News

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia state employees could be getting their biggest overall raise in nine years, but a showdown could be looming between Gov. Terry McAuliffe and some Republicans over teacher pay.Republican budget leaders in the GOP-controlled General Assembly released their proposed budgets Sunday. Both the House and Senate versions include a 3 percent raise for state workers and an even greater pay increase for law enforcement officers and front-line mental health workers.Both budgets would increase state spending on public education that could be used for raises, but they don’t mandate it. House Republicans said they want to give local governments as much flexibility as possible to spend school money, while also giving rural and low-income school systems a boost.McAuliffe has said he’s concerned about teachers being treated unfairly.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court has set a date to hear the case of a Virginia school board that wants to prevent a transgender teenager from using the boys’ bathroom at Gloucester High School.The justices agreed in October to hear the case. On Friday, the court released its calendar for March, which has the case being argued on March 28.The case involves 17-year-old Gavin Grimm who was born female but identifies as male. He was allowed to use the boys’ restroom at his high school in 2014. But after complaints, the school board adopted a policy requiring students to use either the restroom that corresponds with their biological gender or a private, single-stall restroom.A lower court had ordered the school board to accommodate Grimm. That order is on hold.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) _ A judge is allowing Virginia to join a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s travel ban. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema on Friday greatly expands the scope of the lawsuit, which was initially focused only on legal permanent residents, commonly called green-card holders. Brinkema indicated a willingness to consider cases involving anyone who had been issued a visa and had it revoked. A government lawyer says more than 100,000 people have had visas revoked since the ban went into effect. Brinkema, who oversaw the case of Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, also says she had never seen the public outpouring that she has seen in this case. She says: “This order touched something in the U.S. that I’ve never seen before. People are quite upset.”

The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are in the middle of a six-game road trip – they’ve been staying down on the Gulf Coast, with three games in a row scheduled at Pensacola. Head coach Sam Ftorek says they also took a trip to Biloxi Mississippi – where the franchise was formerly located. Hear our extended conversation (with WFIR’s Gene Marrano and Ftorek)

Roanoke has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the Commonwealth – now a new play concerning that issue debuts on stage at Roanoke Children’s Theatre tonight. WFIR’s Gene Marrano has more about “Babyland”:

Click below to hear much more from Pat Wilhelms about “Babyland”

Courtesy: Malanie Jones

The dogged determination of a Botetourt County woman and her late brother have helped lead to creation of a permanent record of the county’s African-American community. That collection is on display this month, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.

An opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, February 4th, from noon until 2:00 pm. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and on Sunday from 2:00-4:00 pm. Admission is free. The museum is located behind the main Botetourt Count Courthouse building in Fincastle.

 

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia lawmakers have spiked legislation that would prohibit using campaign funds for personal use.A Republican-controlled House panel Thursday voted down the last remaining piece of legislation that would put new limits on how lawmakers use their largely unregulated campaign accounts. Similar pieces of legislation have already been defeated this year.Virginia has one of the least restrictive campaign finance systems in the country, with lawmakers only barred from using campaign funds for personal use once they close out their accounts.Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe supported a ban on lawmakers using their campaign accounts for personal use, calling the move a necessary complement to a $100 gift cap that lawmakers approved earlier in his term.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – The Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates has given preliminary approval to legislation that would allow people protected under a court order to carry a hidden handgun without getting a permit.The House voted Thursday to advance the measure. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe vetoed similar legislation last year.Republican supporters of this year’s bill said it would help victims of domestic violence better protect themselves. The bill would grant people protected by a protective order the temporary right to carry a concealed handgun.Democrats opposed the bill, saying it would encourage victims of domestic abuse to introduce guns into already dangerous situations.