http://wchv.com Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:05:34 EDT en-us <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">(WCHV)&nbsp;New information on the controversy involving a local woman who stood next to President Obama to support him on extending unemployment benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">According to CBS 19 News Leslie Macko was employed as an aesthetician in the spa at ACAC in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Albemarle</st1:place></st1:city> county. In April 2009, a month after being found guilty of prescription drug fraud, she was fired from her job. And In June of 2007, Macko was charged with grand larceny. Later that charge was reduced and she was sentenced to two years probation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the White House would have never invited Leslie Macko to pose with President Obama had they known about her criminal past. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">A&nbsp;Secret Service spokesman says they did a background check on Macko before she appeared with the president and granted her permission to appear with him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">WCHV news has found that Macko's felony drug conviction was brought down to a m</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">isdemeanor which may be why the Secret Service cleared Macko to be at President Obama&rsquo;s press conference.</span><font size="3"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:05:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">(WCHV)&nbsp;Dominion Virginia Power has electricity restored to customers Friday morning. A severe thunderstorm blew out the power to over 4,000 customers in our listening area Thursday afternoon. There was some storm damage to a few homes and buildings in the area from debris and downed trees.<font size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:30:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">(WCHV)&nbsp;The Fluvanna County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office says they are investigating a series of burglaries in Fork Union. They say someone broke into the Saddle Creek Farm and Pet Supply Tuesday night and stole some cash. Also two homes were broken into and robbed Wednesday. Call Crimestoppers if you have any information on these crimes. They are offering a thousand dollar reward.<font size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:26:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <font size="2">(Metro) Governor Bob McDonnell is weighing in on the court's ruling to block key provisions of Arizona's controversial immigration law.&nbsp; Stacey Johnson, a spokeswoman for the governor, released a statement yesterday saying his staff is currently reviewing Wednesday's preliminary injunction.&nbsp; She says McDonnell is a strong proponent of securing our nation's borders, &quot;upholding the rule of law, and lawful immigration that meets the economic needs of America.&quot;&nbsp; Protestors marched in Phoenix and other cities around the U.S. Thursday as the watered-down version of the law took effect. </font><br /> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:21:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <font size="2">(Metro)&nbsp;Virginia is getting ready to something it hasn't done since 1912 -- execute a woman.&nbsp; A judge today set an execution date for Teresa Lewis, who used sex and money to convince two men to kill her husband and stepson.&nbsp; Without the intervention of the Governor or the U.S. Supreme Court, Lewis will die on September 23rd.&nbsp; She's the only woman currently on Virginia's death row. </font><br /> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:19:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 (Metro)&nbsp;<span style="font-size: x-small">After taking another look at the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment, the Environmental Protection Administration is rejecting claims made by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and officials in 15 other states.&nbsp; Cuccinelli mounted a legal challenge to the EPA in February, saying error-filled data from researchers at an English university was used in making its determinations on climate change and whether it is a result of human activity.&nbsp; In a statement, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said the arguments made by Cuccinelli and others were from, quote, &quot;selectively edited, out-of-context data and a manufactured controversy. <br /> </span> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:17:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">(WCHV)&nbsp;Members of Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad want to help defeat a proposed Albemarle County ordinance.</div> <div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">It would impose a so-called &ldquo;strong fire chief&rdquo; model on the County&rsquo;s volunteer rescue squads and fire departments. That means the County fire chief would assume complete control over the organizations&rsquo; operations.&nbsp;</div> <div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt">CARS members believe it would lead to additional bureaucracy and higher taxes.</div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">CARS is urging people supporting them to come out and speak at a hearing on August 11^th.</div> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:06:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">(WCHV)&nbsp;A worker at a Denny's restaurant in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Richmond</st1:place></st1:city> is accused of trying to poison two fellow employees by putting bleach in their drinks. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">Two servers reported noticing something strange about their drinks, and told investigators they suspected their co-worker was involved. Deputies charged Jermaine Johnson with altering a drink with intent to harm. Johnson is a cook at Denny's.The two employees were not harmed because they had only a sip of their drinks.</span><font size="3"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:03:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <span style="font-size: x-small"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">(WCHV) Governor Bob McDonnell says more than $500-thousand dollars in <span style="color: black">funding will go to 17 projects in</span></span></span><span style="font-size: smaller"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><span style="color: black"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><span style="color: black"><st1:state w:st="on"><span style="font-size: smaller">Virginia</span></st1:state><span style="font-size: smaller"> through the United States Safe and </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-size: smaller">Drug-Free</span></st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on"><span style="font-size: smaller">Schools</span></st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style="font-size: smaller"><span style="color: black"> and Communities Act of 2001.&nbsp; The grants, awarded through a competitive process, will implement drug and violence prevention activities, including those that complement school activities.</span></span></span> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:59:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <p style="background: white"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(WCHV)&nbsp;Governor Bob McDonnell will hit the road in August to hold eight town hall meetings around the Commonwealth. The tour will kick off in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Roanoke</st1:place></st1:city> on Wednesday, August 4^th.