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To mulch or bag your leaves? Why Virginia Tech experts say one is better than the other

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To mulch or bag your leaves? Why Virginia Tech experts say one is better than the other


BLACKSBURG, Va. – While the beautiful fall foliage is upon us in Southwest Virginia, it won’t be long until the leaves start falling and people will begin raking and bagging them up.

But before you get out the trash bags, experts at Virginia Tech want you to rethink the way you get rid of leaves.

They recommend mulching your leaves.

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Mulching can be done by simply running the leaves over with a typical lawn mower or a mulching mower.

There are several benefits not only saving you time and keeping unnecessary items like bagged leaves out of landfills, but also, mulching acts as a natural fertilizer for your grass.

“We increase organic matter in the soil with feeding microbes in the soil that are going to degrade this and this soil breaks down it is going to develop a better root development of your turf grass system,” said Virginia Tech’s Extension Turf Grad Specialist, Mike Goatley.

Goatley recommends mulching leaves when they are a bit damp because they are easier to shred.

Copyright 2023 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.

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What Virginia governor saw at Reagan National Airport after deadly midair collision

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What Virginia governor saw at Reagan National Airport after deadly midair collision


RICHMOND, Va. — It was a somber day at the State Capitol in Richmond Thursday as lawmakers continued with their work in the 2025 General Assembly session, while reacting to the deadly midair collision of an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter in Northern Virginia the previous night.

“Just prayers to the families. This is a tough, tough day for Virginia and the nation,” said Sen. Jeremy McPike (D-Prince William).

“It’s an awful tragedy. We don’t really have a lot of information yet, but my thoughts are with the families of the people who perished last night,” added Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), who represents the district that surrounds Reagan National Airport. “You see so many aircraft very low approaching the airport and it’s normally a very safe operation, but it’s a very busy one.”

WATCH: NTSB holds news conference after deadly plane collision in DC: ‘We will find out what happened’

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‘We will find out what happened:’ NTSB holds news conference after deadly plane collision in DC

Del. Adele McClure (D-Arlington) is the airport’s representative in the House of Delegates and gave a speech during Thursday’s floor session when she asked that the body adjourn this day in honor of the people who lost their lives.

“Mr. Speaker, it was really hard to find the words today, following that devastating incident that took place over my district last night,” McClure said. “This morning, we were dismayed to learn that there were believed to be no survivors and the family and loved ones of those we lost weigh heavy on our hearts this morning, Mr. Speaker.”

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A moment of silence was also held during the morning meeting of the Aviation and Aerospace Caucus.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and those individuals that are have been found and not made it,” said caucus co-chair Sen. Bill DeSteph (R-Virginia Beach). “This tragedy is something that the investigations will determine what happened a little later. I know the NTSB, FAA, everybody and their brother is involved. NASA has offered their safety team to assist the first responders who have already been there, working all night long in the water on the scene.”

Along with offering condolences to the families and victims, lawmakers were also praising the various first responder agencies that quickly arrived on scene from Virginia, D.C., and Maryland.

This included firefighters from Prince William County where McPike has served as a volunteer. He said while the first responders would be facing physical challenges in the immediate aftermath, they will face mental ones for much longer.

“When you deal with such a traumatic incident like that, what those first responders have to deal with and see working as hard as they can to find any survivors and working through, unfortunately, the reclamation of bodies is just tremendously impactful,” he said. “Something that they’re never going to forget.”

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Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who was back in Richmond in the afternoon, offered a prayer for all those involved during an event to raise awareness about sex trafficking.

WATCH: Virginia governor leads prayer after passenger jet and Army chopper collision

‘Horrifically tragic:’ Virginia governor leads prayer after passenger jet and Army chopper collision

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Youngkin visited Reagan Airport Thursday morning and said the state is offering every support it can to the NTSB, the agency leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.

“The airport was eerily empty, and the eerily emptiness of the airport, I think, represented the profound statement of what had happened,” Youngkin said. “And over in the runway, you could see people working, not only on the ground of the runway but also in the water. And you could also see the exhausted first responders who had been up all night searching.”

The primary focus right now is on recovering those who died and supporting their families who have come to the area, Youngkin added.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.

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Toll breaks for Virginia drivers? Lawmakers weigh costly proposal • Virginia Mercury

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Toll breaks for Virginia drivers? Lawmakers weigh costly proposal • Virginia Mercury


For Virginians who spend hundreds of dollars on tolls each month, relief could be on the horizon — if lawmakers can stomach the price tag.

A proposal to ease toll burdens for frequent drivers and low-income residents cleared a key hurdle in the state legislature this week, as a House Transportation subcommittee advanced the measure for further review. 

House Bill 2368, sponsored by Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, would grant free toll rides to Virginia drivers using an electronic toll device once they hit $200 in monthly charges. Additionally, it would waive tolls for those receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.

