Evan Jones
Republican Congressman Robert Hurt announced today he will not seek re-election to a fourth term in the 5th District. Hurt says he never envisioned making elected office his career, and he now looks forward to returning to life as a private citizen. Hurt was first elected in 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat Tom Periello. Hurt was reelected in 2012 and 2014.
(Continue reading to see Hurt’s full statement.)
Moves are afoot in the General Assembly to reduce state regulation of the number of hospital facilities and services in Virginia. At issue is what’s called the “Certificate of Public Need”, or COPN. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, Lynchburg Delegate Kathy Byron is among three delegates planning to spearhead those efforts in the next General Assembly session:
Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe wants more Virginia children to have more meals at school more days of the year. She is promoting the “No Kid Hungry Virginia” program and says children learn better and can be better prepared to live productive lives as adults when they have nutritious meals.WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
As the Democratic party’s presidential candidates prepare for their next debate Saturday night, the latest Republican debate may help solidify several candidates in particular. Virginia Tech Professor and political analyst Bob Denton says Ted Cruz did the most to help himself, and he expects few, if any , GOP candidates to drop out before Virginia’s president primary. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more.
Anyone holding on to Norfolk Southern stock may be hearing soon from Canadian Pacific. CP is now appealing directly to shareholders in its efforts to acquire NS, and it appears poised to initiate a contentious proxy fight if the Norfolk Southern board doesn’t go along. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.