The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants held its fourth Leaders’ Institute for the states’ top accounting students last weekend. Here is a press release from the VSCPA:

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) held the fourth Leaders’ Institute for Virginia’s brightest accounting students on June 25–27 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. With a generous $100,000 gift from accounting and consulting firm Baker Tilly (formerly Beers + Cutler), the VSCPA established the first-ever Leaders’ Institute in 2007.

Specifically designed for the top college accounting students in the Commonwealth, The Leaders’ Institute provides a hands-on workshop program for young aspiring CPAs. The only development program of its kind in Virginia, the Institute provides rising college seniors the opportunity for vital leadership training and real-life skills to successfully transition into the competitive marketplace. Read more »

New Health and Human Resources and Technology legislation will take effect in Virginia on July 1st. Here is a press release from the Governor’s office:

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell today highlighted several pieces of Health and Human Resources and Technology legislation that will take effect on July 1^st.  This includes legislation dramatically expanding telemedicine coverage for Virginians, as well as the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act which sets as the policy of the Commonwealth that no individual, with several specific exceptions, can be required to purchase health insurance coverage.  In addition, the Governor highlighted bills that expand the use of technology for economic development and integrating technology in education.  In March, Governor McDonnell worked in a bipartisan fashion to develop comprehensive legislation to restructure and provide more transparency and accountability within the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA).  This successful legislation gave the Governor’s Office, through the Secretary of Technology, direct management control of VITA; the emergency legislation took effect on March 11^th. Read more »

The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission has issued its annual regional report card. The report can be found online here. A full release from the commission follows:

Regional cooperation in the Roanoke Valley and Alleghany Highlands continues to grow. Governments in the region have identified additional opportunities for cooperative regional programs since the first Regional Report Card was published in 2002. The document highlights cooperative services and projects among counties, cities and towns in the region. Read more »

The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce Regional Development Committee will host an “Expansion in the Valley” seminar, focusing on the Rte. 460 West Commercial Corridor study, the proposed Roanoke Region/Norfolk Southern Intermodal Facility, planned infrastructure enhancements, proposed land use changes, incentives for corporate locations to the area and possible joint municipality cooperatives. Guest speakers include Kevin Boggess, Salem City Manager and Doug Chittum, Economic Development Director of Roanoke County. This event will be held on Thursday, July 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the Conference Center of National College.

Seating is limited and reservations are required. To reserve your seat please contact the Chamber at info@s-rcchamber.org or 540.387.0267

Submitted by the Salem Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce

Municipal officials and four Roanoke-area agencies today unveiled a campaign to promote dining at city restaurants in support of the city’s public schools.

“Eat for Education,” with its fork and school books logo, was launched a day before the city’s 2-percentage point meals tax increase will take effect. The revenue from the two-year tax increase is expected to generate more than $4 million for the city school division.

Reporter Courtney Cutright of The Roanoke Times has more on this story.

The Dr. G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic for the Homeless, part of the Rescue Mission of Roanoke, is launching a new dental clinic on July 2. Here is a press release from the Rescue Mission of Roanoke:

The Rescue Mission’s Dr. G. Wayne Fralin Free Clinic for the Homeless is launching its’ new Dental Clinic with a day filled with dental assessments, hygiene education and more in celebration of the Mission’s 62^nd Birthday on Friday, July 2 from 7am to 7pm.

Dr. Kenneth Ison, Dr. A. Wharton Ramsey, Dr. William Roller, Dr. Dan Thompson and Dr. Barry Wolfe will be on hand to provide dental assessments for an anticipated 200 homeless patients and Recovery Program participants at the Rescue Mission.  In addition to dental assessments and x-rays, patients will receive dental hygiene teaching, as well as blood pressure and blood sugar screenings. Read more »

A state official has announced negotiations to sell Roanoke-based Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. to another insurance company.

The Roanoke Times has the story here.

Roanoke City offices will be closed on Monday, July 5, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Although solid waste collection will operate one a one-day delayed basis in residential areas,  collection in the Central Business District will be operate Monday, July 5, through Saturday, July 10, on schedule.

For more information, please call the Citizen Service Center at 853-2000.

A team of mechanical engineering students at Virginia Tech, which included members from Lynchburg, Blue Ridge, and Roanoke, build four autonomous vehicles that will be used at the 2010 Rim of the Pacific war games in July. Here is a press release from the university:

Four unmanned autonomous vehicles designed and built by a team of engineering students at Virginia Tech using the TORC Robotic Building Blocks product line, are headed to Hawaii to participate in the 2010 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) war games in July.

Fourteen nations, 34 ships, five submarines, over 100 aircraft and 20,000 personnel will participate in the biennial RIMPAC exercise June 23 through Aug. 1. Read more »

Physics professor Leo Piilonen and Chemistry professor Gordon Yee have received the Dr. Carroll B. Shannon Excellence in Teaching Award at Virginia Tech. Here is a press release from the university:

Professors in physics and chemistry at Virginia Tech have been recognized with the Dr. Carroll B. Shannon Excellence in Teaching Award.

Leo Piilonen, professor of physics (http://www.phys.vt.edu) and Gordon Yee, associate professor of chemistry (http://www.chem.vt.edu), were recognized for their innumerable contributions to teaching and learning. The award, made possible by an endowment established by Peter and Carroll Shannon, is bestowed annually to faculty members who demonstrate outstanding teaching skills and methods, and dedication to learning. Read more »