He hasn’t been on the job for two full weeks, and Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring is already shaking things up. While he doesn’t surprise anyone by sticking to his campaign pledge of fighting for marriage equality, he does strike a chord on all sides by saying that Virginia’s legal position has shifted. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, Herring says he will use his office’s resources to join a lawsuit challenging the state Constitution’s provision that upholds traditional marriage.

The Virginia State Senate has approved legislation that expands the rights of a person petitioning for a protective order and puts an alleged abuser on the hook for costs associated with some of the victim’s needs and costs.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more details from the State Capitol.

It’s fairly easy for people in Virginia to change their name, but when it comes to sex offenders, one state lawmaker thinks it should be more difficult.  Sandy Hausman reports on a bill he’s introduced in Richmond.

Provisional drivers who talk on their cell phones while they’re behind the wheel can be pulled over and charged with a traffic offense under legislation that has passed the Virginia Senate.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, supporters were concerned about the safety of inexperienced drivers under the age of 18 who flaunt the current law.

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates.

Hundreds of people, some of them armed, were in Richmond Tuesday – hoping to sway lawmakers toward voting for or against further regulation of guns.  Sandy Hausman reports on two very different rallies outside the state capitol.

The annual license tax imposed on hybrid vehicles as part of last year’s transportation-funding law may be on its way out.  The Virginia Senate has voted overwhelmingly to repeal the tax, which was never popular in the first place. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, lawmakers who did not want to jeopardize the transportation compromise last year now feel free to get rid of that provision.

Voting could be easier if one Virginia lawmaker has his way.  Sandy Hausman reports on one proposal to allow absentee ballots from anyone who’d like to vote early – and another that could lead to voting by mail.

The issue of gun control will be on the minds of state officials today, as lobbyists prepare to deliver their message to lawmakers. Sandy Hausman reports.

The Virginia State Senate has passed legislation that uses unemployment benefits to help keep employees on the job in lieu of being laid off. Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil explains.

At least one of the mental health bills sponsored by State Senator Creigh Deeds is moving forward to the next stage without ANY opposition. After being released from emergency custody after psychiatric beds were not found, Deeds’ son stabbed him and subsequently killed himself. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the bills proposed by the Senator reflect deficiencies in the system that he saw as a result of the tragedy.

Governor McAuliffe called on state lawmakers Monday night to modernize Virginia’s Standards of Learning testing program in the public schools.  Now House Republicans have rolled out their initial plans… and say enacting education reforms will be a long-term project.  Their comprehensive plan would not only impact the SOLs, but also the array of courses that students can take and teacher compensation.

It’s a sign of the times that Virginia lawmakers may soon consider a bill to ban what’s popularly known as “revenge porn” – the posting of naked pictures by an x-lover online.  Sandy Hausman reports on the proposal and why some people object.

Sen. Barbara Favola, 31st District

A group of Democratic members of the General Assembly have announced that they will push for repeal of several abortion-related laws that have passed in recent years, which they say are restrictive and set up barriers to women’s reproductive health. As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Mare Morgan reports, the Senators and Delegates say that to achieve this goal, they will play both offensive and defensive roles during the legislative session.

At his inauguration in Richmond on Saturday, Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe offered an olive branch to his Republican counterparts. Matt Laslo was there and has this look at the new governor’s agenda…    

When Governor McDonnell gave his final State of the Commonwealth address, he once again asked for a change in the state Constitution to allow automatic restoration of rights to felons. But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, those who are closely monitoring the current General Assembly session with hopes of this or other big constitutional changes… may be in for a bit of a disappointment.

One passionate goal of outgoing Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is ensuring that there are advocates for domestic violence and human trafficking victims after he leaves office.  As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, that’s why one of Cuccinelli’s final acts as A-G is allocating millions of dollars for human trafficking victims.

There’s no law on the books, but under Virginia’s common law, suicide is considered a crime.  In the current legislative session, one delegate thinks it’s time for the Commonwealth to change that, as Sandy Hausman reports.

Democratic and Republican leaders in the House of Delegates have announced a bipartisan package of reforms to Virginia’s ethics and disclosure laws. Loopholes in current state policies came to light last year following news reports of gifts given to Governor McDonnell and his family by Star Scientific’s former CEO, Jonnie Williams. As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the proposal aims to correct those deficiencies without an absolute ban on giving OR receiving.

Senate Republican Leader Tommy Norment also attended the news conference to support the ethics reform package.  Senate Democratic Caucus Leader Donald McEachin did not endorse it, but said it provides a good template for future deliberations.

While the upcoming General Assembly session will focus on such issues as the state budget, ethics reform, and whether or not to expand Medicaid, small business advocates have rolled out a blueprint of their own legislative priorities. Their agenda arose from a summit of the state’s entrepreneurs and business leaders, who want to ensure that the Commonwealth maintains its competitive edge through business-friendly policies. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, they say that begins with a qualified workforce.

