News 2008-07-10 Andanh.com

It's official. The third plan goes down. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:10:55 -0500
The Senate Finance Committee has killed the funding bill from Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News. The legislation would have used state revenue from ports and airports to fund transportation improvements in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, respectively. The vote happened around midnight. It now appears that this special session on transportation will officially end tonight, er, this morning. And it will do so without any sort of funding bill passing the General Assembly. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has a press conference scheduled for noon. We're sure he'll have plenty to say.

Yep, it's a late night here in Richmond Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:21:58 -0500
It is just after 10 p.m. and the Daily Press has filed its final story for the Thursday morning edition. Alas, things are still happening at this special session of the General Assembly devoted to transportation funding. A scorecard: The House of Delegates rejected legislation from Sen. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, that would have boosted the state sales tax by one-fourth percent and the motor vehicle sales tax by one-half percent. It would have also have imposed a 1 percent sales tax in Hampton Roads. Democrats stripped out a proposed gas tax increase to make the Saslaw bill more agreeable, but that didn't work. The House also sparred over the transportation bill from Gov. Timothy M. Kaine -- yes, the same one that a House panel...

One transportation plan goes down. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:07:07 -0500
The House of Delegates has defeated a transportation funding plan from Sen. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax. House Democrats tried to make the bill more palatable by stripping out the 6-cent gas tax increase that Saslaw had pushed for, but it didn't work. The bill failed 39-59. Still up for consideration is a regional funding bill from Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News. But even if that bill passes the House, it would likely fail in the Senate because it doesn't include a statewide funding component. The Senate, by the way, has done almost nothing today in this special session because all the action has been in the House.

Illegal campaign contributions and toll roads in Virginia Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:23:39 -0500
Plank reader J. Tyler Ballance posed an intriguing question for my live-blogging chat this morning, one that I didn't have an answer for: Why did Speaker Howell and Phil Hamilton suddenly become excited advocates for foreign owned toll roads here in Virginia? There was no citizens movement pushing for this. Virginians hate tolls. Are Howell and Hamilton getting paid to do the bidding of these multinational toll road companies? Something rotten is going on here in Virginia. Part of the answer may be found at an online publication that, quite honestly, I wasn't familiar with until about 30 minutes ago. It's called theNewspaper.com and it describes itself as "a journal of the politics of driving." TheNewspaper.com has done two follow-up stories on something first reported...

A junior Ku Klux Klan lunch in Virginia Beach... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:15:20 -0500
He was an orb of a man, more than a few cocktails deep and thick flecks of spit gathered in the corners of his mouth during the rant. It was lunchtime in Virginia Beach and the man and his friend – sphere bald with a sun-reddened hue – were breaking the cardinal rule of bar etiquette. The first political thing I heard was simply a name. "Barack Hussein Obama," reddish man said, spending a little more time pronouncing the lightning rod middle moniker. "His father is a Muslim." It was Sunday afternoon and I was enjoying a day off less than 24-hours removed from the state Democratic Convention in Hampton – where little old white ladies wandered around sporting Obama stickers and hats. My girlfriend...

Welcome to the Titanic. This deck chair goes here ... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:57:15 -0500
The House of Delegates began business today by recessing for 30 minutes. During that time, the House Rules Committee met. The committee advanced the transportation funding plan put forth by Gov. Timonthy M. Kaine. Yes, the same plan they previously killed. Yes, the same plan that Kaine peddled around the state at various town hall meetings. The reason? After Rules killed his plan, Kaine told reporters the panel didn't want to advance it because they were afraid it would pass. So this smacks of a "back-at-ya" move on the part of Republicans. So the Kaine bill will go to the House floor where the GOP majority will certainly defeat it. Will all Democrats vote for it? Will some break away? Is this very productive? If...

Hamilton versus Northern Virginia Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:56:43 -0500
It's a good thing that Del. Phillip A. Hamilton of Newport News isn't running for reelection in Northern Virginia. At the moment, he's not winning a lot of votes up there. His bill to set up regional transportation funding plans in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads has run into heavy criticism from our neighbors to the north. One problem: it diverts future revenues from the ports of Virginia to transportation projects in Hampton Roads. Northern Virginia officials said Hamilton was giving Tidewater a break -- while Northern Virginia would pay higher regional taxes. (To his credit, Hamilton has since announced changes to his bill. He'll divert some port revenues to Northern Virginia while other revenues will be disbursed statewide. We'll see if that makes a...

The General Assembly session starts at 1 p.m. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:56:18 -0500
We're not holding out much hope for a compromise on transportation funding. But as they say on ESPN, that's why they play the game. The festivities at Capitol Square started at 10 a.m. with a press conference hosted by local government officials from Northern Virginia. David Snyder, a Falls Church city councilman, put it in plain terms for state lawmakers who have spent more time disagreeing than agreeing. "Either get the job done or get out of the way." Keep in mind that this debate has gone on since at least 2000, when the General Assembly passed a funding bill that was supposed to solve the problem. In case you need a scorecard, two main bills are in play. A statewide/regional funding plan from Sen....

