MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — Three people have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a multistate heroin trafficking operation. Thirty-four-year Jeffrey David Murphy of Martinsburg pleaded guilty on Tuesday to aiding and abetting charges, along with using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of heroin. Twenty-four-year-old Veronica Thomas of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count … Continue reading
Author Archives: kkdsmith
Virginia Film Festival breaks box office, revenue records
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Film Festival says this year’s event broke box office and revenue records. Festival officials said Wednesday that 31,860 tickets were issued. That broke the previous record of nearly 28,610 tickets in 2014. Revenue for the four-day festival in Charlottesville was $192,567, which also is a record. Forty-one screenings were … Continue reading
Woman, 2 boys killed when vehicle runs off road, hits tree
COUNCIL, Va. (AP) — Virginia State Police are investigating a wreck that killed a woman and two young boys. State police spokeswoman Corinne Geller says 18-year-old Carmela M. Johnson of Honaker, 5-year-old Justin L. Blevins Jr. and his brother, 3-year-old Jonah I. Blevins, died at the scene. The boys’ father, 25-year-old Justin L. Blevins of … Continue reading
Supreme Court won’t hear imprisoned Va. delegate’s appeal
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the case of a former Virginia delegate who has been convicted on federal corruption charges. The Daily Press of Newport News (http://bit.ly/1WU8N0X ) reports that the high court told former Newport News Del. Phil Hamilton that he had missed a deadline to … Continue reading
Governor says trade mission boosts Virginia seafood exports
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe says a recent trade and tourism mission to Canada has increased exports of Virginia seafood. McAuliffe said Thursday that Rappahannock River Oyster Company has secured deals with Lagoon Seafood of Lachine, Quebec, and Toronto-based seafood importer SeaCore as a result of the September mission. Rappahannock will supply SeaCare … Continue reading
VCU students seek more black profs, go to president’s office
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — About 30 Virginia Commonwealth University students peacefully assembled at the president’s office, expressing solidarity with students at the University of Missouri and demanding more black professors. Media reports state that President Michael Rao listened to the students outline their concerns before they left his office Thursday. While the primary complaint was … Continue reading
Woman convicted of killing former father-in-law
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) — A jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before convicting a woman of killing her former father-in-law in Christiansburg. Media outlets report that a Montgomery County Circuit Court jury found 24-year-old Amanda Taylor guilty Thursday of murdering Charles Taylor. She was sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors said Amanda Taylor and … Continue reading
Chesterfield drops school bus camera proposal
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Chesterfield County has scuttled a proposal to install cameras on school buses to catch drivers who illegally pass while children are getting on or off. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1KHlW6K ) that officials dropped the idea after Attorney General Mark Herring issued an opinion saying state law does not authorize such … Continue reading
Gannett Co. posts 3Q profit
MCLEAN, Va. (AP) — Gannett Co. (GCI) on Thursday reported profit of $39.2 million in its third quarter. On a per-share basis, the McLean, Virginia-based company said it had profit of 33 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 43 cents per share. The owner of USA Today and other newspapers and TV stations posted … Continue reading
Trial in entombed body case postponed indefinitely
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) — A woman charged with killing a man whose body was found entombed in concrete has been declared incompetent to stand trial. The Roanoke Times reports (http://bit.ly/1LZkRZF ) that 52-year-old Janice Burney Widenor’s scheduled Dec. 7 trial has been postponed indefinitely. Widenor is charged with killing 70-year-old James Austin and concealing his … Continue reading
Boy, 17, is 2nd person charged in Alexandria-area slaying
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A teenager is the second person to be charged in the robbery and slaying of a 42-year-old man in an Alexandria-area park. Fairfax County police say the teen had already been charged with robbery and was charged Wednesday with murder in the death of Khalid Aboumalik. The slaying occurred on Aug. … Continue reading
Virginia recall of Confederate battle flag plates challenged
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Attorneys are challenging Virginia’s recall of banished license plates bearing the image of a Confederate battle flag. The challenge was filed in state court on behalf of Leonard Tracy Clary, Virginia Division commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, his attorneys said Thursday. While a federal judge ruled the state could … Continue reading
Cable news pundit charged with fraud; ties to CIA disputed
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Maryland man who offered national-security commentary on Fox News has been charged with fraud for falsely claiming a CIA career. Authorities say they arrested 62-year-old Wayne Simmons of Annapolis on Thursday and charged him with fraud against the U.S. and making false statements to the government. An … Continue reading
Inmate captured hour after walking away from work detail
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — An inmate on work detail at a Newport News park was taken into custody by authorities about an hour after walking away. The Newport News Sheriff’s Office says 18-year-old Meko Brown was under the supervision of Newport News City Public Works correctional employees when he left the work site Thursday … Continue reading
Only a drill, but active shooter call prompts locked schools
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A report of an active shooter in the Skyline section of Fairfax County prompted a massive police response and brief lock-in of two schools, but it was all a false alarm. Fairfax County Police spokesman Don Gotthardt said police received a call Thursday afternoon about a possible active shooter at … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 