Virginia

Driver killed when Miley Cyrus bus overturns near Richmond

The Virginian-Pilot — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:38:00 -0500

By DENA POTTER

DINWIDDIE, Va. The driver of a Miley Cyrus tour bus was killed Friday when the bus overturned, but the 16-year-old "Hannah Montana" star wasn't on board, Virginia State Police said.

Va. commission releasing state jobless figures today

Cindy.Clayton — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:27:03 -0500

The Virginia Employment Commission is expected today to release unemployment figures for October, the Associated Press is reporting.

In September, the rate of unemployment in Hampton Roads edged up to 6.7 percent from 6.6 percent, according to the agency announced last month.

Recycling in Va. remained steady in 2008, report shows

Patrick.Wilson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:57:02 -0500

Virginia’s recycling rate remained unchanged at 38.5 percent last year, according to a state report.

The annual report by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality logs the performance of 324 cities, counties and towns, including some recycling activity by businesses.

Va. has 3 more swine flu deaths, 1 in Norfolk

Carl.Fincke — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:45:08 -0500

Three more deaths in Virginia associated with swine flu have been confirmed, including a Norfolk woman with underlying health problems. The other two deaths involved a man from the Richmond health district and a woman from the West Piedmont health district. Both had underlying conditions. Due to privacy concerns, the state health department did not identify victims.

Beach-based soldier recovering after mishap at Fort Pickett

lauren.king — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:34:56 -0500

BLACKSTONE A soldier based in Virginia Beach is in stable condition after injuring her hand when a small pyrotechnic device detonated accidentally at Fort Pickett on Wednesday.

Fatal shootings involving nonhunters rare in Va.

david.putney — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:01:32 -0500

ROANOKE Fatal hunting-related shootings in which a nonhunter is a victim are rare in Virginia.

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries spokeswoman Julia Dixon says none of the 39 firearms-related fatalities recorded since 1998 involved a nonhunter.

Shellfish harvesting halted by Va. health department through Dec. 2

lauren.king — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:16:17 -0500

The Virginia Department of Health is closing Chesapeake Bay tributaries, including in Hampton Roads, to shellfish harvesting because of last week’s nor’easter, effective today through Dec. 2. The affected shellfish include oysters, clams and scallops. Crabs and fin fish are not banned.

Va. road budget slashed $851.5M more

lauren.king — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:54:26 -0500

RICHMOND State transportation officials delivered another round of bad but not unexpected news on Wednesday when they laid out plans to further slash $851.5 million from road-building operations over the next six years. Since spring 2008, the state's six-year road plan has been reduced by $4.6 billion.

High levels of mercury found in Lake Gaston fish

Cindy.Clayton — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:15 -0500

Health officials have found high levels of mercury in walleye fish in Lake Gaston and have issued an advisory for certain groups of people to avoid eating the fish.

Bill includes $476.1M for Va. military construction

Cindy.Clayton — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:26:26 -0500

RICHMOND A $134 billion spending bill approved by the U.S. Senate includes $476.1 million for military construction projects in Virginia.

The measure approved Tuesday night on a rare 100-0 vote also funds veterans programs.