Robin Guenther: The Toxic Chemical Industry Fights for Outdated, Unhealthy Materials in ‘Green Buildings

AFP

The war over toxic chemicals and human health is spilling over into places we live and work: our buildings. The American Chemical Council has launched an expensive and focused attack on the U.S. Green Building Council to protect the status quo of a small set of bad-actor manufacturers of toxic and obsolete chemicals. But innovative companies across the building industries and human health advocates are fighting back.

ACLU praises school system in free speech cases

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The ACLU of Virginia on Monday sent a letter to the Fairfax County School Board thanking the Board and Superintendent for upholding free speech in two recent incidents: a parent’s attempt to have a book removed from the curriculum, and a request that a community group be denied permission to use school property for a controversial meeting. The school division denied the requests in both instances.

river city radio hour

February Radio Hour Features Samuel Johnson and Friends

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The River City Radio Hour moves into new territory in February. Samuel Johnson returns, Cathy LaFon joins the Boogie Kings, Manfred Martin shares his Vegas connections, Angel Love considers her options and Marsha Howard deals some new jokes. All of them will be at the Friday, February 15th Radio Hour for the two performances at 6:30 and 8 pm at WTA’s Gateway, 329 West Main in downtown Waynesboro. It is a Radio Hour not to be missed.

vmi

Okoye’s 34 not enough as VMI falls to UNC Asheville

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Stan Okoye had 34 points and 16 rebounds, but the UNC Asheville Bulldogs held the rest of the VMI Keydets to just 45 points and used a 22-4 second half run to pull away for a 90-79 win in Big South basketball action Friday night at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Va. The game was played in front of the seventh-largest crowd in Cameron Hall history, 4,117 spectators, and was also shown on ESPNU national television, the first ESPN televised game at Cameron Hall since 1997.

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation finds new home

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After 13 years of protecting and interpreting Civil War battlefields in the eight-county Shenandoah Valley National Historic District, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has a new home. The Battlefields Foundation has purchased the historic Lee-Jackson Building at the intersection of Congress Street and Old Cross Road in New Market, the original portion of which was constructed around 1808 for John Strayer’s home and mercantile business.

Susan Shaer: End the violence on V-Day

AFP

Valentine’s Day was taken over long ago by cards and flowers, candy and dinners accompanied by gifts. It is now a cash cow holiday for merchandisers. In addition, for many, it has become a day to honor women and girls in a fresh way. V-Day, introduced to the world by Eve Ensler in 1998, demands an end to violence against women and girls.