King, whose district includes approximately 42,000 disabled veterans, said the measure would ease the financial strain on commuters who often pay between $25 and $65 each way to travel roughly 29 miles between the Pentagon to Dumfries.

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“If you’re a Virginia resident, you’re paying taxes in Virginia, you’re doing everything that you’re supposed to do, and then [you are] paying in perpetuity to ride down [your] own roads, it’s just getting to the point with the high cost of living where it’s a burden for people,” King said.

To prevent abuse, the bill would prohibit drivers from sharing transponders to trigger the toll cap and claim free rides.

But while the plan offers financial relief for commuters, it comes with a hefty price: at least $110.4 million annually, according to the Department of Planning and Budgeting. The subcommittee recommended sending the bill to House Appropriations, where lawmakers will weigh the financial implications — particularly how the cost will be split between private and state toll facilities.

State transportation officials warn that HB 2368 could threaten existing contracts with the Federal Highway Administration and private toll operators, potentially forcing toll hikes on all drivers to cover lost revenue.

The department’s fiscal analysis cautioned that a reduction of toll revenue could make it harder for the state and private entities to meet debt obligations tied to high-occupancy toll (HOT) and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

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The debate over Virginia’s toll roads isn’t new. Last summer, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) reviewed the state’s public-private transportation partnerships, which allow private companies to manage and profit from toll roads under state agreements. These contracts give operators control over access and pricing, with rates based on factors such as vehicle type, weight, and axle count.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Rena Hicks, executive director for Freedom Virginia, was the lone speaker in support of the bill. She urged lawmakers to advance the measure, accusing corporations of “price gouging” commuters traveling to work and school.

Opponents, including toll operator Transurban, argued that the bill would disrupt existing financial agreements.

David Skiles, a lobbyist for Transurban, noted that the legislation would certainly impact the comprehensive have private concessionaires has with the commonwealth, but also could impact the current financing for critical infrastructure projects including the Long Bridge and the Silver Line Metrorail expansion projects in Northern Virginia, both of which rely on toll revenue.

King acknowledged the complexities of the funding model but pushed back on concerns that the bill is unworkable.

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“This is complicated, but I believe that if a company that can scan my license plate and send me a bill without me ever giving them any information can certainly figure it out,” King said.

However, Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, argued that Virginia has a legal obligation to uphold its contracts with private toll operators — and that toll users, not taxpayers, should foot the bill.

“We’ve entered a contract here, we have an obligation and if people use that road, in my opinion, [they] are the people who should have to pay for it, not everyone within the commonwealth,” Austin said. “I appreciate you bringing the bill, the compassion for you and everyone who lives up there, it’s tough to get around. So trust me, I know that.”

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Medical examiner reveals cause of death for missing Virginia boy who triggered Amber Alert

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Medical examiner reveals cause of death for missing Virginia boy who triggered Amber Alert


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The missing Virginia boy who triggered an Amber Alert in Virginia over the weekend died from an accidental drowning, according to officials with the medical examiner’s office.

The body of Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo was found Monday afternoon in a pond outside the Cambria at Cornerstone apartments in Virginia Beach, police said.

The 12-year-old was believed to be at a friend’s house Friday morning and was reported missing by his parents later that night, authorities said. An Amber Alert was issued Saturday morning stating that the child may have been abducted.

The pond where his body was found is near Mica Avenue, the address where police said Acevedo was last seen by his parents.

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Courtney Rivera captured footage on her Ring doorbell camera of Acevedo playing with his friends in the snow, and has been helping in the search since.

“I feel heartbroken,” Rivera said. “Just thinking about it makes me tear up, because it’s just—nobody wanted this outcome.”

WATCH: Ransom requests prompt abduction investigation for Virginia Beach boy

Ransom request prompts abduction investigation for Virginia Beach boy

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Police did not elaborate Monday on the circumstances surrounding Acevedo’s death, but Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said he thinks the ice that formed on the pond during the recent cold weather “played a big role.”

Police started investigating Acevedo’s disappearance as a possible abduction after his parents received a ransom message on Facebook.

After learning of this, police treated the case as an abduction and contacted state police to send an Amber Alert.

Although there’s more clarity on the circumstances surrounding Acevedo’s death, one part of his disappearance remains in question: the person(s) behind a ransom sent to his family.

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While Acevedo’s parents were on Facebook Live spreading awareness about their son’s disappearance, they received a ransom request for their child via WhatsApp.

“There was a request through social media for $500, which either the family or someone on behalf of the family paid,” Neudigate said.

After the payment was made, police said there was no further communication. They are still investigating who was behind the ransom.

“Unfortunately, because it involved out-of-state transactions, we need search warrants, subpoenas, to try to identify who that individual was who received that money,” Neudigate said.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.

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