For a CNS story that received national attention, Kelsey Radcliffe won first place in breaking news reporting in the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2010 Mark of Excellence competition for Region 2. Radcliffe was honored Saturday during the Region 2 SPJ Spring Conference in Norfolk.

In an era of ever-changing technology, politicians are reaching out to their constituents through social networking sites like Facebook, and more recently, Twitter. Of the 140 members of Virginia’s General Assembly, 30 have Twitter accounts – five senators and 25 delegates.

The General Assembly has granted state recognition to three more Native American tribes in Virginia. This will allow the tribes to petition for return of their ancestral remains from the Smithsonian Institution. Moreover, it will help the Indians preserve their heritage and inform the public of the tribes’ importance in Virginia’s history.

Here are the stories we distributed over the past week. Headlines include: “Virginia Adopts Flag Honoring Fallen Soldiers” … “Concealed Weapons Permits Still Open Records” … “Housing Group Wins Energy Award” … “Assembly OKs Infanticide Bills.”

Delegate Bob Marshall has demanded an apology over a Capital News Service story that reported comments he made linking abortion and disabled children. But as Marshall’s quotes gained attention on Web sites, blogs and social networking outlets, public outrage grew over his words. Read the full story here or on VCU’s Commonwealth Times, RVANews or the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. 

Delegate Brenda Pogge of Yorktown has stepped forward to “disavow” controversial remarks made by Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas suggesting that disabled children are a punishment for having an abortion. Read the story here or in the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily.

Here is audio from a press conference last week at which Delegate Bob Marshall, R-Manassas, said: “The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children. In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”

On Monday, Marshall said he does not believe that disabled children are punishment for having an abortion. “I regret any misimpression my poorly chosen words may have created as to my deep commitment to fighting for these vulnerable children and their families.”

Read Kelsey Radcliffe’s story about Marshall’s remarks on the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily. Click on the headline of this news item to hear Marshall’s complete remarks at the press conference.

State Delegate Bob Marshall said Monday he does not believe that disabled children are punishment for having an abortion. Marshall, a Republican from Manassas, was responding to a Capital News Service story quoting remarks he made last week at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.

State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas says disabled children are God’s punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy. He made that statement Thursday at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood. This story has been published by the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily and other news outlets.

Before a packed room in the General Assembly Building, Delegate Harvey Morgan, R-Gloucester, on Wednesday called for laws allowing the medical use of marijuana and reducing the penalties for possession of the drug. Read the full article here or in the Midlothian Exchange, the Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily, The Tidewater News or the Chatham Star-Tribune.