General Assembly wrap up

BILL LOOKS TO BAN SALVIA

Salvia, a powerful hallucinogenic, has
recently become a favorite among other
recreational drugs.

However, this species of the mint family
causes anxiety, impaired speech, dizziness
and discontent.

Delegate John O’Bannon is seeking to
ban salvia, which is not regulated on the
federal level, because of a possibility of
misuse.

Information provided by Alexander
Harris, CNS.

DMV SITE LAUNCHES SAFETY TOOLS

The Department of Motor Vehicles is
now providing safety tips, traffic-crash
information, and injury and fatality statistics
on their Web site.

DMV also is listing the number of traf-
fic-related deaths in Virginia, updating the
statistics daily.

DMV’s Web site provides several interactive
features, including audio, video and
other multimedia.

DMV’s Web site can be found at www.
dmvNOW.com.

Information provided by Bethany Emerson,

CNS.

TAKING ACTION AGAINST UNDERAGE DRINKING

“Lights, Camera, Take Action: Stop
Underage Drinking Now” is a campaign
calling for younger drivers to be the solution
to underage drinking.

Four teens were selected out of 70
initial applicants from the Richmond area
as finalists for creating public-service
announcements for the campaign. The four
are competing to air during the Super Bowl.

Information provided by Julia Linden, CNS.

VIRGINIA’S STATE SONG TO BE REVAMPED

After 10 years without a tune, Virginia
might have one once again.

A decade ago, the General Assembly
retired “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia” as
the state song because of its pro-slavery
lyrics. James A. Bland wrote the song in
1878, describing an ex-slave’s reminiscing
about his old life as a slave. Delegate Ann
Crockett-Stark is calling for a change of
lyrics and a revamp of the song to create
a feeling of unity.

Information provided by Eric Peters, CNS.