Today’s Topics
- Budget
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Education
- The McDonnell Administration
- Census
- Environment
- Immigration
- Transportation
- Aging
- Legal
- Local
Budget
Obstacles await McDonnell administration | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Big win notwithstanding, Republican Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell will start his administration hampered by a slashed state budget, a politically divided legislature and a sour economy.
Study says state could benefit by trimming tax breaks | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Virginia officials looking for a way to balance the recession-wracked budget could free up cash by delaying or junking some tax breaks, according to a study out this morning.
Technology
Tech-career jolt of $4.5 million bound for nonprofit | The Washington Post
Venture Philanthropy Partners on Monday will announce a $4.5 million grant to the local chapter of a national nonprofit group that prepares young people for technology careers, according to its president.
Healthcare
Map divides the insured from the sidelined | The Washington Post
For people lacking health insurance in the Washington region, where they live can make all the difference in getting affordable health care.
The morning after the House of Representatives narrowly passed a health-care bill, Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell said the “public option does not seem to be something that’s going to help us in Virginia.”
Where is your health insurance premium heading? | The Virginia Pilot
For Linda Pierce, it’s an additional $10-a-week expense she can’t live with. For Tom Allen, the result is an extra $3.50 a week he’ll be glad to pocket.
Education
Va. unlikely to put charter schools on fast track | The Washington Post
Tuesday’s elections in Virginia swept a staunch supporter of charter schools into the governor’s mansion, raising hopes for advocates in a state that has been skeptical of the publicly funded, privately run alternatives to regular public schools.
For Va. Tech, no sign of relief | The Washington Post
BLACKSBURG, Va. — As Americans scrambled to make sense of the life of Army psychiatrist Nidal M. Hasan, who allegedly killed 13 people and injured 38 more at Fort Hood, Tex., last week, one fact stood out for those living here: Hasan graduated from Virginia Tech in 1995.
Ratings have little to do with teaching | The Washington Post
Those unfortunate people in the District might worry about the quality of their teachers and wait anxiously for the results of the school system’s controversial new evaluation of classroom techniques and test score improvement. But those of us in the Washington area suburbs don’t have to worry because we already know that close to 100 percent of our teachers are entirely satisfactory. How? Our school districts say so.
VMI to review training after cadet’s death | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
LEXINGTON — Virginia Military Institute plans to review its training procedures following the death of a freshman who collapsed after completing a 10-mile march.
Fraternity touts the importance of education to Portsmouth school | The Virginia Pilot
There is no substitute for education, Christopher Mosley told a group of about 60 young men attending I.C. Norcom High.
Education notebook: TNCC offers new STEM opportunities | The Daily Press
There’s a lot of talk about a future shortage of workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which are collectively termed STEM. Two new opportunities at Thomas Nelson Community College are aimed at those career fields.
The McDonnell Administration
More McDonnell staffers added to transition team | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell’s transition team has announced additional placements from the gubernatorial campaign staff.
Governing with 2013 in mind | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
For a guy who has many reasons to smile — the presidency of utility giant Dominion, a fat paycheck, such plush perquisites as the rectorship of U.Va., his alma mater — Tom Farrell often wears a pained expression.
Governor-elect McDonnell: Putting his plan in motion | The Roanoke Times
RICHMOND — His campaign was over, but governor-elect Bob McDonnell made another promise Wednesday as he began the transition from candidate to chief executive.
Census
Committee created to ensure census counts all Virginians | The Washington Post
RICHMOND — Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has created a committee to help ensure that all Virginians are counted in the 2010 census.
Environment
Hundreds try to sell crab licenses back to Va. | The Washington Times
RICHMOND | One-third of Virginia’s watermen have offered to sell their licenses back to the state under a buyback program intended to ease pressure on the Chesapeake Bay crab.
EPA to release Chesapeake draft strategy today | The Virginia Pilot
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release its draft strategy for restoring the Chesapeake Bay today.
