(Richmond) The City of Richmond has opened three cooling shelters due to extreme heat conditions. The shelters are open 12 noon to 5 p.m. Temperatures reached into the upper 90’s on Wednesday. Bottle water is provided at cooling shelter locations but no pets are allowed. For cooling shelter locations, visit www.richmondgov.com.
(Virginia) Judge William Alexander, who held a hearing in Franklin County, Virginia, turned aside a state motion to overturn the verdict linked to how promptly VA Tech officials notified those on campus of the April 2007 shootings.
However, Judge Alexander on Wednesday did reduce the original awards from 4 million dollars each for the families of two students to 100,000 per plantiff in line with state law. Erin Peterson and Julia Pryde were both shot to death during the massacre at VA Tech by Seung-Hui Cho, who committed suicide.
(Sanford, Florida) Bill Lee, the Sanford, Florida Chief of Police, has been relieved of his duties. City Manager Norton Bonaparte made the announcement on Wednesday. Lee decided not to arrest George Zimmerman after he shot 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman is in jail on second-degree murder charges in the death of the unarmed Martin.
(Virginia) Governor Bob McDonnell is addressing the ouster of University of Virginia’s president Theresa Sullivan. He said he would have liked to have seen things handled perhaps a bit differently. McDonnell didn’t say whether he will or will not reappoint Helen Dragas as UVA rector, the board terms end July 1st. Sullivan was the first female president of UVA since 2010. She will resign her post on August 15, 2012
(Virginia) Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has appointed an 18-member committee to assist in locating a summer training camp for the Washington Washington Football Team. The committee will consist of business leaders, representatives of local universities, city government and the Richmond Raiders indoor football team. The committee will look at the Washington Football Team’s needs, its current summer camp, potential locations in Richmond, financing and partnership.
(Richmond) Citizens across the Commonwealth of Virginia are awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on President Obama’s healthcare plan. Approximately one million Virginians do not have healthcare coverage. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would make 425,000 people in Virginia eligible for Medicaid effective January 1, 2014. The nation’s highest court is drawing near to a decision on the constitutionality of the two year old law.
(Richmond) The Richmond City Jail is been sued for over ten million dollars by the estate of inmate 55 year old Grant Sleeper. Sleeper suffered a heat stroke while housed in the jail on June 26, 2010. The jail does not have air conditioning on the men’s tiers. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Richmond.
(New York) New York Senator Chuck Schumer is speaking out on Apple and Google’s new adventure plans to map 3D images of communities that could go as fas seeing what you are doing in the backyard. Schumer didnt oppose the plans but is calling on Apple and Google to notify communities before the maps are made and blur out people and certain locations. Where did the social media groups find the equipment to use for the 3D maps? Both companies are using military-grade phtographic equipment that captures detailed images like seeing through home windows.
(Richmond) Employment opportunities will not be available for teens this summer. The jobless rate among 16 to 19 year olds in Virginia was approximately 15% during last summer. Statistics put together by Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market studies shows more than 44% of teens in America will not land jobs this summer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects teen employment may never get back to the levels enjoyed prior to the recession.
(Washington, DC) Eric Cantor, the number two republican in the House of Representatives, is endorsing Lt. Governor Bill Bolling for governor in 2013. House Majority Leader Cantor says, Bolling “has the right experience, the conservative values and the ability to unite our party so we can win in 2013.” Bolling is challenging Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in the governor’s race. A Quinnipiac poll released last week shows Cuccinelli with a 51-15% lead over Lt. Bolling for the Republican nomination.
(Virginia) Finances in Virginia gets a thumbs up. State revenue collections increased more than 8% last month in comparison to May 2011. Secretary of Finance Richard Brown says collections rose 8.3% He says the May 2012 results were driven by strong individual withholding receipts.
(Virginia) Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator George Allen defeated his three challengers in the June 12 Republican primary. Allen received 65% voter support, Jamie Radtke 23%, Delegate Bob Marshall 6.75% and 5% for E.W. Jackson. Allen will meet his democratic challenger Tim Kaine for the U.S. Senate in November.
In separate primary elections, House Majority Leader (R) Congressman Eric Cantor ousted Floyd Bayne for district #7 with 80% voter support and (R) Congressman J Randy Forbes defeated R.M. Girard with 89% voter support.
((Charlottesville, VA) University of Virginia’s first female president Teresa Sullivan is resigning her post effective August 15, 2012. Sullivan in an e-mail says the resignation comes following “philosophical differences of opinion” with UVA’s Board of Visitors. University Rector Helen Dragas and Vice Rector Mark Kington confirmed that Sullivan and the board of visitors had “mutually agreed” that Sullivan would resign her post. Sullivan served as president of UVA since January 2012. She was the first woman to hold the post.
(Virginia) Small school systems are struggling to maintain an effective job. The “Times Dispatch” reports school systems are trying to come up with ways to educate a growing number of students with limited resources. Teachers, programs and entire schools are being eliminated. Larger school systems are hit as well, Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties, lost over 100 million dollars in funding over the course of the last five years.
(Richmond, Virginia) Several state agencies have not converted to the new IT network VITA after six year’s into the state’s contract. This means higher fees for not switching to the new network. According to the “Times Dispatch” three key agencies in that group are paying a combined $100,000 a month in extra fees as a result of not switching over. The fees are rather costly for the Department of Motor Vechicles (DMV) at nearly $63,000 and more than $52,000 at the Virginia State Police.
(National) If you were afraid to sleep in the dark as a child it’s possible your sleep patterns are affected as an adult. Researchers studying sleep problems in college students found nearly half of those who report being kept up at night also admit to being afraid of the dark. Researchers also found that those who were afraid to sleep in the dark slept really lite and was easily startled by sudden noises when the lights are off. The findings in adult insomnia cases were presented at the 26th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
Radio One Presents Miss Community’s “5th Annual Now Listen Up Ladies! Men Are Talking” men’s forum Saturday, June 30, 2012 at the Trinity Family Life Center 3601 Dill Road. The event time is 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Men don’t abort the mission your on assignment for our future. Do you want our children to leave the cradle for college or leave the playpen for the state pen? Men please HELP!!!! Bring your experiences, time and talents to the forum to help another brother.
