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Pat Robertson: No Nuclear Holocaust in '11
Like this Story? Share it: Pat Robertson smiles as he is introduced before speaking at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., in this Feb. 15, 2005, file photo. Robertson says God told him there will be no global Nuclear Holocaust in 2011. (GETTY) (AP) Virginia Beach, Va. — Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson says God told him that the U.S. is bankrupt and heading into economic turmoil, but there won't be a global nuclear Holocaust. On Monday's broadcast of CBN News' "The 700 Club," ...

Sandoval's testing proclamation might be contrary to 2009 law
Gov. Brian Sandoval's proclamation to encourage reading in Nevada appears to be open to interpretation. If taken literally, it clashes with a state law from 2009 that prohibits new district-wide testing and appears to impose a new burden on Nevada's financially beleaguered education system. The proclamation, which Sandoval signed on Monday, his first day in office, urges the Nevada Department of Education and all School Districts, private schools and Charter Schools to "develop and administer a ...

State Board names interim education commissioner
The State Board of Education selected a Veteran educator Wednesday to fill in as state education commissioner until the job is filled permanently by Gov. Dan Malloy. George A. Coleman, Deputy Commissioner at the State Department of Education, was appointed to replace Mark McQuillan, who resigned unexpectedly last month. The appointment comes as the Education Department and the State Board of Education are expected to undergo major changes. In addition to naming a new commissioner, Malloy is ex...

Democrat control of Senate is nominal
Image via Wikipedia WSJ: The Senate is the Democratic bastion of power in the new Congress, but it will be a sometimes-shaky platform for President Barack Obama's agenda as lawmakers in his own party prepare for their re-election bids next year. An unusually large group of 23 Democrats must defend Senate seats in 2012, many in conservative and Swing States such as Nebraska, Missouri and West Virginia. Republicans, by contrast, will defend only 10 Senate seats. Many of the Democrats were first ...

Facebook's Goldman Deal Is Another Sign of a Comatose IPO Market
A few months ago, I had lunch with a prominent technology Venture Capitalist. Like many other VC leaders, he was focused on businesses growing in China, but he was adamant that his Chinese portfolio companies not list in the U.S. -- and with good reason. For small-cap technology companies, he explained, the U.S. has become an undesirable and difficult place to list. Sarbox regulations are costly to fulfill. Institutional investors are gun-shy. And analyst coverage has contracted enormously, m...

R.I. Regents to vote Thursday on new draft for high school diploma rules
In a month or so, 11,400 Rhode Island High School juniors will get their scores on standardized tests they took last October — scores that could determine if they get High School diplomas in June 2012. Starting with that class, High School Students must score at least “partially proficient” in reading and math on annual tests to automatically qualify for a diploma under a new draft of regulations the state Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to a...

Chicago Mayoral Hopefuls vs. National Education 'Reform'
Rahm Emanuel has proposed that Chicago should sell advertising on garbage trucks, the backs of city stickers, at farmer’s markets, and other public venues to raise $25 million to help bankroll an expansion of after school programs for at-risk kids. His projected total cost for the program, which would help 200,000 Students, is $95 million. Part of Gery Chico’s education platform is to hire the best teachers.The best teachers will be rewarded and recognized through a research-based te...

R.I. Regents to vote Thursday on new draft for high school diploma rules
In a month or so, 11,400 Rhode Island High School juniors will get their scores on standardized tests they took last October — scores that could determine if they get High School diplomas in June 2012. Starting with that class, High School Students must score at least “partially proficient” in reading and math on annual tests to automatically qualify for a diploma under a new draft of regulations the state Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to a...

Don't punish career colleges
In an op-ed for the San Jose Mercury News, Harris N. Miller, the president of the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, discusses the importance of for-profit colleges, also called career colleges, in our economy. The Department of Education is attempting to stifle their role in fostering the post-recession Workforce with its burdensome "gainful employment" rule--one that does not apply to not-for-profit schools. For-profit private colleges provide career-oriented education in...

