Loan program to promote energy efficiency

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the recapitalization of the Commonwealth’s Energy Leasing Program, a loan program to finance energy efficiency projects in state agencies. The Commonwealth has secured $40 million in financing for the projects, including $10 million in capital from Grant Capital Management, a state-certified SWAM vendor. The loans are expected to be…

Shannon releases first TV ad

AFP

Steve Shannon’s campaign for attorney general released the first television ad of the 2009 attorney general’s race today. The ad, which is titled “Focused,” highlights Shannon’s experience as one of the founders of Virginia’s first Amber Alert program, a public safety initiative that uses media to help recover abducted children, as well as his record…

David Cox | The thesis

David Cox

Twenty years ago a Regent University student named Robert F. McDonnell wrote a thesis for his master’s degree. Unearthed by the Washington Post, it’s become fodder for the political campaign this same Mr. McDonnell, now universally known as “Bob,” is waging as a Republican for governor. His conclusions have drawn plenty of fire. In the…

House Dems to Speaker Howell: Get the fox away from the hen house

Chris Graham

As the House Appropriations Committee met Monday to discuss additional cuts to the state budget, embattled Del. Phil Hamilton continued to serve on a committee that oversees state spending while under the cloud of a federal investigation. House Democrats renewed their call, now echoed by statewide Republican candidate for attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, for Speaker…

EMU welcomes more freshmen

AFP

Fall semester 2009 enrollment numbers at Eastern Mennonite University reveal a strong upturn in first-year student numbers. EMU has 219 first-year students enrolled the fall semester compared to 185 last fall. Traditional full-time undergraduate enrollment – first-year through seniors – totals 847 students, compared to 831 last fall.

VCU enters into agreement with Verizon to rename basketball arena

AFP

To celebrate its tenth birthday, the building is getting a new name. Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics is pleased to announce they have entered into a partnership with Verizon Wireless to rename their ten-year-old basketball venue the Verizon Wireless Arena.  “We are thrilled to have Verizon Wireless join our corporate partnership family,” said Norwood Teague, VCU…

Keenan nominated to Fourth Circuit slot

AFP

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today applauded President Obama’s nomination of Virginia Supreme Court Justice Barbara Keenan to serve as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Recommended by Sens. Webb and Warner on June 2, 2009, Keenan would be the first female judge from Virginia to…

Lexington-Rockbridge Sept. calendar

Chris Graham

Below is an updated list of events taking place in Lexington and Rockbridge County in Sept.. Sept. 11-13 · Virginia Quarter Horse Association Breeder’s Futurity. Virginia Horse Center. 540-464-2950 Sept. 11 · Monthly Wines and Wags. Stroll the vineyard w/ your pet while enjoying wine. Lexington Valley Vineyard. 4-7pm. 540-462-2974 · VMI Full Dress Cadet…

Groh no go?

Chris Graham

Looks like we might be stuck with Al Groh for the duration. The chatter I’m hearing from sources around the UVa. athletics department is that it’s almost a 100 percent certainty that Groh will finish the 2009 season as the Virginia football coach.

Text, video of Obama’s Stay in School address

AFP

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. All right, everybody go ahead and have a seat. How is everybody doing today? (Applause.) How about Tim Spicer? (Applause.) I am here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, from kindergarten…