News and Notes

From WVTF News...

Morgan Harrington Investigation: Police Update - 7.2.10

There's been a new development in the investigation of Morgan Harrington's murder. The 20-year-old Virginia Tech student disappeared last fall in Charlottesville and her remains were found three months later in a farm field along Route 29 South. Now, State Police are linking the case to another crime in Northern Virginia. A 26-year-old woman was assaulted in Fairfax in September of 2005. She gave police a description of her attacker and officials have now released a composite sketch of the suspect. Police declined to give details but said forensic evidence from that case matched material from the Harrington investigation. Corinne Geller, spokesperson for the Virginia State Police, has more.

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Hearings in Virginia's Health Care Lawsuit - 7.2.10

A U.S. District Judge in Richmond says he will issue a ruling within 30 days after hearing arguments over the new federal health care mandate that requires Americans to buy health insurance or pay a fine. At issue is whether Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's lawsuit against the federal government has enough merit to move forward or whether it should be dismissed. Virginia Public Radio's Tommie McNeil has more from Richmond.

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Viva Virginia Continues with Mozart's Journey - 7.2.10

"Viva Virginia," the international music festival at Virginia Tech, wraps up this weekend after attracting students, international performers, chamber music lovers and opera buffs to the Blacksburg campus. Saturday night's final event is titled "The Magical Journey of Mozart." Organizer Joan Dornemann of the Metropolitan Opera offers a preview.

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Virginia Resorts Reposition Themselves - 7.1.10

Many of Virginia's resorts are in the process of re-inventing themselves because of the recession and the changing marketplace. "The Resort Report" is an article in this month's Valley Business Front magazine. Publisher Tom Field tells WVTF's Beverly Amsler why the magazine decided to tackle the issue.

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Protest over Stalin Bust Continues - 6.30.10

The firestorm of protest continues against the bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin on display at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford. The Bedford County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution asking that the bust be removed. Now, Virginia lawmakers in Washington have their own reaction. Manuel Quinones reports from the Capitol.

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Adult Learners - 6.30.10

The State Council for Higher Education of Virginia wants to help residents with existing college credits obtain Bachelor's degrees. The Council now features a link on its website that lists colleges and universities with flexible programs for those with busy schedules. Virginia Public Radio's Tommie McNeil reports from Richmond.

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Arlington National Cemetery - 6.30.10

The nation's most revered military burial site has been mired in scandal since early June, when a federal investigation unearthed a shocking pattern of neglect and mismanagement. Today, the House Armed Services Committee, on which several Virginia lawmakers serve, grilled the military and civilian officials in charge of Arlington National Cemetery. Sara Sciammacco has more from Capitol Hill.

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Electric Utility Regulation - 6.29.10

An unofficial legislative panel says it will craft proposals this summer that would change the law establishing how electricity rates are set in Virginia. The Electric Utility Regulation Work Group was formed by House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong in response to 13 rate increases requested by Appalachian Power in the last five years. Virginia Public Radio's Anne Marie Morgan reports from our Richmond bureau.

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Book Explores Social Bonds Between Dogs and Humans - 6.28.10

It's been said that "dogs are man's best friend." A Radford University professor has written a book that explores the development of the social bond between the species. Darcy Morey's new book is Dogs: Domestication and the Development of a Social Bond. He talked with WVTF's Beverly Amsler about the book and explained the difference between "dog people" and "cat people."

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Trek Promotes Zero Waste - 6.28.10

Four young adults will set off today on a 100-mile hike through the George Washington National Forest. Their mission is to pick up trash and promote zero waste. WVTF's Sandy Hausman reports on the "Pick up America" campaign.