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Virginia Gets $74M In Federal Funding For Rail Link

Virginia is getting more than $74 million for a high-speed rail project designed to improve service between the state and the nation's capital, according to the Associated Press.

The project, recently approved and funded Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, is part of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor between Charlotte, N.C., and Washington. 

Up to 11 miles of "third track" will be built from Arkendale in Stafford County to Powell's Creek in Prince William County. That third track will enable higher speed trains to travel without conflict from freight or commuter trains, engineers with the U.S. Department of Transportation tell the AP.

Final design and improvements to the station at the Quantico Marine Corps base also are part of the project. 

Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner tell the AP they hope the high-speed rail will encourage significant economic development along the corridor. 

NPR

Book News: Alice Munro, Author Of Pensive Short Stories, May Retire

Also: The Apple ebook trial wraps up; the unique horror of Kafka's stories; James Salter's woman troubles.
NPR

And The Winner Of The World Food Prize Is ... The Man From Monsanto

The prize is sometimes called the "Nobel Prize for food and agriculture." And this year's winners include Monsanto executive Robert Fraley, a pioneer in genetically engineered crops. If there's a single person who personifies the company's controversial role in American agriculture, it's probably Fraley.
WAMU 88.5

Associate Of D.C. Businessman To Plead Guilty To Making Straw Political Donations

Lee Calhoun, a former associate of the D.C. businessman at the center of a wide-ranging investigation into D.C. corruption, is said to have made campaign contributions in the names of other people.

NPR

Will Video Ruin Instagram's Appeal?

The popular photo-sharing service is reportedly adding a video feature. But if the current user experience "ain't broke," should Facebook, Instagram's owner, fix it? Let's zoom through some possible fears about the new feature.

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