State launches review, extends DMV hours
Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee are launching an independent review of the computer-system failures that affected operations at the Department of Motor Vehicles and 25 other state agencies – and Northrop...
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Push on to limit interest rates on payday, car-title loans
Former Gov. Tim Kaine signed a much-trumpeted reform of payday lending in 2008, but loopholes in the industry-written law were quickly exploited by lenders, who have since moved on to other high-interest loan products that have proven to be highly marketable in the midst of the ongoing economic slowdown.
Staunton City Councilman Bruce Elder led a grassroots effort in 2007 and 2008 that helped...
A new year under way at Fishburne
Fishburne Military School has changed Brian Watkins.
“This school works wonders. It really changed me. It changed the way I act, respect, my discipline,” said Watkins, a senior and the new battalion commander, at a ceremony Tuesday marking the first formation of the corps of cadets for the 2010-2011 school year.
Watkins, a Fairfax Station native, walked on campus in 2008 just looking...
A new look for the Waynesboro Library
The project to give a new face to the Waynesboro Public Library has been scaled back significantly, but with some community libraries facing cuts to the hours of operation and other communities having to consider closing their community libraries altogether, Waynesboro is “fortunate” to be in the position that it is in, library director Zahir Mahmoud said Tuesday.
“We are...
Impressions of Katrina: Five years later
AugustaFreePress.com publisher Crystal Graham visited Long Beach, Miss., in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
This is the first installment in the six-part series published by the AFP beginning on Oct. 31, 2005.
Links to the entire series are below.
Impressions of Long Beach: 2005
A boat.
Hundreds of feet from the Gulf Coast.
Cars crumpled and littered along streets like...
Surplus campaign funds at issue for councilman
It was reported in the local media in June that Jeff Freeman had donated a total of $600 in surplus City Council campaign funds to the Waynesboro Senior Center and to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge.
The campaign-finance report on file with the city voter registrar’s office that gave us that tidbit also offered this one that went unreported in the local media – that...
City looks to boost tourism sector with new marketing, website efforts
Good news: The Waynesboro tourism sector brought in $27 million to the local economy in 2009 and contributed $4 million in taxes to the city.
Sobering news: We’ll have to wonder how we would have done if we’d been trying.
The city, for instance, doesn’t even have a tourism website, the tourism department’s presence on the web being a page contained and constrained within...
Housing market: All is well?
Gloom and doom, indeed. Existing-home sales were down 27 percent in July from what had been a healthy June on the national housing market.
There can’t be any good news there – at least that’s the sentiment that’s been reflected in the news media.
“There’s this huge decline in the number of people buying houses nationally. The future looks bleak. Those are the...
Free business seminar, assessment will tell it like it is
Marc Wilson isn’t in the business of sugarcoating.
“I’m not related to you, and I’m not necessarily your friend. So when I leave, you’re going to get the truth, but you might not like hearing it,” said Wilson, a retail industry consultant at the Virginia Small Business Development Corp. and 35-year veteran of the retail business, who will be in Waynesboro on...
recent posts
- Perriello-Hurt: Either a blowout or a close race
- State launches review, extends DMV hours
- Push on to limit interest rates on payday, car-title loans
- WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com: Sabato-GOP poised to take House, close in Senate
- VaSportsOnline.com: VMI to retire Williams’ #55
- WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com Notebook
- WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com: Webb on Iraq-Drawdown ‘appropriate and crucial’
- VaSportsOnline.com: Beamer-Expect Boise State game to come down ‘to a play or two’
- Meet the residents of Thornrose
- DMV expected to be back online by Thursday
- Rights groups urge feds to reject 287(g)
- McDonnell declares state of emergency in advance of Earl
- Ali Bell: Would you be willing to write a guest post on my blog?...
- tony: I have been unemployed since oct. 2008 when my bosses bussin...
- abby d: I AM A DREAMer!!! I hope and pray this bill passes soon! Peo...
- gio: I am in favor of the Dream Act. This is a bill that would be...
- Alison: The DREAM Act will also help those children who are here leg...
- Lorie Smith: The discussion around tourism in Waynesboro has to change. ...
- Kevin: I believe it's spelled Hecht. I've never seen the show, but ...
- afp: My attempt here is to make people recognize Glenn Beck for w...
- Mark: The obvious difference is that Al Bundy was recognized by mo...
