Gary Emerling

Virginia GOP expects some losses in House

Virginia Republicans are expected to lose one or more congressional seats in Tuesday's elections but maintain their majority in the state's House delegation, while voters in other states appear ready to substantially increase the Democrats' hold on Congress.

October 31, 2008

Wilder wants longer voting hours

Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder on Wednesday called for polling hours in Virginia to be extended next week -- two days after a suit filed by the NAACP made a similar request and one day following Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's order to extend early voting hours in his state.

October 30, 2008

NAACP sues over feared disenfranchisement

Virginia Democrats are sniping at one another ahead of next week's presidential election, laying the ground for a nasty internal spat if Sen. Barack Obama fails to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to prevail in the state since 1964.

October 29, 2008

Prince William County is the battlefield

The purple hue of Prince William County is expected to play a pivotal role in deciding whether Virginia swings to Republican red or Democratic blue in next month's presidential election.

October 28, 2008

McDonnell rules Viginia must count military overseas votes

Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell on Monday said federal absentee ballots from military voters overseas must be counted, following a local registrar's decision to set some ballots aside in an attempt to follow state law.

October 28, 2008

Kaine split by budget, campaign

Once considered a top choice to be Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, he must now balance his time between campaigning for the presidential candidate and trying to fix a $2.5 billion budget crisis.

October 21, 2008

Fenty’s budget renews lottery plan

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty on Thursday outlined plans to close the city's $131 million budget shortfall through measures such as freezing or eliminating vacant jobs and a council approval of a lottery proposal he has already submitted three times.

October 17, 2008

Allen, Kaine face off over ‘08 candidates

Two Virginia governors — one past, one present — debated the policies of their preferred presidential candidates Wednesday, waging a friendly partisan battle in an effort to sway voters in the swing state toward either Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain.

October 16, 2008

D.C. seeks tougher penalties for khat

The District is moving to stiffen penalties for a little-known drug that authorities suspect is used by cabdrivers in the city to stay alert and to finance terrorism overseas.

October 13, 2008

Kaine calls for 567 layoffs to shrink shortfall

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on Thursday ordered the layoffs of 567 employees and asked for permission to dip into the state's savings account to help close a $2.5 billion budget shortfall, but limited cuts to education and the state police.

October 10, 2008

Warner on cruise control in bid for Senate

Barring a setback of major proportions, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner appears headed for a sweeping victory over Republican rival James S. Gilmore III, also a former governor, in next month's U.S. Senate election.

October 8, 2008

Kaine restores voting rights to felons

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has granted voting rights to nearly 1,500 felons this year, bumping up the voter rolls ahead of next month's presidential election and putting himself on pace to exceed the record-setting pattern of his predecessor.

October 3, 2008

Economy squeezes education budgets

School districts across the region are preparing to cut most nonessential classrooms needs - from bus routes to class trips - as a result of budget deficits created by the troubled national economy.

October 1, 2008

Police prayer policy assailed

A group of Christian leaders is calling on Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine to rescind a request that state police chaplains offer only "nondenominational" prayers during department-sanctioned public events and to invite six chaplains who resigned over the policy to return to their posts.

October 1, 2008

Political contacts focus of congressional race

The two candidates in Virginia's 11th District congressional race are facing criticism for their political connections - divisive tactics in a region long held by a Republican whose moderate stands helped him keep his seat in an increasingly Democratic district.

September 30, 2008

Statehouses, District face sweeping cuts

The governors of Maryland and Virginia announced plans for sweeping budget cuts and the District disclosed a deficit of $131 million that reverses years of surpluses.

September 26, 2008

Lawmakers back recognizing tribes

Three of Virginia's most influential lawmakers came to Capitol Hill on Thursday to lobby in favor of a long-stalled congressional bill that would give federal recognition to six Virginia American Indian tribes.

September 26, 2008

Va. chaplains quit over prayer policy

At least six of the Virginia State Police's 17 chaplains have resigned following a request they offer only "nondenominational" prayers during department-sanctioned public events and ceremonies, police said Wednesday.

September 25, 2008

VA police chaplains resign after faith conflict

Six of the 17 chaplains on the Virginia State Police force have resigned following a request that they stop denominational prayers during department-sanctioned public events and ceremonies, state police said. The resignations stem from a request issued by state police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty earlier this month that has been castigated by House Republicans as a violation of the First Amendment and an attack on Christianity.

September 24, 2008

For Fenty, slowing down not an option

Most politicians run for office. D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty runs in office — that is, when he's not biking or swimming.

September 21, 2008