News 2008-05-23 Andanh.com

What the GOP convention needs is a big surprise Thu, 22 May 2008 16:45:04 -0500
He didn't ask, but here's my suggestion for George Allen's speech at the GOP state convention next week: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for inviting me to speak here today. I have just a few things to say. First, I apologize for embarrassing you in 2006. I behaved poorly, I spoke poorly and I regret it. But I have learned my lesson, and I'm ready to go forward. That's why I am asking you to choose me as your candidate for the United States Senate in 2008. (A moment of stunned silence followed by wild cheering and thunderous applause.) George...

George Allen and Rich Galen to speak at GOP state convention Thu, 22 May 2008 15:39:15 -0500
Former Gov. and Sen. George Allen and CNN/Fox News political analyst Rich Galen will be keynote speakers at next week's Virginia Republican Convention, the party announced this afternoon. Galen will speak at the convention kickoff at 2 p.m. Friday. Allen will follow Saturday afternoon. The highlight of the convention, which will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, will be the selection of a nominee for the November race for U.S. Senate. Either Jim Gilmore or Bob Marshall will get the nod to challenge Democrat Mark Warner come fall. The party said a full convention agenda will be released...

SurveyUSA poll contradicts Tuesday's VCU poll, says Obama leads McCain in Virginia Thu, 22 May 2008 14:19:21 -0500
Let the conflicting polls begin. On Tuesday, Virginia Commonwealth University released a poll showing that Republican Sen. John McCain had pulled into a lead over either Democratic presidential candidate in Virginia. According to VCU's poll, McCain leads Sen. Barack Obama 44-36 percent and is beating Sen. Hillary Clinton 47-38 percent. But today a poll conducted by SurveyUSA for WDBJ-TV in Roanoke and WJLA-TV in Washington says Obama leads McCain 49 percent to 42 percent. Clinton wasn't included in this poll, but it did take into account a number of possible vice presidential candidates -- none of whom were Jim Webb...

If Obama and Clinton aren't both thinking about veeps, something is very wrong Thu, 22 May 2008 13:46:13 -0500
The New York Times has a story today that carries the headline, "Obama begins search for vice president." It seems Barack Obama is talking with longtime Democratic operative Jim Johnson, who helped John Kerry choose John Edwards in 2005 (which didn't turn out so well for the Dems) and helped Walter Mondale choose Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 (which really didn't work out so well for the Dems). Obama didn't want to talk about it. "I haven't hired him. He's not on retainer," he told the Times. "He is a friend of mine. I know him." No way he's getting into...

Webb draws a (powerful) crowd Thu, 22 May 2008 12:57:09 -0500
For most of the year, the three major presidential candidates-- all U.S. senators-- have abandoned their Senate duties to run for the White House. Sightings of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain have been rare on Capitol Hill in recent months. But Virginia Sen. Jim Webb apparently knows how to draw a crowd. A chance to vote on Webb's GI BIll-- giving troops returning from war a college education-- drew both Clinton and Obama to the Senate Thursday. McCain, who opposes the bill, was a no-show. ``I want to thank Senator Webb for his hard work on this legislation,"...

Food for thought: Don't make roads for more cars, get more cars off the roads Thu, 22 May 2008 10:23:49 -0500
Anybody fill their gas tank yesterday or today? Did you notice that the price went up ... again? Yep. The price of a barrel of oil hit $135 yesterday, and the price of a gallon of gas was over $3.80 (at least where I bought mine). Here's a link to a New York Times story on the latest rise. And that's got me thinking: Maybe Gov. Tim Kaine and the General Assembly should take the time they've set aside for a special session on transportation and use it to figure out how to most quickly turn Virginia into the country's...

The editor is in Thu, 22 May 2008 08:29:18 -0500

Only an idol on screen Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Real archaelogists don't crack whips and raid tombs — they crack books and sift sand

I ndiana Jones managed to retrieve the trinket he was after in the opening moments of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." He pretty much wrecked everything else in the ancient South American temple where the little gold idol had rested for millennia.

Lose the chemicals and protect the environment Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
I was walking in my neighborhood the other day when a young father spraying his yard proudly told me he was killing good and bad bugs.

School for deaf, blind to close Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The closure in June will pave the way for the consolidation of two Virginia schools.

The Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled in Hampton will close at the end of June, clearing the path to consolidate the state's two schools for students with visual and hearing impairments.

Lawmakers stress urgent need for progress on roads Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
At separate events, three regional legislators seek feedback and say urban areas need to work together.

State Sen. Mamie Locke wants the critics maligning Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's transportation plan to offer a better way to pay for road upgrades.

'Thousands of dollars' embezzled from church Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A Christ Episcopal Church employee is expected to go before a grand jury in mid-July.

— Someone dipped into a Smithfield church's coffers, prompting a police investigation.

Three-car crash in Smithfield sends two to local hospitals Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Two people were taken — one by helicopter — to local hospitals after a three-vehicle crash in Smithfield.

Upset residents want hearings on assessments Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The city assessor's office has received more than 1,000 requests for hearings from people upset about their assessments this year, interim City Assessor Sid Daughtrey told the City Council Wednesday.

