Memorial sign rejected for Richmond mothers who lost sons in car accident

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 7:02pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Two mothers in Richmond continue to grieve, on the three-month anniversary of their sons' deaths. Joel Forshaw and Nathaniel Daigle lost their lives after a deadly crash into a tree off Cary Street Road, back in February. Police say speed and alcohol were factors in the accident, which happened near a semi-blind turn.

Their mothers, Tamera Forshaw and Laurie Daigle, wish to pay for a memorial sign along the stretch of road, warning others to drive safely. Richmond city has a program in place to put up such signs, which read "Drive safely, In memory of..."

"You reflect. You see ‘drive safely'… consciously you know something tragic happened here, and you want to prevent it from happening again," said Tamera Forshaw.

However, the sign was rejected by Councilman Jonathan Baliles, who oversees the district. City protocol requires the city council member to give approval. However, Baliles received resistance from neighbors.

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City responds to scathing social services audit

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 6:11pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- A scathing report on an investigation of Richmond's Department of Social Services confirms allegations children were in fact being kept in unsafe situations. The Inspector General's Office released twelve pages worth of findings Thursday.

A disturbing picture was painted in the troubling report.

In their presentation to the city's audit committee, investigators didn't mince words.

"The health and safety of the children was compromised," Investigator Andrew Harris said.

It was compromised in a way, which made it difficult for children to thrive and in some instances even survive.

The report details cases where Richmond's kids were left in the hands of caregivers with mental health issues or drug addictions.

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ON YOUR SIDE: Scammers pretend to call from Microsoft

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 6:00pm

Don't fall prey to a new scam targeting computer owners! Thieves are calling and pretending to be from Microsoft tech support. It's yet another way to try and steal your personal information. If you get a call claiming to be from Microsoft, or any other company, just hang up.

Scammers are popping up like weeds, and because they mostly operate from foreign countries, forget about catching them.

The story sounds believable.

"I didn't think anything about it," said Vanessa Lee. She experienced the scam herself.

She said it began with a phone call.

"Saying they were from Microsoft, what their name was, saying that they had been receiving a lot of error messages from my computer," Lee told us.

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SLIDESHOW: Top 10 High Crash Intersections in Richmond

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 5:39pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- The Richmond Police Department is releasing data on the top 10 high crash intersections in the city to raise public awareness.

Click here to see the Top 10 High Crash Intersections on mobile

Thursday, police announced the city has received a federal grant to begin major safety improvements.

"This is a multi-million dollar contract. It should kick off later on this year towards the Fall to make it safer for the citizens of this city and those who come here from outside," Lt. William Kelly aid.

He says the overhaul will bring new traffic lights, crosswalks and signals - although the city's plan to add a red light camera at Elkhardt and Hull remains on hold.

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Richmond police warn of cell phone snatching in downtown

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 12:07am

Richmond police are sending out a crime alert. Cell phone snatching is on the rise in downtown.

The bold bandits are actually snatching the phones right of your hand.

"Let them try it," said Russell Duerr who spends a lot of time on his phone downtown. "Seeing if I've got emails. Talking to old girlfriends on the phone. This thing is a part of me. No one is taking this thing."

6 phones have been snatched in the last 30 days. 36 percent of the robberies in downtown this year have been cell phone grabs.

"We just ask people while they are out to just be aware of that," said Lt. Donald Davenport. "Be aware that they are carrying an electronic device that is valuable."

Lt. Davenport says the majority of robberies happen between 8 p.m. and midnight.

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Hotel wants to cancel Richmond's first adult expo

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 11:03pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- The hotel hosting Richmond's first sex expo is having second thoughts. Sources at the Clarion Hotel told NBC12 Wednesday, they're trying to stop the expo before it gets there in June.

The RVA Adult Expo is booked for June 1 at Richmond's Clarion Hotel. It has been for months, according to a contract obtained by NBC12.

Shortly after the deal was inked, the hotel was placed under new management. Now, sources there say, the expo doesn't line up with their new image.

"They can do what they're going to do but that's not going to stop us," said adult film star and expo spokeswoman Sun Karma. "We've put a lot of work into this and did everything we had to do that was necessary by Virginia law."

According to Karma, organizers have all the necessary permits, licenses and a solid contract with the hotel.

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12 INVESTIGATES: Price of 3D printers

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 6:26pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- It's considered a game changer for small business, even in the nation's gun control debate: 3D printers that goes beyond ink and paper.

"It's similar, it's similar... but just think of going in another direction," said Eric McMasters. He's an assistant professor who helps to run a 3D printing lab at VCU.

Using plastic, the printer creates real objects you can hold in your hand. They are based off of designs you create on a computer.

"It basically prints one layer of plastic at a time. It kind of works like a hot glue gun," said McMasters.

Here, art students test their sculptures. Medical students make micro-organisms life size. For entrepreneurs, 3D printing is a way to make your idea a reality, to test it, to see if it works.

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