G. GILMER MINOR III Metro Business talked to G. Gilmer Minor III, chairman of medical-products distributor Owens & Minor Inc. He chairs Junior Achievement of Central Virginia’s Empowered Through Ethics program in which more than 150 local executives will talk about ethics in area schools this week. Minor was asked about the importance of teaching ethics: “Teaching ethics in high school and education is a moral obligation of our society to help those who make the decisions, who are the potential future for our country, to know that leading an ethical life is important.

Yesterday’s front-page article, “Carver Middle School Wins National Honor,“ told a stirring story. Reporter Juan Antonio Lizama described how a troubled school improved across the board, and earned recognition for academic progress. Several years ago Carver had discipline problems. Its test scores did not reflect its potential. Principal Don Ashburn and a dedicated faculty and staff went to work. The results included a safer environment and enhanced scores (there is a connection between the two; learning suffers when fear stalks halls).

Branden Anderson believes that everything happens for a reason. As the founder and keyboardist of Richmond gospel group G.I. (aka God’s Image), Anderson is confident that the 10 years it took the quartet to record its first national CD was time well-spent learning, making mistakes and growing. He’s also unruffled about the fact that the performance and interview that G.I. taped for BET’s “106 & Gospel” was postponed a week and is now expected to run today at noon on the cable channel.

Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, said a similar incentive saved taxpayers money when he was on City Council. State employees who blow the whistle on wrongdoings would be shielded from retribution and could get up to $5,000 for the tip under a General Assembly bill filed by Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond. The Fraud and Abuse Whistle Blower Protection Act would shield from retaliation employees who disclose information in good faith, with the added incentive of up to $5,000 if the revelation saves the state at least $1 million.