AP
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ State health officials say more than a dozen University of Virginia students that fell ill last weekend had norovirus. The Virginia Department of Health is still trying to seek the cause of the outbreak that hospitalized within a 24-hour period. More students also showed gastrointestinal symptoms. The Daily Progress reports that officials say the outbreak may have been caused by an infected food handler or through person-to-person contact. Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Beasley said seven of eight samples collected by the department have tested positive for the virus. Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, fever and body aches. Faculty, staff and students are being asked to practice good hygiene and avoid handling food if they think they are sick.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia growers are preparing an abundance of fresh Christmas trees for the holiday season. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says the state has more than 500 Christmas tree farms located throughout the state. And to encourage the purchase a tree from the state, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has proclaimed December as “Virginia Christmas Tree Month.”Officials say that choosing a Virginia-grown tree means purchasing a renewable, recyclable product that supports local economies and the state’s largest industry _ agriculture.While most of the choose-and-cut farms open after Thanksgiving, officials have published a guide so people can begin their search sooner. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics released in May, the Virginia Christmas tree industry ranks seventh in the U.S. by total trees harvested.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Federal prosecutors in Virginia collected more than $27.8 million in criminal and civil fines and penalties in the last fiscal year. The numbers were reported Wednesday by the U.S. attorney’s offices in the eastern and western districts of the state. U.S. Attorney Dana Boente (BEN’-tay) said the eastern district collected more than $23.6 million, including more than $15.4 million in criminal actions. In the western district, U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said more than $4.2 million was collected. About three-fourths of that came in criminal cases.U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder aid the Justice Department collected $24.7 billion nationally in the 2014 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ State lawmakers are expressing concerns that proposed federal regulations to cut carbon emissions will hurt Virginia’s economic competiveness. The Senate and House held a joint committee meeting Wednesday to hear from state officials, energy companies and environmentalists on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. Lawmakers said it was unfair the targets set by the EPA do not give greater weight to Virginia’s robust nuclear energy production, which do not produce carbon dioxide emissions. They said the current target rate of carbon emission by energy production set by the EPA for Virginia is unfair in light of the higher target rates for neighboring states. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe expressed similar concerns last week, though he said supports the EPA plan’s goals of lower emissions.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Several groups, businesses and state leaders are kicking off efforts to prevent drunken driving this holiday season. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Nationwide Insurance and AAA Mid-Atlantic will be joined Thursday by Attorney General Mark Herring and Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Steven Flaherty to discuss the issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 1,0 people were killed in drunken driving crashes nationwide between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve in 2012 _ the most recent year for national data. New Year’s Day is the deadliest day of the year for drunken driving on roadways. A total of 140 people were killed by drunken driving crashes during the holiday that year. Officials remind Virginians to have a designated driver if they’re planning to drink during the holiday season.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Virginia Department of Transportation is lifting lane closures during the Thanksgiving holiday period. VDOT will end the closures on most interstates and other roads starting from noon Wednesday through noon Monday. The idea is to keep the highways obstruction free during the busy holiday travel period. VDOT also advises that based on past traffic data, the heaviest periods of congestion on most roads occur after noon on Wednesday and after noon on both weekend days. Officials are encouraging Virginians to plan for a safe trip by avoiding distractions, wearing your seat belt, obeying the speed limit and being courteous to other travelers.
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) _ Education leaders from across Virginia are gathering in Williamsburg for the annual convention of the Virginia School Boards Association. More than 1,000 school board members, superintendents, division administrators, education officials and others are scheduled to attend the three-day convention that begins Wednesday. Officials say the event provides school division leadership the opportunity to learn about nationwide and statewide trends, meet key policy officials and learn new best management practice. The convention will include professional development workshops, a student achievement fair and an exhibition of school architecture. The group of Virginia school boards promotes excellence in public education through advocacy, training and services.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says spending by the film industry increased 16 percent last year compared to 2012. The governor’s office issued a news release Tuesday saying the economic impact of the film industry in Virginia was $382 million in 2013. The state has an incentive program that offers tax credits and grants to film projects made in the state. The Associated Press reported Sunday that Del. Peter Farrell and his father, Dominion Resources Inc. CEO Thomas Farrell II, made a movie last year that received $1 million in assistance from the state. Other projects filmed in Virginia last year include the National Geographic channel’s “Killing Kennedy” and AMC’s television series “TURN.”
PITTSYLVANIA, Va. (AP) _ A Pittsylvania County suspect who was mistakenly released on bond is back in jail. Keith Edward Dean of Altavista was arrested on Oct. 20 on charges of object sexual penetration and attempted sexual assault. A Pittsylvania County magistrate released Dean on bond the next day. Prosecutors say the county commonwealth’s attorney’s office didn’t approve bond for Dean, and the magistrate didn’t hold a bond hearing. Pittsylvania County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Haskins tells The Danville Register & Bee (http://bit.ly/1qVR6yK ) that Dean’s bond was revoked at a hearing on Monday. Dean is being held in the Pittsylvania County Jail.
Hannah Graham
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ Authorities have ruled the death of a University of Virginia student a homicide. The Albemarle County Police Department released the cause and manner of death for 18-year-old Hannah Graham on Tuesday. According to information from the Virginia medical examiner’s office, Graham’s death was “homicidal violence” but the exact cause was unknown. A final autopsy report has not been issued. In a statement, county police and prosecutors said they would not be answering any further questions or providing additional information. Both said they “remain committed to the investigation.” Graham’s remains were found Oct. 18 near Charlottesville after a month-long search. She disappeared Sept. 13 after a night out with friends. The man Graham was last seen with, 32-year-old Jesse Leroy Matthew Jr., is charged with abduction with intent to defile Graham.