AP
Bob and Maureen McDonnell
(Associated Press photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A federal judge has denied former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request to remain free while he appeals his corruption convictions. U.S. District Judge James Spencer in Richmond denied the request Tuesday, meaning McDonnell could begin his two-year prison sentence on Feb. 9. McDonnell’s lawyers had made the request following his Jan. 6 sentencing. Prosecutors had opposed that request. On Monday, McDonnell’s attorneys argued the appeal could take almost as long as the sentence itself. And they said that the appeal would question whether the government’s interpretation of an “official act” is correct. But Spencer said it’s not a “close question” that justifies release pending appeal. A jury last year found McDonnell and his wife guilty of taking gifts and loans from a vitamin executive in exchange for promoting his products.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ December general fund revenues brightened considerably for Virginia. Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office announced Monday that revenues increased 13.1 percent last month from the previous year. The growth was primarily in payroll withholding and an extra deposit day, among other factors. On a fiscal year-to-date basis, total revenue collections rose 6.8 percent. That’s better than the revised annual forecast. McAuliffe called the December numbers a strong showing. He said it signals gradual improvement to the state’s economy.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ Police say they’ve been unable to confirm that an alleged gang rape occurred at a University of Virginia fraternity house as described in a Rolling Stone article, and the school has reinstated Phi Kappa Psi and its activities. Charlottesville police said in an email Monday that their investigation hasn’t revealed any substantive basis to confirm the allegations occurred at the house and that they’re still investigating. The fraternity is at the center of the article describing a culture of sexual violence at the school. After the article’s publication, the school temporarily suspension all fraternities and sororities’ social activities. In a statement Monday, the school said it reinstated Phi Kappa Psi after police told them about the investigation. It was the first fraternity to agree to new rules, some of which address alcohol distribution at parties.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Campus police would be required to report sexual assaults to their local prosecutors within 48 hours after an investigation begins under a proposal Virginia lawmakers will consider this year. Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, a Democrat from Springfield, is sponsoring the measure. She’s planning a news conference in Richmond on Tuesday to rally support for her bill. The proposal follows increased scrutiny over the way colleges handle sexual assaults. Filler-Corn says victims’ advocates, law enforcement and prosecutors will be on hand to urge passage of the bill. The bill would only apply to sexual assaults on property owned or controlled by colleges. At some colleges, that could exclude privately owned fraternity houses.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A full year into his term as governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe says he has a nearly perfect track record.The flamboyant former Washington political insider says he has far surpassed his predecessors in luring new investment toVirginia and while keeping his campaign promises to promote liberal social issues.The governor also shrugs off the failure of his top legislative priority, passing Medicaid expansion, and says he’s gotten “95 percent of the things I promised I would get done.” But Republican lawmakers say McAuliffe lacks a clear agenda other than luring new investment to the state and has put partisanpolitics before substantive policy.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ From Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia to Pennsylvania’s Gettysburg, an ambitious memorial is slowly sinking roots: the planting of 620,000 trees representing the Civil War’s human toll. With only about 2,000 trees in the ground, the goal of the nonprofit Living Legacy Project will likely extend well beyond the Civil War’s Sesquicentennial, which concludes this year. The project is undaunted, with 8,000 plantings already scheduled in 2015. Organizers are looking ahead to another milestone for completion of the $65 million memorial _ the war’s bicentennial. The project is part of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, a national heritage tourism nonprofit that aims to highlight the rich American history along the 180-mile route through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s 36 state parks continue to be a popular destination, attracting nearly 9 million visitors last year. Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the record attendance was up 1.4 percent from the year before. It was the sixth year of record attendance. The governor’s office says state parks had a direct and indirect economic impact totaling $208 million last year. That’s up from the record $206 million in 2013. Clyde Cristman is director of the Department of Recreation and Conservation. He predicts that lower gas prices and a brighter economy will bring even more visitors to state parks in 2015.
William Howell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican House Speaker William J. Howell is proposing the General Assembly adopt a new official state song in Virginia. Howell has filed a bill for the legislative session that begins Wednesday seeking to name “Our Great Virginia,” as the official song. The song was written by Mike Greenly and arranged by Jim Papoulis.Virginia hasn’t had an official song since lawmakers voted to make “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia” the state song emeritus in 1997. The song first adopted in 1940 glorifies slavery and contains words many consider racist. According to the bill, Virginia requires an official song to be sung at occasions with pride and should reference the state’s rich tradition and invoke images of its scenic beauty. Several previous proposals for a new state song have failed.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A new report shows enrollment is down at more than half of Virginia’s public colleges and universities in the current academic year. The report by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia says fall enrollment declined at eight of the state’s 15 four-year schools, compared to fall 2013. Total head count dropped from 214,667 students to 213,718. It’s the first year-to-year decline in enrollment since 1994. During the same period, enrollment at private, nonprofit four-year institutions rose from 131,910 students to 135,910. Tod R. Massa, the council’s director of policy research, tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1w9vVuw ) that Liberty University provided 61 percent of the private college enrollment, with 81,459 students. The staff report will be presented to the council on Monday.
Jesse Matthew, Jr.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) _ The Charlottesville man accused of abducting University of Virginia student Hannah Graham is expected back in court for a second straight day on an unrelated attempted murder charge in Fairfax County. A pretrial hearing is scheduled Friday for Jesse Matthew. He faces charges including attempted capital murder in Fairfax in connection with a 2005 sexual assault. He has been charged in Charlottesville with abducting Graham, but has not yet been charged with her murder. The Fairfax case is expected to go to trial in March. Defense attorneys, concerned about pretrial publicity, have requested a gag order. Prosecutors are opposed, saying they want freedom to discuss procedural issues and are careful not say anything prejudicial. On Thursday a judge rejected a request from news media for cameras in the courtroom.