
Local/State

Smith House Galleries invites artist proposals for 2022 exhibitions
Arts Council of the Valley announces a Call for Artists to exhibit during 2022 at Smith House Galleries, 311 S. Main St., Harrisonburg.

Staunton District Traffic Alert: Work schedule for week of April 12-16
The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton District during the coming weeks.

Climate Action Alliance of the Valley climate, energy news roundup: Week of April 11
The White House infrastructure package contains a number of environmental agenda items high on progressive wish lists; some fear they could be sacrificed to ensure passage in the 50-50 Senate.

AAA: Two-thirds of Americans ‘ready’ to travel
A record high 69.3 percent of travelers, since the pandemic began, say they are “ready” to travel, a sign of increased travel optimism as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out across the country.

Harrisonburg opens Summer Job Chat for prospective seasonal city employees
With 2021 underway and summer on the horizon, Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation is accepting applications for seasonal, part-time employees to join the team in multiple divisions.

Bridgewater College’s Mahan Ellison receives Fulbright Scholar Award
Dr. Mahan Ellison, an associate professor of world languages and cultures at Bridgewater College, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Senior Scholar teaching and research award in Morocco and Spain.

JMU history professor receives prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship
Michael Gubser, a professor of history at James Madison University, was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for 2021 for his book project, “Leaving the Past Behind: History and Ahistoricism in International Development.”

Law enforcement partnerships make significant impact on MS-13 gang murder investigation
On March 6, 2016, officers from the Richmond Police Department responded to a call for service within the 1400 block of Armfield Road.

Soles4Souls shoe drive nets more than 1,100 pairs of shoes
On a recent Friday morning, the curved pathway leading to the Graduate Life Center’s entrance across from Squires Student Center on the campus at Virginia Tech was lined with bags brimming with shoes.

Augusta County: Portions of Route 865 closed April 12–13 for pipe replacement
Part of Route 865 (Rockfish Road) in Augusta County will be closed to through traffic Monday and Tuesday for a pipe replacement.

Culpeper District Traffic Alerts: Schedule for week of April 12-16
The following highway work is scheduled, weather permitting, in the Culpeper District during the upcoming week.

No recycling collection in Staunton next week
Recycling will not be collected by City of Staunton public works crews the week of April 12-16 due to the annual heavy trash collection.

Nominate a working canine for AFBF Farm Dog of the Year
The support farmers receive from their canine companions is priceless, and American Farm Bureau Federation is once again recognizing the contributions of America’s finest farm dogs.

Crazy for kibble: Farmers benefit from a robust pet food industry
Sixty-seven percent of U.S. households own at least one pet, contributing to a lot of food bowls to fill. And with owners spending more than $30 billion each year feeding their four-legged friends, the pet food industry must keep up.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month puts focus on road safety
Whether it’s answering a phone call, interacting with passengers or finishing breakfast in the car, distractions are a daily occurrence for most drivers.

Earth Talk: What is climate feminism?
Climate change impacts the everyday lives of all citizens around the globe, but certain communities are disproportionately affected. Women, in particular, shoulder a disproportionate burden.

Update: Augusta County Sheriff’s Office locates missing teen
Madison Catherine Colvin has been located, according to a report from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.

Augusta Health marks COVID-19 community vaccination milestones
Friday marks the full COVID-19 vaccination of 25,000 community members through Augusta Health Vaccination Clinics.

Waynesboro prepares to begin next phase of South River Greenway expansion this summer
The River City’s dream of a 6.5-mile round-trip trail for bicycling and walking is about to begin the next phase in early summer.

Award-winning JMU geographic science program earns NSF support for lightning study
A group of JMU researchers from the geographic science program are getting ready to begin a two-year lightning study supported by nearly $450,000 from the National Science Foundation.

STS Group AG to establish first U.S. location in Wythe County, creating 120 new jobs
STS Group AG will invest $39 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Wythe County’s Progress Park.

SES to invest $17M to consolidate satellite and network operations in Prince William County
SES, a Luxembourg-based telecommunications company, will invest $17 million to merge its satellite and network operations at a new facility in Prince William County.

Charlottesville teen named NCO of the Month at Fishburne Military School
Ryan Manning has been named Fishburne Military School’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Month for March.

Weekend city event lures community to Downtown Staunton for a second year
As warm weather returns and spring flowers pop up, the Queen City’s Dine Out Downtown for 2021 began April 2. But this year, the Friday-Sunday event will also encourage local shopping.

Interstate 81 improvements begin at exits in Shenandoah County, Frederick County
Construction is under way for ramp improvements at three interchanges along Interstate 81 in Shenandoah County and Frederick County.

Central Shenandoah Health District moves to Phase 2 on COVID-19 vaccinations
The Central Shenandoah Health District has expanded COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

JMU physicist, students had role in groundbreaking discovery at Fermilab
JMU physicist Kevin Giovanetti and students he has mentored were among the contributors to the experiment that led to Wednesday’s announcement of a groundbreaking particle physics discovery at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.