Evan Jones
A new poll shows Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner has a 15-point advantage over former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie. The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday shows Warner has a 46-31 advantage over Gillespie, the favorite to win the Republican nomination for this year’s Senate contest. Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis polled at 6 percent. Virginia voters disapprove 52–44% percent of the job President Barack Obama is doing, with a 55-41% disapproval of the way he is handling the economy and a similar 55–40% disapproval for his handling of foreign policy.
Click here for full poll results and methodology
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)
State Senate Republicans and Democrats are still pointing fingers at the other party for the continuing budget impasse in Richmond. Republicans say the State Senate’s decision Monday to leave for two weeks was an abdication of duty. Democrats say it was needed to hold a public hearing on Governor McAuliffe’s revised budget proposal. The key issue remains whether lawmakers should tie proposals for expanded Medicaid coverage to a vote on the next state budget. WFIR’s Evan Jones spoke with state senators from both parties.
VDOT reported many roads in the area were in “minor” condition late Tuesday morning, which means slippery going in some places, especially in higher elevations and on bridges and overpasses. Despite heavy nationwide demand for road salt this winter, VDOT reports its supplies are still adequate. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Liberty University will pay close attention to a case today before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case looks at mandates under the Affordable Care Act — or “Obamacare” — and whether they conflict with religious liberty. Two for-profit companies whose owners have deep religious convictions oppose the mandate of providing health insurance that includes contraception that could induce abortions or paying big fines. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
State Police have arrested a Bedford man for a fatal hit-and-run accident Friday evening on State Route 122 north of Moneta in Bedford County. Police say 26-year-old Michael Jenkins was arrested early today at his home and charged with felony hit and run. 53-year-old Sean McQuaid of Cape Canveral, Florida died after a vehicle struck him as he rode his bicycle along the highway.
A conservative advocacy group is trying to find out whether state health officials met what it says is a legal obligation to inform police about abortions on two 14-year-old girls. A Health Department inspection of the Roanoke Medical Center for Women noted the clinic failed to supply notarized parental consent forms for the two girls. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
A humanitarian aid organization based in central Virginia reaches a major milestone — and it has plans to become much bigger. Gleaning for the World is sending its 3,000th truckload of relief supplies this weekend, and it has announced a $1.9 million fund-raising goal to double its capacity to help people in need. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for the Gleaning for the World Capital Campaign website
Appalachian Power bills will be increasing as of May. The State Corporation Commission today approved an Apco request to cover almost $49 million in its increased costs for electric transmission services. State regulators say that amounts to an increase for a typical residential customer of $3.88 a month — or about 3.5%.
Click here to read the full State Corporation Commission news release
Another step forward today in efforts take Virginians with developmental disabilities out of institutions and into homes they can call their own: Horizon Behavioral Health is cutting the ribbon this morning for two four-bedroom homes for eight people currently housed at the Central Virginia Training Center near Lynchburg. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
It’s a been a rough winter for snow removal crews — and budgets — in both Roanoke and Lynchburg. Both cities say they will use contingency funds to make up the difference, and they will continue to handle any more snow removal that may be needed this winter season. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.