WASHINGTON (AP) — As part of its effort to expand private health care, the Department of Veterans Affairs is exploring the possibility of merging its health system with the Pentagon’s, a cost-saving measure that veterans groups say could threaten the viability of VA hospitals and clinics. VA spokesman Curt Cashour called the plan a potential … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Officials are examining whether the man accused of killing a Virginia State Police special agent was living illegally at the public housing complex where the fatal shooting took place. Media outlets report that court records list 27-year-old Travis Ball’s home address at the Mosby Court complex, but the Richmond Redevelopment and … Continue reading
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Kalen Johnson threw two touchdown passes, Anthony Philyaw and Da’Vaun Johnson each ran for TDs and Howard scored 21 second-half points to rally past Norfolk State 33-28 on Saturday for its first win of the season. Johnson scored the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard run in the third quarter after Philyaw’s … Continue reading
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Kalen Johnson threw two touchdown passes, Anthony Philyaw and Da’Vaun Johnson each ran for TDs and Howard scored 21 second-half points to rally past Norfolk State 33-28 on Saturday for its first win of the season. Johnson scored the go-ahead TD on a 1-yard run in the third quarter after Philyaw’s … Continue reading
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Malcolm Bell accounted for 273 yards total offense and two touchdowns as North Carolina Central held off Norfolk State 34-31 on Saturday. Bell, who finished with 196 passing yards and 77 yards rushing, surpassed the 1,000-yard career rushing mark to become the only Eagle to run for more than 1,000 yards … Continue reading
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Malcolm Bell accounted for 273 yards total offense and two touchdowns as North Carolina Central held off Norfolk State 34-31 on Saturday. Bell, who finished with 196 passing yards and 77 yards rushing, surpassed the 1,000-yard career rushing mark to become the only Eagle to run for more than 1,000 yards … Continue reading
A Virginia Beach woman has been charged with child abuse after a 4-month-old girl died in what police called an unlicensed daycare at her home. Virginia Beach police say 48-year-old Marlene Rice was arrested and charged on Tuesday. The infant died on Aug. 15. Police say Rice called 911 to report that the baby wasn’t … Continue reading
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — A Virginia prosecutor says she has asked Virginia State Police for additional investigative work into the death of a mentally ill inmate at a Portsmouth jail last year. Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales’ office says it received a preliminary report Tuesday from Virginia State Police, which is conducting a criminal investigation … Continue reading
ISLAMABAD (AP) — The suicide bombing in the city of Lahore on Easter underscores how Pakistan’s Christian minority has become an easy target for the country’s Islamic militants, although Muslims also were among the victims. There are barely 2.5 million Christians in the mostly Muslim country of 180 million, and they say they worry about … Continue reading
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — In an emotional televised address, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed Monday to hunt down and defeat the militants who have been carrying out attacks like the Easter bombing that targeted Christians and killed 72 people. “We will not allow them to play with the lives of the people of Pakistan,” Sharif … Continue reading
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s prime minister on Monday vowed to eliminate perpetrators of terror attacks such as the massive suicide bombing that targeted Christians gathered for Easter the previous day in the eastern city of Lahore, killing 70 people. The attack underscored both the militants’ ability to stage large-scale attacks despite a months-long government … Continue reading
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Seventeen-year-olds who will turn 18 before the fall presidential election can vote in Ohio’s presidential primary, a judge ruled Friday in a potential boost for Democrat Bernie Sanders as he fights to open elections across the country to the young people who are among his key supporters. The judge’s decision reversed … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell and the immediate staff of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also received classified national security information on their personal email accounts, according to a memo written by the State Department watchdog that was released Thursday. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will deploy a new special operations force to the Middle East to help fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday. Carter told the House Armed Services Committee that over time, these special operators will be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence … Continue reading
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) – State auditors have given Norfolk State University a positive report just ahead of an inspection by the school’s accrediting agency. The Virginian-Pilot reports (http://bit.ly/1GEJ9pH ) that the fiscal year 2015 audit found no “material deficiencies” with the university’s accounting and controls. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools put the university … Continue reading
(The following is a message from Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued to state employees at 11:50 p.m.) October 1, 2015 Dear State Employees: As you are aware, I declared a state of emergency last night in preparation for significant weather and impacts to the Commonwealth. We anticipate record rainfall impacting the entire state followed by … Continue reading
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban suicide bomber struck the entrance to the Afghan parliament on Monday and gunmen tried to storm the heavily guarded compound, setting off a gunbattle with police that left two people dead as lawmakers were meeting inside to vote on the appointment of a new defense minister. Afghan security forces … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Three men accused of plotting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State and wage war against the United States were arrested on terrorism charges Wednesday, February 25 federal officials said. Akhror Saidakhmetov, a Brooklyn resident and citizen of Kazakhstan, was arrested at Kennedy International Airport, where he was attempting … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 