Unemployment rate up, but so is the local labor force

Contributors

Waynesboro’s unemployment rate shot past the 9 percent barrier in January, and unemployment across the Greater Augusta region was up significantly across the board, according to data released by the Virginia Employment Commission on Friday. But continue reading below the fold here, because I think I might have noticed something unusual, to say the least,…

Moving forward

Contributors

No one seems willing to step forward to do something. That, Waynesboro Economic Development Authority chairman Carl Rosberg told the River City 2020 Forum Thursday, is a big thing holding Waynesboro back economically. Local developer Bill Hausrath called a group of property owners in and around Downtown Waynesboro together last year to try to get…

The AFP Blog – Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009

Chris Graham

– Perriello criticizes tobacco tax in SCHIP bill, Wednesday, 1:40 p.m. – Conservation easements top 100,000 acres in Valley, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – Treasury announces new restrictions on executive compensation, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – House GOP pushing mental-health reforms, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – House bill allowing government-sanctioned sectarian prayers at government meetings unconstitutional, ACLU says,…

High School Football: Turnovers, sloppy play plague WHS

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Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Schuyler Wilkerson scored four touchdowns, three in the first half, and Waynesboro could never get things going on offense in a 39-6 Western Albemarle romp Friday night. The Little Giants (0-2) committed three first-quarter turnovers that led to Warriors touchdowns. Chet Berry’s first pass of the game was intercepted at…

Economic immunity: Are the Valley and Central Virginia recession-proof?

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Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The Shenandoah Valley is recession-proof. Charlottesville is recession-proof. I’ve heard people say this for years. As the argument goes, the local economies have two big things going for them – major universities and agriculture. Kids still go to school in recessions. And kids and everybody else still eat in recessions….

The legislative district that ties UVa., Virginia Tech, as a reason for nonpartisan redistricting

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Creigh Deeds lives 85 miles from Charlottesville. That’s how far I am from Richmond, give or take a mile or two. Can you imagine a legislative district that would somehow link Waynesboro and Richmond? Yeah. Not much of a community of interest there. Right? But Deeds represents Charlottesville in the…

Our sixth week

Chris Graham

Column by Steve Landes We have now passed the midway point of the 2008 General Assembly session, commonly referred to as “crossover.” The House passed 616 of the 1,576 bills filed by delegates and the Senate approved 433 of the 795 bills filed by senators. Now, the House will spend the bulk of its time…

Budget numbers worsen

Chris Graham

General Assembly Report by Rob Bell One of the General Assembly’s biggest jobs in 2008 is to craft the two-year budget that will begin on July 1. This year, the economic slowdown – especially in the housing industry – has meant that revenue is $1.4 billion below projections. Although the overall budget is increasing slightly,…

Another way to coach football

Contributors

Column by Chris Graham Coaches in American football aren’t so much coaches as they are field generals – who devise twin attacks, one by ground, another by air, with the basic intent of penetrating an opponent’s defenses and otherwise neutralizing their offensive capabilities to the point of being able to achieve ultimate victory. And as…