Texting from behind the wheel would constitute reckless driving under a bill submitted by two Virginia lawmakers, one of whom opposed new legislation on the matter earlier this year.

Del. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) (Scott A. Surovell ) Del. Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge) and Del. Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) announced Wednesday that they had submitted a bill to make it a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by as much as a year in jail and a $2,5000 fine, to use cellphones while driving for anything other than a call.

Under current law, texting while driving is a secondary offense, meaning that police can only issue a citation if they have stopped a driver for another violation. The current penalty is a $20 fine.

The Virginia State Crime Commission on Wednesday signaled its support of Cline’s legislation, said commission Chairman Del. Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville).

Cline, chairman of the House Militia-Police-Public Safety Subcommittee, opposed new legislation on texting as recently as this year’s General Assembly session. He contended that current law already allows authorities to charge texters with reckless driving.

Cline said he still believes that is the case. But he concluded the law needs clarification after hearing about the case of Jason Gage, an Alexandria man who struck and killed a college student in Fairfax County about the time he opened a text message. Gage was charged with reckless driving, but the trial judge ordered the charged dropped in August because, under Virginia law, texting while driving is a minor traffic infraction.

Fairfax County Supervisor Gerry Hyland has been overwhelmed with less-than-pleasant feedback in response to his suggestion that the county try to require employees who smoke to take cessation classes, he said Tuesday.

Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) first broached the topic in October, saying
(KHAM - REUTERS) the county should look into whether or not it has the right to require workers who smoke to attend classes aimed at helping them quit. Since media reports about it, he has received tons of e-mails, including some that “indicate I’m the devil incarnate,” he said.

Others praised the idea, Hyland added, including county employees who told him they resent that smokers get extra breaks.

He said he would spare fellow supervisors further details on the nastier comments.

Republican gubernatorial candidate and vintner Tareq Salahi is trading on his reality show fame as a White House crasher with the launch of his campaign Web site.

Tareq Salahi (Larry Downing - Reuters) Salahi announced the official launch of Crashthevote.com on Tuesday. According to a release, the site, which is also available in Spanish, will feature contests for viral videos and unconventional campaign ads.

Salahi jumped into the gubernatorial race in April after he was sued by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II, who is also seeking the Republican nomination. Though Salahi is not seen as a serious threat, he is the only other contender for the Republican candidacy for governor after Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling announced last week he would not seek the GOP nomination.

Veteran Virginia Sen. John Watkins (R-Midlothian) says he will sponsor legislation during the upcoming session that would end the state’s 30-year ban on uranium mining.

FILE: Patrick Wales, Project Manager for Virginia Uranium Inc stands on an outcrop of leatherwood granite on Coles Hill Farm which is six miles east of Chatham, VA on June 16, 2011. (Tracy A. Woodward - THE WASHINGTON POST)

In a statement Monday, Watkins said he believes it is “appropriate” to formulate such legislation and has asked the General Assembly’s Legislative Services division to craft a bill based on the suggestions outlined in a report published last week on the issue.

“Passage of this legislation would be the first step in a long process,” Watkins said, noting that such a bill would not authorize any mining activity.

In January, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) asked the General Assembly not to lift the ban during the 2012 session and instead called for the study. In his order, McDonnell set a deadline of Dec. 1 for the group to present its findings.

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell announced Monday that the world’s leading provider of satellite services is moving its U.S. headquarters from the District to Fairfax County.

Intelsat will move at least 430 employees to Tysons Tower in McLean in mid-2014. The company will lease approximately 188,000 square feet at the site, which is under construction.

McDonnell approved a $1.3 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Fairfax County with snagging the headquarters. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership also worked with the county.

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald L. Gordon said the deal helps “diversify our economy ... at a time when government contracting and some other industry segments have slowed.”

McDonnell made the announcement Monday in McLean. According to a statement released by the governor’s office Monday, Intelsat is a 45-year old company that delivers information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and governmental agencies.

Intelsat Chief Executive Officer David McGlade said in a statement that the company’s choice to relocate in Virginia required “access to well-educated professionals, a first-class transportation system and compelling amenities.”