Today’s Edition
- The McDonnell Administration
- The Kaine Administration
- Transportation
- Legal
- Education
- Energy
- Environment
- Legal
The McDonnell Administration
Va. Republicans pledge to steer toward center | The Washington Post
RICHMOND — Despite winning the governor’s race by a 17-percentage point blowout, Virginia Republicans insisted Wednesday that they had gained no broad mandate and would make their top priority the pragmatic platform that drove voters to the polls.
New Va. governor begins transition | The Washington Times
RICHMOND | Gov.-elect Robert F. McDonnell said Wednesday that he plans to transform his campaign proposals into law, relying on a mandate from the Republican sweep that he led.
McDonnell announces transition committee | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
In his first day as governor-elect, Bob McDonnell yesterday announced his transition committee leaders, including Tom Farrell, chairman and CEO of the state’s largest utility, Dominion Resources.
McDonnell plans transition, says Obama called him | The Virginia Pilot
Hours after his landslide election victory, sleep-deprived G ov. -elect Bob McDonnell on Wednesday fielded congratulatory phone calls from well-wishers including President Barack Obama before meeting with a horde of reporters wanting to know his transition plans and what the Republican dominance on election night portends.
McDonnell Vows to Reopen Highway Rest Areas | WTVR
RICHMOND – Governor-elect Bob McDonnell vows to come through on his pledge to reopen the rest stops recently closed by VDOT.
Cuccinelli details transition team | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli is looking to predecessors from both political parties for guidance on how to run the state’s law office.
The Kaine Administration
Kaine to teach at the University of Richmond | The Washington Post
Gov. Tim Kaine will announce today that he is joining the faculty at the University of Richmond after he leaves office in January, sources close to the governor say.
Transportation
Airport board raises rates for Dulles Toll Road | The Washington Post
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority board voted Wednesday to double rates on the Dulles Toll Road by 2012, setting aside objections from commuters.
VRE rejects Amtrak contract challenge | The Washington Post
Virginia Railway Express officials have denied Amtrak’s challenge to a plan to have an international company operate the commuter rail service’s trains.
Loudoun plans bus service to Tysons during Metro construction | The Washington Post
Loudoun County plans to launch a temporary bus service to employment centers in Tysons Corner next fall in an effort to ease traffic there during the most disruptive period of Metrorail construction.
State’s top transit official to speak at bus launch Friday | Inside Nova
Virginia Secretary of Transportation Peirce R. Homer will speak Friday at the ribbon cutting for the Tysons Corner Express Bus.
Spotsy station down the line | The Freelance Star
Spotsylvania County residents can expect a Virginia Railway Express station by February 2012, according to the agreement governing the county’s membership with the commuter rail service.
Group endorses high-speed rail that bypasses the Peninsula | The Daily Press
CHESAPEAKE — The Hampton Roads Transportation Organization voted unanimously Friday to endorse a high-speed rail plan that bypasses the Peninsula and follows the Route 460 corridor to South Hampton Roads.
Legal
Va. Supreme Court upholds power line | The Washington Post
The Virginia Supreme Court has upheld permits for construction of the Virginia portion of a multistate power line.
Obama nominates 2 for 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
President Barrack Obama today nominated two more judges for the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, both to fill North Carolina seats.
State Supreme Court censures Virginia Beach judge | The Virginia Pilot
The state Supreme Court announced today that it has censured a Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court judge for “conduct prejudicial to the proper administration of justice.”
Education
Md., Va. dip toes in charter school waters | The Washington Post
The number of charter schools in the District has skyrocketed over the past decade, and charters are on track to claim 38 percent of public school students in the city. The charter scene is a comparative desert in Virginia and Maryland, but that might be changing.
Anti-dropout effort in Chesterfield uses details from prison life | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Keeping Chesterfield kids in school Every 26 seconds, a student drops out of school. Three out of four end up in prison.
NSU President Carolyn Meyers finalist for Baltimore job | The Virginia Pilot
Norfolk State University President Carolyn Meyers has been named one of three finalists for the top post at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
BRISTOL, Tenn. – A proposed King College school of medicine would be built in Washington County, Va., King President Greg Jordan said.
Energy
Attorney general urges Va. Power electric-rate cut or refund | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Virginia’s attorney general is urging the State Corporation Commission to either cut Dominion Virginia Power’s electric rates this year or have the company give customers a refund for over-earning last year.
Environment
EPA sets tough interim rule for bay cleanup | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
States that contribute pollution to the Chesapeake Bay must have controls in place by 2017 to reduce that pollution 60 percent, federal officials say.
Local
Taking aim at homelessness | The Washington Post
Virginia has awarded Arlington County more than $363,000 in an effort to prevent homelessness.
In Leesburg, cautious optimism on budget | The Washington Post
Leesburg officials released fairly rosy budget projections last week that count on revenues rising and costs staying flat next year. The preliminary forecast, if it pans out, will mean a local government that is in stronger financial shape than the county and state.
Prince William County takes home two VACO awards for local programs | Inside Nova
Prince William County received two awards for local programs in a statewide competition that recognizes excellence in government service.
Audits fault groups run by Richmond officials | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Audits released this week for the cities of Austin, Texas, and Denver have stung two senior members of Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration.
Henrico expects $10.7 million less in state aid | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Henrico County expects to receive $10.7 million less in state aid this year under budget cuts proposed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, but the county is even more worried about how the state will affect next year’s budget.
County deficit ‘is getting worse’ | The Daily Progress
Albemarle County faces even worse financial troubles than officials anticipated only weeks ago.
Supervisors tell developer of luxury site to widen trail | The Daily Progress
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has overruled the recommendations of its Planning Commission — and the wishes of many in the Woodbrook neighborhood — by requiring the developer of a luxury apartment complex off Rio Road to widen a proposed trail and connect it to public property.
- 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