Gov. McDonnell announces matching tourism grants

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that more than $750,000 in matching grant funds will be awarded to 42 local tourism initiatives as part of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s (VTC) Marketing Leverage Grant program. The grants are designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars.

Change in command at Virginia State Police field-ops bureau

Chris Graham

Effective Dec. 25, Virginia State Police Maj. George L. Daniels Jr., was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and appointed bureau director of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Field Operations. Daniels takes the place of retiring Lt. Col. Eugene A. Stockton, who has served as the BFO bureau director for the past decade.

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AAA: Gas prices jump double digits in some parts of Virginia

Chris Graham

Gas prices climbed by double-digits in Richmond and the Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia areas over the last week, leaving a lump of coal in motorists’ stockings over the holiday. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Richmond rose to $3.22 per gallon when just last week it was $3.10 per gallon.

Chris Graham: So, UVa. paid Mike London $1.09 million per win?

Chris Graham

My Google News alert for Mike London keeps buzzing with columnists across the country writing about a USA Today analysis of how much D1 schools are paying their football coaches on a cost-per-win basis. According to the analysis, UVa. paid London $1.09 million per win in 2013. (With one of those wins coming against one of the weaker I-AAs in the country, VMI.)

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Surviving the holidays: Think before you drink

Contributors

The holidays are upon us and so are busy roadways full of holiday travelers headed out to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones. More than 2.7 million Virginia residents are embarking on their Christmastime road trips and AAA Mid-Atlantic is urging motorists to exercise extreme caution on the highway during the entire holiday travel period.

Holiday Hoops Classic raises over 100 tons of food for Virginia’s food banks

Contributors

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the winner of the food and fund drive held in conjunction with the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic taking place this afternoon and evening at the Richmond Coliseum. A month-long food drive on the campuses of the four participating Virginia universities raised over 100 tons of food for food banks throughout the Commonwealth.

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AAA: Gas prices falling again

Chris Graham

Motorists’ spirits are bright across most of the country as stable, and in some areas somewhat lower, gas pump prices take hold in time for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. This week the national gas price average dropped three cents to $3.22 per gallon Friday, a penny more expensive than one month ago and mirroring the same price as this time last year.

JMU wins in Holiday Hoops Classic over Hampton, 55-49

Chris Graham

Sophomore guard Ron Curry (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) poured in 19 points as JMU held off Hampton in the final minutes for a 55-49 victory on Saturday afternoon in the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic in the Richmond Coliseum. JMU won for the second time in three games to improve to 4-9 overall while HU dropped to 5-7. JMU also improved to 4-1 in the all-time series.

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East Carolina rides second-half run to 103-94 win over VMI

Contributors

The East Carolina Pirates used a 19-4 run early in the second half to pull away and held off a rally attempt by the VMI Keydets to prevail, 103-94, in non-conference basketball action Thursday in Greenville, N.C. The contest saw 11 total players score in double figures, with ECU (10-2) putting six players in double figures and VMI (6-5) posting five-such scorers.