Clean the streets already

How soon should it take to get the roads passable?

Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

It can be hard, to say the least, to manage expectations with regard to cleaning streets and roadways after snowstorms. Which is to say, it can be hard to manage the high level of expectations that we have following storms, namely to have streets and roads cleared as soon as is humanly possible, if not sooner than that.

“Some folks like to think we can spend an unlimited amount of time and money and remove all snow from all street surfaces. That is not a reasonable goal or outcome as we certainly do not have an unlimited amount of time and money,” said Jim Halasz, the assistant city manager in Staunton, which does not have in place specific guidelines setting time deadlines for having streets cleared of snow and ice following storms.

The same is the case in Waynesboro, according to City Manager Mike Hamp. Waynesboro officials do try to operate within a general guideline of having streets in passable condition within 24 hours of a storm in snow events up to 8 inches in accumulation, but dealing with amounts over that threshold can be and has proven to be problematic this winter. Read more

Climatologist: Snowy winter ‘just one of those things’

  
Column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Take solace, folks. The meteorologists can’t explain why it’s snowing all the time, either.

“To a large extent, it’s just one of those things. But one of those things means we don’t fully understand all the dynamics that go on with this, all the atmospheric physics involved,” said Jerry Stenger, the director of the Virginia State Climatology Office at the University of Virginia.

I had Stenger on the line for a segment on The AFP Show news podcast. My question led him to the “one of those things” quote, the thrust of where I was going with the topic being, Surely you guys know what’s going on, right, or is it just one of those things? Read more

Forecast: 5 to 10 inches of snow Tuesday, Wednesday

 
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro effective 9 a.m. Tuesday to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Greater Augusta region is in line for a possible 5 to 10 inches of snow accumulation due to the storm.

Harrisonburg and Rockingham to our north are in line for a possible 6 to 12 inches of snow from this storm, and the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., metro areas could see 10 to 20 inches of snow in the next two days.

The AFP Show: Winter weather, Fifth District politics

  
Hosted by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Today marks the return of The AFP Show. The show features editor Chris Graham talking about the news of the day with guests who add perspective to what is happening in the world around us.

Today’s guests are:
- Jerry Stenger, the research coordinator at the Virginia State Climatology Office at the University of Virginia, who joins us today to talk about winter weather.
- Bradley Reese, a blogger and podcaster who is actively covering the Fifth District congressional race and joins us today to talk politics. Read more

General Assembly Notebook: Monday, Feb. 8

- State Senate backs extended job-training benefits
- McDonnell supports update to composite index

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

State Senate backs extended job-training benefits: Virginia’s Senate - led by a unanimous vote among Senate Democrats - passed a bipartisan bill Monday to help put unemployed Virginians back to work by providing extended benefits for job training programs.

SB239 - sponsored by Republican Sen. John Watkins (R-Midlothian) and co-sponsored by Sens. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Roscoe Reynolds (D-Martinsville) and Phil Puckett (D-Tazewell) - would help make Virginia eligible for $125 million in federal stimulus funds targeted directly to help unemployed Virginians get back to work. The bill would offer 26 weeks of extended benefits to unemployed Virginians who are going through job training programs.

“I’m glad to see the Senate work together on this bipartisan measure to put Virginians back to work,” said C. Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. “Under this bill, more Virginians would be able to get the skills they need to find a new job in this tough economy.” Read more

News Update: Tuesday, Feb. 9

- School Board meeting moved back
- Bridgewater College receives $124K scholarship grant
- EMU students win counseling ethics competition
- Farm, rural business profitability focus of upcoming forum

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

School Board meeting moved back: The Waynesboro Public Schools will postpone the Tuesday, Feb. 9, Waynesboro School Board Meeting. The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. at Kate Collins Middle School in the auditorium.

　

Bridgewater College receives $124K scholarship grant: The trustees of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation have awarded Bridgewater College $124,000 to be used for need-based scholarships during the 2010-11 academic year, it was announced on Monday.

Bridgewater will receive one-half of the grant money on Aug. 1 and the balance on Dec. 15. The entire grant award will be used for scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year. Read more

Here we go again: Valley braces for another big snowstorm

  
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Augusta County, Staunton and Wayensboro beginning Tuesday morning.

The forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday afternoon calls for possible snow accumulations of 5 inches of snow or more.

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County and locales to their north in the Shenandoah Valley are under a Winter Storm Warning with a forecast for 6 to 12 inches of accumulation possible from the upcoming storm.

