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

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.

Martin's now Richmond's top grocery store

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- For the first time in four years, Food Lion is no longer the king of local grocery stores; Martin's now claims the top spot.

That's according to a market share study released this week by the industry publication "Food World."

Based on total sales, Martin's had nearly 17% share of the market, followed by Food Lion, which had around 15% of the market.

"I'm delighted," said long-time customer Bobby Twigs. "Martins and Ukrop's have been our favorite for years."

"I think that is great," said customer Angela Eskridge. "I've been shopping here for many, many years, and I like to see them continue good service."

VCU Marketing Director Dr. Michael Little studies these trends. He says the promotion of fresh foods and fuel perks are two big strategies he says could have helped martin's get to the top.

He also says it's all about the visual attraction.

Medicaid expansion in VA now under serious review

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.

Boost! opens June 22 at the Science Museum of Virginia

Boost! opens June 22 at the Science Museum of Virginia

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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Chesterfield officer charged with embezzlement

Joshua Hill

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- Joshua Hill is charged with embezzlement after investigators say he stole jewelry from a woman having a medical emergency. 

It happened in February, but police says they just found out about it because a family friend came asking for the missing jewelry. Four months later, police are getting some answers about what they say happened- and it means one of their own could face jail. 

Joshua Hill was hired back in 2009 to serve and protect. Now, the Chesterfield officer faces felony charges. Police say Joshua Hill took jewelry from a victim- and instead of turning it in, kept it- and sold it. 

Police say they did get the jewelry back after a quick investigation. It was sold to a pawn shop in the Tri-cities. 

Chesterfield Police Officer arrested for embezzlement

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- Chesterfield Police arrested one of their own officers for taking and selling a piece of jewelry taken from a citizen while on-duty.

Officer First Class Joshua J. Hill, 34, now faces charges of felony embezzlement.

Hill was responding to a call for service on February 10, when he came into possession of jewelry belonging to an individual who was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to Chesterfield Police.

Hill later sold the jewelry and kept the money. Police didn't know anything occurred, until a family friend tried to recover the jewelry last week.

Hill is due in court on Thursday, June 13, at 10:30 a.m. He is on administrative leave, pending the criminal case. 

Friday's rains give Richmond drivers high water commutes

MIDLOTHIAN, VA (WWBT)- Knowing what to do before you approach high water could save your life.

Friday evening, VDOT closed Route 60 at Landing Road in New Kent County due to standing water. Most of the impact was in Tidewater, but with heavy rain still to come, safety officials are putting drivers on notice - if you know a low-lying area is prone to flooding, just steer clear.

Experts say some people misjudge flooded roads and try to drive through when they should turn around. On Midlothian Turnpike, area businesses are relieved the formerly flood prone road is safer, but it's a different story further south.

"Raining hard, real hard," said Richard Williams who cuts hair at Mass Flow Barber Shop on Midlothian.

He says the new road fared better than he's used to seeing in the past.

"The roads were terrible, real terrible…floods everywhere. It looked like a fish could swim in there, that's how bad it was," he said.