12 ON YOUR SIDE: Rare tick-borne meat allergy in children

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, 6:40pm

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (WWBT)- Parents, take extra care while your young ones are outside this summer - U.Va doctors say a tick-borne meat allergy may now affect children.

We first brought you the story about a man with a mysterious illness, an allergy that almost killed him, traced to a tick bite.

The lone star tick can cause life-threatening allergic reactions if your child is bitten and then eats a hamburger or hot dog.

U.Va researchers tested 51 children, ages four to 17, who had a history of allergic reactions - like severe itching and trouble breathing - but unknown causes. Doctors found most kids in the study had tick bites within the past year.

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Medicaid expansion in VA now under serious review

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Monday, June 17th, 2013, 7:12pm

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- A hot button issue brought hundreds of demonstrators to the State Capitol on Monday. More than 200 showed up as the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission met for the first time to review changes to the Medicaid program.

Both sides are giving their reasons for and against Medicaid expansion, but the commission said we're still in the beginning process of trying to understand that type of change.

Expansion could mean coverage for 400,000 more people in the state. Opponents say, right now, the Medicaid program is a broken system.

"The idea really is to get everybody dependent on government - somebody has got to pay for that, and I think a lot of it is going to be waste," said Senator Dick Black with District 13, who is against Medicaid expansion.

Across the Capitol grounds, a smaller group in favor of the expansion gathered. These demonstrators believe it will provide much needed health care for the uninsured.

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Boost! opens June 22 at the Science Museum of Virginia

Submitted by Nancy Tait on Monday, June 17th, 1:00 pm

The Science Museum of Virginia invites you to Boost! your creativity, flexibility, memory, strength (well, you get the picture) in our first new permanent exhibition in a decade. Boost! is a new approach to wellness and self-improvement. It’s neither a sports nor a traditional health exhibit - it’s innovative and insightful.

Boost! shares important scientific knowledge about sleep, memory and physical fitness and the interrelationships among these areas. Boost! even includes a full scale Kitchen Stadium where Museum educators can prepare tasty offerings while unlocking the science inside what we eat.

“The Museum’s involvement with Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. inspired us to develop a new way for people to engage in wellness. In Boost!, you can explore a number of areas that are relevant and personal in an extremely fun and engaging way,” remarked Richard C.

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Denny's robbery leads to crash on I-64 in Henrico

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Monday, June 17th, 2013, 8:54am

HENRICO, VA (WWBT)- Henrico Police are looking for two suspects after a daytime robbery at a Denny's on West Broad Street.

The suspects drove away, then crashed on Interstate 64. Investigators have one person of interest in custody.

Service at the diner was disrupted around 3 p.m. Friday, when three men, at least one brandishing a gun, confronted a customer who had just left the restaurant and was sitting in a car, according to Henrico Police.

"That's when I found out she was robbed. I'm like ‘oh no.' She was really nice. She left a nice tip and everything. I don't understand why people do that," said Denny's waitress Nina Benford.

"The robbery took place here in the back parking lot and the suspects fled in their vehicle which resulted in a crash on 64 so, the incidents are related," said Henrico Police Lt. C.J. Maurice.

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U of R student - one of two victims killed in West End crash

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Saturday, June 15th, 2013, 10:48pm

HENRICO, VA (WWBT)- Henrico Police are investigating a fatal single vehicle crash in the West End. One of the victims was a University of Richmond senior.

Police tell us around 2:25 a.m. Saturday they responded to an accident on Westham Parkway near Pinetree Road. They say the driver of a 2014 Mazda sedan was speeding, lost control, and struck a tree in the median.

Warren Kraft and Michael Marks, both 22-years old, were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene. A third person went for help and has serious injuries, but they are not believed to life threatening. Warren Kraft was scheduled to graduate from U of R in August.

Jim McCarty has lived in the Westham neighborhood for more than 30 years. He and other neighbors agree speeding is a big problem especially around the site of the crash. There's a bend in the road near Westham Parkway and Pinetree road.

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Plan for more homes on Springfield Rd. moves forward

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Friday, June 14th, 2013, 5:51pm

HENRICO, VA (WWBT)- Plans are moving forward for more housing in western Henrico. This affects an 11-acre site off Springfield Road in the Echo Lake area. Neighbors say they're in favor of more housing, but they say the problem is Springfield Road.

Right now it's all trees but the planning commission wants to rezone the area for a housing development.

"Building the houses I don't have a problem with that," said Michael Jackson, a concerned neighbor. "It's the traffic. If they can deal with the traffic first, [then] I really don't have a problem with that."

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Wandering children lead Henrico police to marijuana arrest

Submitted by NBC12 News Staff

Thursday, June 13th, 2013, 10:55pm

HENRICO, VA (WWBT)- Three children wandering unattended led police to the discovery of a marijuana growing operation.

Joshua A. Lloyd is accused of child neglect and growing marijuana in his home.

A two-year-old, a four-year-old and a seven-year-old were seen playing outside with no supervision at an apartment complex on Braeburn Drive off of Gayton Road. Someone reported the problem to police and officers say Lloyd was supposed to be in charge.

According to the criminal complaint, the investigating officer says when he took the three children home he smelled marijuana.

The officer writes that "a statement from the defendant... led to a bedroom closet turned into a grow operation." Police say there were several marijuana plants, lamps, water bottles and bags of dirt and fertilizer. Officers say the street value was about $100.

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