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PHOTOS: Richmond by air

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- NBC12 reporter Laura Geller and photojournalist Nathan McCann take flight for a story for 12News at 5:30.

Click here to see the photos on a mobile device

They captured some beautiful aerial shots of Central Virginia along their way.

Copyright 2013 WWBT NBC12.  All rights reserved.

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ON YOUR SIDE: Avoid text message scams

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Many of us text more than talk on our cell phone - and scammers are texting too. A weird text is showing up on some mobile phones in our area.

I got two phishing-type messages on my personal cell and decided to do a scam check with the Better Business Bureau.

Regardless of how tempted you are to text back or call the number in the message, the BBB says don't take the risk.

The weird texts come from random numbers @vtext.com. One came from NewgenerationsFCU and another showed up on my phone from VACAP-FCU... each with a number to call.

One number rings busy, the other has a detailed message instructing the caller.

"Thanks for calling the health enrollment group customer service department. Hold for the next available agent."

We held on until someone picked up. He explained the text may have been triggered by an online search and that people are always misdialing and getting the wrong number.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: 5 energy saving tips

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Summer heat could hit any day, so now's the time to figure out how you can cut costs on your power bill.

Here is a list of the top five things in your house that are sucking dollars out of your wallet.

1.  Almost half your power bill is heating and cooling costs. Dirt on the outside of the unit is costing you money.

"The better the coils can transfer air across then the more efficient it's going to operate," said Mike Wade, CEO of See Logix.

Dirt strains the fan too, so keep the unit clean.

Changing your filter helps clean air move more freely throughout the system, but dirt can get by the filter, building up on the cooling coil. Gently scrape away the gunk to help your system run better.

Also, consider a programmable thermostat - it will allow you to manage the run time.

12 INVESTIGATES: License plates rejected by the DMV

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- Welcome to Virginia. The vanity plate capital of the US. One in every six Virginian's has vanity tags on their cars. That's more than a million Virginian's who pay an extra $10 a year to speak their minds on their bumpers.

But- not every message is welcome. Army veteran Sean Bujno had a license plate on his car for years before the Department of Motor Vehicles asked for it back.

It reads: "ICU HAJI".

The dictionary defines 'Haji' as one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca, but it's also a derogatory word for Arabs.

"Some people say this is just a license plate, but it actually is about the first amendment. This is about a fundamental right," said Andrew Meyer. He's a Richmond-based attorney, one of two men representing Bujno.

Rachel: "Did he mean it as a racial slur as some people are saying?"

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Chesterfield doctor helping to raise funds for officer shot in Boston

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT)- The Virginia Military Institute grad who was injured in the shootout with the Boston bombing suspects is making progress in his recovery.

Officer Richard "Dic" Donohue wrote a statement on the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority blog.  A picture of him and his wife at the hospital was also released.

Now his VMI classmates are busy raising money to help him and his family.  One of the organizers is a local doctor.

There's still a bullet in his leg, but according to the police blog Officer Donohue says he's not in pain.  He writes, "I cannot begin to properly thank everyone involved in my recovery."

"It turns out he had pretty much lost all the blood in his body," says Dr. Salmaan Khawaja.  He is a neuropsychologist with Bon Secours in Chesterfield and he knows Officer Donohue.  They are in the same graduating class at the VMI.

12 INVESTIGATES: Political scandal at the Executive Mansion

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- A judge will hear arguments Thursday on whether state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli can remove his office from a case that's become a political scandal.

The FBI is even asking questions, and it all started with a cook in the kitchen.

There hasn't even been a hearing, but the back and forth of court documents really illustrates the lives of the people at the Executive Mansion.

Todd Schneider claims he's a whistle blower and the charges against him are retaliation. State Police have charged the ex-chef with four counts of embezzling property from the 200-year-old Executive Mansion.

12 INVESTIGATES: Angie's List rankings

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- So you need a plumber, maybe a mechanic, but you don't know who to trust - so you go to Angie's List. But, can you trust that the company ranked at the top of the list is the very best? Some local business owners say the answer is no!

Money has a lot to do with it - even Angie herself comes clean on who's on the list and how they got there.

But how big a part does money play?

"There are all sorts of layers of 'pay to play,'" said Hugh Joyce, personable president of James River Air, and the company's long-time pitch man.