Breaking down the race for the 20th GOP nomination

Chris Graham

The 20th District Republican Party nomination is Dickie Bell’s to lose, just as it appeared this time last week in the hours after Chris Saxman’s stunning announcement that he was dropping out of the race. Bell is an ideal candidate in more ways than one. The 62-year-old moderate is in his fourth term on Staunton…

Erik Curren | Religion and politics in the 20th District race

Chris Graham

“Almighty God hath created the mind free.” So Thomas Jefferson opened his Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. In that founding document of our Commonwealth, Jefferson went on to decry fallible religious or political leaders who would try to influence freedom of conscience through social or political pressure, begetting “habits of hypocrisy and meanness.”

Fellow Democrat raises issue with Curren’s faith

Chris Graham

“Do Augusta County Democrats have a death wish?” That was what greeted me to the desk this morning, an e-mail note from a friend and Democratic Party strategist with a link to a story in today’s News Leader discussing 20th District House candidate Erik Curren’s religious beliefs and criticisms from fellow Democrat Tracy Pyles to…

Jay Speer | “Let them eat cake”

AFP

This is what is seems some legislators have been telling victims of predatory lending for years. Or put another way, if we take away payday and car title loans at 350 percent interest, where else will these people turn for help? Should we just “Let them eat cake”? Or are there other solutions?

Updates from The Hill

Chris Graham

Friday, July 24 – Senate bill includes proposal to add National D-Day Memorial to Park Service Thursday, July 23 – Perriello backs Pay-As-You-Go bill Wednesday, July 22 – Webb to chair hearing of Foreign Relations Committee Thursday Tuesday, July 21 – Perriello introduces rural-ed advisory initiative Monday, July 20 – Warner urges confirmation of Sotomayor…

Newsworthy

Chris Graham

Friday, July 24 – Bills in Congress could impact voter disenfranchisement in Virginia Thursday, July 23 – State health department reports swine-flu death Wednesday, July 22 – Kaine statement on recovery of Cho records – Kaine calls special legislative session to deal with fallout from Melendez-Diaz decision Tuesday, July 21 – Kaine announces formation of…

In the News

Chris Graham

Friday, July 24 – JMU business students tke first in Marketing Challenge Thursday, July 23 – Staunton City Council work session, meeting agendas Wednesday, July 22 – Man arrested in La. on Staunton sodomy charges – Waynesboro City Council work session agenda – Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting agenda Tuesday, July 21 – Long-time…

Jim Bishop | It’s a small world in the huge state of Alaska

Jim Bishop

It was one more close encounter of the best kind that quickly became commonplace for four pilgrims from Virginia turned loose amid the sweeping grandeur of Alaska. Wife Anna and I and friends Glenn and Kathy Zendt from Staunton were about four days into our great Alaska adventure. I was about to take my assigned…

Earth Talk | Population and warming

Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: To what extent does human population growth impact global warming, and what can be done about it? – Larry LeDoux, Honolulu, Hawaii No doubt human population growth is a major contributor to global warming, given that humans use fossil fuels to power their increasingly mechanized lifestyles. More people means more demand for oil,…