Richmond leaders are rolling out the red carpet for the inauguration on January 11th and the events leading up to it. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the inauguration itself will have lots of security, including the Secret Service, for the “dignitaries” expected to attend—which organizers are being very tight-lipped about.

He came within roughly two points of winning the Governor’s election, but Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli will soon leave public service for the first time in 11 years.  While critics might disagree, he says he sought to defend state laws, fight for public safety and consumers, and push back against government overreach.  In this final part of our retrospective series, Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports on some of the initiatives that Cuccinelli believes will impact the Commonwealth long after he leaves office.

His campaign promise was “Bob’s for Jobs.” Now, 1300 economic development deals and 173-thousand net new jobs later, Governor McDonnell says economic issues were indeed his administration’s priority. But he also tackled homelessness and restored rights to more felons than any governor in state history.  In Part 2 of our retrospective series on the outgoing statewide officials, Anne Marie Morgan takes a brief look at McDonnell’s four years as the Commonwealth’s chief executive.

Virginia wildlife officials are dealing with a growing menace and don’t quite know how to address it.  A feral hog population boom is prompting concern about its impact on the local ecology, agriculture, and human safety. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, although some residents may be to blame, others may also be the solution.

He served as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor for eight years and as a state lawmaker for even longer—and now Bill Bolling is saying goodbye to public office.  In Part 1 of our retrospective series on the statewide officeholders, Bolling discusses his preparation for life in the private sector and the legacy he leaves behind.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has the details. 

It’s over. Senator Mark Obenshain says that seeing the votes for his opponent Mark Herring widening significantly in the statewide recount of the Attorney General’s race, he has decided to congratulate Herring and concede.  The election is the first sweep of statewide offices for Democrats since 1989.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.

Governor McDonnell has rolled out his final two-year state budget, which includes additional funds for major core services and other priorities. The $95.9-billion budget also injects new cash into the Rainy Day Fund and adds millions of dollars to public and higher education.  Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports that the Governor used caution in forecasting revenues—due to the disproportionate impact on the state of potential changes in federal fiscal policies.

Photo: Governor’s Office

Governor McDonnell has left a somber message with hundreds of high school students about their roles in preventing tragedies such as the Sandy Hook and Virginia Tech shootings.  He also said he believes there could be a correlation between students who may seem socially inept in their teen years and those who pose risks to society later. As Tommie McNeil reports, that’s one reason why he’s asking students to be mindful of their surroundings and vigilant in their day-to-day activities.

source: http://tinyurl.com/yeeqkmv

Governor McDonnell has unveiled a series of funding provisions for his final state budget to improve and strengthen Virginia’s mental health services. The Governor had already decided to fund these Campus Safety Task Force recommendations this summer, but their urgency was underscored by the recent death of a state senator’s son after local health officials reportedly could not find a psychiatric bed for him during a mental health crisis.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, McDonnell says the reforms will continue long after he has left office.

The Governor also issued an executive order to create a new task force to fine-tune the proposals over the long term.  Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe applauded the recommendations and funding— and said he will continue working to improve the system.

With the relatives gone, and the turkey and leftovers digested, this might be a good time to kick back and catch a video.  One new release is short, free, downloadable, entertaining, informative, and all about your neighbors in the Commonwealth.  “The Virginia Indians: Meet the Tribes” video is not only a new classroom resource that’s making the rounds, but it could also inspire some outdoor event planning.  Tommie McNeil reports.

You can find out more about the project here.

Voting among the armed forces continues to be a logistical challenge—especially for those who are deployed.  Now a state commission that advises the General Assembly on technology issues has recommended enabling military personnel who are stationed overseas to cast their votes on-line if needed.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, some information technology experts also warned about ballot security and integrity.

With little fanfare, the State Board of Elections painstakingly waded through the November 5^th vote tallies sent in by localities … and certified Democrats Terry McAuliffe, Ralph Northam, and Mark Herring as the winners of their statewide electoral contests.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, Herring’s certification as Attorney General-elect by the closest statewide margin in the Commonwealth’s modern history is prompting speculation that Republican Mark Obenshain will challenge those results.

If Obenshain asks for a recount, Virginia will conduct it under a new law passed since the last statewide recount in 2005.  The law, sponsored by Senator Creigh Deeds, would require all optical scan ballots to be recounted … and provides an option of manually checking under-votes to determine if the machines missed tabulating them.

In an effort to fight early obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and related ailments, the Virginia State Board of Education is moving forward with proposed guidelines for physical education as required by the General Assembly.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports that the new rules will apply to public elementary and middle schools in the Commonwealth.

It would be true justice for a state appeals court to declare Johnathon Montgomery innocent of the crimes of which he was convicted. That’s the argument of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who today appeared before the  Virginia Court of  Appeals to urge approval of a Writ of Actual Innocence for Montgomery.  The panel weighed questions of justice versus executive and judicial separation of powers.

