Virginia Beach City Council OKs taxi rate hike

VIRGINIA BEACH

The City Council on Tuesday approved a hike in taxi cab rates in a nod to how rising gas prices have hit the livery industry.

In Virginia Beach, the cost of a one-mile trip was increased to about $5.35 from $4 and a 10-mile trip to $26.95 from $22. The new charges could translate to $40 to $47 a day more for average taxi drivers, according to a city analysis.

The review found taxi operators pay about $25 a day more than 2006 because of higher fuel prices.

Drivers spoke in favor of the increase, saying it was needed to keep them in business. One company representative suggested the hike might be too much and could drive customers away.

The council may hear a similar recommendation in August to raise fees for the towing industry.

Last week, Norfolk's City Council raised cab fares in that city.

- Richard Quinn

CHESAPEAKE

School board names a chair

The Chesapeake School Board selected retired principal Sheila Hill-Russ to take over as chairwoman of the board in a 5-4 vote Monday evening.

Hill-Russ defeated Thomas Mercer, who has been chairman of the board for the past four years.

Board member Harry Murphy was elected vice chairman in a 5-4 vote over current vice chairman Michael Woods.

Hill-Russ, who has been on the board since 1998, is a retired principal from Newport News Public Schools, and said she hoped her background would help guide her work.

The board has "worked well together in the past because our focus has always been on what is best" for students, she said.

She added that she wants to provide "inclusive" leadership, drawing on all board members in major decisions.

- Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer

SUFFOLK

Thursday marks board retreat

The School Board will hold its annual planning retreat Thursday to set goals and objectives for the upcoming school year. The public is invited.

At the 1 p.m. meeting, members will also discuss the Capital Improvement Plan and hear an update on previous goals and objectives.

To accommodate the retreat, Thursday's regular board meeting has been moved to 10 a.m.

Both will take place at King's Fork High School, 351 Kings Fork Road.

- Hattie Brown Garrow

NORFOLK

School board to elect chair

The School Board's July 16 meeting will follow a different schedule from the usual one for the board's monthly meetings.

The board will elect a chair and vice-chair at 4 p.m. The informal meeting will begin at 5:15 p.m., and the formal session is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

All sessions will take place on the 12th floor of the School Administration Building, 800 E. City Hall Ave. The board will return to its regular schedule for the August meeting.

- Amy Jeter