VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Saturday, September 29, 2007

FAIRFAX COUNTY

Arlington Woman Hit, Killed by School Bus

An Arlington County woman was struck and killed by a Fairfax County school bus yesterday morning as she tried to cross a busy road in the Tysons Corner area, police said.

Elsi Noemi Alvarado-Rivera, 30, of the 900 block of South Buchanan Street was walking across Gosnell Road, at Old Courthouse Road, shortly before 8:20 a.m., Fairfax police said. Alvarado-Rivera had crossed three lanes of traffic, but as she stepped into the left-turn lane, the traffic light gave the green-arrow signal, and the bus driver did not see her, Officer Shelley Broderick said. The intersection has no crosswalk.

Witnesses told police that Alvarado-Rivera tried to run for the median but was struck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no passengers on the bus, authorities said.

The bus driver, identified only as a 26-year-old man, has worked for Fairfax schools since April. He had delivered students to Kilmer Middle School and was on his way to pick up students for Archer Elementary School, school system spokesman Paul Regnier said.

Police did not file charges against the driver; the accident is under investigation.

-- Tom Jackman and Maria Glod

STATE POLITICS

House Democrats Court Senior Citizens

House Democrats unveiled a plan yesterday to expand services for seniors as party leaders continued a tour of Virginia to promote the election of Democrats to the General Assembly in November.

The proposal would affect such concerns as in-home health care, in-home nutrition and long-term care insurance. Democrats did not provide a price tag for the proposal.

"Virginia's aging population will increase nearly 77 percent in the next decade," said Del. Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry), the House minority leader. "We must make the investments today to ensure the growing numbers of seniors are able to live with the freedom and dignity they have earned."

The Democrats' Change the Assembly Tour made stops yesterday in Rocky Mount and Danville. All 140 seats in the state legislature are up for election Nov. 6.

Republicans hope to maintain a majority in both houses; Democrats hope to take over the Senate and make inroads in the House.

-- Anita Kumar

STAFFORD SCHOOLS

Suit Filed Over Rejection of Antiabortion Club

A Stafford County high school student has filed suit in federal court against the county's school system for refusing to let her start an antiabortion club.

The conservative Alliance Defense Fund is representing the student, who alleges that her constitutional rights were violated. The student is not named in the lawsuit because she is a minor.

"It's our opinion the school should immediately permit the formation of the pro-life club, and we would be glad to settle the lawsuit," said David Cortman, an Alliance Defense Fund lawyer.

Colonial Forge High School Principal Lisa Martin denied the request for the club, saying it doesn't relate to the curriculum.

Cortman said the school has other clubs that do not appear to be directly linked with studies, such as the Young Republicans, Young Democrats and Students Against Destructive Decisions.

-- Associated Press