The Washington, D.C,, and Baltimore, Md., metro areas are in a Winter Storm Warning area with forecast accumulations of 10 to 20 inches possible from the storm.

Defining moments

  
Column by David Reynolds
Submit guest columns: freepress2@ntelos.net

Let’s cut right to the chase. Last month tens of millions of Americans witnessed a president break his oath of office. Ten hours later millions of others saw and heard a vice-president do the same on NBC’s Today show. The only difference being that the vice president, as is his custom, took more words to say the same thing.

And yet, pundits - from the crazy right to the looney left - missed these two defining moments of this administration. (Historians please note.) Maybe the press herd was too busy searching for the lead sheep. No one was willing to step up and take a swing for democracy.

When the good guys don’t speak up, all of us are in danger. We are in danger because democracy gradually becomes an endangered specie. Forget about our policy differences over reforming health care, protecting the environment, keeping America safe and leveling the burden of taxation. These differences should be cherished in a democracy! They spring from two different political philosophies. Read more

New nuclear energy is old news

And new projects are already under way, benefitting economies and creating jobs

Column by Jarret Adams
Submit guest columns: freepress2@ntelos.net

Right now, nuclear energy is expanding around the world. According to the World Nuclear Association, there are 50 reactors under construction across the globe and another 130 (and counting) scheduled to come online over the next decade.

The nuclear renaissance is happening.

Today the world demands clean, low-carbon energy sources to prevent further increases in carbon-dioxide emissions. That is why we are seeing increasing interest in nuclear energy as well as renewable technologies such as wind and solar. Read more

Egregious gags to egg you on - and that’s no yolk

  
Column by Jim Bishop
Submit guest columns: freepress2@ntelos.net

A sagacious senior observed, “We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.”

Case in point: you’re about to get another punnelling from your Punsylvania pun pal. Don’t look, Ethel!

Too late - may as well grin and bear it, starting with this burning question:

Why is it that one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

And why does it take so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night? Read more

News Update: Monday, Feb. 8

- Waynesboro City Council meeting agenda
- Staunton City Council meeting agenda
- Supreme Court to hear UVa. Law School case

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Waynesboro City Council meeting agenda: Waynesboro City Council will hold a business meeting Monday at 7 p.m. at the Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building, 503 W. Main St., Waynesboro.

The agenda for the meeting includes:

1. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Consent Agenda (any item placed on the consent agenda shall be removed and considered as a separate matter, if so requested by any member of Council, otherwise all items will be voted on with one (1) motion).
a) Consider approving the minutes from the December 16, 209 Work Session and the January 25, 2010 Regular Business Meeting, and dispense with the reading of the minutes. Read more

A Wolf looking out for the folks

  
Column by Sanford D. Horn
Submit guest columns: freepress2@ntelos.net

In children’s literature, the wolf is portrayed as the ruffian, the evil-doer. He went after grandmother in Little Red Riding Hood, he huffed and puffed in The Three Little Pigs, and of course there’s Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.

Back in the adult world, I say three cheers for the wolf – Frank Wolf, that is. The Virginia congressman (R-10th) sponsored legislation last week that in reality had the president and the Justice Department had any common sense, would never have been necessary in the first place.

The Wolf bill seeks to prohibit the use of Justice Department funds for the purpose of civilian trials for Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his co-conspirators for perpetrating the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. KSM is also responsible for the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.  Read more

Church presents Easter service

 
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

Fishersville United Methodist Church will be presenting a musical drama at Easter called “Bow the Knee.”

The church, at 1600 Jefferson Highway, will be holding three performances in the week leading up to Palm Sunday - on Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 28, at 4 p.m.

“Bow the Knee” is told from the point of view of Anthony, a Roman centurion, who appealed to Jesus to heal his dying servant, Benjamin. Benjamin’s miraculous recovery, and the kind and gentle nature of Jesus’ leadership, draw Anthony into an internal struggle between his emerging faith and his allegiance to the Roman Empire.

Eloise Kornicke is serving as musical director for the production, with Mary Wahlstrom as the drama director.

Admission is free, but admission tickets are being distributed to manage seating capacity.

Tickets can be obtained at the church office by calling 540.942.9355 and through church members.

Sports Roundup: Monday, Feb. 8

- Bridgewater rallies to knock off Randolph
- VMI rally falls short
- Former Keydet named D-League all-star

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Bridgewater rallies to knock off Randolph: Bridgewater College erased a 10-point second-half deficit Sunday afternoon to defeat Randolph College, 61-57, in ODAC men’s basketball action.

