Friday, Feb. 20-Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009

Chris Graham

– Economy: Gas prices trending back downward, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: Nevada knocks off VCU in BracketBusters, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: JMU baseball drops pair in Myrtle Beach, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: JMU softball improves to 9-1, Sunday, 12:40 p.m. – Sports: W&L falls to EMU in men’s basketball, Sunday, 12:40 p.m….

Tom Perriello | Fifth District Report

AFP

I am proud to announce that this week the first piece of legislation I co-authored as a congressman became law. The American Opportunity Tax Credit provides $2,500 a year for the cost of tuition and related expenses (including textbooks for the first time) to individuals making less than $80,000 per year. Up to $1,000 of…

AFP Politics Blog – Monday, Feb. 9, 2009

Chris Graham

– News: Voter-restoration bill passes Virginia Senate, Monday, 7:40 p.m. – News: Shannon earns AG endorsements, Monday, 7:22 p.m. – News: House GOP talks up transportation-funding plan, Monday, 7:22 p.m. – News: Moran picks up endorsement of former Democratic Governors’ Association director, Monday, 2:45 p.m. – News: Poll suggests support for stimulus, Monday, 2:45 p.m….

The AFP Blog – Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009

Chris Graham

– Stuarts Draft man charged with murder for hire, Thursday, 6 p.m. – Miss America 2008 to speak at JMU on eating disorders, Thursday, 5:50 p.m. – Family Foundation praises passage of marriage curriculum bill, Thursday, 5:50 p.m. – White House announces formation of faith-based partnerships office, Thursday, 5:50 p.m. – Wagner picks up several…

The AFP Blog – Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009

Chris Graham

– Perriello criticizes tobacco tax in SCHIP bill, Wednesday, 1:40 p.m. – Conservation easements top 100,000 acres in Valley, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – Treasury announces new restrictions on executive compensation, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – House GOP pushing mental-health reforms, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – House bill allowing government-sanctioned sectarian prayers at government meetings unconstitutional, ACLU says,…

What does the Invista news mean to Waynesboro?

Chris Graham

In short, everything. Invista, and its predecessor, DuPont, is the last significant vestige of the city’s once-glittering manufacturing economy. According to figures from the Virginia Employment Commission, Waynesboro began 2008 with around 2,100 manufacturing jobs, with roughly 1,100 of those being at the Invista plant, either directly employed by Invista or by a contractor providing…

The Valley Blue Dog: Notes from the dirty campaign trail

Steven Sisson

Column by Steven Sisson Our presidential campaign has sunk lower than the Wall Street stock index. Down, down, down … Republican operatives have historically gone negative in losing campaigns to drive down voter participation and denigrate their Democratic opposition. Guess what? Dinosaur-like GOP president nominee John McCain is losing to a first-term senator. The Blue…

The Valley Blue Dog: Do as I say, not as I do?

Steven Sisson

Column by Steven Sisson It’s becoming clear as mud after last night’s debate that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is worst running mate since Thomas Eagleton in 1972. McCain’s political strategy ensuring women will vote for the Republican ticket because Palin’s sexuality is condescending to say the least. To quote Charlie Chan, the “mud of bewilderment…

David Reynolds: Strong Mayors=Strong Cities

David Reynolds

Column by David Reynolds Last night, if you were able break away from the distant static of the presidential campaign, there was an opportunity to participate in another campaign, this one up close and civil. There was a forum held in Lexington to have the candidates for mayor and city council (all elected at large)…