News 2008-08-01 Andanh.com

Drake joins "gang of 22" in bipartisan energy proposal Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:16:10 -0500
Need to play a bit of catch-up (the Shad Plank team has been a bit short-handed this week): U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk, was one of the "gang of 22" lawmakers who unveiled an energy proposal yesterday. The gang was decidedly bipartisan -- 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats, a group put together by Reps. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, and John Peterson, R-Penn. Their plan, which was weeks in the making, would allow offshore drilling that is at least 25 miles off the coast. A Drake-drafted addition would allow individual states to increase that to 50 miles, which is the distance that Virginia lawmakers have supported. Another portion of the plan that was added at Drake's request: the map of how offshore revenue would be divided among...

Big swings on the Kaine Veepometer Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:51:45 -0500
Big changes on the Tim Kaine-for-veep watch. 1. The Hill reports that the former Hillary Clinton campaign staffers who were urging Barack Obama to select Clinton as a running mate have given up. They say she's not in the running and have closed down their Web site. This might have been worth a point in Kaine's favor, but I'm pretty sure that everyone in the country except these former staffers already knew that she wasn't in the running. Zero points. Running total: +4. 2. Anonymous is a Woman says she is "willing to go out on a limb and predict Tim Kaine is not going to be Obama’s VP pick" because Kaine is talking about the possibility himself. That costs Kaine a point and takes...

At the moment, the veepometer tilts toward Kaine (but stay tuned) Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:06:05 -0500
Here are the morning's hot developments on the Tim Kaine veepometer: 1. AP is reporting that, on his call-in radio show, the governor said he is not planning a speech for the Democratic convention. For those of you keeping score, this would be minus one point. 2. In the same story, AP reports that Kaine also "burnished his chief policy qualifications: education and economic development." That's worth at least two plus points. Running total: +1 3. Kerry Dougherty's column in the Pilot this morning is an open letter to Barack Obama, urging him to choose Kaine. Zero points. Running total: +1 4. New York Times op-ed contributor Dan Schnur says Kaine would be a bad choice. Plus two points. Running total: +3 5. Schnur was...

Police investigate club extortion scheme Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Police have arrested a Hampton man and are trying to identify other suspects in an alleged extortion scheme by members of the security staff at a Virginia Beach night club.

JRB closures set for Sunday Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Southbound lanes of the James River Bridge will be closed Sunday morning, and northbound lanes will see 15-minute stoppages between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Navy cites smoking as likely cause of carrier fire Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Smoking appears to have sparked a fire that caused $70 million in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, Naval officials said Wednesday.

Army ready to give cleanup timeline for Fort Monroe Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
It's unclear if the work will be done before the military installation closes in 2011.

— It's still not clear whether environmental cleanup of almost 30 sites at Fort Monroe will be finished before the Army moves out in 2011, but the most up-to-date schedule will be revealed in a report the Army expects to release later this month.

9-year-old in critical condition after fire Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:49:00 -0400
A 9-year-old who was burned in a mobile home fire Sunday remains in critical condition at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Cincinnati.

Fires injure child, claim a family's home Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A 9-year-old who was burned in a mobile home fire Sunday remains in critical condition at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Cincinnati.

W & M launches redesigned Web site Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:36:00 -0400
— The College of William and Mary has launched its redesigned Web site, which now offers student blogs and modified information "gateways" for students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni.

Lawyer, prosecutor sparred over request for probe info Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The commonwealth's attorney and an attorney for two supervisors exchanged comments.

The legal jousting and wordplay between Commonwealth's Attorney Robert D. Hicks and lawyers for four indicted Gloucester County supervisors that occurred Tuesday in Circuit Court had a little history.

Growing java franchise shop is on the go Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A growing chain offers up coffee and a full menu, with unique surroundings.

At a time major coffee chain Starbucks is closing some of its stores, Daily Grind Unwind, plans to open several new locations in Virginia.

Fare Warning: The best sites for cheap seats Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:13:05 -0400
biddingfortravel.com -- Tips and information on how to successfully use sites such as Priceline and Hotwire.

Your Money: Health insurance after job change Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Individuals who find themselves a victim of a layoff or find a new job that doesn't offer health insurance face a difficult task in deciding how to replace health insurance. The options might be more expensive than a subsidized corporate plan, but some do offer tax benefits that an employer can't.

