News Staff Enrollment in Virginia’s two largest state-funded preschool programs is expected to reach historic levels for the upcoming school year. Virginia Department of Education officials say the Virginia Preschool Initiative and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation’s Mixed Delivery Preschool Grant Program anticipate serving more than 25,000 three and four-year-olds this fall as parents return to in-office … Read more
Governor Ralph Northam pardons a Reedville man who was convicted in 1986 for murdering a Lancaster County woman then putting her body in the Rappahannock River. The Times-Dispatch reports Northam granted Emerson Eugene Stevens’ absolute pardon after a federal appeals court ruled last year that the evidence overwhelmingly showed no reasonable juror would have convicted … Read more
Bridge washing operations take place tomorrow through Friday on several Essex County roads. Those include these sections of Route 17: between Marshfield Lane to Hilltop Lane, between Dock Street to Richmond Beach Road, between Airport Road and Parker Place, between Benton Point Road to Maryfield Road and near Quarter Farm Lane. Washing also occurrs on … Read more
A Cobbs Creek man is appointed to a 4-year term on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. The Gazette-Journal reports Governor Ralph Northam named Chris Newsome to the post. Newsome is a Mathews High School and Old Dominion University alumnus who owns Bay Fly Fishing LLC. He has regulatory experience as a former environmental specialist for … Read more
The Deltaville Ballpark is the scene for this Saturday’s “Party for the Potty”, a fundraiser to supprt construction of expanded and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms at the park. The Southside Sentinel reports the band “Sweet Justice” will take the field at 7 p.m., with a selection alcoholc and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase plus … Read more
An Essex County farmer hosted a roundtable discussion on precision agriculture centering on the costs for converting to the new technology. Grain grower Scott Mundie says farmers need help with the financial burden which is especially tough for smaller operations. Precision agriculture uses equipment to enhance soil health, reduce chemical applications and protect water resources. … Read more
Virginia Marine Police ended up rescuing a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who swam into the water off a Lancaster County beach. His owner and a friend tried to retrieve the dog but the water was too cold so they had to call off the search. 2 officers pulled the dog from the water after it had … Read more
The Kilmarnock Police Department adds a new officer to its ranks. Richard E. Thomas Jr. is a Richmond County native who graduated from the Department of Criminal Justice Academy in May of 2015. Thomas is also certified as an EMT and has an Animal Control Officer certification from the DCJA. He started on Aug. 9 … Read more
The clock is ticking for Virginia’s Redistricting Commission to define new congressional and state borders but the work is behind schedule because federal census data didn’t come in until last Thursday. Another issue is the data’s digital format is incompatible with the commonwealth’s mapping software and according to WRIC the state hired an independent firm … Read more
Governor Ralph Northam says Virginia is ready to accept Afghanistan refugees from a program that provides special immigrant visas for those who helped Americans . Northam announced on social media that he visited with Afghans at Fort Lee and is working with Washington on the process to bring in thousands more refugees. A flight from … Read more