EMPORIA, Va. (AP) — Virginia State Police have released the name of a man who was fatally shot by police after he fired a sawed-off shotgun at officers. The shooting occurred Wednesday night at a residence in Greensville County. State police said Thursday that 53-year-old Jeffery O. Adkins was outside the residence when troopers arrived … Continue reading
Author Archives: nbbell
Coast Guard member in Virginia sentenced for violations
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A Coast Guard member has been sentenced to 80 days in military prison and given a bad conduct discharge for his guilty plea to charges of assault and failing to obey an order or a regulation. The Coast Guard says Senior Chief Petty Officer James R. Hamilton was sentenced Thursday during … Continue reading
Disaster loans available to homes, businesses in SW Va.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Federal disaster loans are available to southwest Virginia homeowners, businesses and nonprofit organizations hit by severe weather in February. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management says the U.S. Small Business Administration approved the low-interest loans at the request of Gov. Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe says two dozen homes and businesses in Wise … Continue reading
Cheese, poultry facilities to open in Albemarle County
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe says separate cheese production and poultry processing facilities will be built in Albemarle County. McAuliffe said Thursday that Kelly Turkeys USA LLC will invest $1.4 million in its first U.S. poultry processing facility, creating 33 jobs. McAuliffe also says Ewes Guys LLC will do business as Twenty Paces … Continue reading
Chesterfield testing police body cameras
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Chesterfield Police Department is issuing body cameras to 23 officers and will evaluate results to determine whether to equip the entire force. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1GBwwKW ) that the department plans to deploy the test cameras in the next two weeks. Police Chief Thierry Dupuis said he generally favors … Continue reading
Teen charged after aiming gun at Waynesboro police
WAYNESBORO, Va. (AP) — Waynesboro police say a teenager faces five charges after pointing a loaded gun at officers. Media outlets report that no one was shot. The 16-year-old, whose name was not released, was charged with one felony and four misdemeanors. According to police, several officers responded to a report of a mob of … Continue reading
Change-of-command ceremony set by Coast Guard in Va.
YORKTOWN, Va. (AP) — A change-of-command ceremony is scheduled in Yorktown at the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command, or FORCECOM. Rear Adm. Scott Buschman will relinquish command Friday to Rear Adm. David Throop. Throop comes to Yorktown after serving as the executive assistant to the commandant of the Coast Guard. In that post, he coordinated … Continue reading
Body found in Elizabeth River behind Portsmouth City Hall
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — Police say a man’s body has been found in the Elizabeth River behind Portsmouth City Hall. Detective Misty Holley says the body was pulled from the river Thursday. The man’s identity wasn’t immediately determined. Media outlets report the body has been sent to a medical examiner for an autopsy. Copyright … Continue reading
Hearing continues on ex-sailors’ innocence claims
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — An evidentiary hearing is continuing in Richmond for two former sailors who claim they falsely confessed to a 1997 rape and murder. A federal judge has already heard testimony from former sailors Danial Williams and Joseph Dick Jr. They are two of the so-called Norfolk Four, who have long claimed that … Continue reading
UMW drops test requirement for high-achieving applicants
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Students with a high school grade-point average of at least 3.5 won’t have to take standardized admissions tests to be admitted to the University of Mary Washington. The Free Lance-Star reports (http://bit.ly/1JaQUFk ) that the university’s governing board unanimously approved the new policy for high-achieving applicants Thursday. The policy does not … Continue reading
Petersburg woman charged in infant son’s death
PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — A Petersburg woman has been indicted on charges of killing her newborn son and hiding his body. Media outlets report that a Petersburg Circuit Court grand jury indicted 21-year-old Kadijah Stewart Mungin on charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a body Thursday. Police say she is accused of asphyxiating her … Continue reading
Opponents cheer Va. ruling on James River transmission line
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled Thursday that local approval is required for a key element of a proposed high-rise electrical transmission line over a historic section of the James River. Opponents celebrated the decision, but stopped short of saying the ruling would kill the project. Dominion Virginia Power said it … Continue reading
Randolph College sells 2 more paintings
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Randolph College has sold two more paintings from its collection. The News & Advance reports (http://bit.ly/1I8osH8 ) that the college has sold Ernest Martin Hennings’ “Through the Arroyo” and Edward Hicks’ “A Peaceable Kingdom.” The college says the paintings were sold privately, and the prices will not be disclosed. College spokeswoman … Continue reading
Va. lab lays off workers, announces Justice settlement
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Health Diagnostics Laboratory Inc., has laid off 42 workers at its Richmond operations. The Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1BXkolW ) reports that the company announced the layoffs on Thursday and confirmed a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The blood-testing company attributed the layoffs to a decision to refocus on its core … Continue reading
Oyster shell recycling program expands to Charlottesville
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Virginia Commonwealth University has expanded an oyster recycling program to Charlottesville. The program operated by VCU’s Rice Rivers Center will soon start collecting discarded shells from Charlottesville restaurants. The shells, which would otherwise be sent to a landfill, will now be returned to the Chesapeake Bay to create a natural habitat … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 