It’s Groundhog Day! It’s warm outside!

Beware the shadow!

As this is fantastic news, I have no soapbox to speak of this week and am hopping straight into what the papers say. Everyone get outside today and enjoy this weather!

Norfolk Police Recruit’s Death Recap

This is the most cohesive (and chronological) account of Norfolk police recruit John Kohn’s December death, which occurred during defense training and has raised numerous questions about the program and various cover up attempts.

It’s also terribly sad.

There’s an accompanying video, which I haven’t watched, but is described as showing Kohn “go limp,” from which he never recovers. It’ good this is recorded for investigation purposes, but I have to question why it needs to be shown to all of Hampton Roads. Kohn’ bandmate Devin DeGrout told the Pilot he cried after watching it, saying, “I watched my friend die.”

Kohn also had a wife and parents and numerous friends (he was a well-liked local musician and an Army Reservist). I don’t know what I’d feel if my loved ones death was being broadcast online. It feels a little sensationalistic, no?

Own Your Own Business? Want To?

Bob McDonnell’s office has created a website for small business in Virginia, and I like it. Sure, it’s difficult to maneuver the steps to start, then maintain your own business, but it feels like the beginning stages are the most difficult. This website is really easy to use, and offers information and tutorials at all steps of the process, beginning with your idea all the way through to expansion or existing in multiple states.

Norfolk’s New Boss Starts Strong

Speaking of informing one’s constituency (and police training scandal, for that matter), Norfolk’s new city manager debuted in full force yesterday, telling city council it’s not going to be just business as usual anymore. He didn’t get specific on repercussions for the Chief of Police (many are calling for disciplinary action in the wake of Kohn’s death and its muddled aftermath.) He did say he’s going to do four town hall meetings in February and March and plans on spending more time out talking to citizens than in his office.

He also warned us all about the next round of budget cuts, and how they won’t be handled as across the board cutbacks, but rather specific departments or organizations will just be shut down completely.

Virginia Ranks Terribly for Special-Needs Support

While Virginia ranks favorably in most child health statistics, we are ranked #48 (aka: terrible) when it comes to how we handle our special needs children. Support services for children with ailments ranging from autism to cystic fibrosis (and their families) are lacking and coordination among different support systems is disorganized. CHKD (who hosts the statewide service group Care Connection for Children) cites examples of children staying extra days in the hospital because transportation can’t be arranged. Let’s get it together, guys. Support services should be considered part of the treatment, and therefore covered under any insurance programs. Families already stressed with the job of caring for a special needs child don’t need to be further troubled by figuring out who to turn to for non-medicinal support (ie: equipment, transportation, etc.)

General Assembly Considers Repeal of HPV Vaccine Requirement

In other medical news, did you know Virginia is the only state to require teenage girls get the HPV vaccine, commonly known as Gardasil? It’s been this way since 2007 and now the General Assembly is voting to reverse that, citing parents rights to vaccination options. The language is funny, though, as the current law does have an ‘opt out’ provision for parents.

This one’s tricky, folks. Parents should have the right to determine their childrens’ medical care, including vaccinations. However, HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer and is also the #1 sexually transmitted disease in the US, though it’s contagious through other means beyond sex, including skin and mucus contact. The American Social Health Association says by age 50, more than 80% of American women will have acquired HPV.

So why not vaccinate? Eliminate the unnecessary cancer risk in childhood, especially if the vast majority of females will end up with its cause.

Delegate Kathy Byron’s argument, that the vaccine is “good for developing countries, but there are other ways of preventing cervical cancer in a country like ours” juxtaposed with “I don’t know if we are a medical body that knows more than others” is obviously flawed. What other ways, Kathy? Abstinence? Maybe we could get Bristol Palin to come to Richmond and explain how well that works.

Your Weekly Park Place News

Prompted by a low-income Virginia Beach neighborhood complaining that the planned homeless shelter in their midst is just another example of them being treated as a “dumping ground” for unwanted city services, Pilot writer Roger Chesley explored further. He discovered poor, often black neighborhoods (and specifically citing Park Place) have more homeless shelters, AIDS clinics, CSB offices, than more upscale locations. This is because residents don’t have the political clout to voice their concerns.

This, of course, doesn’t mean these services shouldn’t exist, and to some extent in the neighborhoods where they’re currently located, but stockpiling them all in an already low-income area further segregates all of us. Last year, when the Norfolk CSB considered putting a crisis stabilization unit in Ghent (thinking its proximity to the hospital a good thing), residents of Ghent and West Ghent were able to protest and get it moved.

Park Place probably wouldn’t have won that argument.

Reliable Weather

The Daily Press says today is going to be in the 60s. The Pilot says it’s going to be the 70s. I knew I liked the Pilot more, though the DP illustrated their “60s” with the cover of Sargeant Pepper’s, so they’re obviously cooler.

Other Good Stuff

Tonight the Jewish Mother downtown is hosting Art With a Heart, which benefits the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Kudos to everyone involved with this.

Also tonight, AltDaily is teaming up with The Naro to show Groundhog Day (come on Springtime!!).