- David Barton: Just have bookmarked your site, and waiting for the next int...
- John Antimes: If Mann and UVa. had surrendered the data we would all know,...
- moceanu: lol you're an idiot...
- Bishop Dansby: I met Dr. Long at the Gov McDonnell town meeting. He is stil...
- A Z Khan: This is a great and very timely article. Initiatives such as...
- Joanne Steele: Exciting times for Waynesboro. The single most important thi...
recent from Local/State News
Meet the residents of Thornrose
On Saturday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 19, the Augusta County Historical Society will sponsor “Conversations from the Grave,” a guided tour leading visitors back in time through Staunton’s most beautiful final resting place, Thornrose Cemetery.
The tour highlights the fascinating history, architecture, and historical figures that are buried there. Guides will discuss the early history of Thornrose, describing how it began as a simple graveyard on the edge of town, and later, thanks to...
On Saturday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 19, the Augusta County Historical Society will sponsor “Conversations from the Grave,” a guided tour leading visitors back in time through Staunton’s most beautiful final resting place, Thornrose Cemetery.
The tour highlights the fascinating history, architecture, and historical figures that are buried there. Guides will discuss the early history of Thornrose, describing how it began as a simple graveyard on the edge of town, and later, thanks to...
recent from Local/State News
Call for extras for Lifetime movie
A movie being produced for Lifetime Network is filming in the Richmond area, and the production company is holding auditions for extras this weekend.
Sign up this Saturday at the Byrd Park Roundhouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To get to the Roundhouse, go south on Boulevard until you dead end at the park. Take a left at the Columbus Statue, then the first right. Go straight until you see the round brick building in front of you, which is Byrd Park Roundhouse.
All applicants should bring a recent,...
A movie being produced for Lifetime Network is filming in the Richmond area, and the production company is holding auditions for extras this weekend.
Sign up this Saturday at the Byrd Park Roundhouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To get to the Roundhouse, go south on Boulevard until you dead end at the park. Take a left at the Columbus Statue, then the first right. Go straight until you see the round brick building in front of you, which is Byrd Park Roundhouse.
All applicants should bring a recent,...
recent from Local/State News
Congregation gains new burial ground and meditation area
A strikingly contemporary sculptural screen and fresh new landscaping is the first thing to catch your eye as you pass by Grace Lutheran Church in Waynesboro.
New lighting and an inviting bench at the covered entrance at 13th and Wayne further enhance this corner of the property. Visitors who follow the gently sloped path curving down the hill to the stone patio, will find themselves at the heart of the space: a meditation area sheltered by low niche-bearing walls. This is the new columbarium,...
A strikingly contemporary sculptural screen and fresh new landscaping is the first thing to catch your eye as you pass by Grace Lutheran Church in Waynesboro.
New lighting and an inviting bench at the covered entrance at 13th and Wayne further enhance this corner of the property. Visitors who follow the gently sloped path curving down the hill to the stone patio, will find themselves at the heart of the space: a meditation area sheltered by low niche-bearing walls. This is the new columbarium,...
recent from Local/State News
Hunger Action Month
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is part of a national movement to raise awareness and take action to fight hunger in America. September is Hunger Action Month, and today marks the launch of hunger-fighting activities and hunger awareness initiatives in the community.
Throughout the month, Feeding America’s nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, including the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, is working to engage citizens to take action through the 30 Ways in 30 Days campaign. Individuals...
The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is part of a national movement to raise awareness and take action to fight hunger in America. September is Hunger Action Month, and today marks the launch of hunger-fighting activities and hunger awareness initiatives in the community.
Throughout the month, Feeding America’s nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, including the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, is working to engage citizens to take action through the 30 Ways in 30 Days campaign. Individuals...
recent from Government and Politics
State launches review, extends DMV hours
Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee are launching an independent review of the computer-system failures that affected operations at the Department of Motor Vehicles and 25 other state agencies – and Northrop Grumman is picking up the tab.
“I have spoken personally with Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush. I expressed to him that extended lapses in state computer services was an unacceptable hardship on our citizens and employees. I made clear that I...
Gov. Bob McDonnell and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee are launching an independent review of the computer-system failures that affected operations at the Department of Motor Vehicles and 25 other state agencies – and Northrop Grumman is picking up the tab.