JCC man indicted in deadly shooting of his neighbor Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The 60-year-old faces a second-degree murder charge from the April shooting.

— A 60-year-old James City County man has been charged with second-degree murder in the April shooting death of his neighbor in the Stonegate apartment complex on Kirkland Court.

JCC to look at doggie day care proposal Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
James City planning staff wants noise and other questions answered before any county approval.

Police say suicidal man pulled gun on officers Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Officials say they were first alerted by a 911 hang-up call from the man's girlfriend.

A distraught man who threatened to kill himself and his girlfriend pulled a gun on police officers Wednesday afternoon along the Colonial Parkway, according to James City police.

Two Gloucester officials to hold town hall meeting Thu, 22 May 2008 10:23:00 -0400
Supervisor Christian "Buddy" Rilee and Gloucester County School Board member Randy Burak will hold an Abingdon District town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, June 9 in the T.C. Walker Elementary School library.

American Airlines adds baggage charges Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Some passengers will be charged $15 for their first checked bag; high oil prices are cited.

For some time now, cash-strapped airlines have been doing away with once-complimentary perks such as earphones, meals and extra legroom in exit rows.

Times-Dispatch parent company to cut 750 jobs Thu, 22 May 2008 10:17:00 -0400
Media General, parent company of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, says it will cut 750 jobs by the beginning of the third quarter to reduce operating costs at the newspaper publisher and television station operator.

Still waiting? Your stimulus check's in the mail — maybe Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Refund-anticipation loans and deducting money from a refund to pay a tax preparer could have caused a delay.

Yulette Barnes expected to have her economic stimulus cash in hand last week. She even thought she might get the money in time to treat herself to some Mother's Day perfume. No luck.

Riverside targets oral cancer Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The health system seeks to raise awareness that the illness has been linked to a sexually transmitted disease.

Oral cancer rates are going up, even though tobacco use is down.

Honda to debut new hybrids Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Honda Motor Co. is coming out with hybrid cars starting early next year that will cost about $1,900 more than comparable gas-only models. The cost for the Detroit Three, according to industry analysts, could be lower market share as U.S. consumers continue their rapid shift to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Boeing to lay off 750 employees Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The Boeing Co. will lay off 750 Southern California employees after losing a lucrative military satellite contract and seeing a dip in demand for the technology, the company said Wednesday.

Business briefs Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Food Lion LLC today in Portsmouth expects to unveil what it calls the nation's first grocery with two ozone-friendly product refrigeration systems. Both systems reduce by more than 60 percent the refrigerants needed to keep products cool or frozen, the company said.

Texas seizure of polygamist-sect kids thrown out Thu, 22 May 2008 22:46:00 -0400
In a ruling that could torpedo the case against the West Texas polygamist sect, a state appeals court Thursday said authorities had no right to seize more than 440 children in a raid on the splinter group's compound last month.

Warner unveils revamped bill Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Despite changes, the global warming initiative is unlikely to pass, and President Bush has threatened a veto.

Virginia Sen. John Warner unveiled a revamped version of what he hopes will be the crowning legislative achievement of his 30-year Senate career: an initiative to reduce global warming.

Senate deals defeat to Bush on Iraq war spending Thu, 22 May 2008 22:30:00 -0400
In a stunning vote that illustrated President Bush's diminished standing, the Senate on Thursday ignored his veto threat and added tens of billions of dollars for veterans and the unemployed to his Iraq war spending bill.

Sen. Warner unveils amended global warming bill Wed, 21 May 2008 15:59:00 -0400
Despite changes, the bill is still unlikely to pass this year, and President Bush has threatened a veto.

Virginia Sen. John Warner unveiled a revamped version of what he hopes will be the crowning legislative achievement of his 30-year Senate career: an initiative to reduce global warming.

Homes burn as fire spreads in central California Thu, 22 May 2008 21:39:00 -0400
Gusty winds fanned a wildfire Thursday that burned several homes, forced evacuations and closed schools in the mountains of central California, where rugged terrain frustrated efforts to get a handle on the fast-moving blaze.

They're making it easier for the rest of us to do good Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
T o look at them, you wouldn't know they had the power to change lives in a heartbeat.

Today's Regional Mystery Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Q : I bought a new television in advance of the change to all-digital broadcasts in June. I have contacted James City County for recycling instructions, but they tell me that they won't take them. How should I dispose of my old television?

When mom and dad need more than you can give Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Riverside PACE is part senior community center, part medical clinic — and an answer to one family's prayers.

For 20 years, Brenda Moyer was capable of caring for her aging mother.

Report: Sunken islands, huge swamps decades away Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
With rising sea levels, an area six times the size of Newport News could disappear by 2100.

Rising sea levels could make the vast wetlands of Plum Tree Island that buffer Poquoson disappear, and turn dry land around the Peninsula and Middle Peninsula into tidal swamp by 2100, a new report by the National Wildlife Federation predicts.

Power restored on Jefferson and Warwick Thu, 22 May 2008 08:25:00 -0400
Power was restored to a large section of Newport News after a 50-minute outage that hit Jefferson Avenue and Warwick Boulevard this morning.

