Belchem to establish new operation in Alleghany

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that Balchem Corporation (NASDAQ: BCPC) will make an initial investment of approximately $10 million to establish an operation in Alleghany County. The company will manufacture encapsulated ingredients for global applications in animal nutrition and health products, creating 55 new jobs over the next two to three years.

Shenandoah Valley Art Center: May 2012 calendar of events

Chris Graham

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of May, is exhibiting the works of artist, Chee Ricketts, a Hampton Roads resident who moved to the foothills of the Blue Ridge near Charlottesville in 2006. Her style is constantly evolving as she moves from tighter, more controlled representational work to paintings that reflect her feelings…

Brooks named state coach of the year

Chris Graham

James Madison women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks has been named the Coach of the Year by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID). Brooks guided the Dukes to a school-record 29 wins, a 29-8 record and a runner-up finish in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.  He earned the VaSID Coach of the Year award for…

Senate Dems reject latest budget proposal

AFP

State Senate Democrats voted Tuesday against the state budget conference report because they said it did not properly address funding for projects in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. “The issue here is the lack of transportation funding in two different regions of the state,” said State Sen. Janet Howell (D-Fairfax). “Rail to Dulles will be…

State approves construction of Bay wind turbine

AFP

Gov. McDonnell announced Tuesday that the Virginia Marine Resources Commission has voted unanimously to approve proposed construction of a 479-foot-tall, five-megawatt wind turbine generator prototype in the lower Chesapeake Bay, three miles off the Eastern Shore town of Cape Charles. The construction of the prototype turbine is scheduled to be completed in late 2013, which…

Senate Democrats claim victory in budget deliberations

AFP

Senate Democrats are claiming success in a budget vote by the Finance Committee that provides for more funding for public schools, families who have suffered during the foreclosure crisis, and Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens. “We made this budget a lot better in terms of health and human services and public education. It was a cooperative…

Norfolk State pulls historic upset of second-seeded Mizzou

AFP

What has already been a historic year for Norfolk State University athletics reached epic proportions Saturday. The Spartans notched just the fifth 15-over-2 seed upset in NCAA Tournament history, stunning national No. 3 ranked Missouri 86-84 before a crowd of 16,829 at the CenturyLink Center Omaha. Eleven years to the day after MEAC rival Hampton…