News
BRISTOW, Va. (AP) – Posing for pictures is part of every governor’s job. Posing with a can of marijuana – not so much. But Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe did just that, inadvertently, when he went to greet country music legend Willie Nelson this weekend. A picture posted on Twitter shows McAuliffe and Nelson, who was performing in Virginia. On the table between them is a can of Willie’s Reserve, Nelson’s brand of marijuana that’s sold in Colorado and Washington. Marijuana possession is illegal in Virginia. McAuliffe Spokesman Brian Coy said the governor spent about 10 minutes in Nelson’s trailer and didn’t realize what was on the table. Coy said McAuliffe wouldn’t recognize marijuana or paraphernalia “if it walked up and shook his hand.” Coy said McAuliffe may be cool, “but he’s not that cool.”
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – An appeals court is set to hear a challenge to Virginia’s law regarding life sentences without parole for juveniles convicted of capital murder. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down mandatory life terms with no chance of parole for teenage killers in 2012. The court ruled this year that even those convicted long ago must be considered for parole or given a new sentence. A man serving a life term for a murder he committed when he was 16 says Virginia law violates that ruling by effectively mandating life-without-parole sentences for some juveniles. Jason Clem is seeking a new sentence. Virginia officials argue Clem’s life term wasn’t mandatory because the judge could’ve suspended all or part of the sentence. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will examine the case Tuesday.
Kevin Quick
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) _ Four people convicted in the slaying of a Waynesboro reserve police officer have been sentenced to life in prison. Local media outlets report that Daniel Mathis was sentenced to life plus 132 years for the death of 45-year-old Waynesboro Reserve Police Capt. Kevin Quick. Shantai Shelton and Mersadies Shelton were each sentenced to life in prison plus 82 years and Kweli Uhuru was sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years. The four were found guilty by a Roanoke jury in February of murder and kidnapping in Quick’s death. Quick was reported missing on Feb. 1, 2014. His body was found days later in woods northwest of Richmond. He had been shot.
The first tangible project for the Western Virginia Regional Industrial Authority – a coalition of 6 local governments – was announced this morning. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Federal regulators say the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline presents limited environmental risk, but critics say a preliminary report grossly underestimates the potential harmful impacts. Now comes the public comment period, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports.
Click here to see the full FERC Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(Continue reading to see the public comment schedule)
WASHINGTON (AP) – Simon Tam has openly criticized the Washington Redskins team name as a racist slur that demeans Native Americans. But Tam and his Asian-American rock band, The Slants, have formed an unusual alliance with the NFL franchise as they both battle the U.S. government over trademark protection for names that some consider offensive. The Supreme Court could decide as early as this month whether to hear the dispute involving the Portland, Oregon-area band. And if the football team has its way, the justices could hear both cases in its new term. At issue is a First Amendment challenge to a law barring the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from registering trademarks that disparage minority groups.
(AP photo)
NEW YORK (AP) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that an explosion that rocked a crowded Manhattan neighborhood, injuring 29 people, doesn’t appear to be linked to international terrorism, and he vowed that authorities would find and prosecute whoever was responsible. He noted that 1,000 additional law enforcement officers were being deployed after the Saturday night blast in Chelsea, a primarily residential neighborhood on Manhattan’s west side that’s known for its art galleries and large gay population. He encouraged New Yorkers to go about their day as usual. “We’re not going to let them win,” Cuomo said at the scene. “We’re not going to let them instill fear.” The Democratic governor said the preliminary investigation didn’t appear to show a link to international terror, and he noted that no terror group had taken credit for it.
How much is it going to cost? are all of the course prerequisites in place? there are lots of questions that can be answered at the annual “College Fair” tomorrow. More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: