Good looks still matter in annual design competition, but the winning homes are also contextual, affordable, and energy-efficient.
By: Jenny Sullivan and Jessica Porter
There will always be a place for the luxury estate overlooking a majestic hillside, or a beautiful stretch of coastline. But houses, on the whole, are getting smaller, more economical, more energy-efficient, and more urban as builders gingerly emerge from the recession and get their backhoes rumbling again.
Read the whole story on Builder Online
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Menhaden aren’t overfished, report says
By Xanthe Waters and Jessica Porter
Atlantic menhaden along the East Coast are not being overfished, but there are “signs of concern,” according to a report released this week by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Read the whole story in the Gainesville Times
Atlantic menhaden along the East Coast are not being overfished, but there are “signs of concern,” according to a report released this week by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
Read the whole story in the Gainesville Times
Small Fish Attracts Big Environmental Debate
By Xanthe Waters and Jessica Porter
RICHMOND – Big trouble could be on the horizon for a tiny fish, the Atlantic menhaden.
Some worry that menhaden, which play an important role in the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay, are being overfished – mostly by a company in Virginia. That’s triggered a debate in environmental circles, the fishing community and the General Assembly over how to manage the menhaden population.
Read the whole story in the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily
RICHMOND – Big trouble could be on the horizon for a tiny fish, the Atlantic menhaden.
Some worry that menhaden, which play an important role in the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay, are being overfished – mostly by a company in Virginia. That’s triggered a debate in environmental circles, the fishing community and the General Assembly over how to manage the menhaden population.
Read the whole story in the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Amid 'depressing session,' Lewis sees successes
By Jessica Porter
Capital News Service
RICHMOND -- Delegate Lynwood Lewis recently finished his seventh regular legislative session representing the Eastern Shore in the Virginia House. Of the 14 bills he introduced this session, eight passed -- a success rate of 57 percent.
Read the whole story in the Eastern Shore News
Capital News Service
RICHMOND -- Delegate Lynwood Lewis recently finished his seventh regular legislative session representing the Eastern Shore in the Virginia House. Of the 14 bills he introduced this session, eight passed -- a success rate of 57 percent.
Read the whole story in the Eastern Shore News
Monday, March 1, 2010
Concerns voiced about student-athletes' concussions
By Jessica Porter
Capital News Service
RICHMOND - Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, is urging the House to pass a law to educate athletes and coaches in Virginia's public schools about the dangers of concussions and to ensure that injured student-athletes get medical attention before returning to play.
Read the whole story in the Star Tribune
Capital News Service
RICHMOND - Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, is urging the House to pass a law to educate athletes and coaches in Virginia's public schools about the dangers of concussions and to ensure that injured student-athletes get medical attention before returning to play.
Read the whole story in the Star Tribune
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Fishing bill gains traction
BY JESSICA PORTER • CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE • FEBRUARY 24, 2010
RICHMOND -- The General Assembly has unanimously passed legislation by Delegate Lynwood Lewis,D-Accomac, and Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, to prevent nonresidents from getting a commercial fishing license from Virginia if their home state doesn't reciprocate for Virginians.
House Bill 1291 and Senate Bill 192 will prohibit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission "from selling a commercial fishing license to a nonresident whose state of residence does not offer for sale the same or similar license to a resident of the Commonwealth."
Currently, fishermen from states such as Maryland and New Jersey come to Virginia to buy licenses that neither they nor Virginians can get in their home state.
"Maybe (the bill) will broaden the doors on what we're able to do. And if it doesn't broaden our doors, maybe it will stop people from taking our resources," said Ken Smith, president of the Virginia Waterman's Association.
HB 1291 passed 97-0 in the House and 40-0 in the Senate. It has been sent to Gov. Bob McDonnell for his signature.
SB 192 passed 39-0 in the Senate and 95-0 in the House but with amendments.
