Week in review

On Fire

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has authorized the use of federal funds to help fight two fires that began on Feb. 19 in Warren and Coffman counties. As of Thursday, more than 3,100 acres have burned in the two counties.

Most of the other near-record wildfires in Virginia were contained on Monday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. In total, over 4,500 acres of private land and 5,000 acres of public land have been scorched by a number of blazes, most of which were ignited Saturday due to dry fields and high winds. Saturday marked the second-worst day for wildfires in Virginia in the last 50 years.

Charity fraud?

A state investigation has found that Virginia residents donated at least $2 million to a charity purporting to raise money for U.S. Navy veterans. The Roanoke Times reports that the findings by the state's Office of Consumer Affairs were turned over to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's office on Monday.

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore told the newspaper that the consumer affairs office worked with six other states that are investigating the U.S. Navy Veterans Association. In October, a grand jury in Ohio indicted the group's director on corruption and theft charges. The indictment charged that the man used a false identity. The search for the man continues.

Homegrown terrorist sentenced

A college dropout and Muslim convert who threatened the creators of the "South Park" cartoon series and then tried to join an al-Qaida-linked terror group in Somalia was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison. Zachary A. Chesser, 21, of Bristow, Va., pleaded guilty last year to supporting the al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia. Chesser achieved notoriety on the Internet under the name Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee when he warned the creators of "South Park" that they risked death for mocking Islam.

His wife, 26-year-old Proscovia Nzabanita, was sentenced for falsely telling investigators she didn't know about Chesser's plans to go to Somalia. She avoided jail as part of a plea bargain but will be deported.

Mattress mishap

Moving mattresses didn't end well for Timothy Lee Walker on Tuesday. The Burlington man, 48, was on top of a moving Ford Explorer trying to hold down several mattresses. The driver of the SUV entered a curve, the mattresses slid, and Walker fell off, striking his head on the roadway. Dailypress.com reports that he was airlifted to UNC Hospital, where his status is unknown.

Legislative Wrap-up

$30 million for the disabled

Trying to head off a costly federal lawsuit over Virginia's outmoded system of care for the intellectually and developmentally disabled, the House voted Wednesday to set up a $30 million trust fund. The 97-0 vote sends the fast-tracked bill to the Senate and pressures a dozen senior budget negotiators to fund it with three days left in the 2011 General Assembly. It gives Gov. Bob McDonnell's administration discretion on the timing and specific uses for the cash after the legislature ends its 46-day regular session on Saturday. The state has about a month to answer the findings in a U.S. Department of Justice report that Virginia needlessly warehouses the intellectually disabled and provides too little community-based care.

"It's exceptionally important," Del. Johnny Joannou (D-Portsmouth) said. "In six to eight months, we're probably going to end up with a lawsuit if we don't do this."

Extended filing time

The General Assembly has extended the time allowed for sexual abuse victims to sue their attackers from two years to 20 years. The measure, which evoked tearful and wrenching testimony from victims before legislative committees, passed Thursday in a group of uncontested bills with little debate. The bill doesn't affect the lifetime limit for criminal prosecutions of sexual predators.

Initially, the measure would have extended the limit from two years to eight. After emotional hearings on the measure, the deadline was extended to 20. The Roman Catholic Church lobbied for a shorter lawsuit deadline because of priest sex scandals that have provoked lawsuits nationwide. The bill now heads to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who is Catholic.

Backyard BB bans lifted

Virginians could fire BB guns and other air-propelled weapons in their backyards under a bill heading to the governor. The House voted 78-18 Tuesday to approve a measure that allows the use of pneumatic weapons when fired with "reasonable care" to prevent projectiles from going outside of the property. The bill also prohibits localities from banning the use of air guns on private property. Currently, localities can prohibit shooting the guns in highly populated areas.

Earlier collection

A bill that would allow local agents to collect back taxes sooner is headed to the governor's desk. HB1425 would reduce the period of nonpayment of taxes from six months to three months and allow local treasurers to send real estate taxes to private collection agents. Del. David B. Albo (R-Dist. 42) is sponsoring the bill, which was adopted by the House on Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Like us today on Facebook. Just log in and search for "WORLD Virginia."