With 2:02 left in the game, Segar Jordan worked free for a layup off an assist from Cody Griffith to give the Eagles a one-point 52-51 lead.

Following a Randolph turnover, Jordan scored again, this time following an offensive rebound to give BC a three-point advantage, 54-51, with 1:15 left to play.

The WildCats answered with a layup by Jason Rutschman to pull with one with 1:00 remaining, but the Eagles responded when Jake Johnson knocked down a 3-pointer with just 31 seconds left, giving BC a four-point lead. Read more

Richmond Reports

Featured: Sen. Creigh Deeds, Sen. Mark Obenshain

Creigh Deeds: Weekly Update
www.creighdeeds.com

The third full week of the General Assembly session ended in unusual fashion. For the first time in recent memory, the General Assembly took a snow day. Granted we have had difficult weather this winter, beginning with the snow storm in the middle of December and continuing with several significant snow events throughout January and into February, but the General Assembly, limited by the constitution to a 60 day session this year, always conducts its work. I read in the newspaper that Lacey Putney, the longest-serving member of the General Assembly, could not remember the legislature ever being snowed out. I ran into a friend who served in the cabinet for Gov. Baliles who remembered a prior incident of a snow day being taken in 1977 or 1978.  Read more

Backhoe damages downtown business

  
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

A Downtown Waynesboro building is damaged after an accident involving a city backhoe that was clearing snow on Federal Street late Saturday night.

The back of the Augusta Cleaners building at 534 W. Main St. was left with an open gash two to three feet across and perhaps eight to ten feet high.

City Manager Mike Hamp was on the scene within minutes of the incident in the 10 p.m. hour. Hamp said there were no injuries associated with the incident.

There were no early estimates on damage to the building. Building Inspector Joe Honbarrier was called to the scene to survey the damage.

Property owner Dave Barrett was on the scene as well to move inventory stored in the back of the brick building.

Weather Blog: 20 to 30 inches or more of snow possible

 
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

The latest forecast from the National Weather Service has the Augusta County, Staunton, Waynesboro area in line for 20 to 30 inches of snow with this weekend’s winter storm, with localized amounts of 30 inches-plus possible in higher elevations in the area.

The snow began early Friday morning in the Shenandoah Valley, and is expected to pick up in intensity beginning in the late-afternoon hours through Saturday morning.

Visibilities will be in the quarter-mile-or-less range tonight and Saturday morning.

Winds will be sustained at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph tonight and Saturday.

Check back to the Weather Blog for the latest on the winter storm. Updates will be posted by the AFP in the Comments section.

Feel free to share details on weather where you are in our Comments thread.

Snow Emergency Blog: The latest on road conditions and more

  
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

The Shenandoah Valley is under a state of emergency with the winter storm that is expected to dump as much as 30 inches of snow on the area this weekend.

The Snow Emergency Blog has the latest on road conditions from the Virginia Department of Transportation and the latest on the availability of emergency shelters from the local governments in Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro.

Look for updates from the AFP in the Comments section.

Cancellations Blog: The latest on weather-related closings

   
Moderated by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Postponement and cancellation notices are pouring in as the snow pours down on Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro associated with the powerful winter storm making its way up the East Coast this weekend.

The AFP will post updates on weather-related postponements and cancellations to our Cancellations Blog in the Comments section attached to this story.

Feel free to post your own postponement and cancellation news to the blog under Comments.

General Assembly Notebook

- ACLU pushes GA to authorize pro-choice specialty plate
- Subcommittee endorses two Bell bills improving protective orders
- State gets big fat F on voter-initiative-rights report card

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

ACLU pushes GA to authorize pro-choice specialty plate: The ACLU of Virginia is urging members of the Virginia General Assembly to support Senate and House bills that authorize a pro-choice specialty license plate. The plate, containing the phrase Trust Women, Respect Choice, counters a law passed in 2009 authorizing a Choose Life license plate.

Under recent court decisions, specialty license plates are considered to be a public forum, and in a public forum all viewpoints must be equally accepted. For the General Assembly to authorize an anti-choice plate but not a pro-choice plate violates this fundamental principle of free speech.

