Gov. Bob McDonnell announces agriculture and forestry industries grant recipients

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today the recipients of fiscal year 2013 planning grants from the Governor’s Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID). Eleven projects covering more than thirty localities have been awarded a total of $249,000 to support the growth of agricultural and forestry projects in the Commonwealth.

UVa. to host Wisconsin in 2013 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Chris Graham

The Virginia men’s basketball team will host Wisconsin in the 15th ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The game will mark the second consecutive meeting between Virginia and Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the fourth meeting overall. The Cavaliers defeated Wisconsin, 60-54, last season in Madison and own a 2-1 advantage over the Badgers in the all-time series. Wisconsin defeated Virginia, 66-56, in the 1999 Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska. The only other meeting between the two teams came in the Milwaukee Classic during the 1974-75 season when Virginia won 86-78 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Virginia Living publishes its second annual guide to the Commonwealth’s ‘Bests’

Virginia Living’s second annual Best of Virginia issue is now on newsstands. The statewide guide to all that is ‘best’ in Virginia from dining to shopping to doing, Best of Virginia 2013 lists the more than 1,200 winners from Virginia Living’s second annual Best of Virginia Readers’ Survey conducted in January. More than 25,000 votes were cast in 400 categories covering the best in arts, culture and entertainment, living and recreation, shopping and services, and food and drink across the state.

VDOT awards contract to manage state transportation centers

Chris Graham

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) issued a Notice of Intent to Award to Serco, Inc. to operate the state’s five transportation operations centers and manage the Safety Service Patrol. The contract is up for consideration by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which will make a decision on whether to award the finalist during its meeting…

Del. Dickie Bell to represent Virginia at regional education conference

Contributors

Del. Dickie Bell announced today that he has been chosen by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, Bill Howell, to represent the Commonwealth at the Southern Regional Education Board’s Annual Legislative Work Conference. Additionally, Speaker Howell appointed him to the National Governors’ Association Center for Best Practices Three Branch Institute on “Child Social and Emotional Well- Being.”

Terry McAuliffe officially launches statewide campaign

Chris Graham

Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe officially launched his campaign today in front of a crowd of about 200 in Norfolk. McAuliffe laid out his transportation plan and vision for how the next Governor of Virginia can help strengthen and diversify the Commonwealth’s economy. Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim introduced McAuliffe.

Manassas woman sentenced to 18 months for illegally buying and selling more than 31 handguns in 15 days

A Manassas woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for illegally buying and selling more than 31 handguns in 15 days without a license. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil MacBride; and Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) Washington Field Division Carl Vasilko made the announcement today after Kimberly Yvette Dinkins, 44, was sentenced by United States District Judge Claude M. Hilton.