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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Wilson Library adds to Board of Trustees

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation on Tuesday announced that six members have joined its Board of Trustees: Mary Lynn Bayliss of Manakin-Sabot, Virginia; Katherine Grayson Wilkins of Washington, D.C.; R. Steven Nichols of Staunton; Hampden H. Smith III of Lexington; Rita M. Smith of Richmond;...

DCCU announces addition to management team

DuPont Community Credit Union recently announced that Marie Biser has joined the management team of the credit union. “DuPont Community Credit Union is pleased to have Marie Biser join our management team,” said Steve Elkins, DCCU’s senior vice president of finance and retail. “We...

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...