The Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus unanimously elected its leadership team at an organizational meeting Sunday and nominated Delegate William J. Howell (R-Stafford) for an eighth term as Speaker. Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), Majority Caucus Chairman Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax) and Majority Whip Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) were each also elected unanimously. “I am grateful to my colleagues in the Republican caucus for their nomination, and I hope to earn the support of the entire House of Delegates when it convenes for the 2016 session,” said Speaker Howell. “Serving as Speaker is one of the highest honors of my…

By Brittany Britto Capital News Service Flag day meant a special celebration for Jay Barringer as a child. His parents would humor him as he decorated his front lawn with flags for all of his neighbors in Bahama, North Carolina, to see. The tradition for Barringer lives on. But now, his collection includes several controversial flags. The 51-year-old, who has lived in Eldersburg, Maryland, for almost 30 years, rotates his growing collection of flags on two flag poles that hang from his front porch. Sometimes, he celebrates his neighbor from Taiwan with a Taiwanese flag, or the veteran who lives…

Connecting Hearts hosted a successful all-day summit for adoption and foster care professionals last Thursday, November 5th. Professionals joined together from every part of the commonwealth from state and private agencies to nonprofit organizations. The event featured talks by Governor Terry McAuliffe, Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr. MD, and Virginia’s Adoption Champion Debbie Johnston. During his keynote speech, Governor McAuliffe laid out a goal for the over 860 children in Virginia waiting for a forever family. Governor McAuliffe said, “Let’s make it a goal – all of us in this room – that one year…

By Ashley Jones Every week, Dr. William T. Hark of Richmond Allergy and Asthma Specialists sees patients who have peanut allergies. Such cases are so common, he says, that he can’t even count them all. “I have heard of cases where peanuts have been in things where people did not realize it,” Hark said. “Some years ago, there was a teenager who died after eating chili and didn’t realize that they used peanut butter as a thickening agent in the chili.” The presence of even minute amounts of peanuts in food poses a danger to people with peanut allergies. In…

By Maureen McNabb Health insurance can be expensive, but the cost of not having it can be crippling. Local chef Jon Wise learned this the hard way when he was sent a bill for more than $62,000 after having his appendix removed last month. “I was enraged. I had two choices: die or have surgery,” Wise said. “So I chose surgery.” Wise is one of many Richmonders without health insurance. Almost one in five Richmond residents lacks health insurance – the highest uninsured rate among the more populous localities in Virginia, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.…

Texting while driving convictions quadruple in Virginia By Rarione Maniece One summer night in 2011, 19-year-old Kyle Rowley of Herndon, Virginia, got out of his car to push it to the side of the road after running out of gas on his way home from work. Minutes later, Rowley was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by Jason Gage, according to the Virginia State Crime Commission. Investigators found that Gage had been texting seconds before hitting the teen. Gage was charged with reckless driving but was later found not guilty by a Fairfax County judge. That was because, at…

Apprenticeship isn’t necessarily the first thought when we think about continuing education, but perhaps we need to rethink what it means to be a college student today. Just ask Elise Feldt, a single mom of two who, until four years ago, juggled two jobs trying to make ends meet. Or Shanae Hilliard, a native of Alamogordo, New Mexico, who learned of The Apprentice School from a fellow basketball player who was recruited by The Lady Builders, the Apprentice School’s women’s basketball team. The Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding is proud to be a leading member of ApprenticeshipUSA, a national…

The Virginia residential real estate market rose 11 percent from the third quarter of 2014 to a sales volume of $10.1 billion, contributing to a year-to-date volume totaling $27 billion. According to the Third Quarter 2015 Home Sales Report released by the Virginia Association of REALTORS® (VAR), this increase reflects a sustained trend of long-term improvement. The Virginia Home Sales Report is published by the Virginia Association of REALTORS. Click here to view the full Third Quarter 2015 Home Sales Report. Year-over-year, the number of units sold rose in every price category except $1M and above, with the most significant…

~Man solicited minor via text and Facebook after meeting victim at church~ Matthew James Gray, age 30, of Hopewell pled guilty today to five counts of solicitation of a minor and was sentenced to ten years in prison with four years suspended by Hopewell Circuit Court Judge, Hon. Nathan Curtis Lee. Attorney General Mark R. Herring made the announcement after a successful prosecution by Assistant Attorney General Brittany Jones with cooperation from the Hopewell Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. “Justice has been served and a dangerous criminal is behind bars where he cannot harm children,” said Attorney General Mark R. Herring. “This…

A new report detailing affordability and plan choice in the Health Insurance Marketplace finds that with applicable tax credits, 70 percent of Virginia enrollees could find plans for $75 in premiums per month or less after tax credits; and 76 percent could find plans for $100 in premiums per month or less after tax credits. Virginia consumers who return to the Marketplace to comparison shop could save money. According to today’s report, 72 percent of returning Virginia Marketplace consumers could save an average of $326 annually in premiums before tax credits for a plan in the same level of coverage…