When the Southern Environmental Law Center recently announced that an Internet security breach exposed highly confidential information, it was a reminder that there may be few safeguards to protect the most sensitive information.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, a Joint Commission on Technology and Science panel has been investigating how to create more layers of protection to make it more difficult to access information—starting with forms of identification.

Once again there’s a convergence of minds in Richmond to tackle the issue of improving education and taking students to the next academic level.  In an interview with Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil, Governor McDonnell discusses how before this and future generations can move forward, they must first master knowledge and skills that have been left behind in the classroom.

Virginia lawmakers are recognizing the growing body of evidence that connects oral health to overall health and well-being.  The Joint Commission on Health Care has begun a two-year study to determine the fiscal impact and other consequences of untreated dental disease in the Commonwealth.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, they’re finding that the cost of prevention may be far less than doing nothing.

Both presidential campaigns are ramping up their efforts to get new voters signed up before the voter registration deadline in Virginia. Matt Laslo reports.

Virginia revenues declined for the month of September … resulting in tax collections for the first quarter of the fiscal year that are below the forecast used to craft the two-year state spending plan.  Finance Secretary Ric Brown told the House Appropriations Committee  that there’s no need to rush to lower the revenue forecast or cut the state budget just yet.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, he also said the uncertainty of federal fiscal policies may be a drag on economic activity.

Virginia’s Executive Mansion was the backdrop for the roll-out of a new, illustrated book about the 200-year-old house itself.  Joined by best-selling author David Baldacci, First Lady Maureen McDonnell and other dignitaries unveiled “First House,” which traces the history of the building and the stories of the 54 families who have lived there.   And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the legacy of the oldest Governor’s house still used as a residence is now preserved for posterity.

A new study by the General Assembly’s watchdog agency suggests that year-round Virginia schools have significantly improved SOL scores for specific student subgroups.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, when lawmakers return to work in January, they will need to decide whether or not it’s worth investing more money into programs that do not benefit the majority of students.

Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner is hosting a retreat this week for a bipartisan group of senators to discuss ways to divert massive budget cuts slated for the nation. Partisan wrangling over raising the nation’s debt ceiling not only led to the U.S. credit rating being downgraded, it also set up sequestration: a mechanism to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal budget if lawmakers don not hammer out a deal. That hatchet is slated to fall in January.

Senator Warner says even in the midst of this year’s elections it is important for him and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to try to divert those cuts.  “What I fear the most is going through the kind of kabuki dance that leads us to the eleventh hour where you then end up with a product that looks like the debt ceiling product.”

Warner and the others are being closed-lipped on the deal they are discussing behind closed-doors, but he is offering at least one hint. “And if there’s a memo to us going forward: don’t set up a default mechanism that you can’t live with.”

Warner and the others are not disclosing where the retreat will be located, and they are not expected to unveil any product until after this year’s elections.

-by Matt Laslo

Those who advocate for the victims of child sexual abuse and pornography have been tracking the outcomes of civil suits filed by the victims nationwide. They say it’s evident that without tough laws such as the one passed in Virginia last year, convicted offenders would have more protections than the children they prey upon.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the trends also call into question whether or not the Commonwealth’s prosecutors are using the law that requires offenders to pay restitution—or if victims even know they have the right to demand it.

“Energy Capitol of the East Coast” …that phrase has been tossed around by the McDonnell administration since Governor McDonnell took office– but some are questioning whether Virginia can actually achieve that status, if it doesn’t start tapping into alternative energy resources soon. During the Governor’s third annual Conference on Energy, stakeholders said they do believe there are steps the Commonwealth can take to position itself better than other states.  Tommie McNeil has more.

The Library of Virginia and League of Women Voters are a few of the organizations hoping that recounting some history will awaken the state’s voters.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, they particularly want to target the women who aren’t the fervent ballot-casting activists they used to be.

State forensic lab technicians have been working at a frenetic pace to keep up with the demand for testimony at criminal trials and also to test the chemicals used by purveyors of intoxicating drugs to skirt Virginia laws.   State officials say juggling schedules, installing new equipment, and revising statutes have all helped.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, they don’t expect the pace to slow down anytime soon.

Green jobs proponents say Virginia is missing out on an opportunity to capitalize on an alternative fuel source that would help reduce toxic emissions and fuel costs, while providing a boost to the farming industry. Bio-diesel producers say the technology is here to manufacture a much better grade of fuel that can be used on both commercial and consumer vehicles, and none of it has to be imported to the Commonwealth. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.

93% of Virginia’s public schools are fully accredited based on the state’s Standards of Learning.   That’s according to data released Wednesday by the Department of Education.  The number of schools earning full accreditation is down slightly from the previous school year, but some individual categories showed improvements.  All but 122 of public schools are now fully accredited.  Among high schools, 90% earned the highest rating—compared to 86% last year.  And 96% of elementary and 88% of middle schools earned full accreditation.  In 2011, 30 schools earned a “provisional” status, but this year only 6 fall into that category and must undergo an academic review.  But compared to 30 schools last year, 100 schools in 2012 are accredited with warning, which means pass rates are below the standards and they must adopt school improvement plans.  Nine are conditionally accredited new schools, and the status of five schools has yet to be determined.  Peabody Middle School in Petersburg and Lafayette-Wynona Middle School in Norfolk are the only two schools denied accreditation.  State education officials say the 3% decline in the total number of fully accredited schools is due, in part, to implementation of more rigorous college and career-ready mathematics tests. The same can be expected next year when new English and Science standards are implemented.

— Tommie McNeil

Four years ago, 13.5 % of the Commonwealth’s voters cast absentee ballots in the presidential election.  Last Friday, in-person absentee voting opened in all 134 Virginia localities, and some registrars have already reported a heavy turnout.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, state officials say voters who want to exercise this option need to check the rules and submit their applications—to guarantee they can cast their ballots without going to the polls on election day.

Independent and third-party candidates in Virginia have completed the verification process that determines their eligibility to run for various offices, and the list of candidates on November’s general election ballot has now been finalized.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the ballots will provide voters with a choice of candidates who have very diverse views across the political spectrum.
Complete lists of candidates for each locality can be found on the State Board of Elections website at:  sbe.virginia.gov .

The Latino community is the largest minority group on college campuses.  But many challenges prevent the current Latino population from gaining more ground or enrolling additional students into colleges and universities.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, a roundtable discussion held in the Richmond area sought ideas and proposals to help change that.

The U-S credit rating is once again in danger of being knocked a notch lower, which could threaten the credit rating of Virginia.

Last year it was Standard and Poor’s who angered federal officials by taking away the top credit rating for the U-S for the first time in history. This time Moody’s is putting the government on notice for its bloated debt. Virginia Republican Morgan Griffith says he’s not surprised.

“We need to get our financial house in order and that’s what they’re trying to tell us…and it doesn’t seem at this point that the Democrats are serious about getting the spending under control,” says Griffith.

If the U-S credit rating is lowered Virginia could also see its credit rating go down, which could make borrowing more expensive. Northern Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly says Republicans in the state ought to start contemplating tax increases instead of focusing merely on slashing programs.

“But you can’t have it both ways. You can’t say you want smaller government, you want to slash federal spending and, frankly, represent the Commonwealth of Virginia with a serious face. A third of the entire economy of our state is directly tied to federal investments, federal employment, federal spending,” says Connolly.

Instead of trying to address the looming problem, after this week lawmakers plan to hit the campaign trail through Election Day.

–Matt Laslo

Some believe that society has tossed aside a segment of our population.  It’s the portion of qualified doctors, lawyers, counselors, teachers, and other professionals who are quite capable of working and contributing to their communities—yet because they suffer from a disability that limits their mobility, they’re forced to relinquish their independence.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, a state Disability Commission Work Group hopes that the upcoming General Assembly session will re-institute policies to expand mobility services statewide.