While some parents may not realize it, the difference between taking home a healthy bundle of joy from the hospital and a child who may suffer from a lifetime of health complications … is a prick on the heel, about five drops of blood, and a team of scientists.  It’s the newborn screening that every child born in the Commonwealth goes through.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, affected parents and medical professionals on Friday quietly celebrated a medical milestone.

As contentious as the Virginia gubernatorial race was, the current governor and governor- elect seem to be getting along quite well.  But both Governor McDonnell and Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe said during a Thursday briefing that although they do have some differences, they’ve agreed that those differences don’t matter much right now. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, they said the goal is to bring Virginians—especially the legislature—together.

Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe says his first order of business after a very contentious campaign is to call lawmakers on the other side of the political aisle. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Democrat says his goal during his term in office is to bring more jobs to the Commonwealth and build the economy, which can’t be done without a bipartisan effort.

The ACLU of Virginia has once again set up an election day hotline for voters who experience problems at the polls. The organization will also respond to questions and provide information to voters should they need to cast a provisional ballot or if their votes are being challenged for some reason.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the state ACLU says it’s also prepared to advocate on behalf of voters whose rights have been abridged.

The Virginia ACLU election day hotline number is (804) 644-8080. 

There is mounting pressure on Congress to address the issue of immigration reform.  And as lawmakers are asked to relax the criteria for allowing undocumented immigrants to live, work, and achieve U.S. citizenship, an alliance has been formed between advocates and tax preparers. The tax experts are not only dispelling the rumors about immigrants NOT paying taxes, but they’re also trying to help them establish a stronger foothold in the economy.  Tommie McNeil reports.

While some Democratic members of Congress have criticized the unsuccessful rollout of the federal health insurance exchange website, others disagree. Calls to delay some of the requirements of the Affordable Act Care escalated when Democratic New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen wrote an open letter to President Obama after the website’s problems emerged. But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, several members of Virginia’s congressional delegation say they are too quick to ask for a delay in its implementation.

Dr. Bob Holsworth

A week after a Quinnipiac poll had Democrat Terry McAuliffe with a seven-point lead over his Republican rival Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia governor’s race, the poll now says McAuliffe’s lead has dwindled by three points.  Some other polls suggest that the Democrat still has a significant lead over the Republican-with additional surveys saying that his lead is growing.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, one veteran political expert says the variation has a lot to do with who comes out to vote on election day.

Virginia’s colleges and universities may not get all—if any—of the funds they are requesting for NEW construction projects.  But the State Council for Higher Education is recommending that lawmakers make maintenance a major priority in the new biennial budget.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Council is also recommending continued funding of “Top Jobs 21″—a major education initiative started by Governor McDonnell.

The Virginia Attorney General’s office is warning consumers that scams to entice people as they seek to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act are cropping up around the U.S.

It was also Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate for governor, who was the first to challenge the Affordable Care in Act in Federal Court.  He maintains the law is unconstitutional.

Now, his office—along with the Federal Trade Commission– says in some cases, identity thieves are trying to cash-in by siphoning off personal and financial information through deceptive means.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, state officials are advising consumers to beware if they are not initiating the contact.

The number for the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline is 1-800-552-9963.   

Governor McDonnell acknowledges that one of his signature campaign proposals was not a total success, but he still touting progress that’s been made in restoring the rights of non-violent felons. The Governor has told the state NAACP that while both leading gubernatorial candidates have pledged to continue this effort, it’s not enough—and now civic leaders must push lawmakers to amend the state Constitution.　Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol.　

Based on the latest Quinnipiac Poll, if the election for Virginia Governor were held today, Democrat Terry McAuliffe would beat Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli by a significant margin. The spread itself isn’t different from the last Quinnipiac poll.  But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the survey contained the revelation that if most supporters of Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis changed their minds, the shift would not fall in Cuccinelli’s favor.

Untreated, preventable dental disease in Virginia leads to higher costs, temporary solutions, and poor health.  That’s the conclusion of a study by the General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Health Care, which especially focused on the fiscal impact to the Commonwealth.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the panel is considering policy options that might be less expensive than the status quo.

The General Assembly panel that will decide whether and how to expand Medicaid in Virginia took a look today  at the experiences of other states.  The Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission was especially interested in cost-controlling factors, aspects that worked, and mistakes to be avoided.   And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the authors of research studies that crunched the numbers also attended.

A packed room full of almost evenly divided speakers gave Virginia lawmakers an earful over how they should proceed with potentially expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, with more than 160 people signed up to speak at three minutes each, members of the “Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission” will have much to consider before they make final recommendations.

As it is in the rest of the nation, Virginia’s Latino population is growing rapidly. But some believe that while there’s a lot of talk of building a better future through education, there’s very little action that translates into real results—especially for the Latino community. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, that’s why some of the most influential educators and business leaders have gathered in Richmond for a two-day “Hispanic Workforce through Higher Education” Conference.