DPBlogs

The Shad Plank has moved!

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:39:16 +0000

Looking for The Shad Plank political blog? It's moved to a new home, which you can get to by clicking here (www.shadplank.com will get you there soon). Please check out, and bookmark, the new page. And thanks for reading!

U.S. Senate honors 'Big E'

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:45:42 +0000

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution sponsored by Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb Thursday honoring the service of the Norfolk-based U.S.S. Enterprise, which was decommissioned last month after 51 years of service. More than 100,000 sailors served on U.S.S. Enterprise, the Navy's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, during its years of service. “I am proud to salute the officers and crew who served on U.S.S. Enterprise since her commissioning more than five decades ago,” Webb said. “As a result of their dedication and sacrifice during peace and war, the 'Big E' answered all bells and sustained the rich legacy forged since the Revolutionary War by the seven namesake ships that preceded her. Bravo Zulu.” “I am proud to help commemorate more than fifty years of...

McDonnell declares 2013 'Year of the Teacher'

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:33:21 +0000

In conjunction with his education reform agenda Gov. Bob McDonnell proclaimed 2013 as the "Year of the Teacher" Thursday. “Virginia’s teachers demonstrate selfless leadership day after day in classrooms across the Commonwealth,” McDonnell said in a press release. “Everyone knows a teacher who's stayed after school to support students; who's buying their own supplies; who's grading homework until 10, 11, or 12 at night then getting up early to put together the next day’s lesson plan. This is amazing dedication. We must do more to recognize and appreciate these professionals. Teachers are charged with the responsibility of passing on traditions, knowledge and character to the next generation. They instill a love for learning, a respect for fellow mankind and a belief that the American dream...

Video: Kaine thanks supporters ahead of swearing in

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:20:27 +0000

Soon to be U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine released the following video thanking supporters just two hours before his swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Thursday:

Virginia joins nation in moment of silence for Sandy Hook victims

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:25:41 +0000

Flags flew at half mast on state buildings and the bell in the bell tower on the Capitol grounds tolled twenty-six times at 9:30 a.m. Friday as Virginians joined people across the nation in a moment of silence to remember the victims of last week’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Gov. Bob McDonnell – like many in the gathered crowd – was teary-eyed as he reflected on the tragedy that took the lives of 20 young children. "I ask you to gather here this morning to stand in solidarity with the people of Connecticut, particularly the heartbroken town of Newtown," McDonnell said. "What happened last Friday at just about this time was something that was unfathomable I think in most of...

House GOP looks to expand school resource officer grant program

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:13:27 +0000

In light of last week's massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. members of the House of Delegates Republican Caucus said Thursday it would seek to add more money to the state budget during the upcoming General Assembly session to add police officers to elementary school in the commonwealth through the school resource officer grant program. "Today, we are announcing our intent to expand funding for a school resource officer grant program to encourage the creation of school resource officer positions in Virginia elementary schools," said House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford in a press release. "This is a critical step toward making sure all of our schools are as safe as possible." The GOP caucus has not yet proposed a specific...

Sen. Dems start anti-arming school officials petition

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:53:57 +0000

In repsonse to Gov. McDonnell's comments on Washington D.C.'s WTOP 93.5 FM Monday that it is time to have a discussion about allowing pu lic school officials to carry guns on campus, the state Senate Democratic Caucus began an online petition Thursday opposing the idea. "Governor Bob McDonnell says we should consider arming educators to defend our schools against gun violence," Senate Democratic Caucus chairman DOn McEachin wrote to supporters in an email. "You and I know that's the wrong answer. Giving teachers weapons and turning schools into armed camps is not the solution." Click here to view the Senate Democrats petition.

