Reports of storm damage stretch from Louisa to Dinwiddie

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 10:59pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Friday's storms left a big mess in their wake with trees into homes, power lines down and, in some places, the roof blown off buildings.

According to the National Weather Service, the damage was mostly likely caused by straight-line winds.

From Richmond to the Tri-Cities, there were dozens of reports of trees blocking roads, falling into homes and downing power lines but no injuries were reported.

On Chippenham Road in Chesterfield, a large tree was split down its middle, blocking the road and crashing into a neighboring house.

The home sustained minor damage and no one was hurt.

On Warminster Drive also in Chesterfield, a tree uprooted by the wind, fell and grazed the front of a house. The homeowner was out of town.

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12 Investigates: Tattoo regret

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 5:43pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Richmond loves tattoos, but some decisions aren't meant to last forever.

Tonight at 11, Curt Autry looks at some of Central Virginia's most regrettable ink and reveals how a local doctor is helping make those mistakes disappear.

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All lanes on I-95N in Richmond back open after crash

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 9:03am

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- An accident on Interstate 95 North near the Boulevard exit that backed up traffic for five miles has now been cleared, according to VDOT.

Major delays were also reported on Interstate 64 West at the Shockoe Valley Bridge.

The crash occurred around 7:10 a.m. at mile marker 78, near the Robin Hood Road Overpass in Richmond. According to Virginia State Police, a vehicle ran off the left side of the road, hit the center median and overturned.

All lanes reopened shortly before 9 a.m.

The driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. The crash remains under investigation.

Follow Tracy Lynn on Twitter (@tracytraffic) for First Warning Traffic updates.

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Richmond real estate mogul arrested for tax fraud

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, April 18th, 2013, 11:00pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- The head of a well-known real-estate management company is accused of stealing millions from the Commonwealth. 51-year-old Billy Gene Jefferson has been arrested and charged with eight counts of forging public documents.

According to Virginia State Police, the charges stem from the submission of false documents to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

Police say, the submission of the false documents has resulted in over two million dollars in tax fraud to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jefferson runs River City Real Estate, which is known for revamping two historic properties on Stockton Street in Southside Richmond: the Parachute Factory and Tobacco Factory.

In the Fan, River City's sister company, Historic Properties Management, rents out dozens of apartments.

Now, the future of this prominent corporation is uncertain after Jefferson's arrest.

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12 ON YOUR SIDE : Tax return debit card problems

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, April 18th, 2013, 6:19pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Some Virginia taxpayers
who were mistakenly charged fees for using the state's new tax refund card are now getting reimbursements. 12 On Your Side has been tracking the debt card
debacle for several weeks.

This is the first year
that taxpayers could use the Way2Go card to get their refunds. The refunds are
loaded onto the card, which works like a debit card. The calls and emails about
problems came into our newsroom the moment the refunds started going out.

The new tax refund debit cards are suppose to be convenient for taxpayers and cheaper for the Commonwealth. Turns out, a myriad of fees is making people mad.

The debit cards are new in Virginia. The Taxation Department said getting rid of paper checks would save the state $20,000 a year. The cards come with instructions and a fee schedule.

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Richmond city councilors express concern over superintendent's departure

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013, 10:56pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- City council members expressed concern at a meeting Wednesday night over the unexpected departure of Richmond Schools Superintendent, Dr. Yvonne Brandon.

Councilors fired questions at School Board Chair Jeff Bourne. They want to know where the school system is headed and if the board has too much on its plate after only four months on the job.

The board faces closing several schools, trying to increase student enrollment and now, finding a new superintendent.

Bourne tried to ease those concerns.

"We are in a period of transition with respect to the superintendent," Bourne said. "But I think it's clear the school board has the oversight and the authority to run the school system."

Still, council members suggested that the school board pump the brakes on its ambitious plan to tackle school issues. Bourne insisted that there's no time to waste.

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Middle school students found guilty in bus driver beating

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013, 6:02pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- It's a guilty verdict for five of the six Richmond middle school students accused of beating up their bus driver. The Albert Hill middle students faced felony charges for the attack, but those charges were reduced to misdemeanors Wednesday.

Prosecutors say they couldn't see these 12 to 14-year-olds with no previous criminal histories facing felonies, especially after reviewing surveillance video. But they agreed something had to be done to teach the teens a lesson.

"Do you think he learned a lesson from this?" we questioned one of the parents leaving court, but she kept quiet.

With their parents by their side, all six of the students accused of beating up bus driver Gregory Davis last Fall left the courtroom.

Five of the students plead guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery charges which prosecutors reduced from the felony charges the teens originally faced.

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