Va Schools Earn Education Excellence Award

2013 Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence Two schools – Rocky Run Middle in Fairfax County and Kemps Landing Magnet in Virginia Beach – earned the Governor’s Award for Educational Excellence, the highest VIP award. Both schools will receive a display banner and a signed resolution of commendation from Governor McDonnell. No school divisions qualified for …

Amendment Bars Abortion in Va Federal Exchange

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Bob McDonnell wants to prohibit abortion coverage through insurance plans purchased through the federally run health care exchange that will serve Virginia. The Republican governor added the amendment to health reform legislation that passed the General Assembly earlier this year, outraging abortion rights advocates. Unless opponents can muster at least …

DC Metro Service Alerts Added to Google App

WASHINGTON (AP) — Commuters can now keep up to date on Metro service alerts with their smartphone. Google says it has added real-time service alerts from Metro to its Google Maps app for smartphones. The search giant says it now provides information on more than a million transit stops worldwide. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel says …

Martinsville Keeps Top Jobless Rate in February

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The city of Martinsville’s jobless rate remained the highest in Virginia in February. The Virginia Employment Commission says the city’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate was 15.4 percent, down from 16.7 percent in January and 16.2 percent a year ago. The statewide rate for February was 5.7 percent. Nationally, the seasonally unadjusted …

In Q1, McAuliffe Grosses $5.1M, Cuccinelli $2.4M

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic fundraising maven Terry McAuliffe raked in $5.1 million for his own Virginia gubernatorial quest the first quarter of this year. His Republican rival, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, raised about $2.4 million, but had about half the time to do it because of the law banning officeholders from raising cash during …

White House Security Increased After Boston Blasts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Secret Service says it has expanded its security perimeter around the White House following the explosions at the Boston marathon. Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary says the perimeter was expanded out of an abundance of caution, and it’s not unusual for the agency to expand or contract security perimeters. Metropolitan Police, …

2 Found Dead in Burning House in Chesterfield

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Chesterfield County authorities are investigating the deaths of two people who were found in a burning house. Lt. Jason Elmore of the fire department says foul play is suspected. Several fires may have been intentionally set inside the structure. The bodies were found on different floors of the two-story structure. According …

Va Police Halt Search for Woman, Await ID of Body

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia State Police are awaiting the identification of a body found in the same area where a missing professor’s car was discovered. The Daily News-Record (http://bit.ly/15eBYRv ) reports that state police halted the search for Harriet Cobb after the body was found Friday in the Mountain Grove area of Bath County. …