having a surplus at the close of the last fiscal year, Charlottesville officials are forecasting a grim financial end for the current one, as local dollars are expected to keep tumbling from a weak economy.
Against the tide: Roanoke’s Automated Horizons eases troubling tasks | The Roanoke Times
Lawyers notoriously lack technological savvy, but one Roanoke business is on standby to pilot them into a digital future.
Historic commission asking to explain decision-making process | The News Advance
A week after several pointed comments were made about the work it does, the Historic Preservation Commission has decided to seek some face time with City Council.
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