Immigration
Connolly navigates illegal immigration minefield | The Washington Examiner
For Gerry Connolly, the Fairfax County board chairman, denouncing illegal immigration hawks to the south was a safe prospect in the heavily Democratic suburb. But since rising to Congress, in an 11th District that dips into the more conservative Prince William County, the freshman Democrat has toughened his rhetoric on the subject.
Transportation
Mayors met over lunch and laid out a new rail plan | The Daily Press
The Peninsula’s hopes for high-speed rail were dealt a severe blow at the end of October when the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization endorsed a route that follows the Route 460 corridor south of the James River from Richmond to Norfolk.
Two new bus services slated to help Tysons traffic | The Washington Examiner
A new express bus to get Northern Virginia workers to Tysons Corner is slated to start on Monday and a lunch-time shuttle to get them through the construction morass once there will begin later this month.
VDOT officials preparing ahead for winter snow, ice removal | The Virginia Pilot
The high today is expected to reach into the low 70s, but Virginia Department of Transportation officials plan to talk with the media about snow removal.
Senators request federal funds to improve Route 58 | The Daily Press
Suffolk – Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner requested funds to improve U.S. Route 58 in Suffolk to offset the impact of nearby International Paper’s upcoming closure.
Train passengers travel back in time | The Roanoke Times
One phenomenon you might notice while riding in a railroad passenger car: When people see windows on a train that’s going by, a lot of them wave.
Aging
Group planning for wave of aging baby boomers | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
A wave of aging baby boomers is coming, and the Older Dominion Partnership is making sure Virginia is prepared.
Legal
Marshall Ross becomes leader of VADA | Virginia Lawyers Weekly
The newly installed president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys is not anxious to build any fences around the lobbying efforts of his organization.
Ex-CantorArkema lawyers start new firm in Richmond | Virginia Lawyers Weekly
Five personal injury lawyers at the former firm of CantorArkema PC in Richmond have formed a firm the principals say will be devoted to representing plaintiffs in a smaller number of major cases.
Defense bar needs to know ins and outs of mediation | Virginia Lawyers Weekly
CHANTILLY — Roanoke lawyer Phillip V. Anderson had some advice about mediation for fellow attorneys who routinely represent defendants in civil cases.
Local
Gloucester supervisors stick taxpayers with $343,000 legal bill | The Daily Press
GLOUCESTER — Four members of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors voted early Wednesday morning to spend $343,000 in taxpayer funds to pay legal bills they incurred over the past two years.
Another tough budget year ahead for Alexandria council | The Washington Examiner
With the U.S. and Virginia state economies still limping along, the Alexandria city council on Saturday steeled itself for another lean budget year.
A look at Fairfax County’s globetrotting chief marketer | The Fairfax Times
In his capacity as Fairfax County’s head promoter, Gerald Gordon lives an exotic life.
Albemarle supervisors may head in new direction | The Daily Progress
The day after his fellow Republicans swept the competitive races for the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Kenneth C. Boyd was not gloating.
Feds break up elaborate drug ring in Hampton Roads | The Virginia Pilot
Federal agents say they have disrupted a multimillion-dollar drug ring responsible for distributing a ton of cocaine in the region in one year alone.
Stimulus gives a boost to Beach plan for corridor | The Virginia Pilot
The city’s plan to spruce up 19th Street between the Convention Center and the Oceanfront is getting a boost from the federal stimulus package.
Virginia War Museum opens new Berlin Wall exhibit | The Virginia Pilot
The Virginia War Museum is participating in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall with a special exhibit.
Beach to consider allowing electronic billboards | The Virginia Pilot
The city’s long-standing anti-billboard policy will be tested Tuesday as the City Council gets its first briefing on a proposal to allow digital ones.
Hampton plans to spend $30 million on new Circuit Court, parking garage | The Daily Press
HAMPTON – — The drawings show what could be a miniature version of the National Mall, complete with a tree-lined walkway.
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