Visitation to Colonial attractions drops Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The high gas prices and economic uncertainty are being blamed for this summer's low visitor numbers at Jamestown and other Colonial attractions.

Oil prices jump more than $4, ending slide Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Oil prices soared over $4 a barrel Wednesday, halting a dramatic two-week slide after a surprise drop in U.S. gasoline supplies fed speculation that record fuel prices aren't keeping Americans off the roads.

GM to cut 5,100 salaried jobs in U.S., Canada Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
General Motors Corp. plans to cut 15 percent of its U.S. and Canadian salaried work force — or around 5,100 jobs — by Nov. 1 as part of a plan to slash billions of dollars and help the automaker ride out a slump in U.S. sales.

Government sets $171B plan for financing of 3Q borrowing Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Anthony Ryan, acting Treasury undersecretary for domestic finance, unveiled plans Wednesday for financing $171 billion in borrowing during the current quarter, the second-highest total on record.

Jobless ranks grow in region Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Unemployment rose as students entered the work force in June. But the number of jobs also reached a record.

The unemployment rate in Hampton Roads rose to 4.4 percent in June as students seeking work and recent graduates joined the job market, the Virginia Employment Commission announced Wednesday. The state's rate, at 4.2 percent, was its highest since January 2004.

First-time homebuyers' tax credit is actually a loan and full of catches Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
T here's been a lot of discussion about how much the new housing bill passed by Congress will help individuals facing foreclosure.

Police charge Brazilian in killing of dismembered British girlfriend found in suitcase Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:15:00 -0400
GOIANIA, Brazil (AP) _ Police on Thursday accused a Brazilian man of killing and dismembering his 17-year-old British girlfriend, taking pictures of her body parts with his cell phone and stuffing her torso in a suitcase.

Last-minute blockbuster: Manny Ramirez goes to Dodgers, Jason Bay to Boston in 3-team trad Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:26:00 -0400
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ After a nasty split with the Boston Red Sox, Manny Ramirez is Hollywood-bound. The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired the enigmatic slugger Thursday, giving up two minor leaguers in a startling, three-team trade that sent outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston.

John McCain accuses Barack Obama of playing politics with race, White House race gets hott Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:10:00 -0400
WASHINGTON (AP) _ John McCain accused Barack Obama of playing politics with race on Thursday, raising the explosive issue after the first black candidate with a serious chance of winning the White House claimed Republicans will try to scare voters by saying he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

Witnesses: Canada bus passenger savagely stabs seat mate, then severs head Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:37:00 -0400
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Manitoba (AP) _ Passengers aboard a Canadian bus fled in horror as a fellow traveler viciously attacked his seat mate, repeatedly stabbing him and then severing his head, witnesses said Thursday.

Barack Obama seizes on record oil profit to criticize John McCain over tax breaks for big Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:12:00 -0400
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) _ Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama seized on a record oil company profit to argue that rival John McCain offers only tax breaks for Big Oil and "short-term gimmicks" to consumers struggling with soaring gasoline prices.

Police: Man trying to steal copper at SC landfill spends 12 hours stuck under trash bin Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:46:00 -0400
DILLON, S.C. (AP) _ A suspected thief trying to steal $10 worth of copper got himself into a stinky situation when he was trapped under a trash bin at a county landfill for 12 hours, sheriff's deputies said.

Elizabeth Taylor makes 'precautionary' visit to hospital, expected to return home Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:07:00 -0400
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Elizabeth Taylor was hospitalized for an undisclosed reason but was expected to return home soon, representatives for the Oscar-winning actress said Thursday. A statement released by Dick Guttman, her Los Angeles-based publicist, did not say where Taylor was staying, nor did it specify what might have been ailing the 76-year-old actress.

Phoenix lander confirms ice in Martian soil; mission extended by 5 weeks Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:12:00 -0400
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The Phoenix spacecraft has tasted Martian water for the first time, scientists reported Thursday. By melting icy soil in one of its lab instruments, the robot confirmed the presence of frozen water lurking below the Martian permafrost. Until now, evidence of ice in Mars' north pole region has been largely circumstantial.

Parents, 2 city workers, 5 others charged in disabled Philadelphia teen's starvation death Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:24:00 -0400
PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Four social workers were among nine people charged Thursday in the death of a disabled 14-year-old girl who authorities say wasted away from neglect before dying at 42 pounds.

