McDonnell touts transportation plan

Chris Graham

An analysis of 10 highway projects funded by Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2011 $4 billion transportation program shows they will provide nearly 3,700 direct jobs during their construction, $190.8 million in personal income, $14.8 million in state and local tax revenues and other benefits to Virginia. “The Virginia Department of Transportation advertised more than $2 billion…

House Dems step up rhetoric on education funding

Chris Graham

Members of the House Democratic Caucus are vowing to protect school funding in the budget prior to next month’s vote. Education remains a point of contention in Gov. McDonnell’s 2012 biennium, with the overwhelming majority of new money going into Virginia’s retirement system instead of into the classroom. Del. Ken Plum (D-Fairfax) spoke on Monday…

UVa. announces football signing class

Chris Graham

The Virginia football program signed 25 student-athletes to a National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 academic school year head coach Mike London announced.  One additional recruit enrolled at UVa in January, topping the class off at 26. Highlighting the nationally ranked class are 13 signees from the state of Virginia, including 10 signees from…

EMU men nip Randolph, 74-71

AFP

In ironic fashion, free throws made the difference for the Royals.  After 39 minutes loaded with unbalanced free throw attempts, Eastern Mennonite sealed a 74-71 win over Randolph College by going 8-for-8 from the line over the final 37 seconds. The Runnin Royals had worked out to a 54-43 lead with 10:34 play, but visiting…

‘Amazon loophole’ bill would level the playing field for retailers, advocates say

AFP

State Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) is the chief patron of legislation submitted today to fix the Amazon loophole in the state sales tax collection system.  The legislation, Senate Bill 597, is needed to clarify that retail companies in Virginia that have a physical presence in the state, such as a warehouse and distribution center,…

EMU dominates Bridgewater, 80-49

AFP

The first half wasn’t so pretty, but the second half was something to write home about, as Eastern Mennonite used a 53-18 second stanza to roll to an 80-49 victory at rival Bridgewater Wednesday night. Neither team played well to start the game, as there were nearly more fouls than points over the first few…

McDonnell announces $1.2 million in Farmland Preservation Grants

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Tuesday the distribution of $1.2 million in farmland preservation grants from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to 13 Virginia localities. This is a significant increase from the $100,000 available last fiscal year for state matching funds.  Localities must use the grant monies to preserve farmland within their…

Humane Society urges exotic-pet ban after Hampton man bitten by pet cobra

AFP

In light of recent news of a Hampton man who was hospitalized after being bitten by his pet cobra, The Humane Society of the United States is once again urging Gov. Bob McDonnell and Virginia legislators to act swiftly to prohibit future ownership of dangerous wild animals. Existing laws in Virginia would hardly prevent further…

Press Conference: Mike London

Chris Graham

QUESTION:  Can you talk a little bit about the opportunity that major collegiate athletics and a game like this affords for raising awareness of causes and diseases like this? COACH LONDON:  When you have an opportunity that’s presented with a platform such as this, with a guy like Coach Fisher—a well-respected coach in college football…