“I have spoken personally with Northrop Grumman CEO Wes Bush. I expressed to him that extended lapses in state computer services was an unacceptable hardship on our citizens and employees. I made clear that I...
recent from Government and Politics
DMV expected to be back online by Thursday
Department of Motor Vehicles locations in Virginia are expected to be fully operational on Thursday – and Gov. Bob McDonnell has directed the department to extend its hours in the weeks and weekends ahead to process the backlog in applications due to a failure in the data-storage system serving offices statewide.
“From this office to our agencies to our customer service centers, we are all committed to fixing these recent issues, returning all state operations to normal, and...
Department of Motor Vehicles locations in Virginia are expected to be fully operational on Thursday – and Gov. Bob McDonnell has directed the department to extend its hours in the weeks and weekends ahead to process the backlog in applications due to a failure in the data-storage system serving offices statewide.
“From this office to our agencies to our customer service centers, we are all committed to fixing these recent issues, returning all state operations to normal, and...
recent from Government and Politics
Rights groups urge feds to reject 287(g)
A coalition of faith groups, civil and human rights organizations, and government officials have asked the Department of Homeland Security to reject Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request to allow the Virginia Department of State Police to enter into a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A 287(g) agreement, named after a provision of federal law, authorizes local or state law enforcement agencies to enforce civil or criminal violations of federal immigration law.
The...
A coalition of faith groups, civil and human rights organizations, and government officials have asked the Department of Homeland Security to reject Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s request to allow the Virginia Department of State Police to enter into a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A 287(g) agreement, named after a provision of federal law, authorizes local or state law enforcement agencies to enforce civil or criminal violations of federal immigration law.
The...
recent from Government and Politics
McDonnell declares state of emergency in advance of Earl
Gov. Bob McDonnell today declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a step authorizing state agencies to take precautionary action to prepare for any potential impacts in eastern Virginia from Hurricane Earl. A state of emergency must be declared under state law so that additional resources are available and positioned for use if necessary.
The latest National Weather Service models show that Earl is expected to take a track to the east of the Commonwealth with minimal...
Gov. Bob McDonnell today declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a step authorizing state agencies to take precautionary action to prepare for any potential impacts in eastern Virginia from Hurricane Earl. A state of emergency must be declared under state law so that additional resources are available and positioned for use if necessary.
The latest National Weather Service models show that Earl is expected to take a track to the east of the Commonwealth with minimal...
recent from Blogs
Frank Blechman: Stacking the panel
Many governors appoint their friends and business associates to various advisory panels to ensure that the results of the panel will go in the direction they want. No surprise there, simply the spoils of war.
However, Gov. McDonnell’s appointments to the recently announced Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council go further than the average stacked panel and are more disconcerting. This panel’s recommendations on the new federal health care bill will be formative and will...
Many governors appoint their friends and business associates to various advisory panels to ensure that the results of the panel will go in the direction they want. No surprise there, simply the spoils of war.
However, Gov. McDonnell’s appointments to the recently announced Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council go further than the average stacked panel and are more disconcerting. This panel’s recommendations on the new federal health care bill will be formative and will...
recent from Blogs
Bruce Sallan: A Jew in church
My wife is Christian; I’m Jewish. Since we were not going to have children together, this wasn’t much of an issue since this was a second marriage for both of us. We did have the Christmas tree problem but resolved that amicably, by at first going to her parent’s house to celebrate Christmas with them. When my wife got sick and we couldn’t make it that year, I relented and we brought the Christmas tree into our home.
Now we’re celebrating both Christmas and Hannukah in our home and,...
My wife is Christian; I’m Jewish. Since we were not going to have children together, this wasn’t much of an issue since this was a second marriage for both of us. We did have the Christmas tree problem but resolved that amicably, by at first going to her parent’s house to celebrate Christmas with them. When my wife got sick and we couldn’t make it that year, I relented and we brought the Christmas tree into our home.
Now we’re celebrating both Christmas and Hannukah in our home and,...
recent from Blogs
Haresh Daswani: The Manila hostage crisis
The entire Manila hostage situation of close to 11 hours on Monday, Aug. 23, ended in a great tragedy with eight hostages dead. The greater tragedy was the complete lack of training, equipment and correct manpower to handle the situation.
The situation had 15 hostages in a bus with a furious gunman who had a demand. The negotiator for the situation has no trained experience in negotiating, other than being the vice mayor of the city, allowing the brother to go along and bring the letter while...