As Virginia moves forward with closing four of its five training centers for people with developmental disabilities, the state is learning that the Department of Justice will not compromise much beyond the settlement agreement reached in the beginning of the year.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, although the state avoided a very costly court battle over its violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Virginia will be closely monitored to see if it complies with the terms of the settlement.

State officials have begun exploring the feasibility of turning the production and distribution of bio-jet fuel into a major economic development initiative for Virginia.  And since fuel accounts for about 40% of the airlines’ operating costs, they would like to ensure more stable prices and supplies. Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports that as worldwide demand for jet fuel with a smaller carbon footprint grows, the question now is not whether it can be done, but if it’s commercially viable.  

In a stunning turnaround, Virginia’s Board of Health has voted to impose new requirements on clinics – rules critics say are unnecessary but expensive.  Sandy Hausman was in Richmond for today’s hearing.

There are at least two sides in the development of wind energy off Virginia’s coast. One side argues that readily available resources such as coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear should be used since the development of wind energy is costly and will take time. The other side says the long-term benefits are well worth the effort since wind energy is much cleaner and has an unlimited supply. But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil explains, proponents also contend in a new report that the state may miss an opportunity to capitalize on wind development if Congress does not extend the Production and Investment Tax Credits by year’s end.

With 45% of economic development taking place in Northern Virginia, that part of the state is the Commonwealth’s economic engine. But Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, who doubles as the state’s Chief Jobs Creation Officer, says through the development of targeted shopping centers, the rest of the Commonwealth can start holding its own.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil, that’s not without some challenges.

Governor McDonnell marked the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks with a quiet tribute at the Virginia National Guard’s Joint Operations Center.  Joined by Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell, he praised the citizen-soldiers and airmen-many of whom have served in multiple deployments to fight terrorism overseas.    As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the Governor said the Commonwealth owes these unsung heroes a special debt of gratitude.

About 15% of Virginia’s total acreage has been conserved and is permanently protected from future development.  Much of that is due to the Land Preservation Tax Credit, which provides financial incentives to individuals for conserving their property.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, members of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission are exploring whether other long-term funding sources might be viable options to achieve additional goals.

Millions of Virginians live in areas prone to natural disasters and prepare themselves for wind, flood, or fire damage seasonally.  Rather than submit to Mother Nature and brace for the worst, the Institute for Business and Home Safety is recommending that Virginians significantly reduce the odds of having to rebuild and start over completely by earning a FORTIFIED designation.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil explains.

A joint legislative subcommittee on block grants is hearing more from the recipients who are served by them.  While there are specific programs related to job training, housing, and welfare, the testimony of some who receive services suggests that the block grants have been successfully providing funding to those in need when other programs cannot.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the Capitol.

Officials say Virginia has a significant revenue problem as a result of cigarette smugglers who transport the tobacco products from here to northern locations.  State lawmakers want to take action to stop the black market vendors, who are capitalizing on the Commonwealth’s low cigarette tax rate more than ever.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, smugglers have made the sale of illegal smokes a billion-dollar industry by transporting them to high-tax states such as New York.

More than one million Virginians depend on Virginia’s food banks,  and Governor McDonnell is joining community leaders to kick off “Hunger Action Month.”  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, food bank representatives say they need donations of food and cash to help meet a growing demand.

The Virginia Department of Health is not downplaying the severity of West Nile Virus, but is reminding us that it’s not the only mosquito-borne disease to worry about.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports that four confirmed cases of the virus have been reported statewide, and health officials are urging residents to take precautions.

The upcoming Presidential election is an event that will galvanize many voters, and it could be so close that the State Board of Elections is trying to ensure that every vote is counted.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Board is reaching out to military personnel who can’t head out to the polls but will have other options for casting their votes.

One Virginia-based wholesaler says that before Hurricane Isaac even came close to hitting the Gulf Coast, five refineries indicated that they were raising gas prices before the end of the day—which is highly unusual. But now that the storm has actually caused damage, the question isn’t “if” prices will continue to rise, but “how much?” Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.

