Building blocks

Chris Graham

There was no way, I told people, often, that Sam Rasoul doesn’t get at least 40 percent in his Sixth District race with Bob Goodlatte. The kid plain outworked Goodlatte from start to finish, and then, hey, wasn’t Goodlatte running commercials at the end, and telling audiences what he would do “if” he was re-elected…

Valley: VDOT road-work schedule for Nov. 10-14

Chris Graham

The following is a list of highway work projects that might affect traffic in the Staunton Transportation District during the coming weeks. Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Also, when traveling through a work zone, be alert…

Arts Council announces Creative Inspiration grants

Chris Graham

The Arts Council of the Valley has awarded $12,000 in Creative Inspiration grants to local artists and arts organizations – and it wasn’t easy. “We had an extremely competitive process this cycle. The review panel had a difficult time allocating limited funding amongst many quality grants,” executive director Kai Degner said. “We were excited to…

White House: Obama will turn Virginia blue

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] He started his general-election campaign here in June after sewing up the Democratic Party nomination, and he’s going to end it here late Monday night. Still want to quibble over how seriously Barack Obama is taking Virginia? “What better way is there to showcase the importance of this state as…

U.S. Senate: The radical centrist will shake things up in D.C.

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] I was working for an ultraconservative newspaper based in Charlottesville – not exactly the best place for somebody who would later become the chair of a Democratic Party committee to be, but it paid the bills. It also gave me a different perspective on Mark Warner, at first a skeptical…

Sixth District: It’s time for new blood in Congress

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Sam Rasoul forced the Sixth District Democratic Party to live up to its name. It had been 10 years since the party had even tried to challenge Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte in the Sixth, after his 40-point win over then-Roanoke mayor David Bowers in a race that had seemed at…