The entire Manila hostage situation of close to 11 hours on Monday, Aug. 23, ended in a great tragedy with eight hostages dead. The greater tragedy was the complete lack of training, equipment and correct manpower to handle the situation.
The situation had 15 hostages in a bus with a furious gunman who had a demand. The negotiator for the situation has no trained experience in negotiating, other than being the vice mayor of the city, allowing the brother to go along and bring the letter while...
recent from Blogs
Jim Bishop: Neither shy nor retiring – not yet, anyway
Admittedly, I felt a bit weird several times . . .
. . . sitting in the back of Martin Chapel, surveying a swirling sea of backs of heads, many familiar-looking, some not. Some are losing their hair and compensated by growing beards, while others sport speckled-gray or flowing silver manes.
Time may heal all wounds, but it also seems to nibble away at our vitality, deflate our egos and increasingly thwart attempts to fully pursue our first loves and passions.
Such anxious thoughts reverberated...
Admittedly, I felt a bit weird several times . . .
. . . sitting in the back of Martin Chapel, surveying a swirling sea of backs of heads, many familiar-looking, some not. Some are losing their hair and compensated by growing beards, while others sport speckled-gray or flowing silver manes.
Time may heal all wounds, but it also seems to nibble away at our vitality, deflate our egos and increasingly thwart attempts to fully pursue our first loves and passions.
Such anxious thoughts reverberated...
recent from AFP Links
Perriello-Hurt: Either a blowout or a close race
A new SurveyUSA poll has Republican Robert Hurt comfortably ahead of Democratic incumbent Tom Perriello in their race for the Fifth District seat in Congress, though the numbers are vastly different than those in another poll released recently by a Republican-leaning outfit.
SurveyUSA has Hurt ahead of Perriello by a 61 percent-35 percent margin, ahead of the 23-point lead that the polling firm gave Hurt in July. An American Action Forum poll released two weeks ago had the race much tighter,...
A new SurveyUSA poll has Republican Robert Hurt comfortably ahead of Democratic incumbent Tom Perriello in their race for the Fifth District seat in Congress, though the numbers are vastly different than those in another poll released recently by a Republican-leaning outfit.
SurveyUSA has Hurt ahead of Perriello by a 61 percent-35 percent margin, ahead of the 23-point lead that the polling firm gave Hurt in July. An American Action Forum poll released two weeks ago had the race much tighter,...
recent from AFP Links
WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com: Sabato-GOP poised to take House, close in Senate
University of Virginia politics professor Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball released on Thursday is projecting a split in the upcoming midterm congressional elections.
Republicans are poised to take the House with a net gain of 47 seats by the GOP, according to Sabato. Democrats would retain control of the Senate, but Republicans are still on track, in the Sabato rendering, to pick up a net of eight seats in the senior chamber, with an outside shot at getting a majority there as well.
The key to...
University of Virginia politics professor Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball released on Thursday is projecting a split in the upcoming midterm congressional elections.
Republicans are poised to take the House with a net gain of 47 seats by the GOP, according to Sabato. Democrats would retain control of the Senate, but Republicans are still on track, in the Sabato rendering, to pick up a net of eight seats in the senior chamber, with an outside shot at getting a majority there as well.
The key to...
recent from AFP Links
VaSportsOnline.com: VMI to retire Williams’ #55
Reggie Williams, VMI’s all-time leading scorer and current member of the NBA Golden State Warriors, will have his retired #55 jersey presented to him at a ceremony held at halftime of this Saturday’s VMI-Lock Haven football game in Lexington.
A four-year starter for the Keydets at forward, Williams (Prince George, Va./Prince George H.S.) averaged 27.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists during his senior season of 2007-08, during which he led the nation in scoring for the second...
Reggie Williams, VMI’s all-time leading scorer and current member of the NBA Golden State Warriors, will have his retired #55 jersey presented to him at a ceremony held at halftime of this Saturday’s VMI-Lock Haven football game in Lexington.
A four-year starter for the Keydets at forward, Williams (Prince George, Va./Prince George H.S.) averaged 27.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists during his senior season of 2007-08, during which he led the nation in scoring for the second...
recent from AFP Links
WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com Notebook
Tom Perriello: We must remain committed to our veterans
We recently saw a major milestone in our engagement in Iraq as the last combat troops left the theater on August 19. The United States will keep a troop presence in the country to assist in training of Iraqi security forces, protect American personnel, and assist with counterterrorism efforts.
