Building a new industrial sector in Waynesboro

Chris Graham

Special Report by Chris Graham [email protected]   Waynesboro was once the envy of Western Virginia for its manufacturing economy. As recently as 1990, almost half of the city’s workforce was employed in manufacturing, whose rate of pay has traditionally been at least 40 percent and some years approaching 50 percent higher than the median income…

McDonnell: We’re reopening the rest stops

Chris Graham

   Staff Report News tips: [email protected] Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that all of Virginia’s 19 shuttered rest stops and welcome centers will begin reopening starting in mid-February. All facilities will be reopened by April 15th. In a vote this afternoon, the Commonwealth Transportation Board reversed its previous decision from June of last year…

VDOT sends out layoff notices

Chris Graham

678 jettisoned as department addresses $4.6B shortfall Staff Report News tips: [email protected] The Virginia Department of Transportation today began issuing 678 layoff notifications in its final round of position eliminations. The staffing reductions are a portion of a three-part plan, called the Blueprint for the Future, addressing a six-year $4.6 billion transportation revenue shortfall and…

Snow, ice possible overnight, Thursday morning

Contributors

National Weather Service: 1-3 inches of snow and ice forecast Staff Report News Tips: [email protected] The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the Greater Augusta area that will be in effect from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet are possible from…

Virginia Beach weekend proves Advent-tageous

Jim Bishop

  Column by Jim Bishop Columns, letters: [email protected] I thought several times, including aloud more than once, “What are we doing in Virginia Beach the last weekend in November?” Each answer was a variation on the same theme: “We’re having a ball. Why didn’t we do this sooner? What an incredible way to celebrate Thanksgiving…

Bridge repairs on VDOT project list

Chris Graham

At its October meeting, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded regional bridge contracts which include repairs to 21 bridge structures in the Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District. The award is part of the commonwealth’s continued efforts to invest nearly $695 million in highway funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The repairs in the…