State lawmakers have been learning more about how the Virginia Information Technologies Agency protects and oversees the Commonwealth’s most sensitive databases.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, they’re finding out that while Medicaid expansion is supposed to help benefit those who need services, the state might not be prepared for the influx of data the expansion would bring with it.

State leaders say they do not have a contingency plan if the Virginia Supreme Court upholds a lower court ruling that tolls are taxes and not user fees.  A group of Hampton Roads residents won a victory earlier this year over whether or not they are being unfairly tolled to pay for construction of a second Midtown Tunnel and maintenance of other tunnels.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, those who support VDOT’s position say that if residents within that region win this lawsuit, citizens throughout the entire state will lose.

Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates don’t agree on much and when invited to various forums, they speak at different times. But during a candidates’ visit to the Virginia Commonwealth University class of former Governor Douglas Wilder, they both agreed on a matter that has been a sticking point for current Governor Bob McDonnell.
As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, neither GOP Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli nor Democrat Terry McAuliffe would sign off on McDonnell’s education reform package that would allow the state to take over failing schools.

Concerns that skyrocketing costs may be driving many Virginia families away from higher education prompted state lawmakers to mandate a study to discover which factors are making tuition and fees so expensive.  In its second in a series of reports, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission broke down the costs of non-academic university services, including athletics, recreation centers, housing, and dining.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, it found that these “auxiliary enterprises” are one of the major cost drivers.

The Polaris Project is an organization active in the fight against human trafficking in the U.S. and globally. Pushing for stronger state laws, they rank states on their efforts fight trafficking. Virginia once had a poor score but, as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, that has changed.

Virginia’s laws and processes in administering the death penalty can and should be improved.  That’s according to a report unveiled through a project sponsored by the American Bar Association.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the goal of the Death Penalty Assessment Team’s findings is to reduce the risk of wrongful conviction or execution.

U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is being heavily lobbied by two sets of constituents who are at opposite ends of a polarizing debate. One wants him to push for a vote next month on comprehensive immigration reform, while the other wants him to be steadfast, refuse to capitulate, and push to reinforce U.S. borders.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports on a visit to the Congressman’s Richmond office by two competing groups.

When DNA evidence began springing people from prison, prosecutors discovered just how unreliable eyewitnesses can be.   Here in Virginia, 13 out of 16 cases of wrongful convictions involved inaccurate identifications.  That led the state to issue model procedures for dealing with witnesses, but after nearly two years, Sandy Hausman reports that very few have put those recommendations into practice.

A defendant who’s charged with committing a sex offense against a child may have his previous convictions used against him in court under legislation that’s being considered by the Virginia State Crime Commission.  The bill’s opponents say that acknowledging prior convictions or negative character traits during a trial has the potential to prejudice a jury against a defendant.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, some lawmakers believe current state law does not strike the right balance to secure justice for victimized children.

Photo: Old Dominion University

Many pilots learned how to fly and surgeons how to make incisions by engaging in some type of “modeling and simulation” program developed by a group of engineers. But while “modeling and simulation” is now becoming its own profession, in Virginia few schools provide a course of study needed to train and retain these specialized engineers. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the current administration and General Assembly are trying to change that.

Virginia Civil Rights Memorial at Capitol Square

While the nation reflects on the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, a Virginia historian looks at the Commonwealth’s role in the civil rights movement and where it stands today.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.  

Your responses—or lack of participation—in a new round of surveys by the Virginia Department of Health could very well impact what kind of services are available in your area. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, while VDH still conducts surveys by telephone, the Commonwealth will begin gauging health needs via the Web through a new pilot program. 

The Virginia gubernatorial campaign has garnered most of the media attention this year.  But also on the ballot are elections for all 100 seats of the House of Delegates.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, many more Delegate seats are contested this year than the last time House candidates ran two years ago.

The Health Flexible Spending Account records of 13,000 Virginia state employees were erroneously sent last month to the wrong human resources or payroll officials … who should have received information only for their own locations.  An insurance subcontractor electronically distributed the confidential health records, which included the employees’ names and Social Security numbers.  As Anne Marie Morgan reports, the exposure of private information was not due to a hacker—but was instead caused by human error.

The Virginia Tourism Corporation has taken a small investment and not only won a national award, but turned it into what could potentially be a huge boost to the state—especially the most economically distressed communities.
As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Best Advertising Mercury Award from U.S. Travel was given for the Commonwealth’s unique “Old School Virginia” campaign.

A Confederate history organization says it still has plans to erect its battle flag along I-95 next month despite criticism from plenty of Virginians, including the state NAACP.  But a spokesman for “Virginia Flaggers” says the group is not doing anything wrong. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports,  members insist that all they’re doing is promoting a piece of their heritage that’s been gradually etched out of American history.

Governor McDonnell has announced a 585-million-dollar surplus for the state fiscal year that ended in June.  The General Assembly’s money committees greeted him with warm applause before he outlined the condition of the Commonwealth’s budget outlook.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the good fiscal news couldn’t quite obscure the other news that’s haunting him.

While voter turnout for the last three Virginia gubernatorial elections was dismal, it’s possible that negative campaigning and scandals could discourage even more voters from going to the polls in November. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil discusses the possibility with a political analyst—who believes the implications of the negative campaigns are greater than even low voter turnout.

Virginians who undervote or overvote but leave before the machine accepts their final ballots will be able to get some extra assistance from local election officials.  That’s due to a new regulation adopted this week by the State Board of Elections.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the extra step may not make much of a difference in lopsided elections, but it will help every vote get counted in the close ones.

If voters can wade through the scandals facing Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe and his GOP rival, Ken Cuccinelli, they’ll find substantive events where both candidates present ideas for the Commonwealth’s future.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, each contender made big announcements Tuesday that they hoped would help put the issues marring their campaigns behind them.