AP
Bob and Maureen McDonnell
(Associated Press photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Defense attorneys say the public humiliation endured by former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell during her corruption trial is punishment enough. They’re asking a judge to spare McDonnell prison time when she’s sentenced Friday on eight counts. They argue that probation and 4,000 hours of community service is appropriate. Prosecutors disagree. They say the former first lady was a full participant in a bribery scheme, and that an 18-month prison term is warranted. That’s six months less than the two years former Gov. Bob McDonnell received last month for his convictions on 11 counts. The McDonnells were convicted in September of doing favors for the CEO of a nutritional supplements company in exchange for $165,000 in gifts and loans.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Nearly 400,000 Virginians have purchased health care through the government’s health insurance marketplace. The 384,612 consumers signed under the second year of open enrollment or were automatically re-enrolled. The numbers were announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nationally, 11.4 million Americans sought the health insurance during the open enrollment period. The department broke down the enrollment numbers by region, with the northern Virginia region topping the state at 151,000. The greater Richmond area and the Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Newport News region were virtually tied at 64,000 each.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Fifty-one local tourism initiatives are sharing in Virginia tourism grants totaling $773,000. Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the grant distribution Wednesday under the Virginia Tourism Marketing Leverage Program. It helps local and regional tourism groups attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars. The local groups match the state grant funds by a minimum of 2-to-1. The governor’s office says the 51 local tourism initiatives will benefit 229 tourism entities. Some of the grant recipients are the East Coast Surfing Championships and Natural Bridge Park re-branding, each receiving $50,000; the Taubman Museum of Art, $25,000; the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, $24,000; and Bath County tourism, $25,000, among others.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Gov. Terry McAuliffe is ordering the Virginia flag be flown at half-staff over the state Capitol in honor of World War II veteran Glenwood Elmo Hankins. McAuliffe’s office says the flag shall be lowered at sunrise on Thursday and remain at half-staff until sunset. Local, state and federal buildings in Martinsville also are being encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff. According to an obituary on the Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home website, the Pittsylvania County native died Feb. 7 at age 92. After graduating from Martinsville High School in 1940, Hankins enlisted in the Virginia National Guard. During World War II he was sent to England and later took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy. Glenwood was awarded the Purple Heart and also received the Bronze Star.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ A federal board has upheld more than $612,000 in fines against two companies for hazardous waste violations at a Roanoke facility. The EPA proposed the penalties against Chem-Solv, Inc. and Austin Holdings-VA L.L.C. in 2011. An administrative law judge upheld the enforcement action in 2014. Chem-Solv then appealed the penalties to the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board. The EPA said Wednesday that the board issued a final order in late January upholding the enforcement action. The board found there was no merit to Chem-Solv’s allegation that the administrative law judge showed bias. Chem-Solv operates a facility in Roanoke owned by Austin Holdings that handles and distributes various chemicals, including acids, solvents and mineral oils. The EPA says the companies violated laws governing the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia House of Delegates has changed its mind on whether the state ought to continue banning brass knuckles, throwing stars and other old school weapons. The House voted Wednesday against a bill that would repeal a state ban on owning several weapons, including switchblades. The vote came a day after the bill had narrowly gained approval from the House on a 56-42 vote. The bill, sponsored by Buckingham County Republican Sen. Thomas Garrett, passed the Senate earlier this month. Advocates for the bill say it’s unfair that some weapons, like handguns, are legal, while others are not. But opponents of the bill say making such weapons legal would hurt public safety.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
Hannah Graham
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ A June trial has been set for a man charged with abducting and killing a University of Virginia student. Jesse Matthew Jr. watched by video link Wednesday as Albemarle County Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins scheduled his three-week jury trial to start June 29. It was Matthew’s first hearing since being indicted on a first-degree murder charge earlier this month. Matthew also is also charged with abduction with intent to defile, or sexually assault, 18-year-old Hannah Graham. Graham disappeared after a night out with friends last September. Her remains were found in a rural area five weeks later. Authorities say forensic evidence also has linked Matthew to their investigation of the 2009 disappearance and death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington. Matthew has not been charged in that case.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A record number of motorists have called AAA Mid-Atlantic for help with dead batteries and other storm-related problems. The auto club says it received 12,078 calls for roadside assistance on Monday in the region. The previous single-day record was 11,023 calls on Jan. 8. The auto club also broke a single-day record for battery-related calls on Monday. AAA Mid-Atlantic says 5,706 calls, or 47 percent, were battery related. Motorists also sought help with tires and requested towing. AAA Mid-Atlantic serves motorists in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Two people were killed in weather-related traffic crashes as heavy snowfall overnight made driving conditions treacherous in areas across Virginia. The Virginia State Police says the fatal crashes occurred Monday in Loudoun County and Wythe County in southwest Virginia. Officials say 40-year-old Javier Alexander Anzora of Purcellville died after the driver of the 2000 Nissan Pathfinder in which he was riding lost control and slid into another car shortly after 10 p.m. Monday. In Wythe County, 63-year-old Donald Taylor of Chilhowie died after his 2006 Ford F-250 pickup truck ran off the side of Interstate 81 and overturned in the median. It was snowing during the 12:50 p.m. Monday crash and the road was covered. Police say that, in both instances, those killed were not wearing seat belts.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The recipients of Virginia tourism grants totaling $773,0 are set to be announced. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones and state legislators will do the honors on Wednesday in Richmond. The matching grant funds are part of the Virginia Tourism Corp.’s marketing leverage program. They are intended to help local and regional tourism groups attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars. The local groups match the state grant funds by a minimum of 2-to-1. With the tourism grants and local contributions, that adds up to $3 million in new marketing.