Harrisonburg Bar Association honored for pro bono referral program

Contributors

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association was honored by the Board of Directors of the national Legal Services Corporation at a reception in Richmond Va. on April 14, in conjunction with the LSC Board of Directors’ quarterly meeting. The bar was recognized for its long-standing pro bono referral program, operated in collaboration with Blue Ridge Legal Services,…

Payday-loan decision involved Valley case

The Virginia Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision issued on April 21, ruled that the widespread practice of payday lenders in Virginia of having a borrower repay a loan and immediately take out a new loan for the same amount, commonplace prior to 2009 statutory amendments, violated Virginia law prohibiting payday lenders from refinancing, renewing,…

Valley conservation leaders encouraged, cautioned

Chris Graham

Funding challenges, the far-reaching impact of the Chesapeake Bay Act, and the rapidly rising importance of urban conservation took center stage at the Spring Meeting of the six Soil and Water Conservation Districts serving the 13 counties of the Shenandoah Valley and adjacent highlands. Addressing the 60+ attendees, State Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, noted…

Supreme Court refuses to expedite health-care reform review

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied the request of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to expedite the appellate review of the state’s constitutional challenge of the 2010 federal health-care reform law. The move had not been unexpected – as the Supreme Court rarely bypasses appellate courts in reviews of constitutional questions. Cuccinelli had asked for…

JMU pitchers dominate Maryland

Contributors

Nine James Madison pitchers tossed one inning apiece to combine on a four-hitter in a 6-1 victory over Maryland in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday evening at Shipley Field. JMU improved to 26-12 overall with its fourth win in five games and defeated Maryland for the second time in seven days after a 12-8 win…

#1 UVa. rolls to 12-0 win at Radford

Chris Graham

The top-ranked Virginia baseball team scored eight runs in the first two innings and never looked back in coasting to a 12-0 victory over Radford Tuesday evening at RU Baseball Stadium in Radford, Va. With the shutout win the Cavaliers broke the ACC single-season record for shutouts with their 12th shutout of the year; the…

McDonnell launches teacher performance-pay initiative

Chris Graham

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…

#1 UVa. sweeps Duke

Chris Graham

The No. 1-ranked Virginia baseball team swept a doubleheader with Duke Sunday at Davenport Field, winning a 3-2, 11-inning nailbiter in the opener before rolling to an 18-4 victory in the nightcap. In earning its sixth straight ACC series win and fourth conference weekend sweep, Virginia improved to 36-3 overall and 16-2 in the ACC,…

UR splits pair with Dayton

Contributors

Mike Mergenthaler had three hits and drove in three runs, while Matt Trent fired the final 4.2 innings of stellar relief as Richmond won a see-saw battle at Dayton, 8-6, in the nightcap of a doubleheader Sunday. The Flyers won Sunday’s first game 15-5. With the Sunday split, the Spiders moved to 19-15-2 overall and…