Link to column on WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com.
Ken Plum: Division of powers
On my recent vacation to Scotland I took time out to visit the Scottish...
Tom Perriello: We must remain committed to our veterans
We recently saw a major milestone in our engagement in Iraq as the last combat troops left the theater on August 19. The United States will keep a troop presence in the country to assist in training of Iraqi security forces, protect American personnel, and assist with counterterrorism efforts.
Link to column on WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com.
Ken Plum: Division of powers
On my recent vacation to Scotland I took time out to visit the Scottish...
recent from AFP Links
WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com: Webb on Iraq-Drawdown ‘appropriate and crucial’
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a member of the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services, issued the following statement on the end of combat operations in Iraq on Tuesday:
“After more than seven years of operations and countless rounds of troop rotations, I am heartened today by the President’s confirmation of the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq and his stated intention to withdraw all our troops by the end of 2011. Although our residual force of 50,000 will continue to...
U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., a member of the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Armed Services, issued the following statement on the end of combat operations in Iraq on Tuesday:
“After more than seven years of operations and countless rounds of troop rotations, I am heartened today by the President’s confirmation of the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq and his stated intention to withdraw all our troops by the end of 2011. Although our residual force of 50,000 will continue to...
recent from AFP Links
VaSportsOnline.com: Beamer-Expect Boise State game to come down ‘to a play or two’
Virginia Tech hasn’t shied away from scheduling tough openers of late.
Southern Cal in 2004. Alabama in 2009. Both went on to win national titles those years, for those keeping score at home.
And then there’s the 2010 opener. Boise State is coming off an undefeated season and is #3 in the preseason national polls, and the trendy pick for the BCS title game in January.
But the Broncos have to get past a Tech squad ranked #6 in the coaches’ poll, #10 in the AP, the preseason favorite in the...
Virginia Tech hasn’t shied away from scheduling tough openers of late.
Southern Cal in 2004. Alabama in 2009. Both went on to win national titles those years, for those keeping score at home.
And then there’s the 2010 opener. Boise State is coming off an undefeated season and is #3 in the preseason national polls, and the trendy pick for the BCS title game in January.
But the Broncos have to get past a Tech squad ranked #6 in the coaches’ poll, #10 in the AP, the preseason favorite in the...
recent from AFP Links
VaSportsOnline.com: Off the Top Rope
Christopher Saint joins AFP editor Chris Graham for this installment of Off the Top Rope.
This installment begins with news on Bryan Danielson’s return, as predicted by Christopher Saint, to the WWE fold, leading to a discussion of the merits of booking and writing to the smarts.
Next up is discussion of the recent death of former WWE star Lance Cade and the news stories generated around his death that have played a role in the U.S. Senate campaign of former WWE chair Linda McMahon.
The show...
Christopher Saint joins AFP editor Chris Graham for this installment of Off the Top Rope.
This installment begins with news on Bryan Danielson’s return, as predicted by Christopher Saint, to the WWE fold, leading to a discussion of the merits of booking and writing to the smarts.
Next up is discussion of the recent death of former WWE star Lance Cade and the news stories generated around his death that have played a role in the U.S. Senate campaign of former WWE chair Linda McMahon.
The show...
recent from AFP Links
WhenVirginiaWasBlue.com: Dems-Virginia taxpayers ‘real victims’ of Cuccinelli activism
Democratic Party of Virginia chair Dick Cranwell spoke out on Tuesday on the ruling by an Albemarle County judge on a request for information made by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli related to climate-change research by a former University of Virginia professor.
“I was glad to see this ideological crusade by Mr. Cuccinelli dismissed by Judge Peatross, but the real victims are Virginia’s tax payers,” Cranwell said in a news release issued by the Democratic Party of Virginia. “The...
Democratic Party of Virginia chair Dick Cranwell spoke out on Tuesday on the ruling by an Albemarle County judge on a request for information made by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli related to climate-change research by a former University of Virginia professor.
“I was glad to see this ideological crusade by Mr. Cuccinelli dismissed by Judge Peatross, but the real victims are Virginia’s tax payers,” Cranwell said in a news release issued by the Democratic Party of Virginia. “The...
