Virginia Public Radio

Dozens of people rallied outside the State Capitol yesterday to support tougher new EPA proposals for electricity-generating plants. At the same time, Virginia lawmakers were hearing from stakeholders—and trying to determine how the state could be effected if the rules are adopted. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, there were a lot of questions about reports that residents could be paying $300 a year more if the proposals are adopted – because some power plants could shut down.

After hearing from stakeholders about proposed EPA rules to reduce power plant carbon emissions, Virginia lawmakers expressed concern about estimates that the state’s utilities will have to spend billions of dollars on improvements and ultimately pass those costs on to consumers. But supporters of the regulations say that lawmakers aren’t seeing the whole picture.

For instance, Cale Jaffe with the Southern Environmental Law Center says based on the credit for plans already underway— including maintenance of Virginia’s nuclear fleet that is “at risk” of being retired—new gas plants, and coal plant retirements, Virginia will be nearly 80% compliant with the EPA’s emissions-reduction goal for the Commonwealth:   And Jaffe counters the argument that investments in alternative energy sources would cost consumers 25 to 30% more.

Jaffe says 100% compliance with the EPA’s goal is achievable with investments in energy efficiency and renewables.  He adds that Virginia has a great opportunity to leverage the Clean Power Plan into the creation of solar, wind, and energy-efficiency jobs.

As Target, Home Depot, the U.S. Post Office and other entities find it difficult to protect consumer information, Virginia lawmakers are wondering how public schools will guard student data as they transition into electronic instruction, testing, and information storage. As Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, the Joint Commission on Technology and Science aims to close the gaps in state laws and policies that might inadvertently allow the use of student data for unauthorized purposes.

It’s harvest time for tomatoes in the New River Valley. That’s not as strange as it sounds because these tomatoes are growing inside a huge greenhouse in the New River Valley.

The new venture promises to bring jobs as well as more locally grown tomatoes to the region.  Robbie Harris reports.

It might be difficult to tell how someone affiliates politically just by looking at them, but an international team of scientists has come close. They’ve found a way to predict a person’s party of preference by how they react to gruesome images – with 95 to 98 percent accuracy.

Virginia lawmakers are going back to the grind to finish business they tried to complete, not once, not twice, but now for the third time this year.  They will do so when both houses of the General Assembly convene later today and tonight.  The state’s ongoing revenue shortfall will necessitate more tough decisions not long after that.

The Virginia state forensics lab says it no longer has the resources to process drug evidence in misdemeanor marijuana cases. Also, Northern Virginia residents may soon be able to cross the Potomac and light up a joint without breaking the law if DC voters have their way. Those stories have been among the most read over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link.

Sen. Mark Warner
Archive Photo/Creative Commons

Though it’s not yet official Democrat Mark Warner appears to have narrowly won re­election to the U­S Senate in a contest that was much closer than anticipated. Even in apparent victory, Warner’s national brand may have been tarnished by his election night struggle against Republican Ed Gillespie. Fred Echols reports.

For 27 years in Charlottesville, the Virginia Film Festival has provided an annual showcase of movies, everything from independent films to classics to documentaries, along with panel discussions and other special events.  Not to mention an opportunity for local folks to rub elbows with some big names in film. Andrew Jenner reports.

In the 6th Congressional District, Bob Goodlatte beat Libertarian Will Hammer and Independent Green candidate Elaine Hildebrandt to win a 12th term. The Democrats did not field a candidate in this race. In the 9th Congressional District, in southwest Virginia, Republican Morgan Griffith bested Independent William Carr to win a third term and the Democrats did not field a candidate in this race either.

Election night was a nail-biter for incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner, who had been expected to coast to victory. His badly outspent Republican challenger, Ed Gillespie, defied ALL of the polls leading up to election day—and took the lead throughout the evening until Fairfax County’s vote totals were finally reported. As Anne Marie Morgan reports, the wave that swept Republicans into the majority in the U.S. Senate nearly engulfed Virginia.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner is claiming victory in his reelection contest, while his Republican challenger Ed Gillespie isn’t conceding. Capital Hill reporter Matt Laslo has the story.

As expected, Republican Dave Brat – who stunned the pundits by unseating Eric Cantor in the GOP primary – was victorious in Virginia’s 7^th Congressional District. It’s solidly Republican, and Brat won more than 60% of the vote. Sandy Hausman has more on that story.

VA21 Members

In a mid term election, the goal is to ‘get out the vote.’ As Robbie Harris tells us, one demographic is stepping up its “G-O-T-V’ efforts this time around.

Some contend his campaign stole votes from the Ken Cuccinelli for Governor campaign last year.  And many wonder why Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis is now running for the U.S. Senate when his poll numbers pale compared to his Democratic and Republican rivals. But in a conversation with Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil, Sarvis explains his focus isn’t on winning, it’s on branding.

Proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules aimed at reducing carbon emissions, generating more energy from renewables, and addressing global warming are getting a cold reception from one of the state’s most influential agencies. As Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, while environmental groups support the regulations, others contend that they’re much too burdensome, unrealistic, and aggressive.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia is one-of-a-kind – a privately funded medical facility for injured animals from across the Commonwealth. To make ends meet, the Waynesboro Center will host a fundraiser and auction featuring some surprising items. Sandy Hausman has that story.

Jesse Matthew

Experts suggest that Jesse L. Matthew Jr., the man authorities link to the Hannah Graham and Morgan Harrington cases, stands no chance of bail and little chance of a life outside of prison– even if he attempts an insanity defense. Hawes Spencer has this report ahead of Matthew’s court appearance Friday, October 31st.

What would the nation’s energy policy look like if Republicans capture the Senate this fall? Capitol Hill reporter Matt Laslo caught up with Virginia lawmakers and energy analysts to find out the potential impact on the commonwealth.

Former Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and former Rep. Rick Boucher chair the commission

A blue-ribbon panel created by Governor McAuliffe to probe state and local ethics laws and recommend reforms met for the first time Monday and got right to work. After approving a statement of principles, the Governor’s Commission on Integrity and Public Confidence in State Government then plunged into a discussion of current laws among the states … and ethics policies that are thought to be “best practices” nationwide.  And as Virginia Public Radio’s Anne Marie Morgan reports, with the governor’s December 1^st deadline for their proposals just around the corner, the members speedily reached a consensus on a number of concepts.

Attorney Jim Camblos
Photo: Neal Augenstein, WTOP

The lawyer now tasked with representing Virginia’s most embattled criminal suspect has a long track record, primarily on the prosecution side of the courtroom. Is Jim Camblos the right lawyer for the man charged in the case of Hannah Graham, the 18-year-old University of Virginia student whose remains were publicly identified on Friday, October 24?

You may have heard rumors, grumblings, and conspiracy theories about planned attacks by ISIS or ISIL militants on American soil—but nothing credible. While the news media are NOT in the business of creating panic, we are raising awareness as it’s passed on to us. And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, a recent FBI bulletin sent to media outlets warns that the terror organization is trying to persuade noncombatant sympathizers to execute or kidnap specific groups of American citizens.

Morgan Harrington’s t-shirt was found 10 miles from her body at this 15th Street apartment building. Credit: Hawes Spencer

For nearly five years, a rock band t-shirt that mysteriously appeared near the University of Virginia has been one of the most connective yet perplexing clues in the death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington.  Hawes Spencer reports.

Veteran Charlottesville Defense Attorney Dave Heilberg

With charges starting to pile up against the man blamed for one woman’s rape and another’s disappearance, who decides where to prosecute first?  Hawes Spencer has this report.

Halloween reminds us that it can sometimes be fun to explore the dark side. And the rise in popularity of horror movies of the last couple of decades seems to confirm that. A Virginia Tech Professor of pop culture is taking a closer look at scary movies to see what they tell us about the stereotypes that drive them.  Robbie Harris has more.

Jesse Matthew

Jesse Matthew, the suspect in custody for the abduction of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, has been indicted on charges related to a 2005 rape in Fairfax.

Forensic evidence links Jesse Matthew to the 2009 disappearance of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington in Charlottesville, which had previously been linked to the Fairfax rape, officials said.

Meantime, the man who called in a tip that led to the discovery of human remains behind an empty house in southern Albemarle, says that it was the sheer number of vultures that caught his eye.  Hawes Spencer reports.

A vaccine aimed at helping cigarette smokers quit, is entering the next phase in testing. A Virginia Tech professor who’s been working to develop the vaccine got a $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to test the vaccine.  Robbie Harris has more.

Photo Credit: Hawes Spencer

Police in Albemarle County are waiting for results from the state’s crime lab – hoping to learn whether remains found over the weekend are those of missing UVA student Hannah Graham. Sandy Hausman reports on the discovery and what it may mean for the only suspect in the case – Jesse Matthew, Jr.

With the disappearance of Hannah Graham, Morgan Harrington, Alexis Murphy, Dashad Smith and other young adults, some people wonder if a serial killer is at work in and around Charlottesville.  Sandy Hausman talked with law enforcement experts  who say that’s possible – but other factors may account for these tragic cases, Central Virginia isn’t the only place reporting missing people, and such things have occurred in the past.

CDC Safety Training Course
Credit: Centers for Disease Control

While state officials express confidence, health care professionals are preparing on the front lines. Sandy Hausman paid a visit to the University of Virginia Medical Center where staff was invited to a lunch-time discussion of ebola. That presentation suggests one of Virginia’s premiere teaching hospitals could handle a couple of cases but maybe not a major outbreak. Sandy Hausman has the story.

Police have a suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, but their investigation continues. They’re not saying much, but in the first of a two-part series, Sandy Hausman looks at what may be going on behind the scenes and why.