Richmond School Board votes to close Clark Springs Elementary, other buildings

Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 11:06pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- The Richmond School Board voted Monday night to close Clark Springs Elementary, Norrell Elementary and the Adult Career Development Center. The closings narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote.

Dozens of parents, teachers and young students begged the school board not to close Clark Springs during the public hearing as emotions ran high.

"We will recuse you from this school board," said one Richmond resident. "You may think this is of no consequence, but you make the mistake of underestimating us."

Hers wasn't the only threat directed toward the school board. School board member Shonda Harris-Muhammed got emotional as she sided with the people in the crowd.

"We don't deserve to be on this board if we go through with this vote," she said. "We can't look these children in their eyes and tell them they're not worthy. They are worthy! What we are doing to them is wrong!"

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ROC pastor in court, accused of making threatening calls

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 5:43pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- For the first time, the man who says he was threatened by the executive pastor of the Richmond Outreach Center church is speaking out. That alleged victim, a pastor himself, says he was threatened by Jason Helmlinger during a phone conversation.

Executive Pastor Jason Helmlinger's hearing Monday morning only lasted a few minutes. He'll be back in court June 21^st to set a trial date.

The charge that he threatened local pastor Allen Caldwell has him facing up to a year behind bars.

With his wife by his side, Jason Helmlinger, who stepped down from his position as executive pastor at The ROC, walked out of court to a waiting SUV without comment.

Monday, we learned more about that alleged threatening conversation from the person on the other end of the phone line.

"Oh goodness, I don't want to use the language he used otherwise I'd have to repent again," Caldwell told reporters.

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12 INVESTIGATES: Possible C-Diff breakthrough

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Monday, June 3rd, 2013, 5:33pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- A possible medical break-through for a superbug we've been warning you about for months. A researcher at UVA Medical Center has created a promising new anti-biotic.

Clostridium Difficile - C-Diff - is a deadly intestinal bacteria that's often most contagious in the one place you go to get better - the hospital! C-Diff can lead to severe diarrhea, ruptured colons, kidney failure and blood poisoning. 14,000 die each year - that's a low estimate.

The drug that can beat it: Amixicle.

"C-Diff is very, very susceptible to this drug, Amixicle," said Dr. Paul Hoffman.

We caught up with Dr. Hoffman at his UVA research lab. He says amixicle targets an enzyme found in the bad bacteria that gets in your gut. It leaves probiotic or good bacteria alone.

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Fan Association slams “ridiculous” Monument Avenue armed robbery

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 11:37pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- The Fan District Association is speaking out after two violent robberies in the last two days. The latest robbery happened Thursday night in the 1600 block of Monument Avenue.

Police say it happened around 10 pm. Two suspects robbed a man at gunpoint.

"Just stop it. Just don't do this," said Charlie Diradour who is chairman of the Fan District safety committee. "This is ridiculous."

A woman was robbed and assaulted by two suspects in broad daylight Wednesday afternoon in the Museum District.

"What's going to happen is," said Diradour. "They are going to run into somebody with a concealed weapons permit, and then we are going to have a real problem on our hands."

Police say the two African American male suspects wore hoodies and ski masks during the Monument Avenue robbery. They allegedly got away with an iphone.

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MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Free tricks to lower your power bill

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 5:16pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- We demonstrated how you can lower your power bill using inexpensive gadgets, but there are ways to do it without spending a dime. Here are a few simple steps that can reduce what you pay the power company.

You'll know where to start by looking at your usage history on your monthly statement.

"This house has a very high usage in July, August, September," said Andy Farmer, manager at Va Energy Sense. "Address tasks and projects to reduce your use of the air conditioning system."

Experiment with your comfort level by raising your thermostat a degree or two.

"It can maybe save you 10, 20% on your utility bill."

If you've got a ceiling fan, use it. It pulls a lot less energy than your AC.

"It's important that it's going clockwise in the summer so it's pushing air down."

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MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: Cheap ways to lower your energy bill

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 4:32pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Cicadas aren't the only things buzzing in our area - 90-degree days have air conditioners working overtime and raising your power bill. Here are a few gadgets that will pay for themselves and bring your bill under control.

One house owner implemented simple, inexpensive changes to keep his power bill low. Last month alone, the bill on his 3500 square foot house was only $92.

"Air leaks are a major problem, even in newer homes," said Andy Farmer, manager at Va Energy Sense.

Farmer bought the house in 2008. One of the first things he did was spray foam to seal the outlets.

"There were gaps, and the first winter we were here we could feel cool air coming through."

Then he installed foam gaskets to further seal the outlets.

"These are a small, inexpensive device that fits over the switch plate. Cover it up, and you've got a good seal," said Farmer.

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Community yard sale near VCU to benefit Oklahoma tornado victims

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, May 31st, 2013, 9:11am

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- The American Red Cross needs help putting the pieces back together in Oklahoma.

Saturday, you can come out to the Cary Street Sweet Frog, near VCU, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a community yard sale and raffle.

Sweet Frog will be donating 20% of their sales and 100% of all purchases from the yard sale and raffle to the American Red Cross and the victims of the tragedy in Oklahoma.

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