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
Va. agency suspends zoo’s permit, cites violations
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — Natural Bridge Zoo’s state permit to exhibit wild animals has been suspended following inspections that found more than 40 violations. Lee Walker with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries tells The Roanoke Times (http://bit.ly/1Iv29Ig ) that the permit won’t be reinstated until the zoo comes into significant compliance with … Continue reading
Man reported missing at sea for 66 days reunites with family
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A man who set sail from South Carolina two months ago was rescued on the overturned hull of his sailboat 200 miles off the coast of North Carolina, and he said he got by rationing his water and energy and praying for help. “Every day I was like, ‘Please God, … Continue reading
Newport News woman charged in 3-vehicle wreck that injured 8
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A Newport News woman faces a reckless driving charge stemming from a three-vehicle wreck that injured eight people. Newport News police tell media outlets that 20-year-old Megan Elizabeth Donahue’s vehicle hit another vehicle in the rear after she fell asleep at the wheel. The impact pushed the second vehicle into … Continue reading
Property owners seek to block W.Va-Va. pipeline surveys
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A proposed natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to Southside Virginia is running into opposition. Media reports say families in West Virginia’s Summers and Monroe counties have filed suit to stop surveying of their properties for the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. The families contend the project does not have a “public … Continue reading
Big, slow road to make its way through southwest Va.
SALEM, Va. (AP) — An oversized tractor-trailer will deliver a big load at slow speeds through southwest Virginia over the next few days, complicating travel along several routes. Starting Friday, the big rig will be hauling power transformers between Pulaski and Max Meadows. The tractor-trailer will be traveling from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every … Continue reading
Body of missing 75-year-old boater found in Va.
SMITHFIELD, Va. (AP) — The body of a 75-year-old boater missing since late January has been found in Smithfield. According to media reports, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission says a medical examiner has identified the man as William Johnson. He was last seen alive on Jan. 26 in the James River. Johnson’s 18foot boat was … Continue reading
States to test ways to send food stamp recipients to work
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten states will test new ways to get food stamp recipients back to work, using Agriculture Department grants aimed at helping some of the 46 million Americans who receive benefits move off the rolls. The grants come as the Republican Congress is exploring ways to cut the program, which cost $74 billion … Continue reading
Lawmakers: Navy to homeport newest aircraft carrier in Va.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Navy plans to homeport its newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Virginia when it joins the fleet in 2016, according to members of Virginia’s congressional delegation. The decision to base the USS Gerald R. Ford in Norfolk will provide a temporary boost to the region’s economy. The USS Abraham Lincoln isn’t … Continue reading
Former Virginia Beach broker sentenced for wire fraud
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A former Virginia Beach broker has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for taking clients’ money. Jeffrey Scott Davis had pleaded guilty in November 2014 to wire fraud. The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/1x3Janu ) reports that he was sentenced on Wednesday. Davis also has agreed to make restitution to Ameriprise … Continue reading