"It's basically a reciprocity bill," said John Bull, spokesman for the Marine Resources Commission. "If other states are not treating Virginia fisherman the same way we treat their fisherman ... the license structure will change as a result."
Read the whole story in the Eastern Shore News
RICHMOND -- The General Assembly has unanimously passed legislation by Delegate Lynwood Lewis,D-Accomac, and Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk, to prevent nonresidents from getting a commercial fishing license from Virginia if their home state doesn't reciprocate for Virginians.
House Bill 1291 and Senate Bill 192 will prohibit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission "from selling a commercial fishing license to a nonresident whose state of residence does not offer for sale the same or similar license to a resident of the Commonwealth."
Currently, fishermen from states such as Maryland and New Jersey come to Virginia to buy licenses that neither they nor Virginians can get in their home state.
"Maybe (the bill) will broaden the doors on what we're able to do. And if it doesn't broaden our doors, maybe it will stop people from taking our resources," said Ken Smith, president of the Virginia Waterman's Association.
HB 1291 passed 97-0 in the House and 40-0 in the Senate. It has been sent to Gov. Bob McDonnell for his signature.
SB 192 passed 39-0 in the Senate and 95-0 in the House but with amendments.
"It's basically a reciprocity bill," said John Bull, spokesman for the Marine Resources Commission. "If other states are not treating Virginia fisherman the same way we treat their fisherman ... the license structure will change as a result."
Read the whole story in the Eastern Shore News
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Legislation seeks to help students succeed
BY JESSICA PORTER • CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE • FEBRUARY 17, 2010
RICHMOND -- Gov. Bob McDonnell says charter schools, online educational programs and college partnerships can boost the performance of Virginia's public school students -- especially those at risk or in underperforming districts.
McDonnell and a bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a package of school reform legislation.
"All of the initiatives in 'The Opportunity to Learn'legislative package will help our young people,regardless of where they live, gain the opportunity to go wherever their talent, dreams and hard work will take them," said McDonnell, a Republican.
"That is a worthy goal, and one that all Virginians can come together to support."
Components of the package are being sponsored by Republican Delegates Richard Bell of Staunton,Scott Lingamfelter of Woodbridge and Christopher Peace of Mechanicsville; Democratic Delegates Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg and Jennifer McClellan of Richmond; and Sen. Stephen Newman, R-Forest.
"As public servants, we must always focus on the needs of Virginia's children first. This effort recognizes that while Virginia has a strong systemof public education, we can and must do better," said Dance, who is co-sponsoring the bill to expand the state's charter schools.
Under that measure, the state Board of Education would review all applications for new charter schools in Virginia before the local school board gets a chance to review them. Also, if an application is denied, the charter school applicants
would have the right to appeal.
McDonnell said that legislation would provide guidance and consistency to the charter school application process. Virginia has only four charter schools (with a fifth scheduled to open this year in Richmond); McDonnell hopes to increase that number.
Another bill aims to expand "virtual schools" and distance-learning programs. These schools adhere to the same standards as public schools; students are taught by Virginia-certified teachers and take the state's Standards of Learning tests.
"It is critical that we provide every tool possible for local school divisions, teachers, parents and students to access information, coursework and expertise regardless of where they live," said Newman, co-sponsor of that proposal.
"It is equally important that we ensure providers of online courses and web based learning are strong, committed partners with our local school systems."
The legislative package also calls for more partnerships between higher education and K-12 schools by expanding the usage of college laboratory schools. Such programs allow students to use resources at institutions of higher education not available in a K-12 school.
That bill is being carried by Peace and McClellan.
"Led by the best and brightest minds in our university system, college lab schools will offer opportunities for all children to succeed in education regardless of whether they need remedial help or want to specialize in science, technology, engineering and math," Peace said.
