VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Friday, September 26, 2008

PUBLIC PRAYER

Kaine Blasts House Leader Over Police Policy

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) sent a sternly worded letter to House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) late yesterday, accusing him of spreading misinformation and inaccuracies about a new Virginia State Police policy about public prayer.

Griffith and other House Republicans blasted Kaine on Wednesday for a directive that bans troopers serving as chaplains from referring to Jesus Christ in public prayers.

"If you were truly concerned about this issue, I would have thought that you would have called me before issuing a press release containing such inaccuracies," Kaine wrote.

State Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty said his decision was in response to a recent federal appeals court ruling that a Fredericksburg City Council member may not pray "in Jesus's name" during council meetings because the opening invocation is government speech. Six troopers have since resigned their voluntary jobs as chaplains.

-- Anita Kumar

STATE BUDGET

Attorney General Cuts Salary, Expenses

Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) announced yesterday that he will return his state car, reduce his salary by 2 percent for the next six months and trim his office budget by 9 percent after this week's news of a possible $3 billion state budget shortfall.

"These are difficult times," he said in a statement. "This economic downturn, and sustained uncertainty, is forcing Virginia families and businesses to make hard decisions, and Virginia's government must do likewise."

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will begin implementing statewide cuts early next month after releasing a new forecast for the rest of the two-year, $77 billion budget period that began July 1.

Ten executive attorneys in McDonnell's office will also take a 2 percent salary cut for six months.

-- Anita Kumar

FAIRFAX COUNTY

Woman, 29, Is Found Dead in Her Apartment

A woman's body was found yesterday inside her apartment in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County, and Fairfax police said they are investigating the case as a suspicious death.

Police said they were called to the Prestwick Apartments, in the 6100 block of Leesburg Pike, just east of Seven Corners, about 11:20 a.m. to check on the welfare of a resident. They found a 29-year-old woman inside her first-floor apartment, Officer Eddy Azcarate said. Her name was not released pending notification of relatives.

The cause of death was not available yesterday, and Azcarate declined to say why the death was considered suspicious.

-- Tom Jackman

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

Officials Warn of Growing Risk of West Nile

The risk of contracting West Nile virus has increased in Prince William County, health officials warned yesterday, as mosquitoes carrying the virus were discovered at several locations.

Environmental health officials from the county's Mosquito Control Program said that mosquitoes collected in northern Woodbridge, Quantico, the Valley View Drive area of Brentsville, Nokesville, Manassas, Haymarket and Waterfall tested positive for the virus. They urged residents to clean out areas where water can accumulate -- including wading pools, trash can lids and used tires -- to eliminate insect breeding pools and reduce exposure to mosquitoes.

No human cases of West Nile have been reported in Prince William this year. One case has been reported in Fairfax County, health officials said.

-- Nick Miroff