Norwegian officials are stunned by the accident. The ultramodern high-speed ferry was on a routine run between two west coast cities, when it ran aground. It was carrying 89 passengers and crew members. The hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. Administrators say community response to the hospital's plight has already been good.
Patient visits are on the rise and calls from vendors and bill collectors are subsiding.
The hospital has four months to come up with a plan to repay its debts. It owes more than 5 million dollars. State workers will see the largest raises this decade on their next paycheck. Correctional officers, in particular, are finally getting a big thank you from Virginia's lawmakers. Two new pay grades for senior officers will encourage them to stay in the prisons, instead of taking desk jobs to boost their pay.