Free Republic

A Virginia state senator is set to resign on Monday after cutting a deal with Republicans, a stunning move that gives the state GOP the upper hand in an ongoing fight over the state's budget and an expansion of the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act. Democratic state Sen. Phillip Puckett will step down on Monday, news first reported by The Washington Post. According to the report, Puckett's resignation leads the way for him to get a job as deputy director of the state tobacco commission and for his daughter to be confirmed for a state judgeship. It also...

How could Democratic state Sen. Phil Puckett's resignation move the budget and Medicaid impasse? Counting noses, it means what was a 23-17 Senate majority (20 Democrats, three Republicans) for a budget that includes a provision for tapping Affordable Care Act dollars to extend health insurance for low income Virginians now stands at 22-17. But it also means what was a 20-20 split, with Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam a tie-breaker on everything except the budget, is now a 20-19 GOP majority. So, look for movement this week to bring the state Senate back into session (it takes nine to call...

Sleeping passenger left on plane at YVR British passenger discovered by mechanic at YVR 1½ hours later; airline apologizes for gaff, saying flight attendant was preoccupied with wheelchairs By Damian Inwood, The ProvinceApril 6, 2010 Kris Lines says he was left alone on a plane for 90 minutes after landing in Vancouver. A British law professor is slamming Air Canada after the airline left him asleep on a plane for 90 minutes after it landed -- and he woke up in a hangar at Vancouver International Airport. He says he's not satisfied with the airline's explanation that the flight attendant...

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/NEWS01/80410002/1002

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2007 – A nine-person team deployed from 49th Material Maintenance Group at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently completed the largest deployable aircraft shelter in the Air Force. Airmen deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., work to build the largest deployable aircraft shelter in the Air Force. U.S. Air Force photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The team began construction on the 225-by-70-foot aircraft hangar Oct. 22 and completed it Nov. 5. The hangar, which is intended to simultaneously house three of the 455th Air Expeditionary...

Hanger proposes castration for some criminalsBy BOB STUART The News Virginian Thursday, February 2, 2006 Sen. Emmett Hanger believes voluntary castration can help Virginia manage sexually violent offenders. Hanger, R-Mount Solon, has filed legislation allowing for such a treatment. Virginia, he said, faces a financial crisis in housing sex offenders who have finished serving their criminal sentences, but are subject to inpatient treatment because of their dangerous status. The state senator said a planned 100-bed unit in Nottoway County won’t be enough. “We are expecting the numbers to increase dramatically,’’ he said. “We could end up with 300 individuals over...