AP
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ New filings with the IRS show that the legal defense fund set up for former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell raised more than $11,000 last year. The biggest donor was Stanley Baldwin, a Virginia Beach attorney who started the fund last July to help cover some of McDonnell’s legal fees. The biggest expense was $1,875 for the fund’s website. The website lists some of the donations made in January, which total more than $5,000. After a lengthy federal investigation, McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were indicted earlier this month on federal corruption charges. Prosecutors said the former first couple illegally helped a CEO of a dietary supplement maker promote his products in exchange for loans and lavish gifts. The McDonnells have denied any illegal activity.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Virginia has recorded 725 convictions during the first six months of a texting-while-driving law, which made the distracted-driving practice a primary offense. The preliminary numbers from the Department of Motor Vehicles cover a period from July 1 through the end 2013. They show that the majority of the convictions occurred in heavily traveled northern Virginia and the sprawling, densely populated Hampton Roads area, but virtually every county recorded at least one conviction. A conviction calls for a fine of $125 for the first offense, while subsequent offenses call for a $250 fine. The DMV numbers show convictions range from highs of 168 in Fairfax County and 71 in Virginia Beach to single convictions in many rural counties.
LEXINGTON, Va. (AP) _ A Washington & Lee student faces more charges stemming from a wreck that killed another student. Rockbridge County commonwealth’s attorney Bucky Joyce tells The Roanoke Times that Virginia State Police have obtained warrants charging 21-year-old Nicholas Perry Hansel with involuntary manslaughter and maiming. Hansel was charged previously with driving under the influence. He’s scheduled to appear in General District Court on that charge on March 3. Joyce says Hansel likely will be served with the new charges when he returns to Lexington for the hearing. State police have said Hansel was driving an SUV carrying 11 Washington & Lee students that flipped on Dec. 1, 2013, killing a 21-year-old woman and injuring several other students.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Democrats are seeking to reshape the power structure of the Virginia Senate after winning two special elections that gave their party narrow control of the upper chamber. Over the objections of Republicans, Democrats proposed Tuesday to flip party control of senate committees. Committees typically control which legislation makes it to the Senate floor. The Senate is split 20-20 between Republicans and Democrats, with newly elected Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam giving Democrats the edge on tie-breaking votes. On Monday, Democrat Lynwood W. Lewis prevailed in a recount to succeed Northam in the Senate. In 2011, there was a similar fight over control of a split Senate. That year Democrats unsuccessfully sued to try and prevent Northam’s Republican predecessor from casting deciding votes on committee assignments in the Senate.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Eighty-five members of the General Assembly have added their names to a letter to President Barack Obama, expressing their opposition to proposed regulations to limit carbon emissions at new coal-fired power plants. The legislators released the letter Tuesday at a news conference in Richmond. Delegate Terry Kilgore said the letter is intended to send the message to Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency that the proposed regulations are “reckless and irresponsible” and will cost Virginia jobs. Republican Kilgore represents coal-producing counties in southwest Virginia. The proposed regulations have already had an impact, with many power companies moving to cleaner natural gas to generate electricity. Business leaders and industry representatives joined the legislators at the news conference. The EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed regulations until March 10.
John Warner
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Republican Sen. John Warner is backing his Democratic successor over the former national GOP chairman in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race. Warner told The Associated Press on Monday that he is supporting Sen. Mark Warner, who is being challenged by Ed Gillespie in November’s election. The Warners are not related. John Warner earned a reputation as a party maverick in his 30 years in the Senate. He refused to endorse the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor in 1993 and supported an independent over Iran-Contra figure Oliver North in the 1994 Senate race against Democrat Chuck Robb. But he says this is the first time he has endorsed a Democrat outright. John Warner defeated Mark Warner in the Democrat’s first Senate campaign in 1996.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife have pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges. Bob and Maureen McDonnell entered the pleas during a court hearing Friday. Their jury trial has been set for July 28. Earlier in the day, both were released on their own recognizance as they await trial. A federal magistrate judge ordered them not to leave the country. The couple arrived at the courthouse early Friday morning with an entourage of about two dozen family members and supporters. The former Republican governor and his wife were indicted on 14 counts Tuesday after a lengthy federal investigation of his relationship with the former CEO of a dietary supplement maker.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Terry McAuliffe has been sworn in as Virginia’s 72nd governor.
The former Democratic National Committee chairman and fundraiser for Bill and Hillary Clinton was inaugurated on a mild and rainy Saturday at the state Capitol designed by Virginia’s second governor, Thomas Jefferson. The Clintons were among the thousands in attendance.
The day’s festivities started with a prayer breakfast and were to continue to a parade in downtown Richmond and an inaugural ball.
McAuliffe unsuccessfully sought his party’s nomination for governor in 2009, then gave it another try and won his first elective office by narrowly defeating Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. The 56-year-old Syracuse, N.Y., native’s ticket mates for lieutenant governor and attorney general also won, giving Democrats their first sweep of Virginia’s top three statewide offices in 24 years.
Sgt. J.M. Phillippi
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ A trooper with the Virginia State Police has died while on duty.
Agency spokeswoman Corinne Geller says a rescue crew on Saturday found 65-year-old Sgt. J. Michael Phillippi still seated inside a Chevrolet Impala that had crashed into a road sign. Phillippi was working an overnight supervisory shift. He was taken to Martinsville Memorial Hospital, where he died a short time later.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a vehicle crash on Route 57 near Route 9728 around 2:20 a.m. Geller says the crash is under investigation.
Anne Holton
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia’s governor-elect has named former first lady and Roanoke native Anne Holton secretary of education. Democrat Terry McAuliffe made the announcement at a Capitol news conference Friday. Holton is the daughter of former Gov. Linwood Holton and the wife of former Gov. Tim Kaine, who is now a member of the U.S. Senate. She is a longtime child advocate and former Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge. For the past year, Holton has directed a Virginia Community College System initiative that helps young people who are aging out of foster care continue their education. McAuliffe has now named all 12 members of his Cabinet. He will be inaugurated Jan. 11.