Jan. 16-22: McDonnell Unveils Recommendations for Mandate Cuts, Stumps for Romney in South Carolina

Gov. Bob McDonnell unveiled the recommendations from his Task Force for Local Government Mandate Review, headed by Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity. The task force with the goal of unburdening local governments. The recommendations in an attempt to give localities more control over their school divisions.

McDonnell to stump for Gov. Mitt Romney, who  in the Republican race for the presidential nomination.

Want to keep track of what's happening in the 2012 General Assembly session? Each week, Oakton Patch will recap what your legislators have been up to in Richmond. 

The General Assembly is considering first. 

, who is running for the GOP nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11th District). Vaughn will face military veteran Chris Perkins for the GOP nod.

Fairfax County Police Department says following the news surrounding the child sexual abuse allegations at Penn State. Thirty-nine reports were made to the Child Sexual Abuse Squad in December 2011, versus just 19 in December 2010.

Oakton Library's branch manager Jerilyn Polson at the group's annual general meeting, during which a new Friends board is also elected. The more than $26,000 request includes a funding for the library's fifth anniversary to be celebrated in September.

Three Oakton High School students sponsored by Innovative Defense Technologies. Kostyanty Proskuryakov and Adam Ruffa, both sophomores, and Grant Golden, a junior, each took home an iPod nano and a total of $750 for their school in addition to the second place award.