Ken Plum: Paving the way

Ken Plum

The Reconvened Session of the General Assembly that met last week concluded work for this year on the most significant funding program for transportation infrastructure approved by the legislature since the historic special session in 1986.The bill that had previously passed the legislature in the 2013 Regular Session was sent to the Governor for his approval and signature. He proposed a series of amendments that were voted on last Wednesday and approved by the House and the Senate.The Governor will now sign the bill into law.

Harrisonburg Startup Weekend to be held this weekend

Contributors

The Harrisonburg Startup Weekend is scheduled to open this Friday evening at Showker Hall on the JMU campus. This event is being organized by a coalition of local organizations interested in fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in the Harrisonburg region. The event runs from Friday evening to Sunday evening when a panel of judges will select one team as the winner for their idea, presentation and feasibility.

Broad bipartisan support for McDonnell budget, legislative amendments

Contributors

As the 2013 General Assembly session draws to a close, the overwhelming majority of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2013 legislative agenda passed with strong bipartisan support, leading to the passage of the first sustainable and long-term transportation funding and reform package in 27 years, and sweeping K-12 education reforms. The House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia approved 88 percent of the amended bills the governor sent down.

Bob McDonnell: Wide support for amendments to transportation bill

Chris Graham

Throughout the 2013 General Assembly Session, nearly 60 transportation and business groups representing a diverse cross section of industries and associations in all parts of the Commonwealth endorsed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s Virginia’s Road to the Future transportation funding and reform plan. The organizations listed below have now endorsed the governor’s amendments to make the legislation easier to implement and to address legal concerns about the bill and are urging the General Assembly to move the amended legislation forward.

McDonnell updates state’s response to winter storm

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell today updated the Commonwealth’s response to the recent winter storm that struck Virginia, and the impact the storm had on the state. The storm claimed three lives, two due to automobile accidents and one due to a falling tree. At its peak the storm cut electrical service to approximately 370,000 customers, but electric crews continue to make fast progress in restoration efforts with outages now down to less than 100,000 connections. Dominion Virginia Power estimates that 95 percent of its remaining outages will be restored by Friday evening at the latest.