Today’s Topics
- Technology
- Transportation
- Campaign Finance
- Environment
- Education
- Economic Development
- Legal
- Healthcare
- Transparency
- Local
Technology
State lawmakers are floating the idea of using the budget as a hammer to force the state’s IT contractor to make do with $236 million in annual payments.
Members of the House Appropriations Committee yesterday criticized both the state and Northrop Grumman during a nearly two-hour report on a state watchdog group’s investigation of the state’s privatization deal. The budget writers spread the blame — poking at everything from the state’s lack of an accurate count of its equipment to murky language in the contract with Northrop Grumman.
Commissioner discovers company owes $15 million in taxes | SWVA Today
Northrup Grumman, the state’s beleaguered information technology vendor contracted under the Gov. Mark Warner administration, owes as much as $15 million in local taxes to communities across Virginia, a Smyth County official has found.
AOL Chief Technology Officer Ted Cahall Appointed to New Virginia Technology Board | Reuters
AOL announced today that Chief Technology Officer Ted Cahall has been appointed to the newly created Innovation and Entrepreneurship Investment Authority (IEIA). Cahall will be one of 12 citizen board members on the 13-member organization, which is made up of nine non-legislative citizen appointments, three presidents of state higher-education institutions and the Secretary of Technology. The IEIA`s role will be to support and encourage Virginia`s technology economy. AOL, founded in 1985, has long been one of Virginia`s premier Internet technology companies.
Virginia Space Grant Consortium project provides geospatial technology Web portal | Eureka Alert
Blacksburg, Va. – The Virginia Space Grant Consortium has been awarded a grant of $894,228 by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advanced Technological Education program for the Geospatial Technician Education through Virginia’s Community Colleges (GTEVCC) project. Project partners include the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), John Tyler Community College, Tidewater Community College, Virginia Western Community College, and the Virginia Geospatial Extension Program at Virginia Tech.
Transportation
Free parking spots could sprout meters | The Washington Post
It’s a renter’s dream: a swimming pool, a washer-dryer right in the apartment and a 24-hour Giant across the street. And at the foot of Wildwood Towers, a high-rise building off Columbia Pike in Arlington County, a glorious, free parking space.
VDOT nixes eastern bypass from study | The Daily Progress
A road that would have run through Albemarle County’s eastern edge and its historic Southwest Mountains has been removed from the recommendations in a study of U.S. 29, after drawing ire from local residents and elected officials.
VRE ridership increases, service sets 1-day record | The Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) – Virginia Railway Express says ridership is up slightly and the service set a one-day record last week.
Virginia misspells Reagan’s name on highway signs | NBC2
VIRGINIA: Do you know how to get to “Reagen National Airport”?
Just follow the Virginia Department of Transportation’s signs.
Campaign Finance
Va. House candidates have raised more than $22 million so far
Through September, House of Delegates candidates had raised about $22.5 million as Republicans defend their six-seat working majority and Democrats try to wrest it from them, campaign finance reports show.
Campaign accounts could get personal | The Virginia Pilot
The issue: Loophole in law gives politicians free rein with campaign donations.
Where we stand: Stricter controls are needed, but it may be too late to avoid trouble.
Environment
Cardin unveils federal Bay bill | The Washington Examiner
ANNAPOLIS | Federal legislation to restore the Chesapeake Bay will create funding and incentives and mandate enforcement penalties if states don’t meet restoration goals, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin said Monday.
Education
Va. graduation, dropout rates a bit better | The Richmond Times Dispatch
Eight out of every 10 high school students in the class of 2009 graduated on time with a diploma, according to data released today by the Virginia Department of Education.
LU presents expansion plans to Campbell supervisors | The News Advance
Liberty University officials presented preliminary plans Monday to the Campbell County Board of Supervisors to expand the School of Aeronautics and School of Engineering and Computational Sciences.
Economic Development
Rolls-Royce could employ up to 500 in Prince George | The Richmond Times-Dispatch
One of Virginia’s most lauded and long-awaited industrial projects is getting under way, with its priorities shuffled somewhat because of the economic recession.