The legislative package was sparked by "Race to the Top," a federal program started by President Barack Obama in November. The program will reward an undetermined number of states with grants if they:
- Enhance standards and assessments
- Improve the collection and use of data
- Increase teacher effectiveness and achieve equity in teacher distribution
- Turn around struggling schools
Virginia is eligible to receive $150 million to $250 million in grants under the program.
"With the president's 'Race to the Top' program allocating federal grant monies to states that share the administration's commitment to educational innovation,Virginia can literally not afford to stick to the status quo," McDonnell said.
Read the whole story in the Eastern Shore News
RICHMOND -- Gov. Bob McDonnell says charter schools, online educational programs and college partnerships can boost the performance of Virginia's public school students -- especially those at risk or in underperforming districts.
McDonnell and a bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a package of school reform legislation.
"All of the initiatives in 'The Opportunity to Learn'legislative package will help our young people,regardless of where they live, gain the opportunity to go wherever their talent, dreams and hard work will take them," said McDonnell, a Republican.
"That is a worthy goal, and one that all Virginians can come together to support."
Components of the package are being sponsored by Republican Delegates Richard Bell of Staunton,Scott Lingamfelter of Woodbridge and Christopher Peace of Mechanicsville; Democratic Delegates Rosalyn Dance of Petersburg and Jennifer McClellan of Richmond; and Sen. Stephen Newman, R-Forest.
"As public servants, we must always focus on the needs of Virginia's children first. This effort recognizes that while Virginia has a strong systemof public education, we can and must do better," said Dance, who is co-sponsoring the bill to expand the state's charter schools.
Under that measure, the state Board of Education would review all applications for new charter schools in Virginia before the local school board gets a chance to review them. Also, if an application is denied, the charter school applicants
would have the right to appeal.
McDonnell said that legislation would provide guidance and consistency to the charter school application process. Virginia has only four charter schools (with a fifth scheduled to open this year in Richmond); McDonnell hopes to increase that number.
Another bill aims to expand "virtual schools" and distance-learning programs. These schools adhere to the same standards as public schools; students are taught by Virginia-certified teachers and take the state's Standards of Learning tests.
"It is critical that we provide every tool possible for local school divisions, teachers, parents and students to access information, coursework and expertise regardless of where they live," said Newman, co-sponsor of that proposal.
"It is equally important that we ensure providers of online courses and web based learning are strong, committed partners with our local school systems."
The legislative package also calls for more partnerships between higher education and K-12 schools by expanding the usage of college laboratory schools. Such programs allow students to use resources at institutions of higher education not available in a K-12 school.
That bill is being carried by Peace and McClellan.
"Led by the best and brightest minds in our university system, college lab schools will offer opportunities for all children to succeed in education regardless of whether they need remedial help or want to specialize in science, technology, engineering and math," Peace said.
The legislative package was sparked by "Race to the Top," a federal program started by President Barack Obama in November. The program will reward an undetermined number of states with grants if they:
- Enhance standards and assessments
- Improve the collection and use of data
- Increase teacher effectiveness and achieve equity in teacher distribution
- Turn around struggling schools
Virginia is eligible to receive $150 million to $250 million in grants under the program.
"With the president's 'Race to the Top' program allocating federal grant monies to states that share the administration's commitment to educational innovation,Virginia can literally not afford to stick to the status quo," McDonnell said.
Read the whole story in the Eastern Shore News
Delegate hopes to repeal same-sex marriage ban
By Jessica Porter
Capital News Service
RICHMOND - Delegate David Englin, D-Alexandria, wants Virginia to repeal its constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.
He says the amendment, which voters approved four years ago, is unfair to gay and lesbian couples. So he's trying for the third time to repeal it.
Read the whole story in the San Diego Ranch Coast News
Capital News Service
RICHMOND - Delegate David Englin, D-Alexandria, wants Virginia to repeal its constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.
He says the amendment, which voters approved four years ago, is unfair to gay and lesbian couples. So he's trying for the third time to repeal it.
Read the whole story in the San Diego Ranch Coast News
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