2008 Woodie Awards
DENVER (AP) _ The text of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's address prepared for delivery Thursday night to the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field: "What an honor to be here on this powerful night! What an honor to speak not just to those gathered here in Denver but to homes across America and not just those owned by John McCain.
Governor Timothy Kaine has appointed Peter George Decker, Jr., an attorney at the law firm of Decker, Cardon, Thomas, Weintraub & Neskis to the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors. He will serve an unexpired term beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.
College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.
Average scores on the ACT college entrance exam dipped slightly for the high school class of 2008 as the number of students taking the exam jumped by 9 percent compared to last year. This year's results, released Wednesday, August 13, reveal that more than three in four test-takers will likely need remedial help in at least one subject to succeed in college.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ Michelle Obama read aloud to local school children Wednesday morning, August 6th, then listened to stories of hardship from wives of sailors, soldiers, Marines and airmen on duty overseas. The wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said the Bush administration has done too little to support families of people in active service and veterans.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) awarded more than $167,000 in scholarships to 25 students who are pursuing a career in journalism and Jaedda Armstrong, Editor in Chief of the Spartan Echo, is among them. Armstrong is also a Landmark Communications scholar, a Society of Professional Journalists scholarship recipient, and she interns as a general assignment reporter at the Virginian-Pilot.
PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Randy Pausch said obstacles serve a purpose: They "give us a chance to show how badly we want something." Confronted with incurable cancer, he devised a last lecture that became an Internet sensation, a best-selling book and a celebration of a life spent achieving his dreams.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Half a century after black schoolchildren and civil rights champions struggled to desegregate Virginia's schools, statues honoring them desegregated the state Capitol grounds. Thousands of people crowded Capitol Square in 95-degree heat Monday, July 21, for the dedication of the civil rights monument alongside those of Convederate icons.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ Prosecutors have dropped armed robbery charges against Norfolk State University basketball player Brandon Monroe. Monroe had been accused of stealing a wallet, cell phone, handbag and credit cards from a man and a woman on Old Dominion University's campus in April.
The Virginia Governor's office recently announced a series of public events to unveil and dedicate the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol. The events will occur over two-days, July 20 and 21st. The Civil Rights memorial honors Robert Russa Moton High School student Barbara Johns and her fellow classmates who, in April 1951, participated in a walkout to protest the conditions of their segregated school in Prince Edward County.
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Six states are getting the OK to write their own prescriptions for ailing schools under the Bush administration's signature education law. It's a softening from how No Child Left Behind currently works - with schools having to take certain steps at specific times for missing math and reading testing goals.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ For the first time in generations, Virginians will see a presidential race contested on their home soil this fall. Within the past month, the campaigns of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama have filled top leadership positions in their Virginia campaign organizations.
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Lawmakers budgeted just $100 million for damages when they reopened the government's discrimination settlement with black farmers. They probably should have handed over a blank check. With more than 70,000 potential claimants, the liability could exceed $3 billion - three times what was paid out in the original 1999 agreement.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Several new laws that take effect Tuesday, July 1, in Virginia resulted from the criminal dogfighting conviction of NFL quarterback Michael Vick and the mass shootings at Virginia Tech. Legislators passed bills aimed at repairing gaps in the state's mental health system they say could have prevented a deranged student from killing 32 people and himself on Virginia Tech's campus on April 16, 2007.
Hampton, Va.- For the fourth consecutive year, the Virginia Black Expo-the largest event of its kind directly targeting the African-American community-will return to Hampton Roads. New technology, film and music will be the focus of the event which will be held Saturday, August 23rd.
Norfolk State University was named to the second annual President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The university received an official certificate recognizing its achievement in 2007. The certificate reads as follows: "The President of the United States of America hereby recognizes and congratulates Norfolk State University for the extraordinary and exemplary community service contributions of its students, faculty, and staff in meeting critical community and national needs.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ A federal judge has granted the Recording Industry Association of America's request to order the College of William and Mary to turn over the names of about 20 students accused of illegally downloading and sharing music online.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP - Edited for Content) _ Lagging test scores and graduation rates suggest Virginia schools aren't reaching some developmentally challenged students according to a report issued by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. The board, which advises the governor, state health officials and lawmakers, also issued an assessment in 2006.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ A Norfolk State basketball player has been charged in a pair of robberies on the Old Dominion University campus. Brandon Monroe, a junior forward, faces two counts each of robbery and unlawful use of a firearm in an April incident in which he and Alfred Noel II were charged with stealing a wallet, cell phone, handbag and credit cards from a man and a woman.
CHICAGO (AP) _ For young voters, Rosa Parks' refusal to sit at the back of a bus in Montgomery, Ala., in 1955 is schoolbook history. Even the racially charged 1992 riots in Los Angeles are a distant memory. The United States is far from a blueprint for racial harmony, but for today's young adults - all born after segregation was outlawed in the mid-1960s - race is not the issue it once was.
Norfolk, Va.-Registration for Norfolk State University's Summer Scholars program has begun, and will continue through June 12. The Summer Scholars program is a summer academic and recreation enrichment experience for children in grades one through five. This year's program will be held weekdays June 23 through July 18 from 8 a.
WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Supreme Court sided Tuesday with employees who faced retaliation after complaining about race and age discrimination in rulings that drew support from conservative and liberal justices. The court, by a 7-2 vote, said a provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 covers claims of retaliation that follow complaints about discrimination on the basis of race.
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