AP
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is directing the review of new abortion clinic regulations and appointing new members to the state Board of Health. McAuliffe also announced plans Monday that aim to reduce the cost of drugs at women’s health clinics and expand access to testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The actions highlight National Woman’s Health Week. McAuliffe says he’s concerned that the regulations jeopardize the ability of most women’s health centers to stay open and place the health and reproductive rights of Virginia women in jeopardy. The regulations adopted last year require existing facilities to meet the same building standards as newly constructed hospitals. Supporters say the regulations are intended to protect women’s health, but opponents say the aim is to put clinics out of business.
(Continue reading for Governor McAuliffe’s full news release.)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Gov. Terry McAuliffe is set to meet with responders from last week’s Lynchburg train derailment.
The governor is traveling to Lynchburg this morning to thank officials for their work and receive a briefing regarding ongoing cleanup efforts.
Federal investigators are trying to determine what caused the 17-car derailment of a CSX train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota.
Three of the cars plunged into the James River and one caught fire, briefly causing parts of downtown to be evacuated.
The Department of Transportation issued an emergency order Wednesday requiring that railroads inform state officials about the movement of large shipments of crude oil through their states and urged shippers not to use older model tanks cars that are easily ruptured in accidents.
Randy Taylor
(FBI photo)
LOVINGSTON, Va. (AP) _ A Nelson County jury has begun deliberations in the trial of a man charged with murdering a missing teenager. Prosecutors wrapped up their case against Randy Taylor on Wednesday morning. The defense rested after calling five witnesses. Jurors went home Wednesday evening and resume deliberations Thursday morning.
The 48-year-old Taylor is charged with first-degree murder and abduction with intent to defile. The body of 17-year-old Alexis Murphy hasn’t been found.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Anthony Martin told the jury: “Don’t let evil triumph in this courtroom.” Defense attorney Michael Hallahan argued there wasn’t enough evidence for a conviction.
Murphy disappeared last August. She was last seen at a gas station in Lovingston. Authorities found her car several days later in an Albemarle County parking lot.
dmvnow.com
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Hearing-impaired Virginians can now take their knowledge-based driver’s license exam on an automated testing system using American sign language.
The Department of Motor Vehicles says sign language was added to its new testing system, called SecuriTest, earlier this month. It’s one of 16 languages offered to license applicants. The web-based application reduces the need for translators to assist applicants in the testing process.
The DMV says sign language is the first language for many hearing-impaired people, so offering that option instead of just having them read the questions allows them to receive the information in the language they prefer.
Dr. Pat Murphy
Arlington Public Schools
apsva.us
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) _ Arlington County’s chief if schools has been named Virginia’s Superintendent of the Year. Patrick K. Murphy picked up the award at the superintendents’ annual awards banquet Tuesday evening in Roanoke. The Virginia Association of School Superintendents says Murphy was one of eight regional finalists for the award, including Botetourt County Schools Superintendent Tony Brads.
Murphy has served as Arlington County’s superintendent since 2009. The association says he has significantly reduced the drop-out rate and increased advanced academic program completions by students. Murphy will represent the state in the National Superintendent of the Year competition in February 2015.
(WFIR staff contributed to this report.)
Virginia Capitol
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Forty-four immigrants from 32 countries are expected to take the oath of United States citizenship at the Virginia State Capitol.
The clerks of the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates have announced that the naturalization ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Friday in the House chamber. They say it is fitting that the ceremony will take place in the home of the oldest elected law-making body in the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Hannah Lauck will preside and deliver remarks on the meaning of U.S. citizenship.
virginia.org/travelguide
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A new and more high-tech Virginia travel guide is now available. The Virginia Tourism Corporation says that for the first time, the guide is available for download through three leading app stores — Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon. It also can be found on the corporation’s website.
The corporation says the digital edition includes features like animation, sound, more than 1,000 hotlinks to external resources, and 17 videos about Virginia. Travelers who still like to do their vacation planning the old-fashioned way can order a print copy of the guide. The print and online copies can both be found at www.Virginia.org/TravelGuide.
vdacs.virginia.gov
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia agriculture officials say the state’s strawberry crop is coming to market a little late, but it will be worth the wait.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says cooler weather at many farms delayed this year’s strawberry crop by one to three weeks. But those conditions help boost the size and sugar levels of the fruit, likely making this year’s Virginia grown strawberries extra sweet and juicy.
The department says peak strawberry season is about now in southeastern Virginia and mid- to late-May elsewhere in the state, where the weather is cooler.
The latest federal figures show Virginia has 263 strawberry farms with 252 harvested acres.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling plans to give $15,000 to the Republican Party of Virginia. The party announced Monday that the funds would help underwrite an overhaul of the party’s website and other technological infrastructure prior to November’s election. Bolling says he had a strained relationship with his party during the 2013 gubernatorial campaign, when he thought the party was veering away from the mainstream. Bolling was outmuscled in his expected bid for governor by conservative supporters of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who lost in the general election. But Bolling says he believes the party is working to be to be more welcoming and inclusive. The state GOP reported having $28,000 cash on hand at the end of March.
Tim O’Quinn
(2009 Facebook
Profile pic)
MONETA, Va. (AP) _ Authorities have identified a man who was killed when two boats collided on Smith Mountain Lake. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says Timothy O’Quinn, 37, of Botetourt County, was a passenger in one of the boats.
Sgt. Karl Martin with the department tells media outlets that none of the boats’ occupants was wearing a life jacket. Martin says all of the boaters were participating in a fishing tournament when the accident occurred Friday night.
Martin says speed was a factor and charges are pending. He also says none of the five occupants had on life jackets at the time of the collision.
(WFIR staff contributed to this report.)