House Dems to push for Medicaid expansion, state-run health care exchange

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:41:33 +0000

Members of the House of Delegates Democratic Caucus said they plan to push for Medicaid expansion and a state-run health care exchange in the upcoming General Assembly session despite Gov. Bob McDonnell's reluctance. House Democratic Caucus chairman Mark Sickles of Fairfax said at a press conference Thursday complying with these two provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act "should be at the top of the agenda" during the upcoming session. Last week McDonnell opted to go with a federal-based rather than a state-based health care exchange saying their were two many unanswered questions for the state to go it alone. The governor has also said he does not want to go with an optional expansion of Medicaid to 138 percent of thepoverty level because he...

Kaine sees fiscal cliff discussions moving his direction

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:46:10 +0000

U.S. Sen.-elect Tim Kaine saw the fiscal cliff negotiations between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, move his way Tuesday as Obama put forward his first serious compromise position. Obama campaigned on and has long insisted that the President George W. Bush-era tax cuts expire on yearly incomes over $250,000. It was widely reported Tuesday that the resident has softened his position and put forward a plan that would allow the tax cuts to expire for incomes over $400,000. Kaine, who campaigned on letting the cuts expire for annual incomes over $500,000, saw that as a victory for compromise. "For more than a year I have called on Congress to find a balanced approach of cuts and revenues to help get our...

Audio: McDonnell calls for discussions on arming school officials

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 21:45:36 +0000

On Tuesday Gov. Bob McDonnell said there should be discussions on arming school officials in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. during his weekly chat on Washington, D.C.'s WTOP 93.5 FM's weekly "Ask the Governor" radio show. To hear the WTOP audio click here. To read the whole story visit www.dailypress.com.

Hoops meant to curb violence

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:34:01 +0000

NEWPORT NEWS— Want to watch some good hoops and contribute to a good cause all at the same time? Then stop by the 4th Annual Stop the Violence Basketball Tournament, which starts 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday at Menchville High School. The event will feature 8 male teams 18 years and older in a double-elimination tournament. Of course if it’s anti-violence, then you know that Best Kept Secret will be involved and providing free haircuts on site, but this time they have some help. Other on-site barbers providing free hair cuts include Barbers Pause for the Cause and Andre McNair (master barber & owner at Hair Cuts Unlimited). The event will also feature giveaways such as Reebok gear, STOP THE VIOLENCE wristbands and Velvet Rope nail polish. Admission is $6 daily at the door or $10 for in advance for a weekend ticket. For more information, call 757-349-6806 or email stvbball@gmail.com.

Tomlin Tailgate

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 03:13:39 +0000

The Coach Mike Tomlin & Gridiron Greats Tailgate Party returns to the Hampton Roads Convention Center on Thursday night after a 2011 diversion at Hampton's NASCAR Sports Grill. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/event/3461608765/zvents, or visit hryf.org for more information. With the return to its original venue, the event promises to be the cozy feel-good community event that marked its first couple years. Some advice: Come early; the lines form quickly. The event is put on by the Hampton Roads Youth Foundation, with hosts Johnny D and The 757 Club. Kudos to the Convention Center General Manager Eric Nealy and the city of Hampton for bringing this event to its most appropriate location.

Howard U. alumni to meet

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 03:10:09 +0000

Howard University's Alumni Association of Hampton Roads will host its monthly meeting at 2 p.m. Saturday at Roger Brown's Restaurant & Sports Bar in Portsmouth. Contact club President Iola Elijah-Redden for more information at: iolar1@cox.net or (757) 344-5659

This blog is moving

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:27:40 +0000

If you have From the Tarpit bookmarked, please change your bookmark to this: http://www.dailypress.com/sports/fairbank-blog/

CAA Positioning Itself

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:29:14 +0000

Magnanimous gent that he is, George Mason athletic director Tom O’Connor is in favor of Old Dominion and Georgia State competing for CAA championships on their way out the door and for a change in the conference bylaws that prohibit such things. That was one of the nuggets from ESPN college hoops Bigfoot Andy Katz, who also reported that CAA commish Tom Yeager had informed Southern Conference counterpart John Iamarino that he would be trolling the neighborhood. Expansion and membership are Job One in the coming weeks, as the CAA seeks to replace VCU, Old Dominion and Georgia State. The conference is practically obligated to look both north and south, and for both football and basketball.

