Pro-life groups herald the Virginia Board of Health for passing provisional regulations Thursday forcing the state's more than 20 abortion clinics to abide by the same strict standards as hospitals. They say the new regulations will protect against unlicensed abortion doctors.

After listening to hours of debate, the board voted 12-1 to pass regulations requiring abortion clinics performing at least five first-trimester abortions a month to adhere to architectural standards, annual licensing protocols, and inspections.

Victoria Cobb, president for pro-life group The Family Foundation, was present at the meeting, which she said lasted for about four hours. Cobb described the ordeal as a contentious one. The testimony rose to the level of shouting at times and even cursing. At least one person had to be removed from the meeting. more >>

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake centered near Mineral, Va., has rocked the mid-Atlantic states and sent an aftershock that was felt as far north as Toronto and as far west as Detroit, Tuesday a little after lunchtime.

The USGS reported that the 5.9 quake was the largest to originate in Virginia since May 31, 1897. It also stated that the earthquake was centered at a depth of 4.6 miles.

The Pentagon was evacuated as the earthquake rocked the Washington, D.C. area. Several other public buildings including the capitol have also been evacuated. more >>

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Liberty University, known as being one of the largest Christian universities in the United States, has acquired another accolade: it has become the largest non-profit online university.

The school announced last month that its online enrollment is now at approximately 62,000 students. more >>

Reports coming from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University detail that an armed man has been spotted roaming the campus.

Three children attending a camp at the school's campus reported seeing a man walking outside of New Residence Hall East at 9:09 a.m., possibly holding a handgun that was concealed with a cloth covering of some sort.

The man is described as a six-foot-tall, white male, with light brown hair, wearing blue and white vertical stripped shirt, grey shorts and brown sandals and having no facial hair or glasses. more >>

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain apologized to Muslim leaders Wednesday for comments he made about banning mosques and Islamic places of worship that he accused were sneaking Sharia law into the U.S.

While campaigning in his former home state of Tennessee earlier this month, the ex-CEO of Godfather's Pizza had told reporters that plans for an Islamic center in Murfreesboro was "an infringement and an abuse of our freedom of religion." He had said that he was against the mosque being built because "it isn't an innocent mosque" and believed that the Islamic center was being used as "another way to try to gradually sneak Sharia law into our laws."

Sharia laws are guidelines derived from the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and various teachings from Mohammed, the Islamic prophet. more >>

The Federal Reserve Bank of Virginia on Wednesday began flying a gay pride flag under the American flag in honor of LGBT pride month.

President Obama had signed a proclamation on Tuesday that federally recognizes June as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender month. A spokesperson for the private financial institution said the appearance of the flag is not related to the statement the president made, but it does have to do with the month.

“We strongly support a diverse and inclusive culture at the Richmond Fed and have learned that it is important to value and embrace differences, both seen and unseen,” said Sally Green, chief operating officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, as reported on Richmond.com. more >>