VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

ALEXANDRIA

Cyclists to Get 'First Crossing' on Overpass

The new landscaped bridge that carries Washington Street in Alexandria over the Capital Beltway is scheduled to be dedicated today with a "first crossing" by bicyclists.

The bridge deck is part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project. The new crossing includes 12-foot-wide bike and walking paths, a landscaped median and decorative lighting, meant to evoke the charm of Old Town Alexandria.

The $17.7 million overpass carries two lanes of traffic in each direction and was built as part of the $147 million remaking of the Route 1 interchange.

Dedicating the deck at 1 p.m. will be Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka, Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer and Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille.

-- Eric M. Weiss

FAIRFAX COUNTY

Employee Shoots Would-Be Robber

A man who attempted to rob some bowling alley employees in Fairfax County early Sunday was shot when one of the employees grabbed his own gun and fired first, Fairfax County police said yesterday. The robber was not seriously hurt.

The episode occurred at the AMF Bowling Alley at 6228 North Kings Hwy., in the Penn Daw neighborhood near Route 1. About 2:30 a.m., police said, four employees were locking up the bowling alley when they were approached by two masked men with guns who forced the employees back inside. One of the employees, a 22-year-old Alexandria area man, then picked up his own weapon and shot one of the robbers. The second robber fired back but did not hit anyone.

The wounded robber ran outside but was unable to flee, while the second one fled in a car, police said. The wounded suspect, identified as Ronald Whaley, 27, of the 400 block of Lakeview Drive in Temple Hills, was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, and he was charged yesterday with attempted robbery, abduction, use of a gun during a felony and attempted aggravated malicious wounding. The second robber remained at large. None of the employees was hurt.

-- Tom Jackman

WILLIAM AND MARY

Alumni, Students Call for New Leadership

A group of College of William and Mary alumni and students critical of President Gene Nichol has asked the Board of Visitors to begin a search for a new leader.

Nichol's opponents -- many of them angry about his decision to remove a cross from historic Wren Chapel, among other issues -- want the board to notify him at the end of this month that his contract will not be renewed.

Mike Connolly, director of university relations, said, "It's difficult to respond to an unknown group issuing what amounts to an anonymous press release issuing accusations that are factually incorrect."

Jim Jones, a 1982 graduate from Alexandria, said, "What bothers us most is the prevailing pattern we've seen of unpresidential behavior."

-- Susan Kinzie