"Steal This Book"' revisited? Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:00:15 -0500
Here's an odd little media item: A New York Times story about the mainstream media ignoring a book that has become a best-seller. The book? Vincent Bugliosi's "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder." So today's question: If you write a story about the media ignoring a book, are you in fact writing about the book while trying to pretend that you're not? And what if you post a blog item about a story about the media ignoring a book? Does that officially make it a whisper campaign organized by the liberal media? Inquiring minds.... '"Steal This Book," by Abbie Hoffman.

Your daily bottleneck brought to you by (fill in the blank) Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:45:41 -0500
Interesting proposal in the system from the always prolific Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William. Essentially the idea would let the state sell naming rights to major pieces of infrastructure to raise cash for transportation. It's an idea that private companies have embraced in a big way when it comes to major sports teams, arenas and stadiums -- but highways, bridges and tunnels? Still, if the Baltimore Ravens can play at M&T Bank Stadium, why shouldn't your Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel commute be brought to you by Aunt Patty's Molasses? Then again, a more intrepid advertising mind might think about slapping a brand name on a new and better tunnel with a sign saying, "Solutions brought to you by Intel." Here's the summary of the bill:...

Is America ready to elect a black man as president? Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A panel discussion is prompted by the rapid rise of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

A Hampton Roads-based leadership forum will debate a question that has been on many people's minds since the quick ascent of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to the role of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Gloucester 'hijacked' Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The report said the supervisors "crossed the line into criminality in several respects."

Last summer, Newport News resident Lacy Smith knew something was astir in Gloucester County.

Local homicide suspect surrenders in New Jersey Wed, 9 Jul 2008 10:03:00 -0400
The suspect in a 2001 homicide in Hampton has turned himself in to police in New Jersey and is awaiting extradition.

Man, lying on highway in underwear, killed by bus Wed, 9 Jul 2008 07:12:00 -0400
An Eastern Shore resident was killed early this morning when he was struck by a charter bus while lying on the pavement on Route 13 in Accomack County.

Body 'burned beyond recognition' in I-64 wreck Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:04:00 -0400
State police are trying to identify a motorist who died in a multi-vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer early this morning on Interstate 64 in Newport News.

NN marine expert to lead U-boats study Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Three German submarines sunk by U.S. forces in 1942 will be surveyed.

Scientists from the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary will play a key role in an offshore expedition this month as researchers from several different agencies combine to survey the wrecks of three German submarines located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina.

Driver, not wearing seat belt, dies when car flips Wed, 9 Jul 2008 05:16:00 -0400
A 22-year-old Smithfield man died last night in a single-car accident in Isle of Wight County.

Man dies after convertible crashes into trees Wed, 9 Jul 2008 07:21:00 -0400
State police investigators say alcohol was a factor in a fatal single-vehicle accident in Sussex County late last night.

26-year-old to be executed Thursday for NN murder Wed, 9 Jul 2008 07:47:00 -0400
A Virginia man is scheduled to be executed Thursday for beating and stabbing his 79-year-old neighbor to death.

Chesapeake courthouse evacuated for gas leak Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:06:00 -0400
A courthouse in Chesapeake was evacuated for about an hour this morning because of a gas leak.

12 thefts of catalytic converters reported Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Police in Suffolk are looking for a minivan in connection with the growing number of thefts of the car part.

Thieves are making off with catalytic converters in Suffolk.

Mud hampers Dismal Swamp firefighting efforts Wed, 9 Jul 2008 13:19:00 -0400
Authorities say mud is the latest challenge facing firefighters battling a blaze in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Incident turns out not to be an abduction attempt Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:16:00 -0400
Turns out a suspicious incident July 1 wasn't an abduction attempt after all.

Police seek man in possible abduction attempt Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Police want to warn residents about a possible child-abduction attempt last week.

Woman charged in hit-and-run accident Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A Norfolk woman is in jail charged with drunken driving in a hit-and-run accident that left a man hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

New 'Youth Career Cafe' proposed for Williamsburg Wed, 9 Jul 2008 17:51:00 -0400
The Peninsula Council for Workforce Development has proposed a new venue for Williamsburg area youths to receive career advice.

Portraits hung in Colonial Williamsburg Capitol Wed, 9 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0400
The Capitol in Colonial Williamsburg is a little more historically accurate with the addition of five new royal portraits.

Public hearing tonight to discuss street connections, W & M housing Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Supervisors want to take back power to decide subdivision interconnections.

York's Planning Commission will weigh in tonight on whether they support a Board of Supervisors move to strip them of decision-making power concerning streets to connect subdivisions.

Some background information about the indicted Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Teresa Altemus Teresa Altemus was the youngest person and first female to win election to the Board of Supervisors when she won a seat in 1993 to represent the York District. She defeated 30-year incumbent William "Noody" Belvin in a race that was largely seen as a referendum on Belvin's approval of the Waste Management landfill in northern Gloucester.

