Evan Jones
A former Roanoke television reporter returns to the airwaves tomorrow with an ambitious purpose and goal to help others — and the hope it may change her own life as well. Joy Sutton wants “The Hour of Joy” to inspire viewers at a time when negative stories bombard us from all around. The story from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
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Click here for full Hour of Joy program schedules and information.
The Virginia Senate has passed a bill that would require a woman seeking an abortion to first have ultrasound images made of the fetus. Supporters frame it as a women’s health issue. But opponents say it pushes government into doctor-patient discussions and decisions. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Click here for full information on Senate Bill 484.
DMV says all customer services are up and running again — this on a day when both on-line and in-person services were disrupted at times. The on-line malfunction prevented Virginians from renewing drivers licenses and vehicle registrations. Then a separate incident prevented processing of new drivers licenses at DMV customer service centers. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
Richmond’s new reality was evident yesterday when Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling broke a party-line tie, helping Senate Republicans pass a bill to ban contracts for state projects that require work done by union workers. As WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, debate centered around the need for any such law in Virginia.
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Democrats argued the legislation is just plain unnecessary because both union and non-union shops already bid successfully on state contracts — things like highway construction. But Republicans like Harrisonburg Senator Mark Obenshain say the measure will keep the cost of big contracts down, and Virginia will benefit by solidifying its pro-business environment. A similar bill easily passed in the House of Delegates.
Surveillance photos from HVHS
Roanoke County Police hope the release of surveillance photos will help them find the person who entered Hidden Valley High School early new year’s day and attempted to steal a motorized wheelchair belonging to a school staff member.
(Continue reading for the full news release) Continue reading
Governor McDonnell says Republicans are not riding roughshod over Democrats in the State Senate, and Democrat protests are unwarranted. With Republicans now controlling the Senate as well as the House, many social issue bills are now passing Senate committees that killed them when Democrats held control. But McDonnell says this year’s General Assembly should be judged by the measures it passes in final form.
One of Roanoke’s warmer Januaries on record comes to a close today, but don’t look for much change in the weather when February arrives. It is still possible we might see some cold days next month, but as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports, there is no apparent end to the overall warm winter trend.
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Congressman Bob Goodlatte says the defeat of on-line piracy legislation this month does not change the need for it. Goodlatte was one of the bill’s most vocal supporters, a measure that fell to widespread opposition this month that backers did not see coming. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
A new interactive online tutorial that focuses on electrical safety has been introduced by Appalachian Power. Deaths from electrical accidents rank in the top ten in the country, and the e-learning experience narrates and navigates a person through a variety of interactive learning exercises and video clips. WFIR’s Bob Clark reports.
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Click here to for the on-line electrical safety tutorial
Image courtesy: Donkey-Hotey
One of the nation’s leading political analysts say Virginia is part of the equation that has many Republican leaders deeply worried over a possible Newt Gingrich presidential nomination. He calls it the GOP “Newt-mare.” WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story.
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