AP
Bob and Maureen McDonnell
(Associated Press photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A newly released court document describes what former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell would have said had she testified in her husband’s public corruption case. The affidavit from her lawyer says she would have testified that she hid vitamin executive Jonnie Williams’ gifts from her husband because she figured McDonnell would make her return them. The affidavit was filed under seal last year and was made public Wednesday. It outlines how Maureen McDonnell would have testified in her husband’s defense had their trials been severed. After a judge refused to allow separate trials, she declined to testify at their joint trial. The McDonnells were convicted of taking more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Williams in exchange for promoting his products.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Emergency officials say Virginia’s annual statewide tornado drill drew nearly 1 million participants. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management says Fairfax and Loudon counties, and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond had the highest number of registered participants. The agency says registrant data shows private homes and schools were the leading participants. Tuesday’s drill was sponsored by the agency and the National Weather Service.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Employment Commission says the state’s jobless rate fell in January to 4.7 percent, the lowest rate in more than six years. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was down from 4.8 percent in December 2014 and down from 5.3 percent a year ago. The commission says January’s rate was the lowest rate since October 2008. Industries seeing employment increases included private education and health services, construction and manufacturing. Job decreases were seen in trade and transportation, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, government, information and mining. The national unemployment rate increased to 5.7 percent.
vdacs.virginia.gov
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ Efforts to increase the number of school systems using Virginian-grown products in school menus are the focus of a conference in Charlottesville. The Virginia Farm-to-School Conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore is among the scheduled speakers. The conference will provide educational programs aimed at bringing homegrown foods to schools. It also will examine food safety, school gardens and nutrition education. The conference is being funded by a $20,750 grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ The builders of a proposed natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to North Carolina have the green light to survey a 12.6-mile slice of the George Washington National Forest. The Forest Service announced Tuesday it is issuing a temporary special use permit for the survey. The survey will assess soils, federally listed threatened and endangered plants and animals and cultural resources. The Forest Service stressed that the survey approval does not clear the way for construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Dominion Resources is partnering with other energy companies to build the $5 billion, 550-mile pipeline. It would deliver natural gas from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania to the Southeast. Dominion said the survey is key to finding the best pipeline route with the least environmental impact.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia officials are accepting applications for community grants in the fight against underage drinking and access to alcohol. The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control says the deadline is April 25 for the grants for alcohol education and prevention initiatives. The grants are open to community coalitions, law enforcement agencies, schools, and nonprofit, faith-based and prevention-related groups. Officials say grant requests will be limited to a maximum of $8,000. This is the second year of the grant program. Last year, 11 recipients received grants through the program.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Richmond mayor and ex-convict Leonidas Young is running to replace a Virginia lawmaker who was jailed after a sex scandal involving a teenager. Young said he will announce his candidacy Tuesday for the House of Delegates seat occupied by Del. Joseph Morrissey. The ordained Baptist minister was convicted on fraud charges in 1999. He served as Richmond mayor from 1994 through June 1996. Young said Morrissey has supported his efforts to return to public office. His announcement will take place at Morrissey’s law office. Morrissey is facing charges of fabricating a document that he presented as evidence in December, when he was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old girl. He has not revealed his future political plans.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has signed a new law that reins in the use of seclusion and restraint as methods of controlling children in public schools. McAuliffe signed legislation Monday requiring the state Board of Education to develop regulations governing the use of the techniques across Virginia’s 134 school divisions, according to the governor’s spokesman. The legislation had broad support from both chambers of the General Assembly. The measure was prompted by complaints from parents about their disabled children being restrained by several adults, strapped into chairs and locked away in segregated rooms, sometimes emerging with bruises and broken bones.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The University of Virginia’s board is reviewing President Teresa A. Sullivan’s contract. Media outlets report that the Board of Visitors Executive Committee held a closed-door meeting in Richmond on Monday to discuss the contract. An evaluation of Sullivan began earlier this year. The board extended Sullivan’s current contract by a year in 2012, five months after a failed attempt by some members to oust her. The contract runs through July 31, 2016. Sullivan’s total annual compensation under the current contract is $674,700. She has served as U.Va.’s president since 2010.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ About 3,050 SunTrust customers in Virginia could be eligible for payments under a national settlement. Attorney General Mark R. Herring says claims forms were sent Monday to customers who lost their homes to foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2013. SunTrust agreed to the $550 million settlement in 2014 to resolve alleged violations in its foreclosure practices and servicing of mortgages. The settlement included $40 million in payments for 45,250 customers nationwide. Herring says customers who participate in the settlement can still file lawsuits or pursue other legal remedies.