&nbsp; The &ldquo;Virginia Speaks&rdquo; town halls will be held in <st1:city w:st="on">Norfolk</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Chester</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Fredericksburg</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Fairfax</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Harrisonburg</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">Danville</st1:city> before concluding in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bristol</st1:city></st1:place> on August 31^st.&nbsp; <font size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:57:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <div style="background: white"><span style="color: black">(WCHV)&nbsp;Albemarle</span><span style="color: black"> County</span><span style="color: black"> police are opening a new satellite office. The new facility is at 4916 Plank Road in North Garden. &nbsp;It will provide officers with a place to work and make phone calls. The office officially opens Friday morning.</span></div> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:52:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <p style="background: white"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">(WCHV)&nbsp;The former owner of Bel Rio is now wanted by police. </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt"><st1:placename w:st="on">Albmemarle</st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype> police department has obtained one felony embezzlement warrant for 46-year-old James Baldi of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Charlottesville</st1:city></st1:place>. Police say the investigation is ongoing. Any one with knowledge of Baldi&rsquo;s whereabouts is asked to call Crimestoppers at 977-4000.<font size="3"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:50:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-From-The-WCHV-Newsroom/4192892 <div><span style="">(WCHV) Charlottesville</span><span style=""> City Council will discuss proposed changes to panhandling laws at their next meeting </span></div> <div><span style=""><br /> Officials say a new law will be proposed at Monday's City Council meeting, to add more restrictions to panhandling on the Downtown Mall. </span><span style="">They say if passed, citizens will not be allowed to ask for money within 50 feet of a mall crossing. Also asking for money from anyone at a vendor table or cart will not be allowed</span>. <span style="">City Council will have the first of two discussions on the proposed panhandling legislation changes on Monday.&nbsp;</span></div> <br /> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:14:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-from-the-WCHV-newsroom/4192892 <div><span style="">(WCHV) Preventing fights at the Fashion Square Mall is still a priority </span></div> <div><span style=""><br /> Fashion sqaure Mall management says they are continuing to make safety a top priority after a fight broke out several months ago, involving around a hundred teens. The fight resulted in several arrests and sparked a community-wide debate on what could be done to keep teens from getting in trouble at the mall. </span><span style="">Management says they have increase security and paid Albemarle County Police overtime to patrol the area </span></div> <div><b><span style=""><object height="24" width="220" id="audioplayer1" data="http://imgsrv.wchv.com/image/single_flash_player/audio_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param value="http://imgsrv.wchv.com/image/single_flash_player/audio_player.swf" name="movie" /> <param value="soundFile=http://podcast.wchv.com/wchv/2506567.mp3" name="FlashVars" /> <param value="high" name="quality" /> <param value="false" name="menu" /> <param value="transparent" name="wmode" /></object><br /> </span></b></div> <div><span style="">that&rsquo;s Sergeant Darrell Byers. Police say they hope more communication will help prevent a similar situation in the future. </span></div> <br /> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:11:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-from-the-WCHV-newsroom/4192892 <div><span style="">(WCHV) The University of Virginia is getting ready to welcome its first female President </span></div> <div><span style=""><br /> UVa officials say Dr. Teresa Sullivan is set to take office next week and she is aready starting to move into her new home. They say for 20 years, former president John Casteen lived in Carr&rsquo;s Hill, overlooking the Rotunda. </span><span style="">Officials say Chief Operating Officer Leonard Sandridge will retain his role as chief administrator until he retires on December 31 of this year. </span></div> <br /> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:06:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-from-the-WCHV-newsroom/4192892 <div><span style="">(WCHV) The right lane of I-64 Westbound at mile marker 103 will be closed until early Thursday morning<br /> <br /> <br /> Officials say the lane will be closed so a loose joint at the end of the bridge can be replaced. </span><span style="">They say the work is part of an on going rehabilitation of the bridge deck, which is being done during nighttime hours to minimize traffic congestion and delays.</span></div> <br /> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:04:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-from-the-WCHV-newsroom/4192892 <div><span style="">(WCHV) A Trash truck load catches fire Wednesday in Charlottesville </span></div> <div><span style=""><br /> City officials say firefighters responded to the 200 block of Carlton Road shortly before eight Wednesday morning, for reports of a trash truck load that was on fire. Crews say they had the truck dump the fiery load in the parking lot outside of the Charlottesville Market, to ensure that the blaze did not spread to the truck itself. </span></div> <div><span style=""><br /> Carlton Road</span><span style=""> was closed for some time as crews worked on the scene. Officials say there was no damage was sustained to the truck or others cars and nearby buildings. </span></div> <br /> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:58:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-from-the-WCHV-newsroom/4192892 <div>(WCHV) The owner of Bel Rio has disappeared from Charlottesville<br /> <br /> Jim Baldi and his girlfriend 25-year-old Kristian Throckmorton seemed to have gone missing around the same time about three weeks ago. police say throckmorton has now contacted family and friends after a missing persons report was filed earlier this week, however baldi has not been able to be reached</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><b><object height="24" width="220" id="audioplayer1" data="http://imgsrv.wchv.com/image/single_flash_player/audio_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> <param value="http://imgsrv.wchv.com/image/single_flash_player/audio_player.swf" name="movie" /> <param value="soundFile=http://podcast.wchv.com/wchv/2506024.mp3" name="FlashVars" /> <param value="high" name="quality" /> <param value="false" name="menu" /> <param value="transparent" name="wmode" /></object><br /> </b></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>that&rsquo;s realtor Roger Voisinet who is selling Baldi&rsquo;s home</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Baldi is facing a lawsuit for fraud and has not paid thousands of dollars of state and federal business taxes for bel rio. also according to the owner of builder&rsquo;s lighting, baldi was doing accounting for her business. voisinet says baldi was being dishonest.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><b>cut voisinet baldi 2</b></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Bel Rio was in the middle of a controversy over a noise ordinance in belmont, a sign was found on the door of the restaurant a couple weeks ago saying it had closed for renovations, but there were apparently never any plans to reopen. police say they are investigating.</div> <br /> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:09:00 EDT http://wchv.com/The-Latest-from-the-WCHV-newsroom/4192892