Proposed VA “personhood” bill enters US Senate debate
Image courtesy: Donkey-Hotey
This year’s debates in Richmond on social issue legislation are turning into campaign material in the race for U.S. Senate. Virginia’s proposed “personhood” bill in particular has Tim Kaine and George Allen presenting very different points of view. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
UPDATED: Missing teen found
Nathan Mailliard
Roanoke Police say a teen missing since last night was found safe earlier today at the intersection of 22nd Street and Cove Road. 16-year-old Nathan Mailliard has a “cognitive delay” and takes medication. A passerby spotted him and called police. He’s been taken to the Alleghany Department of Social Services. He had been staying with a foster family.
Report: VA foreclosures falling, but vacant homes remain a big problem
A report from HOMES — Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia — says while foreclosure numbers are starting to level off and even decline across much of Virginia, their lingering impacts could last for years. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
HOMES also proposed using government grants to rehabilitate many vacant properties.
Click here to read the entire report. It includes foreclosure and vacancy rates for each city and county in Virginia.
Elton John tix selling well, but this time, no immediate sellout
Elton John has twice sold out at the Roanoke Civic Center — and done so almost as soon as tickets went on sale. It is a different story for his third performance in the Star City, but as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, Civic Center officials still expect a full house.
No sign of break in Senate budget impasse
The State Senate appears headed for a budget impasse as Democrats in the evenly-split chamber seem ready to use their leverage. Republicans call the process “collaborative”, but Democrats say there is nothing collaborative about refusing to share power. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the latest.
Budget time in Richmond; all eyes on Senate
The General Assembly takes up Virginia’s next budget this week — and all eyes are likely to be focused on the State Senate, where the 20-20 party split means something has to give to ensure passage. So far, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling has been able to cast tie-breaking votes, but when it comes to the budget, there must be a majority of Senators — at least 21 — voting yes.WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
VA teachers wear black in “Statewide day of mourning”
Many public school teachers across the state say they are wearing black today in what the Virginia Education Association calls a “statewide day of mourning.” Teachers are showing their unhappiness with state funding levels that have left many without pay increases for several years. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Police hope surveillance photos help nab ATM holdup suspects
Roanoke Police hope these surveillance photos will help them find the people wanted for robbing a man outside an ATM. Police say it happened in the early-morning hours of February 1st at the Roanoke-Salem Plaza, near Melrose and Peters Creek. A Roanoke man had just withdrawn money from the ATM when a car drove up, two men got out and assaulted the victim, took his money, then took off in a car with a third person at the wheel. The getaway car is described as a green Honda. Police ask anyone with information to call them.
(Continue reading to see more surveillance photos)
Consumer Reports CEO: digital age helps consumers fight back
Jim Guest
The CEO of Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, says the digital age is empowering consumers to more effectively battle well-funded corporate interests. Jim Guest speaks tonight at Virginia Tech. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
Jim Guest will be the inaugural speaker for the Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Lecture in Consumer Affairs tonight at 7:30 pm. He will speak at Virginia Tech’s Graduate Life Center auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
House GOP hopes teacher tenure bill gets second chance in Senate
House Republicans in Richmond are still holding out hope that the Senate will approve a bill to end tenure job protection for Virginia public school teachers. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