As President Obama prepares to return to Charlottesville, 95 Virginia Republican delegates and alternates have gathered for a Grand Old Party in Tampa.  The conventioneers are gearing up in hopes of moving the Commonwealth to the Republican column when the electoral votes are counted.  Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan spoke with some of the delegates …who say the nation’s economic woes were the catalyst for their political activism.

Virginia’s preeminent place in the annals of U.S. history means that in any given year, there’s always an anniversary of some significant site or event in the Commonwealth.  The latest is the bicentennial of a building that survived two wars and has served as the residence of 54 governors. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, it’s a home that’s just a stone’s throw from the State Capitol.

A Virginia lawmaker believes the Commonwealth should join neighboring states Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia in building fully operational casinos.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, she believes this will not only help fix the state’s budget problems, but bring much-needed relief to the region which she represents.

Nearly a million Virginians will soon have to adjust to changes in the way they shop for their groceries.  That’s because the Virginia Department of Social Services will begin staggering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit schedule in an effort to better accommodate its recipients.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the aim is to promote good health through better nutrition. 

Despite opposition from some groups who say that a new voter ID law in Virginia equates to voter suppression, the State Board of Elections is working to implement the federally sanctioned law.  And as Virginia Public Radio Tommie McNeil reports, the Board has launched a new initiative to educate voters about the law before the November election.

While a number of elected officials are calling for some tax increases to fund programs and cut the federal deficit, some small business leaders are urging caution about raising taxes and allowing energy prices to soar during the nation’s fragile economic recovery.  They say if policymakers really want to promote business growth and put millions of Americans back to work, the U.S. must enact laws that will not burden the “entrepreneurial economy.”  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, that includes recognizing how fiercely competitive other nations have become.  

Virginia judges have the authority to terminate the rights of parents who have caused a substantial threat to a child’s life, health, or development.  But in some cases, the child is never adopted and the parents eventually turn their lives around.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, several lawmakers are calling for creation of a new state process that would permit the restoration of parental rights—IF it’s in the best interest of the child.  

The Virginia Capitol was the venue for four governors of different eras and varying states to discuss the generations-old problem of reforming education.  Despite having some philosophical and party differences, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, West Virginia Governor Bob Wise, and Virginia Governors Douglas Wilder and Bob McDonnell engaged in an interesting dialogue about how they believe those reforms could take place.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the Capitol.

The final numbers are in, and now Governor McDonnell is touting a budget surplus of more than $448-million for the state fiscal year that ended in June.  But Democrats say, “Not so fast!”  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, although they appreciate that McDonnell gives the credit to bipartisan compromises, Democrats say the savings come at a cost to education and other services.

Social Studies teachers who gathered at the Library of Virginia for a workshop this week  were treated to an opportunity to see and touch priceless historical artifacts.  The educators were participating in the annual “Anne & Ryland Brown Teacher Institute”… and learning how to use the Library’s real-life and digital collections to enhance their classroom lessons.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the workshop also included a unique experience called “feeling the power.”

It’s generally unspoken but certainly obvious in the 2012 presidential campaign: that President Obama is African-American and former Governor Mitt Romney is Caucasian.  That may not be a news flash, but race certainly has been a divisive issue in this nation, and at least one national public figure wants to put it to rest—the nation’s first elected African-American Governor, Douglas Wilder. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports that while Wilder says race has always been an issue in the U.S., there’s no reason to make it a focus of a campaign.

As the Presidential candidates strategize to take key battleground states such as Virginia, some older voters are letting them know exactly which issues are critical for securing their votes.  AARP surveys indicate that the number one concern facing those voters is directly tied to Social Security, Medicare, and the ability of Baby Boomers to fund their retirement.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, although older voters want to know where the candidates stand on these issues, they are more concerned about overcoming the stalemate in Washington in order to address them. 

Some higher education leaders are applauding news out of Richmond that although students will pay more in tuition and fees this year, the yearly increase is the lowest in a decade.  That’s less than half of last year’s average of seven-point-nine percent.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the decline is due, in part, to a significant investment made by state lawmakers over the last two years.