“Before the final vote takes place, all legislators will have received a memo from us explaining why they are required by the Constitution to approve the pro-choice license plate,” said ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Kent Willis. “This is one time lawmakers need to set aside their views on reproductive rights and let the First Amendment be their guide. If they can do that, the pro-choice license plate will be easily approved. If not we’re undoubtedly headed to court.” Read more

Hokies release 2010 schedule

Opener against Boise State moved to Labor Day Night

Staff Report
Virginia Tech sports: www.hokiesports.com

ESPN, along with the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, officially announced Wednesday that Tech’s football game against Boise State at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., has been moved to Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 6) to open the 2010 season.

Kickoff for the game, scheduled to be televised to a national audience on ESPN, is set for 8 p.m. at the home field of the Washington Redskins.

The game had originally been scheduled for Oct. 2 (Saturday).

This will mark the first time Boise State and Virginia Tech have faced each other in football and it will be Tech’s second game at FedEx Field (Southern Cal, 2004). Read more

Stevens earns promotion at Frontier

  
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

Frontier Community Bank in Waynesboro recently promoted Tatiana Stevens to the post of management trainee.

Stevens joined Frontier during 2008 as a part-time employee. A Miami, Fla., native, Stevens boasts an impressive resume, with nearly 10 years of banking experience.

The management trainee position is a hands-on program designed by Frontier to groom future leadership within the bank. Stevens will train in all aspects of bank operations during the next year.

Stevens and her son, Edward, reside in Waynesboro, where she is an energetic community member. Stevens recently coordinated community-outreach programs for Haiti and Juarez, Mexico. Read more

Sports Roundup

Hot-shooting VMI powers past Pres, EMU women sting Wasps, 10 and 6 from Brown helps Liberty to win

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Hot-shooting VMI powers past Pres: A 20-4 run midway through the first half gave VMI a lead it would not relinquish, as the Keydets powered by the Presbyterian College Blue Hose, 97-78, in a Big South contest played Thursday night at Cameron Hall.

After PC sprinted out to a 22-8 lead, a Joe Carr three-pointer at the 13:09 mark launched VMI on the spurt that gave the Keydets the lead for good. The run included twelve unanswered VMI points, and was helped by five Presbyterian turnovers.

VMI (8-14, 3-9) was led by Stan Okoye and Austin Kenon in the victory, as each player notched 23 points. The home team’s 18 three-pointers tied a season-high, and came after the squad misfired on its first eight treys. The Blue Hose were led by Chase Holmes’ 21 points, including 13 in the second half.

2008 Waynesboro High School graduate Nick Gore scored two points in 15 minutes off the bench for VMI. Read more

Unemployment rate takes unexpected dip

 
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Don’t get too excited, but the nation’s unemploynent rate made a move in the right direction in January, falling to 9.7 percent from 10.0 percent in December.

“It is important not to read too much into any one monthly report, positive or negative. It is essential that we continue our efforts to move in the right direction and replace job losses with robust job gains,” said Christina Romer, the chair of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, in a statement on the numbers released Friday.

There are still likely to be “bumps in the road ahead,” Romer warned, and the good news today itself came with some of the bumps, the most noticeable being the revised estimate that has the economy losing more than 1 million more jobs due to the recession than had previously been estimated.

But even slightly good news is good news in an economy that was in freefall for months since the start of the recession in December 2007. Today’s figures show employment in manufacturing in general and motor-vehicle manufacturing in particular on the increase for the first time since January 2007, and the unemployment rate that includes all persons marginally attached to the labor force and workers working part-time for economic reasons falling by a full percentage point.

Wright’s 25 push UVa. past Clemson

  
Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com

Senior guard Monica Wright (Woodbridge, Va.) moved into fifth place on the ACC’s all-time scoring list and No. 24 Virginia defeated visiting Clemson, 82-60, Thursday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

With the victory, Virginia improved to 16-6 overall and 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson’s record fell to 11-13, 2-6 in the league.