Danville earns ranks on Smart21 list | GoDanRiver.com
Danville has been placed on the Intelligent Community Forum’s 2010 Smart21 list that includes 21 communities in 13 countries recognized for broadband growth.
The city is one of three Virginia communities that made the list. The others are Arlington County and Bristol.
Trade mission to Cuba builds on past success | The Star Tribune
This November Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), will lead a delegation of agribusiness leaders and exporters to Havana, Cuba, as Virginia pushes to expand international sales for a diverse offering of agricultural products.
Legal
Legal Aid Justice Center decries U.S. prisons | The Daily Progress
With 2.3 million people incarcerated in America’s prison system, the United States makes up a quarter of the world’s jail population.
Upon release, an estimated two out of every three inmates are arrested again and sent back to jail.
Kaine Outnumbers Predecessors in Restoring Felon’s Voting Rights | WTVR
Virginians head to the polls in two weeks to choose the Commonwealth’s next governor.
Heaphy sworn in as U.S. attorney | The Roanoke Times
Timothy Heaphy became the new U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia at a swearing-in ceremony Friday in Abingdon.
Judge to rule on Shenandoah sanctions motion | Virginia Lawyers Weekly Blog
In an update to a story in this week’s VLW, Shenandoah County Circuit Judge Dennis Hupp will not allow his jurisdiction to lapse before considering a sanctions motion against a political candidate and his lawyer.
Healthcare
75 years of healing at Salem’s VA Medical Center | The Roanoke Times
Seventy-five years ago, James Economy was in downtown Roanoke when the president rode by.
Transparency
Cuccinelli touts sunlight in budget process | Virginia Lawyers Weekly Blog
Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli hopes to shine a light into what he says is a state budget process so hidden from public view that it led to the flap over Del. Phil Hamilton’s state-funded college job.
VCOG conference wrap-up | FOI Blog
Local
Loudoun County hires new administrator | The Washington Post
Loudoun County hired a new administrator Tuesday amid one of the county’s most challenging budget crunches.
Fairfax gearing up for federal illegal immigrant checks at jails | The Washington Post
Fairfax County officials are pushing to get the local sheriff to hurry up and institute a new federal program that will automate illegal immigrant fingerprint checks at local jails.
Interfaith activist group to focus efforts on interpretive services | The Daily Progress
Cynthia Torres, a 14-year-old and a resident of the Charlottesville area, said she usually does not mind doing translations for her parents.
City fees will help fund courts building | The Freelance Star
Starting Jan. 1, Fredericksburg will charge a $3 fee on court cases filed in the city. The fees are intended as a small step toward paying for a new city courthouse.
Two men are sentenced for financial scam | The Virginia Pilot
Two men were sentenced today for attempting to defraud USAA Bank, a mutual insurance company that primarily serves members of the military, of about $1.5 million.
Camp Virginia Jaycee may not be able to reopen | The Roanoke Times
In the wake of a medical incident that temporarily closed Camp Virginia Jaycee this summer, the organization that runs the Bedford County camp for people with disabilities is struggling financially and may not be able to reopen next year.
Mohawk shuts down Waynesboro plant | The News Leader
WAYNESBORO — About 120 employees will lose their jobs by the end of the year following an announcement that Mohawk Industries will shut down its Waynesboro plant.
Boucher visits for kickoff of sewer project | SWVA Today
BAPTIST VALLEY – A few years after public water made its way to this part of Tazewell County, officials gathered to break ground for sewer.
More than 1,400 firearms seized | NV Daily
FRONT ROYAL — Local and federal authorities seized more than 1,400 firearms from a pawn shop dealer who has been arrested as part of conspiracy to sell guns to felons.
Bike Rentals Coming to Crystal City | We Love DC
The Crystal City Business Improvement District just announced a new program coming in the Spring of 2010: a 100-bike Commuter Hub, which will offer bike rentals to commuters, tourists, or residents. The Commuter Hub will be located at 220 Twentieth Street, a new LEED-certified apartment building in Crystal City. Revolution Cycles will manage the retail and rental business, which will also offer repairs and bike accessories.
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