AP
Joseph Morrissey
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A Virginia legislator who is resigning in January following a sex scandal involving a minor says he’ll run as an independent. The Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1Cxaw6H ) reports that Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey announced his decision Tuesday, one day after Kevin Sullivan won the Democratic Party nomination in a caucus. Democrat Morrissey resigned last week after he entered an Alford plea earlier this month in connection with charges that he had an improper sexual relationship with a teenager. He faced widespread condemnation and pressure to resign. His resignation is effective Jan. 13. Morrissey initially said he planned to run for the seat in the special election. He later said he wouldn’t seek the Democratic nomination. Sullivan and Morrissey will face Republican Matt Walton in the special election for the Richmond-area district.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ An ethics panel created by Gov. Terry McAuliffe says legislative redistricting should be conducted by an independent commission. The Commission to Ensure Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government wants the General Assembly to approve a constitutional amendment to create a commission to draw districts. As proposed, five members of the redistricting commission would draw districts instead of state legislators. Media outlets report that panel members are aware the proposal will likely face opposition as Republicans in control in the General Assembly have routinely rejected nonpartisan redistricting plans. The recommendation is part of a broader set of ethics reform proposals from the 10-member panel formed in the wake of the former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s corruption conviction. It’s chaired by former U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher and former Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s lawyers are asking a judge to order three years of community service for his corruption convictions while prosecutors are seeking a prison term of at least 10 years. Both sides filed their sentencing recommendations Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Richmond. McDonnell, a Republican who was once on the short list to be Mitt Romney’s vice presidential running mate, will be sentenced Jan. 6 for promoting a dietary supplement in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. His wife, Maureen, also was convicted and will be sentenced Feb. 20. Defense attorneys call McDonnell’s offense “a total aberration.” Prosecutors counter that it wasn’t a single incident but a nearly two-year bribery conspiracy.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Virginia several grants to bring more local farm products to school meal programs. Announced Monday by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the funding includes $20,750 for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a farm-to-school conference in March. The conference will provide educational programs aimed at bringing homegrown foods to schools. Besides that grant, the USDA awarded $99,179 to Appalachian Sustainable Development in Abingdon. It will increase the flow of local produce to school systems in southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. Finally, Pulaski County’s public schools will receive a $43,415 grant to develop a farm-to-school initiative.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ State health officials say two preschool-age children have died from the flu recently in eastern Virginia. According to media outlets, information about the deaths was reported Monday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. A Virginia Department of Health spokesman said the children were age 4 or under. Because of medical privacy laws, no other details were released. Flu is widespread in Virginia and state health officials are encouraging residents to get a flu shot. Frequent hand washing also can help prevent the spread of germs, along with covering coughs and sneezes and staying home if you are sick.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ A former Roanoke investment adviser has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for wire fraud and tax evasion. Donna J. Tucker also was ordered Monday to pay more than $976,000 in restitution to victims. She had previously pleaded guilty. According to prosecutors, the 58-year-old Tucker stole from the accounts of two sets of elderly victims, including one couple who are both legally blind. Also, in 2011 she under-reported her taxable income to the Internal Revenue Service by at least $340,000.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) â The Virginia Department of Transportation says it will suspend most highway work zones for several days over Christmas. VDOT says the goal is to limit congestion and provide as many travel lanes as possible. VDOT will lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon December 24 to noon Dec. 26. It will also lift the closures from noon on Dec. 31 to noon on Jan. 1.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia regulators are concerned about the number of children’s deaths at unlicensed day care facilities in the state. An analysis by the Richmond Times-Dispatch found that at least 51 children died at unlicensed facilities over the past 10 years, compared to nine deaths at state-licensed facilities. Department of Social Services director of family services Carl Ayers tells the newspaper that the disparity warrants additional study. He says the agency routinely looks at child fatalities in Virginia as a whole. It has never specifically studied child deaths at unlicensed day cares. The newspaper says investigators determined abuse or neglect contributed to 27 deaths in unlicensed day cares, compared to three in licensed facilities. No determination of wrongdoing could be made in the other cases.
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ The Roanoke Valley’s intracity bus system is continuing talks with a union after drivers and mechanics rejected a contract offer. Roanoke assistant city manager Sherman Stovall tells The Roanoke Times that Valley Metro officials were notified of the workers’ vote on Friday. Amalgamated Transportation Union Local 1493 president Roger Brice says the Dec. 14 vote was unanimous. The existing contract has been extended until Jan. 15. Details of the negotiations haven’t been released. Both sides say they are hopeful a new contract acceptable to workers can be produced. Valley Metro’s buses connect the Roanoke and New River valleys. It also operates a bus service connecting with the Amtrak station in Lynchburg and a trolley service in Roanoke.
Joseph Morrissey
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A Virginia lawmaker who recently submitted his resignation says he will not seek the Democratic nomination for the House of Delegates seat in a special election. Joseph D. Morrissey could still run as an independent or not at all. He said Saturday he will make that decision in the next few days. The 57-year-old Morrissey entered an Alford plea earlier this month in connection with charges that he had an improper sexual relationship with a teenager. The Democrat announced Thursday he had submitted his resignation but planned to run for the same seat in a Jan. 13 special election. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the Democratic Party members will nominate a candidate Monday.