Wright finished with 25 points, bringing her career total to 2,293. Already Virginia’s all-time leading scorer, Wright moved into sole possession of fifth place in the history of the ACC. She passed former North Carolina guard Ivory Latta (2003-07; 2,285 points). Fourth place on the league’s all-time scoring list is occupied by N.C. State’s Linda Page (1982-85; 2,307 points). Read more

Richmond Reports

Featured: Del. Ken Plum, Del. David Englin

Ken Plum: The LCI takes center stage
www.kenplum.com

Virginia’s formula for funding public schools is very complex. Theoretically the average school district would be funded half by the state and half by local government. In actuality, the split in spending for public schools is closer to 55 percent local government and 45 percent state government because of the state’s failure to fully fund its share. The complexity comes from determining the true cost of education and the ability of local governments to support their own schools. The cost of education is determined by pricing the Standards of Quality (SOQ), the basic state requirements for operating a school. The SOQs relate to staffing, materials, and square footage needed to run a school. All public schools in Virginia including the poorest districts exceed the SOQ standard because the standards are so minimal. The understated standards result in a lower state share of costs. Read more

Location of ‘greatest significance’ in Harrington investigation

  
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

The Albemarle County farm where the remains of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington were discovered on Jan. 26 are of “the greatest significance” in unraveling the mystery of her Oct. 17 disappearance, a Virginia State Police investigator said Thursday.

Investigators believe that the person or persons responsible for her homicide is or are likely to have traveled, worked, recreated or lived in close proximity to the historic Anchorage Farm located in southern Albemarle County.

“Of all the events that transpired between Morgan and the person or persons responsible for this tragic incident, the person(s) responsible had complete control of deciding to choose the specific farm where Morgan was discovered. Therefore, investigators need to understand who knows this area,” said Lt. Joe Rader of the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox field office. Read more

Updated snow forecast: 20 to 28 inches

  
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

The National Weather Service has amended its Winter Storm Warning for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service, issued at 2:10 p.m., has the area in line for possible snow accumulations of 20 to 28 inches this weekend.

The Winter Storm Watch is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Saturday.

AccuWeather.com is projecting snowfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour at the height of the storm. The worst of the storm is expected to come into the area late Friday afternoon and be here through the dawn hours on Saturday.

That rate of snowfall will make it difficult for road snow-removal crews to keep up.

It is advised that people stay off the roads as much as is possible during the storm because of expected treacherous driving conditions. Visibilities will be one-quarter mile and less during the worst part of the snow event with sustained 10 to 15 mph winds and gusts of 25 mph creating near-blizzard conditions.

Get out of the road!

Authorities ask residents to move cars if possible

Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

The Virginia Department of Transportation and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro are asking local residents to park vehicles in driveways or otherwise off local- and state-maintained streets and roads to allow snow-plow drivers to do their thing.

VDOT is responsible for snow-removal operations in Augusta County. A press release from the local Staunton office includes the tip that moving cars out of roadways makes it less likely for cars and trucks to be plowed in inadvertently due to snow-removal work.

A similar message was sounded in the cities. Waynesboro city officials also advised residents to wait until snow plows make their first pass before digging out to avoid having to dig out twice and to remove snow from fire hydrants on their property to save time for emergency crews in the event of a localized emergency situation.

The city has also set up a page on the city website for residents to monitor the status of snow removal - www.waynesboro.va.us/snow-report.php.

The Rant | Snowbody knows

  
Video Essay by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

We’re hearing from people who are annoyed with the endless speculation about how much snow this weekend’s winter storm is going to dump on the Valley.

AFP editor Chris Graham is annoyed wtih the annoyed. It’s human nature to fill in the blanks on something this potentially big. It doesn’t mean that those who engage in the speculation are as misguided for doing so as the thought police seem to want you to believe.

The advice for those who want to stay above the fray - don’t look at Facebook, among other things. Read more

Staunton declares snow emergency

Emergency prohibits parking downtown to facilitate snow removal

Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

Staunton City Manager Stephen Owen and Police Chief Jim Williams have declared a snow emergency in advance of the pending winter storm this weekend. The declaration includes a prohibition of parking on several downtown streets to facilitate snow-removal efforts during and after the storm.

The parking prohibitions during the snow emergency include:
- Beverley Street from Lewis to Market
- Central Avenue from Frederick to Johnson
- New Street from Frederick to Johnson
- Market Street from Frederick to Kalorama
- Byers Street from Lewis to Johnson

Appropriate signs shall be posted along such routes to give notice of such prohibition.

This declaration and regulation shall be in effect from Thursday, Feb. 4, 5 p.m. local time, until such time that the city manager and police chief declare otherwise.

Free parking in the Wharf Lot, Johnson Street and New Street parking garages, Augusta and Hardy parking lots, will be available all day on Friday, Feb. 5, and through the weekend until the snow emergency is lifted.

XLIV

  
Column by Mike Judge
WeekendWatchdog.blogspot.com

Will the Saints go marching in?

Or is the Super Bowl Peyton’s place.

