Report shows benefits of the Affordable Care Act for Virginia

AFP

Today, the Obama administration issued a new report highlighting the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for the people of Virginia. Thanks to the healthcare law, the 88 percent of Virginians who have insurance have more choices and stronger coverage than ever before. And for the 12 percent of Virginians who don’t have insurance, or Virginia families and small businesses who buy their coverage but aren’t happy with it, a new day is just around the corner.

Information technology programs at National College receive an upgrade

AFP

Students in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley seeking a fast track to a career in information technology will have more options at National College in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg (www.national-college.edu) this fall, thanks to the introduction of new programs and a thorough re-design of existing program curricula. New programs include career training in network administration and software development & engineering.

Virginia set to become first state to pass statewide limitation on drone use

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell last night proposed limited amendments to legislation that called for a two-year moratorium on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, by law enforcement and regulatory agencies in the Commonwealth thereby assuring that Virginia will become the first state in the nation to enact a statewide restriction on the use of drones.

Exploring Virginia’s botanical history through the centuries

AFP

The story of Virginia’s Floras, both past and present, will be told in the Shenandoah Valley on Thursday, at 2 and 7 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) in Weyers Cave. Exploring Virginia’s Botanical History through Three Centuries, featuring Dick Cheatham as John Clayton and Donna Ware as herself, will be the topic of the 75-minute program. The word “flora” is the technical term used by botanists to describe a guide to plants living in a particular area. Thus a Virginia Flora is a guidebook to all the documented plants with sustainable wild populations in the commonwealth.

Matt Lohr

Matt Lohr: Technology on the farm now fits in the palm of your hand

AFP

In January 2011, I featured Social Media in this column. I reread it the other day and thought, “Wow, how things have changed in two years.” At that point in time I mentioned cell phones and laptops, and used the word “perhaps” in conjunction with smart phone and tablet use on the farm. For Social Media, I limited the discussion to Facebook, Twitter and blogs and only referred to “applications” once. I noticed that I wrote applications, not apps.