In The Area...

Compiled by Kevin Loker, ­News Editor, from Fairfax County Times, Richmond-Times Dispatch, and the Examiner

Senate Decision Safeguards Accomplices from Death Penalty

State senators failed to override the governor’s veto of the triggerman rule last week.

Current Virginia law states that only the person who actually commits a murder can be sentenced to the death penalty, safeguarding equally-involved accomplices from execution. The General Assembly passed a bill overturning the rule earlier in the session, but Gov. Tim Kaine vetoed it.

The state Senate voted to uphold Kaine’s veto Wednesday, April 8, after lengthy debate.

A majority of senators—24—voted for the override, but support fell short of the necessary two-thirds vote of 27.
The House of Delegates votes earlier that day did override the triggerman rule, 69-30, but the veto stands because of the Senate outcome.

Fairfax Delegate to Run for Attorney General

Delegate Stephen C. Shannon, D-Fairfax, announced on the House of Delegates floor last Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to his House seat and instead, will run for attorney general.

Shannon, who joined the House in 2004, is currently unopposed for Democratic nomination for the statewide office. Campaign official, Roman Levit, said 14,267 signatures were turned into the State Board of Elections this morning to be listed on the ballot.

The announcement was expected. The campaign has ramped up efforts within the last quarter, raising more than $270,000 during the month of March alone in order to not breach law on raising money while in session. Levit says they have about $900,000 on hand.

Area Residents Join Church, Reflect Nationwide Trend

More than 2,000 Washington-area residents converted to Catholicism this weekend, reflecting a trend seen nationwide as U.S. Catholic parishes welcome about 150,000 new and returning members during the Easter liturgies.

Susan Gibbs, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Washington, says many factors may be contributing to the increase.

“We’re in a culture now where people are just not brought up in religion, so as adults, they’re making that decision,” Gibbs said.

Gibbs also cited marriage to a Catholic and an increase in immigrants from locations, such as South America and West Africa, as contributing to the trend.