Evan Jones
The American Civil Liberties Union wants Virginia State Police to stop requiring applicants to share their social media accounts with background investigators. State Police started the practice in January, saying it is a logical extension of thorough background checks brought into the digital age, but the ACLU says it may violate federal law. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
The Roanoke City Market Building is just a few weeks away from having all eight restaurants and hot food vendors up and running. The renovated building is now 81% occupied, but there are no takers for the planned inside kiosks, and as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, building managers are rethinking what to do with that space.
The City Market Building is now open through the dinner hour and on Sundays, a departure from the pre-renovation days. Building Manager Sara Guerry says the restaurants’ success and building’s success are intertwined, and one of her most important missions now is to bring people there who may not have returned since its reopening last Labor Day weekend.
Click here for the Roanoke City Market Building Facebook page.
It’s a first-hand look at nature — and not always a pretty one. The “eagle cam” in Richmond is showing newborn chicks compete for available food as the adults favor one eagle chick over the other. But as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, nature finds a good reason for this behavior.
This nest is located on private property near the James River in Richmond.
One of the country’s best-known outdoor adventurers will visit the region this week. Andrew Skurka was named Outside Magazine’s “Adventurer of the Year” in 2010. He has written a new guide from National Geographic called “The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide.” The book also offers inside tips and logistical information for hikers. Skurka says one tip he leaves early and often for newer hikers: many take much more gear with them than they actually need.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/03-27-Skurka-Bite1-WEB.mp3|titles=03-27 Skurka Bite1-WEB]Andrew Skurka appears Wednesday and Thursday at Washington and Lee University in Lexington. On Wednesday, he will speak on “Circling Alaska and Yukon” at Elrod Commons Theater. His Thursday appearance is on “Ultimate Hiking Gear and Skills” at the Outing Club Meeting Room. Both begin at 7:00 pm, and admission to both is free.
Click here for Andrew Skurka’s web site.
Investigators promise to release new information this week in the unsolved murders of two Virginia Tech students two and a half years ago. David Metzler and Heidi Childs were found shot to death in August of 2009. The task force still at work on the case will release new information on Thursday, information which it says will include the type of murder weapon, stolen items, physical evidence and vehicles of interest. Metzler and Childs were killed in the Caldwell Fields camping and picnic area of the Jefferson National Forest not far from Blacksburg.
(Continue reading for the full task force news release.)
Virginia state Senators return to Richmond for a special session today, and they are expected to pass a two-year, $85 billion state budget. But the House of Delegates is not likely to go along with this version, and that means it would then head to a conference committee to work out the differences. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
As the Supreme Court begins hearings on the health care overhaul law today, Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports, wants the federal government to pay more attention to another aspect of health care — public reporting of hospital-acquired infections. Consumers Union President Jim Guest told us in a recent Roanoke visit that such reporting produces an important result.
Guest says more than 100,000 Americans die each year from infections they pick up while hospitalized.
The government is now releasing some hospital-acquired infection rates. Click here for a side-by-side comparison of LewisGale Health System’s and Carilion Clinic’s main facilities from the Department of Health and Human Services. (For information specifically related to this story, click the “Patient Safety Measures” tab on the left, then scroll down to “Hospital-Acquired Infections.”)
Kathleen Guzi
Botetourt County Supervisors have selected a new county administrator, and she will not have to move very far.
Kathleen Guzi was Bedford County’s Administrator for almost seven years and worked in county government there for a quarter century. She resigned last month after apparent disagreements with County Supervisors.
Guzi gets a fresh start in Botetourt County starting Monday at $132,500 a year. Guzi replaces Jerry Burgess, Botetourt County’s administrator for almost 20 years.
Angels of Assisi photo
Angels of Assisi says one of its own employees misled them about five puppies brought in earlier this week, and the animal rescue organization has posted an on-line apology.
The employee said he found the puppies apparently abandoned along Interstate 81. Believing him, Angels of Assisi posted that account with the dogs’ photo and a foster home request on its Facebook page. The organization says the employee was actually asked by an acquaintance to bring the puppies in and admits making up the Interstate story, never expecting the publicity that followed.
Angels of Assisi says it has taken appropriate measures with the employee. As for the puppies, they’re said to be doing fine and about ready for adoption.
The Virginia Board of Education has approved tougher pass rates for the new Standards of Learning math assessments for grades three through eight.
The decision came yesterday after two hours of discussion, including objections from school superintendents, teachers and students from across Virginia.