16-Year-Old Stabbed In The Neck In The Bronx
NEW YORK (AP) — A 16-year-old High School Student has been stabbed in the neck on his way to school. Police say the Victim was taken to Jacobi Medical Center. He was conscious, but in critical condition, after the incident Wednesday morning. The 10th grader is a special-needs Student at Lewis and Clark School in The Bronx, a special education high school. The stabbing occurred on Tratman Avenue, not far from the school. Police say the attacker is not known, and it wasn’t clear yet if...

Wednesday's Most Intriguing
The German anatomist who pioneered the Controversial "Body Worlds" exhibition announced that he plans to display his own corpse in the art show. Von Hagens was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The 65-year-old, dubbed "Dr. Death" for reportedly trying to sell body parts online, told Germany's Bild amm Sontag: "I want to prepare myself for the plastination of my own body and determine the place where I want to be exhibited after my death.&#...

Legislators scramble to raise campaign cash as session approaches
The biggies will be the annual session-eve events hosted by House Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford) and Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax). To the certain relief of the town's Lobbyists, the events aren't being held head-to-head. Saslaw's shindig is the evening of Jan. 10, at Bank, a restaurant near the Capitol. The invitation says hosts include Alpha Natural Resources, Dominion Virginia, Troutman Sanders and the Virginia Bankers Association. And those are just the $10,000 Donors. How...

DuPont To Pay West Virginia Residents $70 Million In Pollution Settlement
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Chemical maker DuPont Co. will pay $70 million and fund long-term medical monitoring for residents of a West Virginia town who sued over Pollution from a zinc smelter and its 100-foot-tall pile of waste. A state judge approved the settlement Tuesday that ends years of court battles by residents of Spelter against Wilmington, Del.-based DuPont. The zinc smelter closed in 2001 after operating for 90 years. The settlement was reached last year by DuPont and lawyers repre...

Repella scores 24, No. 6 West Virginia wins again
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (AP) — Liz Repella scored a season-high 24 points and No. 6 West Virginia survived an early second-half nap to remain undefeated with a 67-46 victory over Seton Hall on Wednesday. The Mountaineers (15-0, 2-0 Big East) saw an 18-point halftime lead dwindle to three points in less than seven minutes before Repella hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to ignite a game-icing 15-point spurt. Madina Ali added 10 points and 10 rebounds and Sarah Miles hit three layups in the la...

Rodriquez out at Michigan
Published: Jan. 5, 2011 at 1:22 PM Rich Rodriguez's tenure as Michigan's Football Coach ended Wednesday with an announcement of his firing by Athletic Director David Brandon. (UPI Photo/John Dickerson) Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Rich Rodriguez's tenure as Michigan's Football Coach ended Wednesday with an announcement of his firing by Athletic Director David Brandon. Brandon and Rodriguez met Tuesday as reports swirled the coach was being terminated. Brandon made it official afte...

McDonnell still quietly working on new liquor plan
Del. Marshall says McDonnell is wrong on 'don't ask don't tell' James P. Moran Jr. What Is Right for Virginia? A national financial management company hired to help revamp Gov. Bob McDonnell's ABC proposal told legislators late last week that the state could privatize its retail liquor stores without losing money, according to one participant. PFM Group officials unveiled several proposals to a legislative work group in which the state's general fund would remain revenue neutral. McDonnell (R)...

Mitchell, West Virginia beat DePaul 67-65
Casey Mitchell scored 18 points, and West Virginia beat DePaul 67-65 after blowing a 14-point lead in the second half on Tuesday night. With a 58-44 lead with about 10 minutes remaining, the Mountaineers (9-4, 1-2) appeared to be in good shape after opening Big East play with losses to St. John's and Marquette. Instead, they couldn't hang on against the conference's worst team. Things got real interesting in the closing minutes when DePaul's Jeremiah Kelly buried a 3-pointer after a turnover to ...

