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Gov. Bob McDonnell has invited 57 school divisions that may have difficulty attracting, retaining and rewarding experienced, fully licensed teachers to participate in his Virginia Performance-Pay Incentives initiative for hard-to-staff schools. The initiative — which was approved by the 2011 General Assembly — is a centerpiece of McDonnell’s “Opportunity to Learn” education-reform agenda. It provides…
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Isabel Castillo, a 2007 Eastern Mennonite University graduate, has become a nationally recognized spokesperson for the plight of undocumented young people in the United States. Castillo was featured in a Feb. 20, 2011, New York Times article, “Dream Act Advocate Turns Failure into Hope.” This publicity led Jesuit-run University of San Francisco to invite her…
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Dear EarthTalk: Were Japan to close all its nuclear plants following the recent damage and radiation leaks from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, what could its energy mix look like? Would it be able to provide all of its power in other ways? – Richard Miller, New York Most experts agree that Japan would…
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It is always winter in Richmond when the General Assembly meets. That’s the problem. It’s not autumn in New York. This past winter was again the season of political discontent. In the imperial city along the James hot air from the 140 delegates and senators go up against all that cold stuff down from God….
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I do not wish to be the Grinch who stole Christmas. However, someone stole part of my Thanksgiving. It was bumped almost into October to make room for another holiday. I am sure that there is a good reason why Washington & Lee University decided to make the switch. In the meantime, let us take…
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Walk past the statute of Winston Churchill on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington as he straddles American and British soil. Then take a left face off the avenue and into the compound. There at the back of the British Embassy, well hidden among the lovely high shrubs, are two superb tennis courts. Two more where my…
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Virginia is taking the lead to getting states in the Interstate 81 corridor to think long term. “The hope there is that we can start to pull together a consensus,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton, who convened a meeting of transporation leaders from Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania on Wednesday in Salem. Virginia…
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Disasters from climate change are becoming more frequent and more severe – consider this year alone, with the devastating flooding in Pakistan, the Russian heat wave, an incredible ice chunk calving off of Greenland – and New York’s hottest summer on record. Governments are becoming exhausted dealing with these impacts and realizing that adapting to…
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Thank you for your taking the time to read my letter. I know that you are very busy these days, what with the endless campaign being squeezed between party fundraisers. Air Force One is sure racking up the miles. And before you know it, November 6, 2012 will be here. However, I am not writing…
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American taxpayers bailed out the banks. They bailed out auto manufacturers. But at least they were our banks and automakers. Now, taxpayers are once again being asked to lend a hand. This time it’s to subsidize multi-billion-dollar foreign companies with names like Toshiba, Hitachi and Areva. If the going gets rough for them, taxpayers will…
