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Welcome to Media General News Service THE DAY'S BEST KAINE GRANTED FLOOD OF PARDONS, COMMUTATIONS: (Richmond Times-Dispatch) BY JIM NOLAN Media General News Service The last year of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's term brought a record- setting flood of gubernatorial forgiveness. The former Virginia governor granted 53 "simple" pardons, three "absolute" pardons and eight "conditional" pardons and restored the voting rights of more than 1,300 felons in 2009. FIRST LADY SAYS MCDONNELL IS RIGHT MAN FOR JOB: (Richmond Times-Dispatch) BY OLYMPIA MEOLA Media General News Service In these austere times, Maureen McDonnell knows her husband is the man for the job. She knows it because he gave her a sewing machine as her wedding present. Because they passed over china, silver and crystal on their wedding registry in favor of durable Corelle plates. ASSEMBLY SEEKS BUDGET GUIDANCE FROM MCDONNELL: (Richmond Times-Dispatch) BY TYLER WHITLEY AND JIM NOLAN Media General News Service The General Assembly's money committees are scheduled to adopt budget bills in less than two weeks, but legislators say they are not close to agreeing what to do. "It's going to take divine intervention," said state Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, the Senate Republican floor leader. During the federal health-care debate, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., faulted President Barack Obama for leaving key decisions to lawmakers, rather than publicly setting the course from the White House. Two months later, Gov. Bob McDonnell is drawing similar criticism as Virginia grapples with a $4 billion budget deficit. Democrats, publicly, and some Republicans, privately, are blaming McDonnell for what they say is a lack of leadership. He has talked with legislators and offered some parameters but, unlike previous governors, has not sent down budget amendments to reflect his views. MANY BILLS DIE QUICK DEATH IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: (Richmond Times-Dispatch) BY TYLER WHITLEY Media General News Service The two marijuana bills have gone to pot, as have hundreds of other bills as the General Assembly approaches its Feb. 16 crossover deadline. That's when the House and the Senate must finish considering most of the bills that originate in their chamber so they can cross over to the other body. Subcommittees in the House of Delegates have disposed of most of the failed legislation. They can't kill a bill directly, but full committees almost always adopt their recommendations. NOTIFICATION POLICIES AT VA. SCHOOLS VARY: (Richmond Times-Dispatch) Tech now informs parents of all alcohol violations by their kids BY KARIN KAPSIDELIS Media General News Service Virginia Tech students used to get a break for a minor infraction involving underage drinking. They could be caught with a can of beer in a residence hall, for example, and not worry about their parents finding out. But subsequent offenses could result in suspension with parents caught unaware and demanding, "why didn't you tell me there was a problem before?" said Edward Spencer, Tech's vice president for student affairs. So last month, Tech told students that the university now will inform their parents of all violations — a policy change that Spencer said reflects the increased level of parental involvement for this "tethered generation" of students. While university policies on alcohol violations vary across Virginia, most take advantage of an amendment to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, that allows for parental notification. SHARP BREES GIVES SAINTS BIGGEST WIN: (The Tampa Tribune) By: Joe Henderson Media General News Service MIAMI - By any logic known in the National Football League, what we saw Sunday night in Super Bowl XLIV was never supposed to happen. At just 6-feet tall, Drew Brees was too small to be a successful NFL quarterback. Even if that wasn’t true, Brees’ right shoulder had been nearly destroyed in the last game of the 2005 season while he was with San Diego. |