We’ll find out starting at 6:30 p.m. (or a few minutes later) Sunday, when the Saints and Colts meet at Joe Robbie/Dolphins/Sun Life Stadium on CBS. Both teams have already visited the facility and won this season - first time that has ever happened.

Some more fun facts from our friends at http://www.the506.com/. Impress your friends. Read more

Sports Roundup

JMU hoops falls to Hofstra, JMU football signs 19, Bridgewater falls to #7 Virginia Wesleyan

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Hofstra run pushes Dukes to defeat: Hofstra used an 11-0 run to pull away from a tight game early in the second half and went on to defeat James Madison 68-48 in a Colonial Athletic Association game Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.

HU improved to 12-12 overall and 5-7 in the CAA while JMU dropped to 10-13 overall and 3-9 in the league.

Hofstra led 30-25 at the break and 32-29 in the early minutes of the second half before the Pride went on an 11-0 run, holding JMU scoreless for four minutes and 51 seconds. HU maintained a double-digit margin the rest of the way and outscored JMU 36-19 overall in the final 19 minutes en route to the 20-point victory. Read more

UVa. schedule features USC, two I-AAs

 
Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com

A pair of games against I-AA opponents sandwich a trip to Southern Cal, and then it’s ACC time for Virginia, which released its 2010 football schedule on Thursday.

First-year coach Mike London makes his debut when Virginia kicks off its campaign at home against Richmond on Sept. 4. The game will mark the 30th meeting between the Spiders and Cavaliers in a series that began in 1893. In the last meeting between the teams, the Cavaliers defeated Richmond 16-0 in 2008 at Scott Stadium when London was the Spiders’ head coach.

Richmond finished the 2009 season ranked No. 5 in the final Football Championship Subdivision poll after an 11-2 campaign.  Read more

Big Brother and local education

  
Column by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Big government has no place in local education. Does us no good to be sending dictates down from Washingon and Richmond with all manner of strings attached.

No Child Left Behind - bad idea. Standards of Learning - bad idea.

Freshman State Del. Dickie Bell’s proposed state mandate that local school boards allocate 65 percent of its operating budget to instructional spending - bad idea.

The initiative isn’t Bell’s alone. Bob McDonnell had the 65 percent threshold as part of his ‘09 guberntorial-campaign platform. I can understand a pol like McDonnell getting something like this wrong, but not Bell, a public-school teacher when the General Assembly is not in session. Read more

Perriello: End antitrust exemption for health-insurance companies

  
Staff Report
News tips: freepress2@ntelos.net

Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello and Congresswoman Betsy Markey will introduce legislation this week that will repeal the special antitrust exemption for health-insurance companies and medical malpractice insurance companies.

The measure would end special treatment for the insurance industry that allows them to fix prices, collude with each other, and set their own markets without fear of being investigated. Removing this exemption has been a common priority of these two freshmen lawmakers, though they voted differently on the initial House health-care reform bill.

They will formally unveil the bill at a press conference on Friday.  Read more

Capitol Hill Notebook

- Taxpayer Fairness Act
- Stand on Social Security

Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

Webb, Boxer introduce Taxpayer Fairness Act: U.S. Sens, Jim Webb, D-Va., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., today introduced the Taxpayer Fairness Act, legislation that would impose a 50 percent tax on excessive bonuses paid by Wall Street banks and other firms that benefited from billions of taxpayer dollars in 2009.

“This is not class warfare,” said Webb. “This is not something that’s going to run the gamut of all executive compensation and bonuses. This is a one-shot deal. This is a tax on excessive bonuses of TARP recipients that received more than $5 billion from the American taxpayer in 2009.

“The Financial Times, a paper dedicated to the free market, editorialized in favor of this position at the end of last year,” continued Webb. “We believe this is a fair and reasonable approach. It offers equity and a level of fairness to the American taxpayers who bailed these companies out. Read more

Fifth District Report

 
Column by Tom Perriello
www.periello.house.gov

In this economy, every dollar counts — and so does a tax credit worth up to $5,657.

Jan. 29 was designated by the Internal Revenue Service as Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day. More than 534,000 Virginia taxpayers took advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and received more than $1 billion in refunds for the 2008 tax year.

