Story

05

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

‘It hurts a lot’: Soldier on Ukraine frontline speaks about loss and lack of resources

LVIV - Two years after Russian forces invaded parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, clashes on the frontline continue. Both countries have recorded major losses, with the tally of casualties reported well into the hundreds of thousands. And while Ukrainian men are constantly being drafted to join soldiers on the frontline, volunteer fighters from other countries, such as the US, Belarus, and Colombia, continue to offer their support to Ukraine, who remain heavily outnumbered. 'TRYING TO STAY HUMAN'  Twenty-four-year-old Quan Parker from Virginia in the United States has been fighting alongside Ukrainian forces to defend against Russian attacks on the…

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01

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

At least 33 people taken to hospitals in ammonia leak at sous vide company

At least 33 workers were taken to hospitals Wednesday night after ammonia leaked at a culinary facility near Dulles International Airport in Virginia, according to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. A department spokeswoman said five of the victims were transported with very serious, potentially life-threatening conditions. The incident occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m. at Cuisine Solutions, the spokeswoman said. The company has a global reach, partnering with mega-retailers such as Costco and Target to provide meal kits and food offerings such as a popular egg bite breakfast item sold at Starbucks, according to its website. Headquartered in Sterling, Cuisine Solutions…

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01

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

VA Undocumented Immigrants Pay $690M In Taxes, Study Says: Here’s How

VIRGINIA — Do undocumented immigrants pay taxes? They do, according to a nonprofit think tank — and in Virginia, they contribute nearly $690 million per year. With immigration again among the hot-button issues of this year’s presidential election, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) released a study on tax payments by undocumented immigrants this week. The analysis and its methodology can be seen online. According to the ITEP, undocumented immigrants in Virginia paid nearly $690 million in state and local taxes in 2022. Researchers estimate that this amount could have topped $856 million if each had legal status.…

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01

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

Virginia ABC Sees 50% Increase in Theft From Liquor Stores

Thieves increasingly are targeting Virginia’s liquor stores this year, according to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC). Through June, about $800,000 worth of merchandise has been swiped from ABC store shelves — almost a 50% increase over the same time last year, according to ABC data. Deputies in Stafford County responded to a report of a theft at an ABC store Tuesday. Employees said they believed the store was hit by two suspects who had been targeting other ABC stores across the commonwealth. Deputies went on the lookout nearby, and just 17 minutes later, the two suspects stole booze…

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01

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

Three 101-year-old friends recall fond memories in 1940s Alexandria

The young women in the black-and-white photos look cheerful, carefree, and ready for whatever adventures and happily-ever-afters might lie ahead. They’re neatly dressed in the styles fashionable in years just before World War II: crisp white blouses, dark-red lipstick, elaborately coiffed hair. There seems little chance the women in the photos could have imagined a future where they’d be looking at these fresh faces 80 years later, on a hot July day over lunch in a Burnsville restaurant. But there they were, all three now 101 years old: Virginia Goering of New Hope, Vera Sims of Waterville and her twin…

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01

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

Justice, First Lady welcome conference attendees

MORGANTOWN – Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice welcomed more than 300 attendees to the annual Communities In Schools West Virginia conference. The Student Supports Institute, which runs through today, unites statewide Communities In Schools (CIS) site coordinators, county contacts, and partners to explore best practices for supporting students. Communities In Schools West Virginia is the First Lady’s primary initiative and took root in West Virginia in 2018. Today, the program operates in all 55 counties providing essential resources to at-risk students, helping them stay in school and succeed. West Virginia is the only state in the country…

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01

Aug

By Dorothy Brand

Story

32,000 seats installed on bleachers at Lane Stadium; more …

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - We are just over a month away from college football season kicking off. Work is underway at Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech to make sure your experience cheering on the Hokies is one to remember. “The overcrowding is an issue in every stadium,” Virginia Tech Athletics’ Brad Wurthman said, “especially when you’re talking bleachers.” That’s why you’ll see new seats installed on the bleachers throughout Lane Stadium. Wurthman says it’s one direct way they could enhance the experience for Virginia Tech football fans. “That was the intent, was to make sure that people who are here…

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31

Jul

By Dorothy Brand

Story

Covid-19 virus widespread in wildlife, find scientists

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published in Nature Communications. The virus was detected in six common backyard species, and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40% to 60%, depending on the species. Genetic tracking in wild animals confirmed both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the existence of unique viral mutations with lineages closely matching variants circulating in humans at the time, further supporting human-to-animal transmission, the study found. The highest exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was found in animals…

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30

Jul

By Dorothy Brand

Story

First Indian American Miss Virginia USA Winner Breaks Stereotypes and Champions STEM Careers

From watching competitions on TV as a little girl to winning a state title at 24 years old, Himanvi Panidepu is well-versed in the world of pageantry. In June, the Centreville native was crowned Miss Virginia USA. She also won Miss Virginia Teen USA in 2018 and is now the first Indian American to hold both titles. This week, she will travel to Hollywood to compete in the 73rd Miss USA pageant. Although Panidepu has dedicated much of her life to pageantry, she took a six-year hiatus after her 2018 win to focus on college and her cybersecurity career. Graduating…

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