Spartan Echo

  ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — A Virginia landmark and tourism attraction once owned by Thomas Jefferson is up for sale. The privately owned Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County is being put on the market, along with Natural Bridge Caverns and a 150-room hotel. The 1,600-acre property will be divided and listed by tracts. Potential buyers [...]

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Fewer Virginians are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day weekend. AAA Mid-Atlantic said Wednesday, May 22, that it expects slightly more than 1 million Virginians to travel during the holiday weekend. That’s down 1.6 percent from 2012. AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Martha Mitchell Meade says [...]

  NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The steam from a plump roasted yam greets Peggy Miller for dinner most days. It doesn’t take much to satisfy the 72-year-old’s appetite, but she’s picky about what’s on her plate. Fresh vegetables are her first choice, but they’re not easy to come by in Ballentine. The closest supermarket, a [...]

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – State lawmakers are calling for more financial accountability at Norfolk State University, which has not been able to complete a financial audit for two years. Norfolk State does not have adequate administrative staff or documentation to complete the audits for fiscal years 2011 and 2012, state Auditor Of Public Accounts [...]

  NORFOLK, VA – Tim Reid’s Legacy Media Institute, in partnership with Norfolk State University and the City of Norfolk, will present its first annual International Film Festival November 8 – 10. In celebration of the art of filmmaking, the International Film Festival will present an international showcase of culturally diverse films, while providing local, national [...]

PETERSBURG, Va. (AP) — Police arrested three men and sought a fourth Tuesday, April 23, after two Virginia State University freshmen were swept away while trying to cross a swift, rain-swollen river as part of an initiation rite. The body of one freshman, identified as Marvell Edmonson, 19, of Portsmouth, was recovered Monday. The search continued [...]

  WAKEFIELD, Va. (AP) — Before a nearly all-Republican crowd among the smallest in the Shad Planking’s 65 years, Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli dismissed his absent Democratic foe in this year’s governor’s race as a Virginia outsider and Washington insider. Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe chose not to attend the event, the [...]

  ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — The western Virginia federal public defender’s office is using staff furloughs to make up for automatic spending cuts. Federal public defender Larry Shelton said half his staff at the Roanoke-based office is being furloughed every other Friday. Shelton told The Roanoke Times (http://bit.ly/10kpaNq) that he has to cut 5.5 percent [...]

  NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A Norfolk abortion clinic is closing after 40 years in business. Hillcrest Clinic director Suzette Caton says Virginia’s new abortion clinic regulations, rising costs and decreased demand prompted the decision to close. The Virginian-Pilot reports (http://bit.ly/YyzD1b ) that Saturday, April 20, is the clinic’s last day. The Virginia Board of Health [...]

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former Democratic Party of Virginia Chairman and legislator Brian Moran is teaming with Republican former Del. Chris Saxman and veteran lobbyist Rob Jones to form a new lobbying and business consulting company. The three announced the founding of New South Strategic Partners on Wednesday, April 17. The 53-year-old Moran ran [...]

  RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — More than 100,000 uninsured Virginia residents with drug and alcohol addictions will become eligible for insurance when the federal health care overhaul goes into effect next year. An Associated Press analysis of government data finds that about 9 percent of Virginians need treatment for substance abuse. Of those 559,000 people, [...]