Beach off the hook for funding HRT light rail study

Onward! The unfinished study into expanding light rail from Norfolk to Virginia Beach’s Oceanfront has been saved. Only a day before the Virginia Beach City Council was to vote on whether they were willing to pay for a portion of the research, a vote which did not look good for the go-ahead, HRT agreed to foot the bill.

Where the magic happens. (Provided you have an odd definition of 'magic.')

Last year, Virginia Beach was told by former HRT President Michael Townes HRT would pay the $244,800 needed to research the expansion. However, two weeks ago, under the new leadership of Philip Shucet, Virginia Beach was asked to pay their portion, which did not sit well with some Council members.

Shucet understands HRT made a promise to Virginia Beach, and has come up with a solution: HRT paying out of the “Advanced Capital Contribution” fund, which each member city pays into, for this specific cost.

“… let me be clear: Going forward, we will not waver from our policy requiring localities to meet any local match requirements associated with future appropriations,” Shucet said.

I think VB Mayor Will Sessoms says it best, “That to me is HRT building credibility pretty quick.”

Grandfather the old agreement, make a clear statement about requirements for future endeavors, and move on. Can’t wait to board a light rail car, boogie board in tow, and step out for a day in Virginia Beach with no parking meters to think about.

Bill to allow no-excuse absentee voting for seniors is tabled

Bill SB139 appears to be no more. After passing the Senate with a vote of 34-6, the House said no dice. The bill intended to allow Virginia citizens over age 65 the ability to absentee vote for any reason—a “no excuse” vote. Currently, one must qualify to absentee vote—usually the requirement involves proving an inability to get to one’s local polling station on Election Day during election hours. I looked up the Virginia State Board of Elections website, and the closest thing I could find regarding the elderly was a line that allows for absentee voting from “Any person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of election because of a disability, illness or pregnancy.”

(There’s also, “Any duly registered person who is unable to go in person to the polls on the day of the election because he is primarily and personally responsible for the care of an ill or disabled family member who is confined at home;” but that has more to do with those who care for the elderly, than the elderly themselves.)

While I don’t disagree our elderly sometimes miss out on the voting experience by not being able to get to the polls due to not having a driver’s license, or having a medical condition making it difficult to stand in line, travel, etc., not all persons over age 65 fit into this category. Those who do may already qualify under the above “disability or illness” rule.

Absentee voting adds time, money, and probably more than anything, controversy, to our electoral process. While I’m all for anyone, elderly or otherwise, absentee voting if they can’t make it to the polls, making a rule saying anyone over age 65 can absentee vote does not seem the logical choice in today’s world, and would instead add fuel to an already fiery topic, so I am okay it did not pass.

Nurse investigated in Portsmouth Naval case

The title is self-explanatory. The nurse is investigated for obtaining botox and other expensive cosmetic drugs and selling them illegally. She has not yet been charged.

The comment from davidm22987: “If the Virginian Pilot stopped bad mouthing the military and the Republicans there wouldn’t be anything left for them to print.”

Umm.. .okaay. While the setting is indeed a military hospital, that’s the entire mention of the military in the article… and can someone explain to me how this is political? Thanks.

Kmart to close grocery and layoff workers at Military Highway store

Kmart on Military Highway will lay off up to 184 workers by mid-March. It will also cease to have a grocery store and will no longer be 24-hour. I don’t shop at Kmart and this doesn’t affect me personally, but I wanted to recognize those who will be losing their jobs and say “that stinks.”

However, by the store downsizing, I’m wondering if this marks the beginning of the end for the mega-store. Perhaps we will soon get back to grocery shopping at the grocery store and garden shopping at the garden store, etc?