AP
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Senate has voted to require runoff elections in statewide races when no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes cast. The measure sponsored by Sen. Charles Carrico, a Grayson County Republican, would apply to elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and the state’s two U.S. Senate seats. When there is no majority, a runoff would be held between the two highest vote-getters. Had the measure been in effect in 2013, it would have forced a runoff in the governor’s race between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli. McAuliffe won the election with less than 48 percent of the vote. The Republican-controlled Senate passed Carrico’s bill on a largely party-line 22-16 vote. It now goes to the House of Delegates.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Legislation passed by both chambers of the General Assembly assures that a mother can breastfeed her baby in any place where she is lawfully present. State Sen. Jennifer Wexton’s measure cleared the Senate on a 38-0 vote Monday. Wexton, a Loudoun County Democrat, said she introduced the bill after a constituent told her of being asked to leave a gym after patrons complained about her breastfeeding. Wexton said Virginia is one of only three states, along with Idaho and South Dakota, that don’t have such a law on the books. A companion bill sponsored by Del. Dave Albo, a Fairfax County Republican, passed the House of Delegates 99-0 Friday.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Lottery says more than 49,000 Powerball tickets sold for Saturday’s drawing won prizes. But none of them hit the jackpot. Three tickets purchased in Oakton, Portsmouth and Winchester each won $10,000. The winning numbers were 5-10-21-34-58 and the Powerball was 33. The jackpot will grow to an estimated $450 million for Wednesday’s drawing. Lottery officials expect about 1.5 million Powerball tickets to be sold on Wednesday in Virginia.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ A former Salem police officer who was assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force has been sentenced to 21/2 years in prison for bribery. Kevin Moore was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. According to court records, Kevin Moore told a woman who was a cooperating defendant that he could help her with her pending drug case. Records say he told the woman in text messages that he could recommend a favorable sentence to the prosecutor in exchange for sexual favors. Moore then persuaded the woman to get into his official vehicle where she performed a sexual act with Moore. As part of his guilty plea, Moore also admitted to engaging in similar conduct with two other female cooperating witnesses in cases dating back to 2009.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia is considering expanding the number of misdemeanor convictions that would require an offender to submit a DNA sample to a state databank.Supporters say that had legislation been enacted a few years ago, it might have saved the life of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. The man charged in her September disappearance had been convicted of misdemeanor trespassing in 2010. Had he been required to surrender his DNA, it would have connected him to a previous sexual assault and likely would have taken him off the streets before Graham arrived at U.Va. DNA collection in criminal cases is growing, with most states now taking it in at least some misdemeanors. New York became the first state to expand its databank to include all misdemeanors in 2012.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ State employees and public school teachers would get a small pay increase under new budget proposals. Both chambers of the GOP-controlled General Assembly unveiled proposed budgets Sunday that include varying levels of raises for state workers between 1.5 percent and 3 percent. The Senate is proposing slightly higher pay increases for state employees than the House. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe did not include across-the-board pay increases for state employees in the budget he proposed in December, but has said he supports them. Virginia’s budget situation has brightened in recent months due to higher-than-projected revenues and other factors, giving lawmakers more money to spend this session. Lawmakers will now begin working to finalize a budget before the end of the 2015 legislative session.
Bob and Maureen McDonnell
(Associated Press photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell should be sentenced to at least 18 months in prison for public corruption, while her lawyers say she should only be sentenced to probation and 4,000 hours of community service. Prosecutors and defense lawyers filed memos Friday arguing their positions ahead of McDonnell’s sentencing on Feb. 20. U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer surprised many legal experts last month when he sentenced former Gov. Bob McDonnell to only two years — well below the 10 sought by prosecutors — for his corruption conviction. After a six-week trial, a jury in September convicted the McDonnells of doing favors for former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in loans and gifts.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Senate has approved a measure to prohibit state agencies from including on employment applications a question asking whether the applicant has ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of a crime. The so-called “ban the box” bill now goes to the House of Delegates, which has rejected similar measures in the past. Under the bill, a job applicant could only be asked about a criminal record after receiving a conditional offer of employment, which could be withdrawn if the criminal record bears a “rational relationship” to the duties of the position. The ban would not apply to applications for employment with law enforcement agencies, fire departments or emergency medical services agencies. The Republican-controlled Senate passed the measure from Sen. Rosalyn Dance, a Petersburg Democrat, on a 21-17 vote.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ House Republicans are proposing a $124 million health care package for needy Virginians, including those with serious mental illness. Del. John O’Bannon of Henrico County announced the GOP alternative to Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s plan Thursday. He said the proposal expands services to 30,000 mentally ill Virginians, 10,000 more than the program McAuliffe established by executive order last year after Republicans blocked his Medicaid expansion plan. O’Bannon emphasized that the GOP plan is not Medicaid expansion. He said it expands mental health treatment, nearly doubles funding for free clinics and improves access to prescription drugs. McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said the governor is pleased that House Republicans recognize the need to expand care. But he said their plan is no substitute for expanding Medicaid to about 400,000 more low-income Virginians.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) _ A judge will consider today whether to postpone a trial scheduled next month in Fairfax County for a Charlottesville man who is also charged with abducting University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. Matthew’s lawyers in Fairfax say they need more time to prepare for a trial scheduled to begin March 9. He is accused in Fairfax of attempted murder and sexual assault of a woman who was attacked in 2005 after walking home from the grocery store. The case against Matthew rests heavily on DNA evidence, and defense lawyers say they need time to review and analyze the evidence. Matthew is also charged with Graham’s abduction. She went missing in September, prompting a massive search. Her body was found a month later.