AP
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia students continue to improve and exceed the national average on the ACT college admissions exam. The Virginia Department of Education reports that Virginia students scored an average of 22.6 on the test this year. That tops last year’s score of 22.4 and is well above the national average of 21. Virginia students improved and beat the national average in math, reading and science. Virginia’s English score remained at 22 but also was above the national average. ACT results are reported on a scale of 1 to 36. Officials say 26 Virginia students achieved a perfect score. The number of graduating Virginia public school seniors taking the ACT increased more than 4 percent to 19,491. The SAT remains the dominant college admissions test in the state.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) _ Liberty University is screening international students for the Ebola virus. Media outlets report that students received questionnaires this week regarding visits to any West African villages. Liberty also plans to monitor the students for 21 days. Other colleges in the Lynchburg area plan similar screenings, along with high schools that accept exchange students. Liberty Masters of Public Health program director Dr. Richard Lane tells media outlets that about 20 international students are from Nigeria, including 17 who are new students. Nigeria is one of four countries affected by the current Ebola outbreak. The others are Sierra Leona, Liberia and Guinea. The outbreak began last December and has killed 1,229 people in these countries. Lane says measures are in place locally to handle Ebola if there was a suspected case.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The personal finances of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were closely scrutinized in testimony at the couple’s corruption trial in federal court in Richmond. Prosecutors on Wednesday cross-examined a defense witness who testified that the McDonnells were financially sound and were not desperate for cash that they received from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams. Prosecutors say the McDonnells were financially desperate and agreed to accept more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Williams in exchange for using their office to promote Star Scientific’s dietary supplements. Under cross-examination, forensic accountant J. Allen Kosowsky acknowledged that the McDonnells had tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt and that their ability to escape it depended in large part on money from Williams.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Republicans have retained control of the state Senate with the victory of GOP candidate Ben Chafin in a special election for the 38th Senate District. The Virginia Board of Elections reported Tuesday that Chafin beat Democrat Mike Hymes 59 percent to 32 percent. The site said more than 99 percent of the votes have been counted. With Chafin’s victory, Republicans control 21 seats in the Senate compared to the Democrats’ 19. Republicans have overwhelming control of the state House. Gov. Terry McAuliffe is a Democrat. The 38th Senate District stretches across several counties in southwest Virginia. Chafin will replace Phil Puckett, a conservative Democrat who quit the Senate in June.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ Virginia officials are preparing for the possibility that gay marriages could soon be legal in Virginia. The State Registrar of Vital Records is drafting a revised marriage license form that will be used if the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ order ending Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban goes into effect Thursday morning. Attorneys representing a county clerk in Virginia have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the appeals court’s decision while it is appealed. Virginia is also supporting a delay to minimize disruptions while the issue is resolved. The Supreme Court has twice granted delays in related cases. Meanwhile, clergy supportive of gay marriage are making plans to be at courthouses throughout the state Thursday morning to perform marriages for same-sex couples.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A forensic accountant hired as a defense witness will be back on the stand when the corruption trial of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, resumes in federal court in Richmond. The accountant testified Tuesday that the McDonnells and the former governor’s sister were financially sound. He will answer more questions about his examination of financial records Wednesday. The testimony is intended to counter the government’s claims that the former first couple and a real estate partnership between Bob McDonnell and his sister were struggling financially. According to prosecutors, that financial desperation helped drive the McDonnells to accept more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for using their office to promote his company’s dietary supplements.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Another defense witness in former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s corruption trial has described McDonnell’s wife as difficult and prone to angry outbursts. Kathleen Scott was a special assistant to onetime first lady Maureen McDonnell. She testified Tuesday that her ex-boss became increasingly volatile as she prepared for public appearances. Other witnesses have described similar behavior. The McDonnells are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific Inc. CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s dietary supplements. Scott also testified that Maureen McDonnell seemed infatuated with Williams and would “light up” when his name was mentioned.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Jurors at the corruption trial of former Virginia Gov. McDonnell and his wife have been shown text messages in which the onetime first lady takes exclusive credit for securing loans from a Virginia businessman whose largesse toward the couple is McDonnells is at the heart of the case. In one text shown Tuesday, Maureen McDonnell expresses anger that her husband appears to be getting credit for the deal. The McDonnells are charged with accepting more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his company’s tobacco-based dietary supplement. Bob McDonnell’s lawyers began making their defense this week and have attempted to show that his wife was really the one who enjoyed the cozy relationship with Williams.
Former Virginia
Gov. Bob McDonnell
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s sister says communication between her brother and his wife became increasingly bad after he was elected. To illustrate the point, Maureen C. McDonnell testified Tuesday that after she was separated, her brother didn’t tell his wife about the news. According to the testimony, the ex-governor’s wife, also named Maureen, instead found out six weeks later when the sister responded to a party invitation. The testimony is intended to bolster a defense claim that the former first couple’s marriage was on the rocks and that they couldn’t have conspired to accept gifts and loans from a businessman because they were barely speaking. Bob and Maureen McDonnell are charged with accepting the gifts and loans from former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for promoting his products
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia is connecting travelers to the state’s popular oyster industry with the creation of the Virginia Oyster Trail. Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced the new tourism project on Tuesday at the Executive Mansion in Richmond. The trail links visitors with Virginia oyster purveyors, and restaurants, raw bars and the long-standing watermen culture throughout the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula and Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Officials say Virginia’s seven different oyster regions produce wild-caught and farm-raised oysters. The industry dates back to the founding of Jamestown in 1607. Last year, Virginia’s oyster harvest reached the highest level since 1987, increasing 25 percent to more than 500,000 bushels and a dockside value of more than $22 million. Just 12 years ago, Virginia’s oyster harvest was only about 23,000 bushels.