Virginia

Authorizes state agencies to respond to winter storm

March 02, 2009 -- RICHMOND — Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency today, authorizing state agencies to respond if local governments need assistance in the wake of the winter storm that began Sunday, March 1.

"This is the most widespread winter weather event to affect Virginia in eight years," Governor Kaine said. "So far our counties, cities and towns are coping very well with all the snow, wind and power outages. We want to be able to move quickly if additional help is needed to protect the health and safety of our citizens."

In declaring a state of emergency, the governor authorizes state agencies to identify and reposition resources for quick response anywhere they are needed in Virginia.    » read more »

February 28, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the expected appointment of Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas as Health and Human Services Secretary:

"I am pleased to hear that President Obama is considering Governor Kathleen Sebelius to be his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"Governor Sebelius is a nationally-recognized leader and expert on health care and has a strong record of improving access to quality services in Kansas.    » read more »

Also announces timeline for stimulus decision making

February 23, 2009 -- RICHMOND — Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced an updated Stimulus.Virginia.Gov with new interactive features and capabilities allowing users to view submitted projects by location or category. He also announced that the evaluation of submitted projects will begin on Friday, March 6, 2009.

"The new additions to Stimulus.Virginia.Gov will make the site even more useful to citizens, localities, and organizations across the Commonwealth as they can now monitor and obtain information for project ideas based on their specific interests," Governor Kaine said. "As we all begin the stimulus decision-making process, this information will help us better understand the needs of our citizens."    » read more »

Virginia joins growing list of states partnering with UK in global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote low-carbon technologies

February 12, 2009 -- RICHMOND — Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and Her Majesty's Ambassador to the United States, Sir Nigel Sheinwald of the United Kingdom, signed a bilateral "Climate Change Action Agreement" at the Virginia Capitol today that commits each government to the common goals of combating the effects of climate change and developing a more climate-friendly economy.    » read more »

Water projects servicing 207 homes in Dickenson, Buchanan, and Tazewell Counties to be funded by largest water projects grant in history of Virginia Abandoned Mine Land program

February 11, 2009 -- RICHMOND– Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the approval of $3.6 million in funding for public water projects that will service 207 homes in Dickenson, Buchanan and Tazewell Counties. The $3,621,944 in funding for two public water projects is the largest amount granted to date through Virginia's Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program. Water supplies in both project areas were affected by pre-1981 coal surface mining activities.    » read more »

Web portal will allow all Virginians to submit projects for consideration

February 10, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today launched Stimulus.Virginia.Gov, a web portal to gather project ideas for potential funding from the federal stimulus package. Stimulus.Virginia.Gov will allow localities and citizens to contribute to the decision- making process for the distribution of any federal funds that Virginia receives.    » read more »

February 5th, 2009 -- After Gregory Secrest lost his job at American of Martinsville, a Virginia-based furniture manufacturer, he also lost his access to healthcare.

"When I gave the bad news to my family, my 9-year old son handed me his piggy bank with $4 inside and said 'daddy, if you need it, you take it,'" Secrest said.

But thanks to FAMIS, Virginia’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Secrest children will be covered.

"In a decent society, there are certain obligations that are not subject to tradeoffs or negotiations, and health care for our children is one of those obligations," the President said in remarks before signing legislation that reauthorizes federal funding for the CHIP programs and expands its coverage from 7 to 11 million children.    » read more »

Statewide ban will prohibit smoking in most bars and restaurants

February 05, 2009 -- RICHMOND - Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and key leaders in the General Assembly today announced a landmark agreement to pass a statewide smoking ban in Virginia's bars and restaurants. The legislation will ban smoking in nearly all restaurants across the Commonwealth, allowing narrow exceptions for private clubs and restaurants with a designated smoking room that is physically separated and independently ventilated from non-smoking dining areas.    » read more »

LASCO Bathware to invest $1.7 million to expand manufacturing

January 23, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that LASCO Bathware, Inc. will invest $1.7 million to expand in Halifax County. The company, which will expand its manufacturing operation to include an additional line of upscale bathware marketed under their "Aquatic" label, will create 50 jobs and save an existing 280 jobs.Virginia successfully competed with Michigan, Texas and Washington for the project.    » read more »

January 22, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued the following statement today on the campus murder at Virginia Tech this week:

"My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Xin Yang today-and with the broader Virginia Tech community. The tragic attack on campus this week has no doubt revived terrible memories for countless members of the Hokie family.

"I urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to join me in sending sympathies and support to Virginia Tech in the days and weeks to come."

Source: Virginia Governor

August 19, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Aug. 15 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device and then received small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Killed were:

1st Lt. Donald C. Carwile, 29, of Oxford, Virginia, and

Pfc. Paul E. Conlon Jr., 21, of Somerville, Massachusetts.

The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Source: DoD

August 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Kenneth B. Gibson, 25, of Christiansburg, Virginia, died of wounds suffered Aug. 10 in Tarmiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during dismounted operations.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Source: DOD

July 17, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. David W. Textor, 27, of Roanoke, Virginia, died Jul 15 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a vehicle incident.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash.

The incident is under investigation.

Source: DOD

June 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Kelly E. C. Watters, 19, of Virginia Beach, Virginia died June 11, from wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

   » read more »

June 03, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Christopher D. McCarthy, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, died 1 June 2008 at Forward Operating Base Ramadi, Iraq.

His death is under investigation. He was assigned to the U.S. Joint Forces Command, Joint Reserve Unit, Norfolk, Va.

   » read more »