RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Attorney General’s office is seeking a January execution date for a man convicted of killing a family of four. Media outlets report that the Attorney General’s office wrote Richmond Circuit Court Judge Beverly Snukals on Thursday, saying she must hold a hearing to schedule an execution date for Ricky … Continue reading
Tag Archives: RVA
Richmond officer speaks for 1st time on surviving shooting
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Richmond police officer, who survived being shot twice, is opening up about the life-threatening incident for the first time. Officer Ryan Donald is back at work thanks to the support from his fellow officers and his wife, who happens to wear the badge as well. Last year, Richmond Police officers … Continue reading
Virginia outperforms most states on national science tests
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia students performed better on a national science exam than their peers in most other states. The Virginia Department of Education says that 50 percent of Virginia fourth graders met or exceeded the proficiency standard on the 2015 national science tests compared to 37 percent of fourth graders nationwide. Among eighth … Continue reading
Online voter registration system crash leads to lawsuit
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A civil rights group has filed a federal lawsuit against Virginia election officials after the state’s online voter registration system crashed Monday, preventing some Virginians from signing up to vote. Local news organizations report that the lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law on behalf … Continue reading
Lawmakers to hold meeting to discuss upcoming election
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers are planning to hold a meeting to discuss the upcoming election with the commissioner of the Virginia Department of Elections and local registrars. The joint meeting of the Privileges and Elections Committees will be held Oct. 13. Republican lawmakers say some local registrars are concerned about a backlog of … Continue reading
Judge dismisses discrimination suit against Catholic home
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the former administrator of a Catholic assisted living facility who said he was fired for his sexual orientation. The judge dismissed the suit Monday after the plaintiff, John Murphy, made a motion to do so. Murphy served as executive director of the … Continue reading
McAuliffe says he’s restored voting rights to 60,000
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he’s restored voting and other civil rights to more than 60,000 felons since taking office. The Democratic governor made the comments Wednesday during an interview WTOP radio. That means McAuliffe has restored voting rights to about 42,000 felons since the Virginia Supreme Court ruled in July … Continue reading
Judge: Ex-sailors convicted of rape, murder are innocent
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) â Two former sailors convicted of rape and murder nearly two decades ago are innocent, a federal judge said Monday, adding the “no sane human being” could find the men guilty. U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. said in an opinion that “by any measure,” the evidence shows Danial Williams and … Continue reading
Solar project to coming to Clarke County
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Clarke County is getting a new solar project that will generate enough power for thousands of homes. Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the Clarke Solar Farm will house 20 megawatts of generating capacity. It’s being developed by Hecate Energy LCC, a Tennessee-based company that owns and operates projects across the country. Preston … Continue reading
Mother seeks revival of case against officers over shooting
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court wrestled Tuesday over whether Baltimore police officers were justified in killing an unarmed mentally ill black man after his mother called 911 to get medical attention for her son. Maurice Donald Johnson, who suffered from bipolar disorder, was fatally shot by two Baltimore police officers during a … Continue reading
Buckle up: Virginia effort aims to increase seat belt use
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Buckle up, Virginia. That’s the message schools across the state hope to get across with a campaign this year aimed at getting more kids and teens to wear their seat belts. More than 70 high school and middle schools across the state are participating in the four-week challenge. Students will come … Continue reading
Court weighs fairness of life sentence for teenage killer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man handed life in prison without parole for his conviction as a teenager in the killing of his boss is seeking relief after a recent Supreme Court ruling. At issue in Jason Clem’s case is whether Virginia law mandates life-without-parole sentences for juveniles in capital murder cases. The U.S. … Continue reading
Federal court OKs Christian prayers at county board meetings
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A divided federal appeals court says county commissioners in North Carolina can open their meetings with Christian prayers. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared the Rowan County commissioner’s prayer practice constitutional on Monday. The appeals court decision reverses a lower court ruling that said the … Continue reading
Virginia shields price of secret supplier’s execution drugs
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia officials have signed a contract with a vendor to obtain execution drugs, but are shielding the name of the vendor and the price of the drugs. Virginia joined several others states by passing a new state law the last legislative session that allows officials to keep secret the suppliers of … Continue reading
2 Liberty athletes suspended over alleged sex assault
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Liberty University says two football players have been suspended from the team after an investigation connected them to an alleged sexual assault last year. The school said in a statement that football players Cameron Jackson and Kyle Carrington were suspended after they and former student Avery James were found to have … Continue reading
Gun rights activists sue Couric over documentary edits
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia gun rights activists have filed a $12 million defamation lawsuit against Katie Couric and other makers of a documentary over an edit they say misrepresented the activists’ response to a question. The segment in “Under the Gun” shows nearly 10 seconds of silence after Couric asks members of the Virginia … Continue reading
Judge declares mistrial in case of Virginia officer shooting
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A judge has declared a mistrial in the prosecution of a Virginia police officer charged with murder in the off-duty shooting of an 18-year-old man at a car wash. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://goo.gl/wkqF2x ) Chesterfield County Circuit Court Judge David Johnson declared the mistrial after a jury said it could … Continue reading
Officials working to restore power to thousands in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Power company officials in Virginia say they have restored power to approximately 65 percent of the more than 250,000 customers who lost power Thursday night and early Friday morning as a result of severe thunderstorms. Dominion Virginia Power said in a statement Saturday that as of 7 a.m. power had been … Continue reading
Chairman of Trump campaign in Virginia to help party
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Donald Trump’s Virginia campaign chairman has been tapped to help shape the Republican Party of Virginia’s field operations ahead of Election Day. The RPV said Corey Stewart will join former Gov. Jim Gilmore as co-chairman of the party’s field program. The initiative will be far reaching, the party said, and will … Continue reading
Jury finds man guilty in fatal Richmond nightclub shooting
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A man has been found guilty of fatally shooting another man inside a Richmond nightclub. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/22oFd8a) a jury convicted 27-year-old Trevell A. Harvey of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder in the death of Jerquell Cheatham. Police say 21-year-old Cheatham was … Continue reading
Virginia State Police gathering to remember fallen officers
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia State Police and their families are preparing to gather to remember law enforcement officials who have died. State Police are holding their annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service on Thursday. This year’s ceremony will honor the lives of Troopers Nathan-Michael W. Smith and Chad P. Dermyer. Smith died in 2015 after … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 