Liz Riggin | Health care should not be a luxury

Chris Graham

The current health-care system is not meeting the needs of most Americans. Individuals and families are faced with overwhelming financial burdens when treating both “typical” medical needs and unexpected medical traumas. Due to the high cost of health care, many Americans are not seeking treatment. Delayed treatment usually leads to further health complications and requires…

McAuliffe unveils part one of Business Plan

Chris Graham

I like people who think in terms of business plans. So I’m beginning to like Terry McAuliffe. “I’m taking the same approach to figuring out how to get our economy going again that I’ve taken with businesses I’ve started or turned around. I’m starting with a Business Plan for Virginia,” said McAuliffe, a candidate for…

Cranwell to seek a second term as state Democratic Party chair

Chris Graham

Democratic Party of Virginia chairman Richard Cranwell plans to run for re-election to the party post this summer. “I made this decision because we are at a critical time in Virginia’s history,” Cranwell wrote in a letter Wednesday to the DPVA’s State Central Committee. “My decision is a reflection of stability within the party and…

McAuliffe, Moran neck and neck in new poll

Chris Graham

Terry McAuliffe has a slight lead in a new poll measuring support in the race for the 2009 Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination, but Brian Moran is within the statistical margin of error, and Creigh Deeds is not that far behind. The poll conducted by Public Policy Polling over the weekend has McAuliffe, a former Democratic…

A chance for us Dems to gain traction

Chris Graham

The fight over the reassessments in Augusta County that I and many others here locally think are out of whack with economic reality isn’t about partisan politics. That’s what we keep hearing, anyway. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, if you ask me. Because the reason this isn’t about partisan politics is that we Democrats aren’t doing…

Rich Cranwell | Goodlatte puts politics above people

Chris Graham

I am disappointed that Rep. Bob Goodlatte and the other Republican members of the Virginia congressional delegation chose to boycott the congressional delegation meeting with Gov. Tim Kaine Feb. 9. This annual meeting is held to give our congressional representatives an opportunity to work with state government officials to better serve all of us, and…

Friday, Feb. 20-Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

Chris Graham

– Economy: Gas prices trending back downward, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: Nevada knocks off VCU in BracketBusters, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: JMU baseball drops pair in Myrtle Beach, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: JMU softball improves to 9-1, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: W&L falls to EMU in men’s basketball, Sunday, 12:40 p.m….