FDA finds salmonella strain in irrigation water, serrano pepper at farm in Nuevo Leon, Mex Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:14:00 -0400
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The salmonella strain linked to a nationwide outbreak has been found in irrigation water and in a sample from a batch of serrano peppers at a Mexican farm, federal health officials said.

Gloucester stuck with supes lacking integrity Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
O n their first day in court to answer sundry misdemeanor charges of misuse of office, it's clear Gloucester County supervisors have no intention of defending their actions.

Force focuses on feral felines Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The SPCA forms a group aimed at reducing euthanasia of undomesticated cats.

— The Peninsula SPCA has a new task force that hopes to reduce the number of feral cats euthanized, while increasing the number of stray feline cats adopted and the number of feral cats trapped, neutered and released.

13 arrested in string of burglaries Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Items included clam harvesting cages.

Poquoson police have arrested nine men and four juveniles in connection to a string of city burglaries over the last six months.

Closed restaurants Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Two long standing restaurants on Coliseum Drive in Hampton, Bennigan's and Steak and Ale, have closed indefinately.

Car robberies may be linked, police say Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Seven people have been robbed in their cars at gunpoint in three separate incidents in Newport News that police believe may be linked.

Get a tax break this weekend on school supplies Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
T ake a tax-free shopping "holiday" this weekend.

Stolen laptop had Busch employees' personal info Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The data, kept on a computer that was stolen near St. Louis in June, included Social Security numbers and addresses.

A laptop containing personal information of current and former employees, including some from Hampton Roads, was stolen from a St. Louis-area Anheuser-Busch office in June, according to a statement from the company.

Iwo Jima flag raiser gets citizenship papers Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A seven-decade oversight involving one of the men who raised the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima has been officially corrected.

Peninsula beaches have cleaned up their act Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
A report gives good ratings to area beaches. The turnaround comes after an effort to cut sources of pollution.

The seemingly clockwork-like closings of Peninsula beaches from a few years ago gave way to only one swimming advisory for the whole summer in 2007.

July 31: Feedback from newspaper readers Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Richard, Newport News: The new baseball stats page layout is very difficult to navigate. The old format with AL at the top left and the NL below was very simple and easy to find. Now the standings section blends in with all of the box scores and doesn't contain as much information (last 10, streak).

The big day Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Remember whose day it is, and graduation plans will fall into line

You wouldn't think it would be necessary to form a committee to develop polices for high school graduation. After all, high schools have been holding them for decades, and they're pretty formulaic events.

Dropout dollars Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Here's more proof that the dropout problem has consequences

As if we needed any more validation of why we have to push our schools and communities to staunch the torrent of dropouts, there's this, from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics: Dropouts are taking the biggest hit as the changing labor market and inflation reshape the earnings landscape.

Thoughtful transition Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
His changes made Mike Tomlin's first camp in Pittsburgh rough, but he's more comfortable this time around.

One difference in this Pittsburgh Steelers training camp from that of last season: Mike Tomlin is no longer being asked what it's like to succeed Bill Cowher as coach.

More than a baseball mission Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Hampton Christian players will spread the word and the game during a trip to Cuba.

When Austin Bennett, Rudy Ourednik and Justin Woods get their first glimpses of Cuba from the windows of a jet plane today, it could mark the beginning of a life-changing journey for each of them. But it'll be nothing like Jose Rodriguez's emotional voyage to the island last year.

First ODU practice nears, first schedule set Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400
ODU finalizes 2009 football schedule two weeks before its first class of players report to begin a redshirt season of practicing.

The only thing missing is 80 big, sweaty bodies.

Nationwide Tour leaves Richmond area Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:21:00 -0400
The absence of a sponsor means minor-league golf will not return to Glen Allen.

The minor-league Nationwide Tour will not hold its golf tournament in the Richmond area anymore.

Boo's team loses in AAU quarters Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:03:00 -0400
The Boo Williams Summer League team lost Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Amateur Athletic Union 17-and-under national tournament near Orlando, Fla.

2 men wanted in Roanoke murder arrested in New York - roanoke.com Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

File | May, 2008

Visitors to Boy Scout camp contract E. coli - roanoke.com Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Virginia Tech campaign closes in on $1 billion goal - roanoke.com Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Officials said the last part of a capital campaign is often the most difficult.

Giving trends

Annual donations to Virginia Tech have grown 36 percent over the past five years

2007-08	$91.1 million
2006-07	$83.8 million
2004-05	$75.3 million
2004-05	$76.5 million
2003-04	$67 million

Source: Office of University Development

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