McDonnell: Current state-budget system ‘needs to be reformed’
Gov.-elect will propose moving development of budget to odd-numbered years
Statement by Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell
www.bobmcdonnell.com
On Friday, Dec. 18th, Gov. Tim Kaine proposed his biennial budget for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. The governor made his proposal with only 28 days left in his single four-year term, carrying out his obligation as determined by our current budgetary calendar.
Unfortunately, the current budget development process leads to a situation, repeated every four years, in which the consideration, debate and adoption of one governor’s proposed budget takes place during the administration of his successor. Thus, one out of every two budgets submitted requires no subsequent accountability or management from the governor who proposed it.
The current system also requires a new governor to potentially submit sweeping changes to a budget just days after taking office with limited preparation and input. A sitting governor usually takes many months to analyze and develop a comprehensive state budget. It is likewise burdensome on the General Assembly to have to review and consider the potentially divergent budget recommendations of two governors in such a short period of time. Read more
Focus | Webb, Warner back health-care reform
Virginia Dems join 60-39 majority to move legislation forward
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner joined the 60-39 party-line Democratic majority that voted on Christmas Eve to move health-care reform forward in the Senate. Neither seemed to be jumping-up-and-down happy about it.
“I voted today in favor of health care reform legislation in the Senate. I did so despite my disappointment with some sections of the bill, which I will continue to address in the future. But the final package presented by the Majority Leader reflects many improvements that take into consideration the concerns that I and others brought forward during the debate,” Webb said in a statement to the media on Christmas Eve.
“While this legislation is far from perfect, I believe it will start to curb soaring health-care costs for consumers and businesses, reduce our federal budget deficits over time, and extend the life of the Medicare program,” Warner said in his Christmas Eve statement. Read more
In Depth | Not so elementary redistricting
Waynesboro reacts to proposed reconfiguration of city elementary schools
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Westwood Hills to William Perry, then back to Westwood Hills. Two transitions in two years. That’s what Liz Barnes is facing for her son, Josh.
“I’m not in the PTO, I’m not as much in the loop as I’d like to be, but this should have gotten to me somehow. I don’t know, maybe something in Josh’s knapsack,” said Barnes, who learned for the first time a couple of weeks ago that the Waynesboro School Board is considering what would be a radical change in its elementary-education setup.
Under the plan proposed by a committee that included a School Board member, a central-office administrator, elementary-school principals and parents of children from each of the city’s four elementary schools, William Perry Elementary and Berkeley Glenn Elementary would become beginning-tier elementary schools for students in the PreK, kindergarten, first and second grades, with Westwood Hills Elementary and Wenonah Elementary becoming second-tier elementary schools for students in grades three, four and five. Read more
Pawn gone
Staunton police seek assistance in solving Christmas-night pawn-shop burglary
Staff Report
News Tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
The Staunton Police Department is requesting assistance in identifying the suspect in a burglary that occurred on Friday, Dec. 25, at approximately 9:30 p.m. at the Valley Pawn Shop on Central Avenue.
A male suspect broke a glass door to access the business, stealing two rifles before fleeing the scene.
The rifles have a combined value of over $900. Read more
Midlife couple declares: ‘Why knot?’
Column by Jim Bishop
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Rose Stoltzfus Shenk, 41, of Harrisonburg, is a widow with four boys between 5 and 11 years old. Bruce Buckwalter, 40, of Harrisonburg, is single and never been married.
Credit an Internet computer program for bringing the two together.
Rose spent her early years in East Africa, the daughter of long-term missionaries Joseph and Edith Shenk.
Bruce, the second oldest of four sons of Bob and Betty Lou Buckwalter, most recently of Tok, Alaska, caught his parents’ zest for adventure that took the family to church-related assignments in several African nations. Read more
EMU students learn Shakespeare
Partnership with American Shakespeare Center, Mary Baldwin College
Story by Marcy Gineris
EMU news: www.emu.edu
Theater students at Eastern Mennonite University are having a chance to develop their Shakespeare skills, thanks to a partnership between theater faculty and a graduate student and professional director working and studying at the American Shakespeare Center (Blackfriar’s Playhouse) and Mary Baldwin College in Staunton. Read more
Fifth District Report
Column by Tom Perriello
www.perriello.house.gov
As we close out 2009, here is a summary of all that we have accomplished during my first year in office.
When I was sworn in almost a year ago, our economy was on the brink of collapse. While we still have a long way to go toward complete economic recovery, I believe we took actions that prevented the next Great Depression. At the same time, we have made investments in Central and Southern Virginia that will benefit our region’s long-term competitive advantage: improved infrastructure, a well-trained workforce, and getting us ahead of the curve in the new energy economy.
Report: Virginia manufacturing jobs down 7.1 percent in 2008-2009
Staff Report
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Industrial employment in Virginia fell 7.1 percent over the past 12 months according to the 2010 Virginia Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published annually by the Evanston, Ill.,-based Manufacturers’ News Inc.
MNI reports Virginia lost 26,531 industrial jobs and 377 manufacturers between October 2008 and October 2009. Read more
A man and his dogs
Column by Bruce Sallan
www.brucesallan.com
When I was a child, my mother brought home a little dog that was so small that she carried it in her purse. The dog was a mixed-breed of Pekinese, Pomeranian, and Chihuahua and my mother named it Su-Su. Fully grown, she weighed maybe seven pounds. Su-Su was cute, adorable, and annoying, but I loved her. However, I always wanted a bigger dog. Like Lassie or Rin Tin Tin. Little dogs belong to girls or Paris Hilton, not to men. Read more
Court Square pays tribute to Hank Sr.
Robin & Linda Williams on the bill for Tuesday-night show
Staff Report
News Tips: freepress2@ntelos.net
Court Square Theater presents a Hank Williams Sr. Tribute show at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Tickets are $24 in advance, 22 for students and seniors, and all tickets are $4 more at the door.
The tickets are available in advance at 311 S. Main St., via phone or web, or the day of the show at the Court Square Theater at 61 Graham St., Harrisonburg.
For tickets or more information call 540.433.9189 extension 2 or visit www.courtsquaretheater.com. Read more
A Child’s Christmas
Column by David Reynolds
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You remember the way it was on Christmas. You thought the day would never come. December was a year, not a month.
While waiting for Christmas you were not quite sure what was happening. Yet, your imagination was able to put all the pieces together. You discovered that life is a miracle. And then correctly assumed that every piece in it was also a miracle. Read more
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Blood thinners
Posted on December 28, 2009 · 7 Comments
Column by Chris DeWald
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Filed under Blogs · Tagged with blood thinner, chris dewald, stroke, stroke survivor