mark warner

Roundtable allows farmers to weigh in on immigration reform

AFP

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., said the so-called Gang of Eight’s current immigration bill “is the best chance in 35 years to fix a broken immigration system.” Warner announced that to a room full of farmers and agribusiness professionals during a May 3 round-table discussion about immigration reform at Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s headquarters.

Historic Designation Project Moves Forward in Bath

AFP

Eleven large baskets have been placed in the Hot Springs BB&T Bank for a silent auction. These theme baskets are named the “Fountain of Youth” basket, “Let’s Go Gardening”, “Start Your Engines”, “Breakfast in Bed”, “Tea Time,” “Playing a Round,” “Baby Comfort Station,” “Day Spa,” “Love My Pets,” “Day at the Beach” and “Picnic Time.”

tim kaine

Tim Kaine: Stakes are ‘enormously high’ for Air Force to address sexual assault

AFP

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, pressed top United States Air Force officials in a hearing today on the issue of sexual assault in the military including the arrest of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, chief of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response branch, on charges of sexual battery in Arlington, Virginia. In his questioning, Kaine expressed his concern over the signal these news accounts send to current and future servicemembers, noting his recent visit with female cadets at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton.

Farm Bureau supports immigration reform bill’s guestworker program

AFP

It has a long way to go before becoming law, but the introduction of a bipartisan immigration reform bill is significant for U.S. agriculture. A group of senators has unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes provisions for a new agricultural guestworker program. American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman said that’s extremely important for the future of agriculture.

aaa

AAA: What is your breaking point on gas prices?

Chris Graham

Half of U.S. adults consider gas prices to be “too high” when it reaches $3.44 per gallon, indicating a potential breaking point on gas prices, according to a new consumer price index developed by AAA. Roughly two-thirds of Americans (62 percent) are offsetting high gas prices by changing their driving habits or lifestyle.

Broad bipartisan support for McDonnell budget, legislative amendments

AFP

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.