Media picks Clemson as ACC football favorite

Contributors

Clemson, seeking its 15th Atlantic Coast Conference football title and its second in three years, is the preseason choice to win the Atlantic Division and defeat Miami in the ninth annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game, according to a poll of media members attending this week’s ACC Football Kickoff at the Grandover Resort.

Earth Talk: Sea level rises not letting up anytime soon

Roddy Scheer

Since sea level measurements were first recorded, in 1870, global averages have risen almost eight inches. The annual rate of rise has been 0.13 inches over the past 20 years, which is close to twice the average from the previous 80 years. Future estimates for sea levels vary according to region but most Earth scientists agree that sea levels are expected to rise at a greater pace than during the last 50 years.

Ricketts among three judges appointed by McDonnell

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced three judicial appointments to fill vacant circuit court positions that were not filled during the 2013 General Assembly session. Robert R. Sandwich, Jr., will fill the 5th Judicial Circuit, Stephen E. Sincavage will serve in the 20th Judicial Circuit, and Charles L. Ricketts, III, will serve in the 25th Judicial Circuit.

McDonnell releases draft PPTA pipeline

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell today released the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships’ (“OTP3”) Draft 2013 Virginia PPTA Pipeline. The pipeline – which contains both long identified public-private transportation projects and new conceptual projects – follows on the heels of a year in which the value of the deals closed exceeded almost all other transportation markets across the globe, and Virginia’s P3 program was recognized as an international leader in public-private partnerships.