Recruiting Change at ODU

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:32:46 +0000

Fittingly, football coach Bobby Wilder was in attendance Thursday as Old Dominion announced its move to Conference USA, since the jump is tied to football. Equally fitting, seven assistant coaches were unable to attend because they were on the road recruiting. Never mind start-up success and ambition and dollars pledged, recruiting and talent will determine whether ODU football succeeds or fails in the Football Bowl Subdivision and C-USA. “The recruiting game just changed dramatically,” Wilder said.

CAA's Anxious Times

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:57:35 +0000

Recent events and the next couple of weeks guarantee that the Colonial Athletic Association’s spring meetings June 2-7 in Hilton Head, S.C., will be about much more than tee times and dinner reservations. Commissioner Tom Yeager’s influence and management chops will be tested as the direction of the conference, and perhaps its future, are likely to be determined in the coming weeks. Yeager, the CAA’s genial and connected leader, emerges from Tuesday’s funk as shepherd of a league in transition. George Mason is staying and VCU is leaving. Old Dominion’s decision on whether to hitch the wagon to Conference USA is expected within the next couple of weeks. Though a sizeable blow, the CAA can withstand VCU’s loss. If VCU and Old Dominion bail, CAA basketball suddenly slides into Southern Conference territory, and those big crowds at the Richmond Coliseum every March evaporate. This leads us to the intertwined pillars of membership, geography and desirability.

The ACC All-Access blog is moving ...

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:11:23 +0000

To read newer blog posts, click here. If you have bookmarked this blog, please change your bookmark to: http://www.dailypress.com/sports/colleges/acc-all-access-blog/

Decisions Loom for Conference Realignment

Tue, 08 May 2012 22:39:35 +0000

Rumors and whispers of local college conference membership shuffles could see the light of day beginning Wednesday, when George Mason’s Board of Visitors holds its final scheduled meeting of the school year. Mason and VCU are considering a jump to the Atlantic 10 Conference from the Colonial Athletic Association, as Old Dominion ponders an invitation from Conference USA. VCU’s Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet Friday, while the executive committee of ODU’s Board of Visitors meets Monday. VCU and George Mason seek upgrades for their men’s basketball programs from a CAA that some within the respective camps view as excessively football-centric in recent years. ODU sees C-USA as a potential home for its upwardly mobile football program, as well as most of its other athletic teams. VCU and Mason honchos have been noodling a move for months, while ODU’s decision was accelerated by realignment elsewhere that created openings and a frenzy of movement one step below the marquee league level.

WHRO Teacher Town Hall goes to the source

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:30:33 +0000

WHRO recently hosted a Teacher Town Hall involving 100 teachers from all across Hampton Roads. The teachers shared their views on such topics as the drop-out rate, parental and community involement, the educational system overall and how to connect with students. The program will air for the first time on Sunday May 6, at 6 p.m., but it can also be viewed from the link below. The link also includes more discussion from the teachers that took place after the televised, hour-long portion had ended. The program -- moderated by Barbara Hamm Lee, executive producer and host of WHRV’s weekly Another View radio program -- is part of the "American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen" series. The link also provides access to "Circumstances: The Dropout Epidemic," by WHRO producer Lisa Godley, which explores why some students in Hampton Roads believe dropping out is their only option. Also from the link, readers can acess "Jasmine's Journey" by former Virginian-Pilot educatioin reporter Cheryl Ross, a portrait of one of the students featured in the documentary. http://www.whro.org/home/html/american-graduate/

Taylor Barnette is latest Virginia men's basketball addition for this fall's incoming freshman class

