VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Thursday, January 17, 2008; B06

LOUDOUN COUNTY

Body Found in Car in Leesburg

A man was found dead in a car in Leesburg last night, and the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death as a possible homicide, authorities said.

Leesburg police received a call about 9 p.m. and found the man in the car near Woodberry Road NE and North Street, said Kraig Troxell, a spokesman for the sheriff. The man had at least one gunshot wound, Troxell said.

-- Elissa Silverman

VIRGINIA TECH

Milestone for Service Campaign

Virginia Tech is halfway to its goal of 300,000 hours of community service by students, faculty and staff to honor the 32 people slain by a student gunman on campus in April.

University officials announced yesterday that they have received pledges for more than 150,000 hours of service since the VT-Engage campaign started Oct. 16. Each student, faculty and staff member is being asked to perform 10 hours of community service.

Alumni have pledged to match the service hours to honor those killed April 16 by Seung Hui Cho.

-- Associated Press

I-81 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

VDOT Ends Talks With KBR

The Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it has terminated negotiations with KBR for improvements along Interstate 81. The decision was made after KBR, in a Dec. 18 letter, declined further participation as the lead entity in the Star Solutions consortium.

KBR, formerly known as Kellogg Brown and Root, cited changes in its corporate ownership and "a need to manage its business profile very carefully" for its request to withdraw from the project. KBR separated from Halliburton last year and became its own publicly traded company.

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PANEL

I-66, HOT Lane Plans Approved

A regional transportation body voted yesterday to approve long-range funding plans for improving Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway and for Virginia's plan to establish high-occupancy toll lanes along I-95 and I-395.

There was some opposition to both projects at yesterday's meeting of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, with Arlington County residents opposed to plans to reconstruct stretches of westbound I-66 and a Prince William County representative voicing concerns about transforming carpool lanes on I-95. Under that plan, a system of toll lanes would be set up, with cars carrying three or more travelers riding free.

But a majority on the board voted to proceed with the funding plans, which were largely negotiated last year. The board also opened a public comment period on an additional batch of projects planned throughout the region.

The board, made up of state and local officials from Maryland, Virginia and the District, helps determine whether projects receive federal funding.

-- Michael Laris