Support for continuation for Cash for Clunkers program

The House of Representatives passed legislation Friday pumping $2 billion into the popular Cash for Clunkers program over the objections of some House Republicans who unfortunateliy used the opportunity to hit Democrats on the big issue of the summer – health-care reform. Read more

Mark Warner | The cost of reform

As our health-care debate continues, I’m reminded that Virginians hired me last fall to help change the way things are done in Washington and to make sure the federal government is more responsible with taxpayer dollars, even in times of crisis.
Reforming our health-care system is essential to ensuring a prosperous future and it cannot wait. But I am concerned that far too little attention is being paid to containing the cost of any potential reform plan. Read more

Ralph Riviello | Health-care reformers: Don’t forget women

Recently I saw a pregnant woman I will call Lillian, a 22-year-old who brought her two children with her to the ER. Lillian has a fulltime job whose health insurance doesn’t cover pregnancy. She can’t afford to cover herself and her family on the individual market, and she makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid. Lillian came to the ER because she wants to make sure her baby is okay. A friend with better insurance advised her that she should have an ultrasound. Read more

David Reynolds | Kids know

Columnists often fall prey to that which we constantly warn our readers: You are not as smart as you think you are because you don’t know what you don’t know. Somehow we think that the world’s problems can be easily solved if only the world would listen to us, that our wisdom will point civilization in the right direction. And our readers can take it from there. Read more

‘Deeds Country’ Tour to kick off on Sunday

Sen. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee for governor, will kick off his “Deeds Country” Tour on Sunday, Aug. 2, in Charlottesville . Deeds’ weeklong tour will take him to more than 20 cities and towns in Southwest and Southside Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Read more

Jim Bishop | Lookin’ fine in 2009 . . . compared to 1959?

When I was 14 years old, it was a very good year . . .
I had survived two years of confinement in the then brand-new Lenape Junior High School in Doylestown, Pa., and, with my parent’s encouragement, decided to join a new group of peers as a ninth grader at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School. It would mean boarding a rickety school bus (we called it “The Yellow Dog”) for a one-and-a-half hour, 25-mile ride daily ride each way. Read more

‘Radio Hour’ to mark completion of first phase of Wayne restoration

“The River City Radio Hour” will give a special, extended performance on Aug. 21 to mark the completion of the first phase of the Wayne Theatre restoration.
The Wayne Theatre Alliance has arranged to close the 500 block of West Main Street and will move the “Radio Hour” from its usual space to a stage under the new Wayne Theatre marquee. The 7 p.m. “Radio Hour” will also incorporate the unveiling and lighting of the theatre’s historic front facade. At the conclusion of the lighting, the St. Clair Street Band will provide music for a street dance. Read more

Arts Council presents Ann Cheeks

The Arts Council of the Valley presents the paintings of Ann Cheeks at the Darrin-McHone Gallery in the Smith House. In coordination with the First Fridays Downtown, Cheeks’ show opens Friday, Aug. 7, from 5-7 p.m. Read more

Fire spinner added to Friday Night Lights lineup

The Lexington/Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Lexington are pleased to announce the addition of Brandon Caldwell to the lineup of activities during the upcoming Friday Night Lights, Friday, Aug. 7, from 5-7 p.m. Read more

Developers move forward with Gypsy Hill Place

The first step was convincing people that the old Robert E. Lee High School was a building worth saving. The men at the head of the development group leading the effort to transform the 80-year-old school campus into the new home for the Staunton Senior Center and ShenanArts didn’t have to do all that much convincing. Read more

Ground broken on Gypsy Hill Place

Octagon Partners and Hampton Roads Ventures broke ground on the Gypsy Hill Place project that will transform the old Robert E. Lee High School building into a new home for the Staunton Senior Center and ShenanArts. Video produced by AFP editor Chris Graham. Length: 5:40. Read more

Weekend Watchdog | Drought almost over

This is the final weekend of 2009 without a football game on TV. (the numerous training camps are opening stories don’t count).
Next week starts the exhibition season with the Hall of Fame game. Usually no exhibitions are shown on national TV the last week of preseason, but that’s Labor Day weekend when college football starts. Plenty of action to keep you on the couch. Read more