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:39:10 +0000

After his team's season ended in late March with a loss to Florida in the NCAA tournament's round of 64, Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett talked about hoping to get "an offseason acquisition or two that will be important." His wish has come true. Taylor Barnette, a 6-foot-3 guard from Nicholasville, Ky., who played high school ball at Lexington (Ky.) Christian Academy, has signed a letter with U.Va. to join the program's incoming freshman class. He had previously been a Central Florida signee. Barnette confirmed his switch to U.Va. early Friday evening via his @tbarnette20 Twitter account with the message: "I'm officially a University of Virginia Cavalier. Blessed to be a part of the program here. All the glory to God! #blessed #Jeremiah 29:11

Men's basketball signee Marshall Wood decides to stick with Virginia Tech, while fellow signee Montrezl Harrell is still undecided

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:52:53 +0000

If James Johnson hadn’t been brought back at Virginia Tech to be its men’s basketball coach, 2012 signee Marshall Wood would’ve found some other place to spend his college years. Johnson made all the difference, and Wood confirmed he will honor his letter of intent at Tech, according to Rustburg High boys basketball coach Brantley Shields. Wood submitted paperwork to Tech asking for a release from his scholarship, but Tech hadn’t processed the request. After talking to Johnson on Wednesday, Shields said, Wood asked that Tech disregard his release request. "He was pretty much ready to leave,” Shields said Thursday. “If they’d have hired anybody except (Johnson), he wouldn’t have gone back.”

After nearly a week of speculation that he was headed to Virginia, quarterback Phillip Sims is indeed a Hoo

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:27:06 +0000

Just when Virginia had an established pecking order of quarterbacks heading into August preseason practices, along comes Chesapeake native Phillip Sims to potentially muddle the situation, but U.Va.’s coaches aren’t exactly complaining. After all, it’s not as if U.Va. was about to turn away one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in the high school class of 2010 when he was looking for a place to transfer. After nearly a week of speculation that Sims was going to consider U.Va. when he decided to transfer from Alabama, it became official Wednesday. Sims, a graduate of Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake who was considered by most recruiting analysts to be one of the nation’s top three quarterbacks coming out of high school in 2010, is indeed a Cavalier. “Virginia football welcomes Phillip Sims to our family,” U.Va. coach Mike London said in a statement released by U.Va.’s athletic department. “Hopefully he will have a productive career her at UVa as his previous accolades have shown.”

No U-Turn for Richardson

Tue, 01 May 2012 20:06:11 +0000

James Johnson is the only former Virginia Tech assistant coach to do a 180 and return to Blacksburg. Contacted Tuesday morning, new Old Dominion assistant coach John Richardson laughed when the question was asked and replied, “No, sir. I’m very excited to be at Old Dominion and get started again at a place I’m very familiar with. It’s almost like I never left.” Richardson resigned at Tech after two years, just prior to Seth Greenberg’s termination last week. He spent the previous five seasons at ODU — the last two as assistant and the first three as director of basketball operations.

Quarterback Phillip Sims hasn't yet transferred to Virginia, according to U.Va. source

Tue, 01 May 2012 01:43:53 +0000

A source within Virginia's athletic department told the Daily Press on Monday afternoon that quarterback Phillip Sims hasn't yet transferred to U.Va. and reports to the contrary are untrue. Sims, a 6-foot-2, 211-pound graduate of Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake, announced last Friday through Alabama's athletic department his intentions to transfer from Alabama. In a released statement, he expressed a desire to "be closer to home to support my family at this time and that needs to be my priority right now." Sims just completed his redshirt freshman season at Alabama, where he completed 18 of 28 passes for 163 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions as a backup to AJ McCarron. ESPN's Joe Schad reported Monday morning Sims had decided to transfer to U.Va., but information from the source at U.Va. contradicted Schad's report. When Sims graduated Oscar Smith in 2010, he was considered by most recruiting analysts to be one of the nation's three best quarterback prospects. He finished his high school career with a Virginia High School League records in passing yards (10,725) and touchdown passes (119). ***************************************************************************************************** Follow me on Twitter. Thanks. twitter.com/normwood