Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines for Sunday, May 31. Also, check out President Obama’s weekly address, on “new actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to cut dangerous carbon pollution, a plan that builds on the efforts already taken by many states, cities and companies.” My only problems with this: it should have happened 15, 20, 30 years ago, and it should have been by Congressional legislation (either “cap and trade,” “cap and dividend” or a serious carbon tax). Now, we’re going to have to move a LOT faster due to the huge mistake of waiting this long. Thanks fossil fuel companies and climate science deniers/”skeptics”/minimizers – for nothing!
*Mr. Shinseki Takes the Fall (“But the department’s problem was not Mr. Shinseki. It has been broken for years. No one should expect his removal to be anything but the beginning of a much-needed process of change.”)
*4 Things That Could Actually Fix The Current VA Crisis (That’s assuming Republicans actually want to FIX the problem rather than score cheap political points for a problem they played a huge role in creating.)
*Just Four Out Of 80 Candidates Endorsed By The Tea Party Are Women (“Conservatives’ trouble among women continues.”)
*The GOP’s Grifter Problem (“Why the Republican Party attracts provocateurs, faux martyrs, and grifters in droves.” Freak show.)
*How to Fix the VA (“But with 9 million patients, 320,000 employees, 971 hospitals and clinics-It’s not going to be easy.”)
*Fox Host Calls Out Colleagues For Politicizing Benghazi (“Amid Barrage Of Benghazi Lies, Bob Beckel Vows Never To Talk About Hoax Again”)
*Myths and Facts About EPA’s Carbon Pollution Standards
*PolitiFact: Immigration protestors didn’t campaign against Cantor (Wait, Eric Can’tor not being truthful? I’m shocked! shocked! LOL)
*Va. state police investigated McDonnell as far back as 2012 (“Newly-unsealed documents say authorities probed alleged gifts given to former Va. governor and his wife.”)
*Law firm stayed on McDonnell case despite being let go (“Attorney General Mark Herring said in January that the firm was being dismissed, but invoices kept coming.”)
*Virginia lawmakers call exit of Veterans Affairs Secretary Shinseki good start (I don’t see how this accomplishes anything.)
*Past reports cite coal dust as recurring problem at terminal
*Sign of a looming shutdown: Va. attorney general hires law expert (“At question is whether leaders
can keep state funds flowing for essential services without a budget.”)
*Virginia budget deadline looming (“Local school boards, other departments preparing for the worst”)
*Talk more about Maury (“As with many of Norfolk’s schools, Maury High School needs help.”)
*Data shows migration of coal ash in Dan River
*Arlington, Fairfax hire streetcar project manager
*Desmond’s big blast rocks Rangers, powers struggling Nats to 9-2 win
*A spectacular Saturday in store (“It’s nearly perfect today, but temperatures will keep climbing in days ahead.”)
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