Resident 'shocked' over supervisors' indictments Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Kay Hogge is a Mathews native and has been a Gloucester resident since 1989. Bobby Crewe is her supervisor.

Riverside leaves HMOs Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The hospital sold its stake in Peninsula Health Care Inc. in favor of a physician-led organization.

— Riverside Health System has sold its interest in HMOs that are used by about 120,000 patients locally.

Two-day free fall now more than $9 Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Light, sweet crude oil for August delivery fell $5.33 Tuesday to settle at $136.04, bringing oil's two-day drop to more than $9.

Signs point to a longer real estate slump Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Signs are emerging that the U.S. housing market's long slump is likely to fester through the summer, and the real estate market may not recover for at least another year.

Siemens to cut 16,750 jobs, $2B in costs Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Industrial conglomerate Siemens AG said Tuesday it will cut 16,750 jobs, or 4.2 percent of its global work force, to streamline operations and slice nearly $2 billion in costs in the face of a slowing economy.

Anheuser-Busch sues to block InBev from wooing shareholders Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. is suing Belgian brewer InBev in federal court, seeking to bar its spurned suitor from soliciting support from Anheuser-Busch shareholders.

Comment on credit card rules Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
If you've ever complained about an unexpected interest-rate hike on your credit card, now's your chance to have your gripe heard. But you don't have much time.

Jeweler to return customers' items Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
David Nygaard's Chesapeake store will deliver repaired jewelry and special orders today.

David Nygaard Fine Jewelers will reopen its Chesapeake store at 1412 Greenbrier Parkway to deliver repaired jewelry, special orders and other items to customers. The store will officially open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

Senate bows to Bush, approves surveillance bill Wed, 9 Jul 2008 22:54:00 -0400
Bowing to President Bush's demands, the Senate approved and sent the White House a bill Wednesday to overhaul bitterly disputed rules on secret government eavesdropping and shield telecommunications companies from lawsuits complaining they helped the U.S. spy on Americans.

Former Va. gov. drives new look at war powers Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Gerald Baliles began pushing the idea of a war powers commission in 2006 as director of a nonpartisan think tank.

If Congress takes up legislation next year to increase consultation with the White House over any future war plans, it may have a trio of Virginians to thank.

Iran missile test sends message to US, Israel Wed, 9 Jul 2008 22:57:00 -0400
Iran test-fired nine missiles Wednesday, including ones capable of hitting Israel, making a dramatic show of its readiness to strike back if the United States or Israel attacks it over its nuclear program.

New war deliberation process sought Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Legislation would mandate consultation between the president and Congress in future wars.

Future presidents should be required by law to consult with senior members of Congress before taking the nation to war, a bipartisan study commission recommended Tuesday.

Obama stokes veep speculation with Hillary flight Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:02:00 -0400
Barack Obama stoked vice presidential speculation Wednesday with an unannounced stop at the Washington law firm of a search team member and then a flight to New York fundraisers with potential pick Hillary Rodham Clinton and a second vetter.

Ailing Kennedy returns to Senate for key vote Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:18:00 -0400
Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked through a wall of applause and into the Senate on Wednesday and cast a dramatic, decisive vote on long-stalled Medicare legislation.

Gates says Pentagon will reopen $35B tanker bid Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:24:00 -0400
Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. will submit new offers for a disputed $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, and the Pentagon will pick a winner by the end of the year.

Salmonella infects over 1,000; peppers now eyed Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:14:00 -0400
More than 1,000 people now have become ill from salmonella initially linked to raw tomatoes, a sobering milestone Wednesday that makes this the worst foodborne outbreak in at least a decade. Adding to the confusion, the government is warning certain people to avoid types of hot peppers, too.

Flames force California residents to flee - again Wed, 9 Jul 2008 23:10:00 -0400
For Clay and Nancy Henphill, running from raging wildfires has become nearly routine. For the second time in just over two weeks, they were forced to evacuate their home after fire officials ordered 10,000 people in the Sierra Nevada foothills to flee ahead of a wind-whipped blaze, one of about 40 lightning-sparked wildfires that have charred more than 76 square miles in Butte County.

'Furrin' influence in the fire sale of America Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
I must confess my first concern when I heard about a Belgian-based beer company sniffing after Anheuser-Busch was how it could affect the 3-D Corkscrew Hill motion simulator ride at the Busch Gardens theme park up the road in Williamsburg.

Today's Regional Mystery Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Q : What's going on with the big crane at the Northrop Grumman shipyard in Newport News?

Gloucester indictments: Who's involved, what happened and what's next Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:48:00 -0400
Who's involved

Vick owes agents big sum Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
T he occasion bordered on joyous. Inside the Newport News Boys & Girls Club that nurtured him as a child, Michael Vick announced in 2001 that he would forgo his final two college football seasons to turn pro.

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