Today’s Topics
Economy
Kaine: ‘Not out of the woods yet’ on economy | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates convened this morning with a cautionary tone by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.
Va. economic group cites state’s job loss since 2007 | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
The state of working Virginia is not good, according to a report released today by the Commonwealth Institute of Fiscal Analysis.
Kaine meets with state revenue panel on budget woes today | The Virginian Pilot
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine plans to meet with a state panel to discuss the prospects for Virginia’s strained budget.
Transition
Kaine, McDonnell to meet about transition today | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is scheduled to meet privately this afternoon with Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell at the Patrick Henry Building, according to senior staff members familiar with the meeting.The topic of the 1:30 p.m. meeting will be the transition of administrations.
Virginia board will certify election results today | The Virginian Pilot
The Republican sweep in Virginia is about to become official.
Education
Virginia universities tilt toward nonresidents for higher tuition | The Virginian Pilot
Raechel Hanson toiled through high school to build an academic transcript strong enough for admission to the College of William and Mary, the storied “public Ivy” in Williamsburg. She maintained a 3.9 grade-point average, played flute in the band, presided over the Spanish club and amassed more than 100 hours of community service.
D.C. AIDS activist among new Rhodes scholars | The Washington Post
A University of Virginia graduate who runs a program that trains athletes to be HIV/AIDS educators for youths in the District has been named a Rhodes scholar for 2010.
Goal: no gifted minorities left behind | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
In Henrico County schools last year, African-American students made up 36 percent of the enrollment and 7 percent of the children who received gifted education.
Port of Virginia’s development driving new college curriculum | The Daily Press
FRANKLIN – Isle of Wight County and Suffolk are expected to draw multiple warehouse and distribution centers over the next two decades, as the Port of Virginia develops.
Va. college raises tuition midyear | The Washington Times
RICHMOND | The University of Mary Washington on Friday approved a rare midyear tuition increase to help offset drastic state funding cuts.
Profs say cuts affecting classroom | The Virginia Gazette
WILLIAMSBURG — Even before Friday’s announcement that cuts in state funding will force 12 layoffs among 31 jobs to be eliminated at the College of William & Mary, two professors told the Board of Visitors this week that the effect of dwindling budgets is already being felt in the classroom.
VMI faces probe into sexism | The Washington Times
LEXINGTON, Va. | Virginia Military Institute is defending itself against a lengthy investigation into accusations that the school’s policies are sexist and hostile toward female cadets, a dozen years after women won the right to enroll.
Richmond City Council could fast-track plan for new schools | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
After being stalled for two years, Richmond’s plan to build schools is now being treated as an emergency.
Energy
Dominion Resources makes donation to EnergyShare | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Dominion Resources Inc. presented a check this morning for $2 million to help its EnergyShare program to assist families affected by the current economic downturn.
Charlottesville looks for green boost | The Daily Progress
Area officials have made strides this year in establishing energy efficiency programs, and many are hopeful that the efforts will provide the Charlottesville region with a much-desired economic boost.
Taxes
Tax refunds increase sharply in Virginia | The Washington Examiner
Tax refunds are up sharply in Virginia as the recession batters the balance sheets of upper-income residents, adding to an already staggering budget shortfall facing the state.
Transportation
Safety issue lurks under Dulles rail bridge plan | The Washington Post
Thirty-two years ago, the Virginia transportation department drove dozens of steel pilings 50 feet into the ground near the West Falls Church Metro station. Encased in concrete, the pilings formed foundations that one day could hold up a bridge carrying Metro trains across Interstate 66 to Dulles International Airport.
Herndon Town Council Hails ‘Return of the Train’ | The Herndon Connection
Mark Bredesen, owner of the Autoscandia car repair shop, told the Herndon Town Council that he had just learned the day before that his business was to be included in a new special tax district that would place an additional levy on commercial properties in order to help fund Phase II of Rail to Dulles. “I’m proud to be part of this tax district and I’d like to see this project move forward,” he said.
Alexandrians balk at Mark Center access plans | The Washington Examiner
The Virginia Department of Transportation has offered seven alternatives for direct access from I-395 to the Mark Center site in Alexandria, but citizens, concerned that several of the options would encroach on the adjacent Winkler nature preserve, are pressing for other choices.
Arlington County HOV infraction results in $1,000 fine, police say | The Washington Post
A motorist driving through Arlington County on Thursday apparently received a $1,000 ticket, according to a report released by the Virginia state police.
VDOT airs plans for Va. 640 | The News Leader
FISHERSVILLE — The Virginia Department of Transportation will conduct a public hearing concerning improvements to Va. 640 — Goose Creek Road — in the Fishersville area of Augusta County.
Legal
Special prosecutor won’t bring charges against Richmond sheriff | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
A special prosecutor said today he is not bringing charges against Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody, saying that the allegation against Woody by one of his deputies lacks merit.
Report: 1 in 3 Va. homicides domestic-related | The Virginian Pilot
The Virginia Department of Health says about one-third of the homicides that occurred in the state between 1999 and 2007 were domestic-related.
Judicial mentor swears in MacBride | The Virginia Lawyers Weekly Blog
Neil H. MacBride was formally sworn in today as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry C. Morgan Jr., a judge for whom he clerked 17 years ago in Norfolk.
Health
U.Va. hospital adds non-compete clauses for faculty | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
CHARLOTTESVILLE — The University of Virginia Medical Center is adding non-competition clauses to the employment agreements of its 800 clinical faculty members — a move that one U.Va. physician criticized as bad for health care in the Charlottesville region.
New technique improves odds in cardiac arrest | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
VCU Medical Center and the Richmond Ambulance Authority have improved resuscitation and survival rates dramatically for cardiacarrest patients with a new technique for paramedics, university officials say.
Hampton VA hospital complaints catch Sen. Webb’s attention | The Daily Press
Army veteran Jan Garlette, of Newport News, suffers from tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable muscle spasms.
Immigration
Fewer illegal immigrants arrested at Fort Lee | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
FORT LEE — The number of illegal immigrants arrested while attempting to enter Fort Lee has dropped significantly this year, despite a boom in construction at the Army installation.
Business
Leader of Verizon’s Va. operations is driven to solve | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
When Robert W. Woltz Jr. walked up to the “cord-board” in Petersburg on his second day with the phone company, he stepped to a corner of the business world that has long since disappeared.
Local
Manassas sets course for cuts | The Washington Post
The Manassas City Council adopted a preliminary budget Monday that would call for more than $5 million in cuts but result in a lower tax bill for many Manassas residents.
Prince William board to discuss viewshed protections | The News & Messenger
Prince William ought to impose regulations to screen certain historical areas in the county from untoward views, according to recommendations from a new Viewshed Preservation Plan to be presented to supervisors Tuesday.
Higher city tax not irking diners | The Freelance-Star
Sit down to a $50 restaurant meal in Spotsylvania or Stafford county and you’ll be charged $4.50 in added state and local taxes.
Kaine requests federal aid to assist victims of nor’easter | The Roanoke Times
NORFOLK — Gov. Tim Kaine has requested money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and low-interest loans from the government to help people who were victims of last week’s nor’easter.
- The Most Progressive Budget in Virginia’s History - December 21, 2019
- When is a Clean Water Act Permit Needed? - December 21, 2019
- Should U.S. Consider Modern Monetary Theory to Improve Economy? - December 21, 2019