Michigan fires Rodriguez after 3 seasons
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan fired coach Rich Rodriguez on Wednesday, ending a disappointing three-year tenured marred by too many losses and NCAA violations at College Football’s winningest program. Athletic director Dave Brandon announced the decision after meeting with Rodriguez on Tuesday and again Wednesday morning. “I have completed a systematic and thorough review of our football program and believe that a change in leadership is necessary,” Brandon said. ̶...

NLS on "Ken Cuccinelli's Massive Expansion of Government"
The purpose of Blue Virginia is to cover Virginia politics from a progressive and Democratic perspective. This is a group blog and a community blog. We invite everyone to comment here, but please be aware that Profanity, personal attacks, Bigotry, and "trolling" are not allowed. Thanks, and enjoy! P.P.S. To see the Blue Virginia archive, please click here. To see the Raising Kaine archive, please click here. To see the Blue Commonwealth archive, please click here....

Get Well Soon, Sen. Miller!
(Richmond, VA) - Senator Yvonne B. Miller (D-Norfolk) is scheduled to have surgery January 12th and will be absent for a portion of the 2011 session of the Virginia General Assembly. She will join the session as soon as her recovery permits. "I regret my necessary absence at the beginning of session. I have asked Senator Phillip Puckett to chair the transportation committee and appreciate his willingness to take on this task," said Sen. Miller. Chair of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, S...

Whipple Clips Dozen: Tuesday Morning
11. 8TH DISTRICT HOPEFULS TALK TAXES, EDUCATION 14. Virginia DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN CRITICIZED OVER Lobbying TIES TO FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES 17. MCDONNELL ADVISER COX NAMED Executive Director OF GOP GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION 25. TEPID SUPPORT FOR MCDONNELL 31. METRO CREATES POST TO OVERSEE ESCALATORS, ELEVATORS 32. METRO BAG SEARCHES CRITICIZED BY PUBLIC The purpose of Blue Virginia is to cover Virginia politics from a progressive and Democratic perspective. This is a group blog and a community blog. ...

Bobby May is Back in Business. In Fact, He Never Left.
Remember this guy? A local newspaper columnist, in a spoof of Obama's platform, wrote in one recent piece that the Democrat would hire the rapper Ludacris to paint the White House black (a reference to a pro-Obama song by Ludacris), and divert more foreign aid to Africa so "the Obama family there can skim enough to allow them to free their goats and live the American Dream." He joked that Obama would replace the 50 stars on the U.S. flag "with a star and crescent logo," an Islamic symbol, and t...

Gallup: Obama Hits Highest Net Approval Rating Since May 2010
According to Gallup, President Obama's net "approval" rating has pretty much been flat for over a year now. Still, there have been fluctuations, with Obama bottoming out at 41%/52% (-11 points) on August 15-17, 2010. Today, Obama is at 50%/42% (+8), the highest he's been since May 7-9, 2010, when he was at 51%-42% (+9) net "approve." Now, obviously, today's number is just one data point, and it's possible it will go right back down tomorrow, but for everyone who was saying that Obama was politic...

"What are you, a Russian spy or something?"
"What are you, a Russian spy or something?" The purpose of Blue Virginia is to cover Virginia politics from a progressive and Democratic perspective. This is a group blog and a community blog. We invite everyone to comment here, but please be aware that Profanity, personal attacks, Bigotry, and "trolling" are not allowed. Thanks, and enjoy! P.P.S. To see the Blue Virginia archive, please click here. To see the Raising Kaine archive, please click here. To see the Blue Commonwealth arch...

Outrage of the Year: A Statue to Stalin in Virginia?
Dr. Paul Kengor, FloydReports.com Of course, it’s customary at year’s end to share our favorite news items from the year past. As someone who teaches and writes about history, I tend to focus on historical things I fear are lost to American education. So, my enduring “news item” of 2010 falls under the category of historical outrage, though it is redeemed somewhat by another item considerably more positive. I’d like to link them here as a teachable moment. My outrage of 2010: