Week in review

Dread-locked in

Allen McRae, a Rastafarian serving 20 years for cocaine possession, is one of about 30 inmates who were moved last November to maximum security Keen Mountain State Prison in southwest Virginia because they refused to cut their hair. Some had spent more than a decade in solitary confinement for this breach of prison grooming standards. Several of the inmates were recently moved to Wallens Ridge State Prison, one of the state's highest security prisons, as officials try to persuade them to cut their hair with the benefit of being allowed to join the general population. But some, including McRae, decline on religious grounds and have chosen to go back into segregation.

Lawmakers Retire

Two Democratic Virginia lawmakers told surprised colleagues last week that they won't seek re-election. Del. Albert Pollard of Lancaster is retiring a second time from the House of Delegates. Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple of Arlington also bade farewell on the eve of Saturday's scheduled adjournment. Pollard, 43, served three House terms from 2000 through 2005. He resigned, then won a special election in February 2008, and was re-elected to a full term in 2009. Whipple, who chairs the Senate Democratic Caucus, won her seat in 1995 and won re-election three times to four-year terms. Neither resignation is likely to affect the balance of party power in the General Assembly.

Financially insecure?

A University of Virginia study claims that a significant number of households across the state lack enough income and cash assets to cover basic needs and unplanned expenses. The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service report also charges that the federal poverty level inadequately measures how much it costs to be economically self-sufficient, asserting that the average two-adult, two-child family needs about $44,000, or twice the federal poverty level, to pay for housing, food, child care and other monthly expenses.

Dousing the flames

Firefighters have fully contained a wildfire in Rockingham County that burned more than 2,100 acres. The Coffman fire began Feb. 19. The U.S. Forest Service has said the fire spread faster than normal because of high winds and low humidity.

An Albemarle County developer faces misdemeanor charges stemming from another wildfire that burned more than 800 acres. Albemarle County Fire Marshal James Barber told The Daily Progress that Alex Toomy of Ragged Mountain Road was charged Monday with illegal burning before 4 p.m. and carelessly damaging property. The fire began Feb. 20 in the Ragged Mountain Farm subdivision.

False teeth

A Chesterfield County man has been charged with practicing dentistry out of his home without a license. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the charges against 53-year-old Jose A. Hernandez involve at least two alleged victims.

According to court records, Hernandez began operating a business called LA Dental Lab seven years ago. He immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico 11 years ago. His attorney, Samuel P. Simpson, told the newspaper that it's his understanding Hernandez was a licensed dentist in Mexico.

Simpson says Hernandez has relatives living legally in the U.S but he's uncertain about his client's status. A court hearing is set for March 31.

Settling the dispute

A small conservative Anglican parish in northern Virginia voted to settle its part of a costly property dispute with the Episcopal Church. The case drew national attention when other congregations in Virginia broke from the denomination in a dispute over theology and sexuality.

The Church of Our Saviour voted Sunday to relinquish claim to a 133-year-old church building in Oatlands, near Leesburg. Under the plan, the congregation would get an inexpensive five-year lease with the diocese but be prohibited from affiliating with breakaway parishes while still using the building.

The Rev. Elijah White, the church's rector, says the parish is seeking a new place of worship after spending $400,000 in the dispute over the $314,000 property.

$5 million for broccoli

A team of researchers and agricultural agents hopes to take a bite out of the West Coast's $1 billion broccoli monopoly with new strains of the vegetable designed to withstand East Coast heat and humidity. They've received a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and $1.7 million in matching private contributions to create a broccoli corridor running from northern Florida to Maine. Their work has been driven by the rising cost of fuel to ship crates of broccoli from California.

"Most people tell me [Virginia broccoli] is sweeter and crisper," said Kevin Semones, manager of the Southwest Virginia Farmers Market in Hillsville. "It has to be fresher."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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