However, the IRS estimates that 20 to 25 percent of qualifying workers miss out on thousands of dollars every year because they fail to claim their EITC. I encourage folks to find out more about the credit to see if it applies to you. Some of the workers that most often miss out on this credit are those who are living in rural areas, self-employed, disabled, childless, older, or recently experienced a change in marital status or employment status. Read more

Weather-related cancellations

 
Edited by Chris Graham
Send cancellations to freepress2@ntelos.net

The snow isn’t here yet, but people aren’t waiting for the first flakes to fall before changing plans for what was set to be another busy winter weekend in the Shenandoah Valley.

Among the cancellations sent to AugustaFreePress.com:

- A performance of Dr. Levine and the Dreaded Blues Lady scheduled for the Waynesboro Public Library on Friday night has been canceled. No makeup date has been announced. Read more

UVa. slams Pack, climbs back into first-place tie in ACC

  
Story by Chris Graham
Video: Mustapha Farrakhan poster dunk
Audio: Tony Bennett’s postgame press conference
freepress2@ntelos.net

Mustapha Farrakhan had been dealing with his struggles of late by hitting the gym. Wednesday night he hit North Carolina State with a poster slam dunk that ignited the John Paul Jones Arena crowd and his Virginia teammates.

“I have not seen it yet, but it felt great,” said Farrakhan, who scored nine points in a long second-half 24-6 UVa. run that propelled the surprising Cavaliers to another ACC win, knocking off the Wolfpack by a 59-47 final.

The Virginia lead was at 43-36 after a Farrakhan three when the junior guard picked up a loose ball at midcourt and drove hard to the basket on State guard Javier Gonzalez. The lefthanded Farrakhan elevated over Gonzalez from the right side of the lane and threw the ball down with his right hand while getting fouled by Gonzalez.

The free throw pushed the UVa. lead to 10 with 6:42 to go, and a Farrakhan three from the left corner a minute and a half later pushed the lead to 13 at 51-38. Read more

Profit motive is necessary for quality health care

 
Column by Donald J. Boudreaux
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Not long ago my wife, Karol, and I flew from Bucharest to New York City’s JFK airport. We had two hours to connect to our flight to Washington’s Dulles airport. We missed our flight, and herein lies a lesson about today’s raging debate over government’s proper role in health-care markets.

Part of the reason we missed our flight is that, after landing on time at JFK, our plane sat for more than 30 minutes on the tarmac waiting for another jet to clear away from our gate. JFK International Airport is owned by government (the City of New York) and operated, under lease, by a government agency (the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey). Unlike Delta Airlines, the privately-owned and operated carrier that flew us comfortably, safely, and in a timely fashion over the 4,800 miles that separate Bucharest from New York, the government bureaucrats in charge of JFK airport seem to be short on an asset they control: airport gate space. Read more

Forecast: The Big One is coming

 
Staff Report
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Just in from the National Weather Service: a Winter Storm Watch for Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro Friday and Saturday with a forecast for 12 to 18 inches of snow with localized amounts of 20 inches or more possible.

The snow is forecast to begin around daybreak Friday, according to the forecast alert, which was issued at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. The snow is expected to continue into the evening hours on Saturday.

The alert from the National Weather Service indicated that the storm on its way here this weekend has the potential to be similar to the Dec. 18-19 storm that dumped between 25 and 31 inches of snow on the Greater Augusta area.

Virginia Tech announces recruiting class

Smaller, but quality, class brought in by Beamer

Staff Report
Virginia Tech sports: www.hokiesports.com

Five prep All-Americans highlight a football recruiting class composed of 20 student-athletes, as announced by Virginia Tech on Wednesday.

With such a small senior class from this past season, Tech announced just 20 players total Wednesday, including 13 players from Virginia. In all, Tech signed seven of the top 13 players in the state and 10 of the top 25 according to The Roanoke Times.

Rivals.com had the Tech class ranked 21st nationally and third-best in the ACC, behind Florida State and Clemson. Scout.com had the class at #5 nationally, and fifth-best in the ACC, behind FSU, Miami, Clemson and North Carolina. Read more

Transcript | Mike London discusses ‘10 recruiting class

  
Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com

COACH LONDON: When I got here, there were 13 that were already committed, and it was to the great accomplishments of Anthony Poindexter and Bob Price to keep these commitments alive and made sure those young men stayed committed to the University. We lost one, but I was able to add five additional players to this class to bring it to its current number.
Excited about the opportunity. Excited with the young men that are going to be members of this program. Had a chance to go see them and visit them, be in their homes, at their schools, had a chance to talk to them. They sound like they’re ready to go. So I’m excited about these guys. Ready to move forward.

