Week in review

Getting fatter

The adult obesity rate in Virginia increased to 25.9 percent this year, according to a new report from the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Three out of every five people are either obese or overweight, according to the study. And while that may sound like a lot, the numbers rank Virginia as the 30th fattest state in the nation. Of the top 10 fattest states in the nation, eight were Southern states. Mississippi maintained the highest obesity rate, 34.4 percent. Colorado had the lowest percentage of obese people, at 19.8 percent. Fifteen years ago, Virginia had a 14.2 percent obesity rate.

Picasso profits

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts' Picasso exhibition brought $26.6 million to the Richmond region and a further $2.3 million across Virginia in tourism revenues, the museum said Thursday. ("Picasso's tragedy," 3/1) And the government earned more than $250,000 in local tax revenue and almost $750,000 in state tax revenue.

"The Picasso exhibition was not only a blockbuster for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, but for all of Virginia," Director Alex Nyerges said, highlighting the exhibit's boost to hotels, restaurants and other aspects of the tourism industry.

Hero honored

Matthew Cochran, a state trooper from southwest Virginia, was named Trooper of the Year by the American Associates of State Troopers, WTKR reported this week. Cochran rescued a woman from a fire in the Briar Court Apartments in Hillsville last year. "It wasn't a choice to not go in," he told WTKR. "Hearing her scream is motivation to go in. You know she's still alive and you have a chance to get her out. And we did."

Constitution study

A group of Zimbabwean attorneys met with legal scholars Wednesday and Thursday at the University of Virginia to learn about the U.S. Constitution. Society President Tinoziva Bere says the visit will help Zimbabwe write a new constitution that aims to stabilize a tenuous coalition government between Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Bere said his team appreciates the opportunity to learn "how people can be one nation under different persuasions and not kill each other."

The most touching and memorable part of the trip? "Experiences of American life and being among the American people on their national day," Bere said.

Prison pets?

Rockingham County's prosecutor says an inmate convicted of first-degree murder shouldn't be allowed to have a dog in her cell. Donna Hockman is serving a life sentence at Fluvanna Correctional Center for fatally shooting Dustin Stanley, 23, in 2008. A posting on Hockman's website says she's an auxiliary dog handler and a dog named Princess Jasmine is living in her cell. Rockingham County Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst tells the Daily News-Record that she's outraged and will work to have the dog taken away. Stanley's mother, Vickie Stanley, says she was sickened when she learned about the dog, part of a program called Pen Pals, where inmates train hard-to-adopt dogs from local animal shelters.

Purses pilfered

Three Vienna churches reported wallets and purses stolen during Sunday services this week, the Washington Post reported. Two purses were stolen from the Church of the Holy Comforter, a wallet was taken from Vienna Presbyterian Church, and another wallet was stolen from Emmaus United Church of Christ. While parishioners were at services, the purses and wallets were taken from unlocked offices and an acolyte vesting room. Police don't have any leads on the crime.

Driver pleads

Kin Yiu Cheung, driver of a bus that crashed in Virginia killing four passengers and injuring dozens, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. A trial was set for Sept. 12. Court records show the New York driver, 37, admitted he fell asleep at the wheel when the Sky Express bus swerved off Interstate 95 about 30 miles north of Richmond and overturned. A document obtained by The Associated Press shows Cheung's attorneys are asking a judge to suppress any statements he made because he allegedly was denied access to counsel and was not advised of his Miranda rights.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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