Wednesday, November 19, 2014
State and Local Stories
When Mike Pallone Chevrolet, a four-decade-old car dealership in the prosperous Northern Virginia suburbs, needed a lawyer to argue its case for help from the Department of Motor Vehicles back in 2007, it went looking to the small country town of Front Royal, more than a hour's drive to the west — assuming no traffic jams on the Beltway or Interstate 66. That's where Clay Athey, soon to be chairman of the civil law panel of the House Courts of Justice Committee, practiced law. Athey, elected a judge in 2012 by his fellow legislators, is one of several members of the General Assembly over the years who practiced before the state agencies whose budgets they decided, and among the even larger number of lawmakers who practice before judges they elect. Virginia is one of only two states where the state legislature elects judges.
Daily Press
The contractor that ultimately won Richmond’s Stone Brewing construction project was named on work permit applications filed the same day the Stone plan was announced, city documents show, a revelation that raises new questions about the process used to award the $18 million contract to build the brewery facility. The permit applications were filed nearly two weeks before the Richmond Economic Development Authority voted to award the project to Hourigan, the same local company that the EDA selected to build the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center. The online system says the applications were filed Oct. 9, the day when city and state officials announced that the California-based brewery had chosen Richmond for its coveted eastern expansion. The application date field on the documents is blank, but the permits are coded as “14100901” and “14100902,” which indicates they were the first two applications filed Oct. 9.
Times-Dispatch
Mayor Will Sessoms presided over a packed City Council meeting Tuesday night, ignoring a call earlier in the evening for him to take a leave of absence while a special prosecutor reviews his voting record. That request, from fellow City Council member and 2008 campaign rival John Moss, came via a letter circulated to the council and news reporters ahead of the 6 p.m. City Council session. Sessoms did not publicly acknowledge Moss’ letter, but he read a brief statement. He has said he has no plans to step down as mayor.
Virginian-Pilot
Hannah Graham, whose disappearance sparked a month-long search, died from “homicidal violence” but the exact cause is unknown, authorities said Tuesday. The Albemarle County Police Department outlined the findings from the Virginia medical examiner’s office in the death of 18-year-old Graham but said a final autopsy report has not been issued. In an emailed statement, county police and prosecutors said they would not be answering any further questions or providing additional information so they can “protect the integrity of the case.” County police are currently leading the investigation into her death.
Roanoke Times
State Sen. Steve Newman, R-Forest, said Tuesday he supports a blanket ban on gifts for state legislators — a prohibition he’s practiced for years. “I know some are leery of it,” said Newman, vice chair of the Senate Republican Caucus. “But I’ve done it for about 10 years, and it’s just very easy. There’s no question about where the line is.” This is a shift in outlook for Newman, who as recently as September reaffirmed his commitment to eschewing gifts but stopped short of saying it should be required of all representatives.
News & Advance
About $25 million in unclaimed royalties from gas accounts in Southwest Virginia is being held in an escrow account. The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is trying to help get some of that money to the rightful owners with a new section of its website. On the site, people can now search for property or a certain gas well, if they believe money in escrow is due them. A person using the site can identify land they believe to be theirs, estimate how many acres of the gas well unit are theirs and the site will calculate the estimated worth of that land. Some of the parcels are worth pennies, but others are worth thousands of dollars.
Bristol Herald Courier
e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government announced the top-ranked cities in the 2014 Digital Cities Survey. In its 14th year, the annual survey is part of the Center’s Digital Communities Program, which focuses on collaboration among cities, counties and regions. Open to all U.S. cities, this year’s survey questions targeted which initiatives cities were most proud of in the areas of citizen engagement, policy, operations, and technology and data. Among Virginia winners… Alexandria, Hampton, Lynchburg, Roanoke and Williamsburg
Digital Cities Survey
Local real estate developer Chris Henderson on Tuesday told the Williamsburg-James City School Board he continues to work on an idea for a public-private partnership that could result in a new middle school built at a property on News Road. Whereas he previously directed his queries to a select few county and school officials via email in October, this time Henderson took his idea to the podium at a School Board meeting. During Tuesday's public comment session Henderson told the School Board that preparing a formal public-private partnership proposal is costly, citing the figure of $20,000 in administrative charges alone. He asked the board members whether they would even consider an unsolicited proposal. "I do not want to waste your time or mine in presenting you with an option you are not prepared to consider," he said. "Provided you are in agreement to at least consider an unsolicited … proposal, I will do my part to try to bring you one for you to consider." However, his question went unanswered during the public meeting. That's because the Williamsburg-James City School Board has an established policy of not responding to the statements made by speakers during the public comment session at each meeting.
Virginia Gazette
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