Lilly Ledbetter and Linda Hallman: The Wal-Mart decision

A sharply divided Supreme Court ignored more than 40 years of established jurisprudence in its Wal-Mart v. Dukes decision, which severely restricts the ability of employees to fight discrimination as a class-action group. In a deeply misguided opinion, the majority ruled that the women of Wal-Mart cannot band together nationwide and stand up as one…

Karen Jacob: Hard choices

Contributors

I’ve lived in the heartland for more than two decades. And I can tell you that there’s nothing like a sultry July night at the local ballpark, rooting for the home team, eating hot dogs and quaffing beer, watching fireworks viewed from damp, warm infield grass. This time of year, the Midwest is awash in…

Allen talks up new jobs ‘blueprint’

Lower taxes, drilling and a balanced budget amendment – to George Allen, it’s a blueprint for economic rebirth; to his critics, it’s the boilerplate that sank the American economy during his term in the United States Senate. “The strength, skills and optimism of America’s workforce is our competitive advantage. By shedding the burdensome taxes that…

McDonnell pushes immigration enforcement

Chris Graham

On May 12, 2011, after months of delay and inaction by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security, Gov. Bob McDonnell wrote Secretary Janet Napolitano requesting immediate approval of the Commonwealth’s application for the Virginia Department of State Police to be granted limited immigration enforcement authority under a 287(g) agreement,…

Kerry C. Kachejian: The dilemma over rebuilding the Middle East and North Africa

Contributors

The “Arab Spring” that is sweeping the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is still running its course. Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and Iran have all showed signs of revolution – whether peaceful or not. And how should the US respond? Clearly, each country is unique and America’s approach needs to…

Bin Laden dead

International terrorist Osama Bin Laden was killed in a U.S. military operation in Pakistan on Sunday. Four others were killed in the operation, including a woman used by Bin Laden as a human shield. No U.S. personnel were hurt in the operation. Bin Laden was the mastermind of the terrorist attacks on the United States…

Gas prices stabilizing

Chris Graham

Prices at the gas pump have seen some stability after a tumultuous past few weeks, though at levels that are still uncomfortable for most. The national average price of regular grade gasoline was $3.56 Friday, up two cents from a week ago, 37 cents higher than month ago prices and 75 cents higher than year…

Emergency food, shelter funds available

Contributors

Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro will be awarded federal funds under the Phase 29 Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program. The selection was made by the National Board and is chaired by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA,…