McDonnell touts $100M additional investment in education in new state budget

AFP

Surrounded by students, legislators, business leaders, and presidents of public and private colleges and universities statewide, Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced his proposed new higher education funding package which includes $100 million per year to prepare Virginians for top jobs, boost job-creating research and innovation, make college degrees more affordable for students, and advance toward…

Analyst: Cuccinelli lead in GOP race no surprise

Chris Graham

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli with a solid early lead in the polls looking at the 2013 Republican gubernatorial nomination race. The attorney general’s office “provides more of an outlet for somebody who wants to move up and provides a lot of opportunities to get in the news, the…

Joseph Meyer: Small-business owners and Main Street–don’t forget about us

AFP

With voting in the Republican primaries around the corner and with unemployment still high, it has become evident that 2012 will be a big year for small-business owners. Both as a voting block and as the economic engine of America, small businesses will have a lot to say and a lot of power in the…

Remarks by Obama, Al-Maliki at joint press conference

AFP

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Please have a seat.  Good afternoon, everyone. When I took office, nearly 150,000 American troops were deployed in Iraq, and I pledged to end this war, responsibly.  Today, only several thousand troops remain there, and more are coming home every day. This is a season of homecomings, and military families across America are…

Rockbridge YMCA, Maury River Senior Center to trade classes

AFP

Just in time for the New Year’s resolutions that we Baby Boomers will soon be making, the Rockbridge Area YMCA and Maury River Senior Center plan to offer classes at each other’s site. Designed for older adults, “Move It or Lose It” and “Breakfast for Your Brain” will focus on maintaining and improving muscles and…

AAA: Gas prices at 10-month low

Chris Graham

Gas prices remain stable two weeks ahead of the year-end holiday travel period, which is welcome news for cash-strapped motorists juggling holiday shopping and travel plans in the coming weeks. U.S. gasoline prices today are lower than they have been since day 10 of the Libyan civil war (Feb. 24, 2011). The national average for…

Hurt comments on House passage of farm-dust legislation

Chris Graham

Congressman Robert Hurt (R-VA) released the following statement after the House voted Thursday to approve the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (H.R. 1633), a bipartisan bill that he co-authored with Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD). H.R. 1633 was passed the House by a vote of 268-150 and will now be reported to the Senate: “I am…

McDonnell outlines roads plan

Chris Graham

Speaking to more than 700 hundred industry and transportation agency professionals during the 2011 Governor’s Transportation Conference in Norfolk, Gov. Bob McDonnell today outlined his transportation policy and funding plans for the upcoming 2012 General Assembly Session. The governor called for changes in laws governing the allocation of future surpluses to transportation, dedicating portions of…