HU's president inducted into hall of fame Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Hampton University President William R. Harvey was inducted into the Hampton Roads Business Hall of Fame on May 15. The black-tie dinner and awards ceremony was held at the Norfolk Marriott, with proceeds benefiting Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads.

Get your bod on the beach Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Try an outdoor workout for a change of scenery ... and some fun in the sun

T he ladies in Kindra Shafer's fitness class weren't wearing camouflage or lugging machine guns on a recent Thursday morning, but they sure felt like they were in boot camp.

May 22: Feedback from newspaper readers Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Jean, Norfolk: I bought my first Daily Press last Sunday because a Hampton friend alerted me to your new TV section. Also good: It is sold at my neighborhood grocery store, Marketplace on 21st Street in Ghent.

The anti-drug? Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Parents have to start with the reality of kids, drugs and alcohol

Most high school juniors and seniors have tried alcohol — and most don't stop at trying it. In a typical group of high school upperclassmen, half have used alcohol in the last month. Upperclassmen in Poquoson mirror the national picture. In a survey reported on our front page Wednesday, 70 percent said they'd had alcohol in the last year.

Cheap gas Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Opposing viewpoints are rational, but we can't have it both ways

When it comes to energy policy, it's possible to have an honest dialogue from diametrically opposed points of view:

Crockett's single lifts Islanders Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Poquoson loses a late lead but rallies in extra innings to advance to the regional.

Poquoson loses a late lead but rallies in extra innings to win the Bay Rivers tournament title.

Warwick, Gloucester gain PD's big prizes Thu, 22 May 2008 23:23:00 -0400
The Raiders gain their first tournament title. The Dukes want to advance in the regional.

It took until almost halftime, but Warwick's boys soccer team broke the scoring ice against Bethel and snowballed from there.

Emotions run high as New Kent battles for BRD title Thu, 22 May 2008 23:09:00 -0400
Laura Bauer's walk-off home run in the seventh lifts the Trojans to the Bay Rivers softball crown.

It had been five weeks since New Kent's Laura Bauer knew what it felt like to take a leisurely home run trot around the bases, which made Thursday night's Bay Rivers District softball tournament championship game the perfect time to revisit that feeling.

PD softball title comes down to wire Thu, 22 May 2008 23:11:00 -0400
Jaz Baldwin's 11th-inning single lifts Warwick past Woodside in the district final, which is a warm up for the Eastern Region quarterfinals.

Given the two games these teams played during the regular season, both of which were decided by one run, shouldn't what happened Thursday night have been expected? And given how much each side wanted it, isn't it fitting they had to work overtime?

Former Denbigh football coach likely to lead Bruton Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Tracy Harrod's appointment as the Panthers' football coach should be made official in June.

Tracy Harrod has left his job as teacher and football coach at Denbigh High and will take over at Bruton — pending approval by the school board at next month's meeting.

Some athletes excel at final warmup for state Thu, 22 May 2008 19:49:00 -0400
Jamestown s boys are second and both Lafayette teams place third in the Region I track meet.

Just as York High sprinter Sherelle White rounded the final turn of the 200-meter dash Thursday at York, she kicked into another gear and made her small lead sizable.

BRD tennis teams start well Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Bay Rivers District squads go unbeaten in the Region I tourney's quarterfinals.

In one day, the Region I team tennis tournaments rapidly turned into a Bay Rivers District showcase.

Local college roundup: W&M upends UNCW, stays alive Fri, 23 May 2008 00:16:00 -0400
ODU is bounced by Towson, while JMU is the last unbeaten team in the CAA tournament.

In baseball, an unlikely victory Thursday followed an unlikely loss Wednesday, keeping William and Mary in the Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament.

Star Track: Ricky Capelli Thu, 22 May 2008 23:24:00 -0400
Ricky Capelli of Williamsburg batted .298 and played in 25 games this season for Lynchburg College's baseball team, which finished 32-13 and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament. Capelli, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound junior infielder who usually was a designated hitter this season, was 25-for-84 with 21 RBI, 24 runs and seven doubles. He hit three sacrifice flies and stole a base for the Hornets, who won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular-season championship by two games and won their initial conference tournament game for the first time since 1997. They finished 2-2 in the ODAC event but gained an NCAA at-large bid, which took them to Danville for the South Regional. They finished 2-2 at the regional last week, with victories of 9-1 against Piedmont (Ga.) and 12-1 versus Christopher Newport in a game that ended at 1:53 a.m. Capelli's contribution this year was a major change from his first two seasons at Lynchburg. In his sophomore year, he appeared in just two games and scored a run, but never got an at-bat. He was in six games as a freshman, batting 1-for-4 with a run, a walk and a sacrifice. Capelli graduated from Lafayette High, where he contributed heavily to a resurgence in the Rams' baseball program. In 2005, Capelli's senior year, they advanced to the Region I semifinals after winning just nine games total in the previous two seasons. He's majoring in sports management.

Kyle Busch wins pole for Coca-Cola 600 - roanoke.com Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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