Obama administration proposes $30B small-business loan fund

Chris Graham

   Staff Report News tips: [email protected] The Obama administration on Tuesday released plans for a Small Business Lending Fund that will transfer $30 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to a new program supporting small-business lending. The Fund would divert resources from the big-bank TARP bailout to community banks that have as their core…

I can’t drive … 70?

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Proposal to increase speed limit passes General Assembly Staff Report News tips: [email protected] Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal to increase the speed limit in Virginia to 70 mph in rural and less populated areas was approved today by both chambers of the General Assembly. The measure received broad bipartisan support in both the House and Senate….

Poll: Dems damned if they do, damned if they don’t on health-care reform

Chris Graham

   Story by Chris Graham [email protected] A new Public Policy Polling survey seems to buttress the case that Democrats might be well-advised to go ahead and pass a health-care reform package – because the majority party seems destined to at least lose seats and possibly its upper hand in Congress whether they pass a reform…

EMU drops to #16 in D3 poll

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   Staff Report EMU sports: www.emu.edu A 1-2 week dropped Eastern Mennonite to #16 in this week’s D3hoops.com national poll. After a win over Southern Virginia coupled with a pair of ODAC losses in the past 10 days, the men dropped five spots in the most recent poll. The ODAC remains a strong presence on…

In honor of Lilly, take action now to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act

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   Column by Linda Meric Submit guest columns: [email protected] A year ago, dozens of women’s and civil-rights activists gathered at the White House to watch President Barack Obama sign his first piece of legislation into law: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. The signing was a triumphant moment – especially with its namesake, Lilly…

Seeking a truce in the war on words

Jim Bishop

  Column by Jim Bishop Submit guest columns: [email protected] Is conflict, often resulting from widely-divergent viewpoints in organizations, religious and secular, a bad thing? I think it largely depends on whether it’s avoided, allowed to fester or addressed head-on. For example, argumentation and adversarial roles seem to drive most talk radio/listener call-in and “talking heads”…

Deeds reports on General Assembly session

Chris Graham

   Column by Sen. Creigh Deeds www.creighdeeds.com The General Assembly session is now in full swing. The subcommittees and committees meet around-the-clock, and the halls are packed with lobbyists, legislators, and citizens interested in the process. More often than not, I have several meetings scheduled at the same time. This week has seen some interesting…

Liberty outmuscles Keydets

Chris Graham

  Staff Report VMI sports: www.vmikeydets.com The Liberty Flames used a 66-32 advantage in points in the paint and a 53-25 rebounding margin to prevail, 91-73, over the visiting VMI Keydets Thursday night in a Big South contest played at the Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va. Despite a 27-12 halftime rebounding edge, the homestanding Flames’…

Finish work on health-care reform

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   Column by Mary G. Wilsoin Submit guest columns: [email protected] We have a health-care crisis in America. Too many citizens lack adequate health-insurance coverage and rising costs threaten everyone. The failure of Congress to act on these issues over decades has simply compounded the problems and undermined faith in government. The League of Women Voters…

Hofstra knocks off JMU women

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JMU men upset W&M Staff Report JMU sports: www.jmusports.com Senior guard Sam Brigham (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) scored 19 points, including two layups at the end of regulation to tie the game, as Hofstra (11-9, 4-4) defeated James Madison (15-4, 5-3) 69-62 in overtime in Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball Thursday evening at the JMU Convocation Center….