Senator Ken Stolle of Virginia Beach is Coy Barefoot’s guest on the February 2nd edition of WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now. This week the Senate Finance Committee advanced its version of a plan to pay for transportation projects. Stolle says it is unfortunate that the compromise bill has killed, but he’s confident there may be a chance at a resolution.

“The good news is that three weeks in the General Assembly session is an eternity,” says Stolle. He explains some of the legislative maneuvering that can yet take place to return to compromise.

Delegate Steve Landes (R-25) joins Coy Barefoot on the February 1st edition of WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now to discuss what’s happening in the General Assembly. Coy applauds Landes for introducing HR45, which would have required the House to set up a pilot program to podcast the chamber’s proceedings. Unfortunately, the bill did not make it out of committee. Landes himself was a journalism major at Virginia Commonwealth University Landes also talks about efforts to reformulate the No Child Left Behind Act. He patroned HB2542, which would ask the federal government to exempt Virginia from certain provisions of the accountability and standards. “Nobody disagrees with high standards and accountability,” says Landes. “But states are the ones that should determine that, and not have the federal government sent an arbitrary standard.” Here’s the bill summary: No Child Left Behind. Requires the Board of Education to request a waiver from those provisions of NCLB that are not an integral part of the Commonwealth’s existing educational accountability system as set forth in the Standards of Quality, Standards of Learning, and Standards of Accreditation. If a waiver is not received, the bill directs the Commonwealth to withdraw from NCLB and directs the Board of Education and Office of the Attorney General of Virginia to bring suit against the United States Department of Education if federal funds are inappropriately withheld as a result of the withdrawal.

Delegate David Toscano joins Coy Barefoot on the February 1st edition of WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now to discuss the transportation plan in the General Assembly. The House and Senate are divided over how to pay for new road construction. A majority in the House wants to pay for new projects by raising bonds, while the Senate plan relies on tax increases.

“We’re setting up for a logjam,” says Toscano. He’s concerned that the Senate plan also calls for pulling money out of the general fund to pay for roads.

Toscano also gives updates on the minimum wage hike. The Senate unanimously passed Senator Chuck Colgan’s bill to raise the wage to $6.50, but its fate in the House is less than certain. Coy also asks Toscano to weigh in on the problems of legislating during an election year.

In this episode, Ken White speaks with Regina Gilgan, executive producer of CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer. Gilgan will discuss working with Cramer, coming to Darden, and what the Feb. 7 broadcast will be like.

Every weekday we produce a two-minute summary of the daily headlines from around Central Virginia, with the goal of keeping you informed of whatGuv,!v,,us going on. ItGuv,!v,,us an old-fashioned radio newscast, here on the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. You can listen by clicking the arrow below, downloading the mp3, or subscribing in iTunes.

Slavery resolution rewritten (Charlottesville Daily Progress)

Region’s homeless count increases (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Concord man sentenced for child porn possession (Lynchburg News-Advance)

Body of missing Chesterfield man found (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Goode says he would go to Muslim gathering (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Chris Graham is with the Augusta Free Press Online in Stanton. On this edition of Charlottesville–Right Now! with Coy Barefoot, Graham discusses the brand new print version of the Press: The New Dominion. The inaugural issue talks about the impact of the movie-making business on Virginia’s economy, the local influx of citizens from Latin America, and problems with Interstate 81. Formerly an online-only venture, Augusta Free Press is moving this month to reach a wider audience with their quarterly magazine, which strives to focus on the why of news stories. The New Dominion will be published every January, April, July, and October; it is available online and at various local retailers around Central Virginia.

Del. John Cosgrove represents the 78th District in the Virginia House of Delegates, which covers parts of the city of Chesapeake. He talks with Coy Barefoot on WINA’s Charlottesville–Right Now! about several proposed bills in the General Assembly that would affect the Tidewater area.Some issues discussed were HB2951, which would allow for tolls on Route 17, the use of light rail systems in the Hampton Roads area, and the legality of “Payday Lending” loans.Three bills were also rejected today which would have given open access to webcasts of House proceedings. Cosgrove gives his opinion on the issue. He also expresses hope that legislation will be approved to allow cities and counties to install cameras to catch red light-runners.

On the January 31st edition of WINA’s Best Seat in the House, Jed talks with ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas. Jed and Jay discuss the ACC at the halfway point of the basketball schedule. Jay tells why he feels the ACC could be the best conference in the
nation and dissects how his alma mater, Duke, is playing well despite not having the big name players that Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski is accustomed to having.