AP
Bob and Maureen McDonnell
(Associated Press photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ His legal options running out, former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Thursday turned to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking that he be allowed to stay out of prison while he makes his final appeal on public corruption convictions. Earlier Thursday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond refused to grant McDonnell’s request to remain free while appealing to the high court. That decision means McDonnell would probably have to report to prison within the next several weeks to begin his two-year sentence, handed down in January for doing favors for a wealthy businessman in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. But McDonnell’s attorneys filed an emergency application hours later to the Supreme Court, asking for a delay of the lower court’s decision or to let McDonnell remain free on bond while he makes his final appeal. The request was made to Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles emergency appeals from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Roberts can decide the matter himself or refer it to the full Supreme Court. There is no set timeline for Roberts or the court to make a decision.
MILLBORO, Va. (AP) _ State officials say authorities killed the wrong black bear following an attack on a hiker at Douthat State Park. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation say DNA test results indicated that the bear’s DNA profile didn’t match the profile of DNA collected from the hiker’s clothing. The agencies said Thursday in a joint statement that the bear was found close to where the incident occurred in a remote section of the park. They say the bear matched the description of the animal that attacked the hiker on Aug. 8. The hiker, Laura Cooksey of Midlothian, was treated for injuries at a local hospital. The park has conducted information campaign since the incident to education visitors about bear safety.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
Hannah Graham
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ A judge is set to consider several pretrial motions in the case of a man charged with abducting and killing a University of Virginia student. Jesse Matthew Jr. is charged with capital murder in the September 2014 disappearance and death of 18-year-old Hannah Graham. His trial is set for next summer. Albemarle County Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins is set to consider about a dozen defense motions at Thursday’s hearing. Among them is a request that she bar people in the courtroom from displaying any symbols supporting Graham. The county’s chief prosecutor has filed court papers opposing that motion and most others.
Bob and Maureen McDonnell
(Associated Press photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A date has been set for when prosecutors and lawyers for former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell will argue over whether her corruption convictions should be reversed. The Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday scheduled oral arguments in McDonnell’s appeal on Oct. 29. A jury in September found the Maureen and former Gov. Bob McDonnell guilty of doing favors for a nutritional supplements executive in exchange for $165,000 in gifts and loans. The former Republican governor, once considered a possible running mate to Mitt Romney in 2012, has been sentenced to two years in prison. His wife was sentenced on Feb. 20 to one year and one day in prison. Both are free on bond while they pursue appeals.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Republicans are warning Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe not to reappoint his pick to the Virginia Supreme Court next month when her initial appointment expires. Republicans issued a statement Tuesday suggesting such a reappointment would be “at best dubious and at worst unlawful.” But GOP leaders did not say what they would do if the governor does reappoint Justice Jane Marum Roush, as he has said he plans to do. Democrats foiled a GOP bid to unseat Roush Monday, and then unexpectedly adjourned the state Senate from a special session. McAuliffe believes the early Senate adjournment gives him the authority to appoint justices because the General Assembly is not in session. But Republicans said the legislature is still in session because the GOP-controlled House has not adjourned.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ A Franklin County man who forced a woman to engage in prostitution has pleaded guilty to human trafficking. Tremayne Rontae Kirby entered the plea Tuesday in federal court in Roanoke. Kirby also pleaded guilty to one count of using interstate commerce to promote an enterprise involving prostitution. Prosecutors said Kirby admitted to operating a prostitution enterprise involving women in Virginia, North Carolina and New Jersey. Kirby used the money generated from the prostitution enterprise to pay for hotels, buy illegal drugs and food. Prosecutors said he hit, body-slammed, shook, and threatened one woman to get her to engage in prostitution. At sentencing, Kirby faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Lottery says it raised more than $500 million during the last fiscal year for Virginia’s public schools. The lottery says it increased its sales to more than $1.84 billion in fiscal year 2015. More than $1 billion in sales were generated from Scratcher tickets alone, setting a record. The lottery says more than $12 million in unclaimed winnings were donated to state’s Literary Fund, which benefits education by assisting technology upgrades in schools and teacher retirement funding. By law, every dollar of Lottery profits benefits K-12 education in Virginia. Lottery profits make up about 8 percent of Virginia’s K-12 education budget.
The State Senate abruptly adjourned its special session Monday, a session called to redraw the state’s congressional map. In June, a federal court concluded for a second time that legislators in 2012 illegally packed black voters into the 3rd District in order to make adjacent districts safer for Republican incumbents. The panel gave lawmakers until Sept. 1 to draw a new map. Republicans had unsuccessfully pushed for an extended deadline, saying they want to wait and see if the U.S. Supreme Court will overrule the panel.On Monday, Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Sen. A. Donald McEachin said it was clear the General Assembly lacked the political will to redraw congressional boundaries and the Senate should just adjourn. The move sets up the possibility that federal judges could impose a congressional map of their own design, as they’ve done in in other states. Republicans blasted the Democrats’ maneuver as “blatantly hypocritical and deeply irresponsible.” “Democrats have single-handedly shutdown any possibility of a legislative remedy on redistricting and have no one to blame but themselves,” GOP leaders said in a statement.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he will reappoint Justice Jane Marum Roush next month when her initial appointment expires. McAuliffe told reporters his plans Monday after the state Senate adjourned from a special legislative session meant to produce a new state congressional map and settle a state Supreme Court appointment. Republicans, angry that McAuliffe had not properly consulted them about Roush’s appointment, tried unsuccessfully Monday to advance their own pick for the high court. GOP lawmakers said Monday that McAuliffe wont’ have the legal authority to reappoint Roush next month because the full General Assembly has not adjourned. But McAuliffe said there’s legal precedent for reappointing Roush and said the Republican opposition to her appointment has made the GOP look “small” and ineffective.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ The University of Virginia says its computer network is back online after being shut down for two days due to a cyberattack originating in China. The university says the network was restored Sunday after a system security upgrade. Administrators say no personally identifiable information was accessed and no sensitive research material was compromised. The Daily Progress (http://bit.ly/1LgqcAm) reports the attack on the university’s information technology systems targeted the email accounts of two employees. U.Va. Chief Operating Officer Patrick D. Hogan says the university is adjusting its password change program to guard against further security breaches. The university says federal authorities tipped the school of the breach, identifying the country of origin as China.