Today's News

RICHMOND — Gov. Bob McDonnell’s transportation funding plan hit a pothole in the Capitol on Tuesday, failing to win support in the politically divided state Senate.
McDonnell’s plan and two Republican-sponsored alternatives were defeated in the Senate, hours after the House of Delegates narrowly approved a revised version of the governor’s bill. The House bill will be sent to the Senate, where McDonnell and his allies have their work cut out for them trying to keep the legislation alive.

RICHMOND — On a party line vote, the Virginia Senate has killed legislation that would require local social services agencies to screen welfare recipients for possible drug use and subject some to drug tests.
Senate Bill 721 is sponsored by Sen. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson County).
The bill died on a 20-19 vote, with all of the Senate’s Democrats opposing it. One Republican senator was not present for the vote in the evenly split Senate.

By SHAINA STOCKTON
Staff
For Randy Harmon of Galax, life has almost always been on a fast track. From motocross to race car driving, he has worked to leave quite a memorable impression on the circuits long after the dust clouds settle.
To continue what seems to be a growing family tradition, Harmon is now shifting more of his focus on to the next generation. His son, Derek, is now following in his father’s tire tracks, and it has already been said by some that he could someday qualify against the titans of racing — NASCAR.

CANA — A pedestrian who was on scene at a vehicle accident on U.S. 52 Wednesday suffered injuries after she stepped into traffic, according to Virginia State Police.
Angela Jones, 47, of Cana and her husband received a call from her son, saying that he had been in an accident Wednesday morning, according to investigating Trooper S.M. Phillips.
The couple found an accident at the intersection of U.S. 52 and Flower Gap Road.
(It turned out that this incident was not her son’s accident.)