Q. What is your impression of Kevin Parks and his mind-boggling numbers?

COACH LONDON: I think KP, as we call him, is a phenomenal talent. Better than that, he’s a great young man with a great family. Everyone looks at his on-the-field accomplishments, rushing yards, Parade Magazine All-American, National Player of the Year awards, MVPs, All-Star games. Even more than that, he’s a great young man, has an infectious smile. He’s going to be one of those guys that’s going to rally people around him because of his demeanor, and his ability. Read more

Live Blog | UVa. vs. N.C. State

 
Moderated by Chris Graham
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ACCVirginia.com will be live at tonight’s UVa.-North Carolina State ACC basketball game.

The game is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff. It is being broadcast on ESPNU.

Editor Chris Graham will be courtside at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville providing score updates and commentary and analysis on the action.

Rose Bowl or Bust!

 
Column by Jim Gordon
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Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, a young man who is a big sports enthusiast usually becomes an Ohio State football fan.

I was no different and since my dad was a graduate of the OSU Law School, he was able to get tickets to the Buckeye home games and once or twice a year, he took me to see them play before they started showing the games on TV on a regular basis. Back in the 50’s and 60’s, either Ohio State or Michigan went to the Rose Bowl almost every year, depending on who won the showdown in the final game of the regular season.

If the Bucks prevailed, everyone got together with their friends and watched the game on their 12″ black and while TV screens and my mom and I also enjoyed watching the Rose Bowl Parade, especially after more and more programs were shown in color and folks started buying color TVs in the 60’s. Read more

General Assembly Notebook

- ‘Triggerman rule’ repeal passes House
- McDonnell comments on conservation easement

Edited by Chris Graham
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Repeal of “triggerman rule” passes House: A capital-murder bill sponsored by Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-15th, passed the Virginia House of Delegates this afternoon by a vote of 74 to 24.

The repeal of the “triggerman rule” ensures that equally guilty co-defendants in a capital homicide will face the possibility of the ultimate punishment. It requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that accomplices in a capital murder share the premeditated intent of the actual perpetrator.

The existing rule has had a number of implications for Virginia case law in recent years, including a narrowly decided issue in the John Mohammed sniper case. But for the creative efforts of Prince William County prosecutors, who showed Mohammed was acting as a scout to his young cohort’s role as sniper, he never could have been deemed an “actual perpetrator” of the capital murders he ordered and oversaw. Read more

Moses headlines London’s first UVa. class

Four-star lineman had been considering UNC, Tennessee

Staff Report
UVa. sports: www.virginiasports.com

It wasn’t a stellar class, but the news that 6-6, 336-pound offensive lineman Morgan Moses had faxed his letter of intent in had to make Mike London’s first signing day as head coach at the University of Virginia.

Moses had committed to UVa. last fall when Al Groh was still the head man in Charlottesville, but had reportedly still been considering North Carolina and Tennessee, among others, after Groh was let go following a 3-9 season in 2009.

Even with Moses in the fold, the Virginia class was ranked in the middle of the pack in Division I-A, at 65th nationally in both the Rivals.com and Scout.com rankings, and 10th (Rivals) and 11th (Scout) in the 12-team ACC. Read more

New regs boost treatment of substance abuse

 
Staff Report
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New regulations requiring private group health insurance plans to offer benefits for treatment of substance abuse disorders that are comparable to benefits for other illnesses will help remove a barrier to treatment for millions of Americans, National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Gil Kerlikowske said today.

The rules, issued Jan. 29 by the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury, are expected to be finalized in the spring. They will take effect for plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2010. The rules prohibit group health insurance plans – typically offered by employers – from restricting access to care for mental health or substance use disorders by limiting benefits and requiring higher patient costs than those that apply to general medical or surgical benefits.  Read more

RMH, Blue Ridge AHEC to train ‘Promotores de Salud’ to prevent substance abuse

  
Staff Report
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RMH Community Health and Blue Ridge Area Health Education Center are partnering to offer substance abuse prevention training to Hispanic men and women to serve as resources to their communities as lay health promoters.

The training event will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 6 at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, 1552 S. High St., Harrisonburg. At the event, nearly 30 Hispanic men and women will receive training to serve as a resource in preventing drug and alcohol abuse, which often goes hand-in-hand with mental health concerns, according to Tonya Osinkosky, coordinator, RMH Community Health Education and Awareness. Read more

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