U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine hails passage of defense bill

AFP

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, hailed final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2014 – the annual defense bill that includes important provisions Kaine advocated for Virginia during committee markup of the legislation in June 2013. The measure was passed, 84-15.

bob mcdonnell

McDonnell’s budget to provide $55 million in funding for public safety

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Friday that his biennial budget will provide $55.3 million in targeted funding to support public safety around Virginia. The governor’s budget proposals include $22.2 million for sheriffs, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and Circuit Court Clerk Deputies.

bob mcdonnell

McDonnell budget includes money for prisoner re-entry, restoration of rights

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell will recommend substantial new state investments in the areas of prisoner re-entry and restoration of rights when he puts forward his two-year spending plan for the Commonwealth next Monday. The governor has put a focus on the two policy areas over the last four years, establishing Virginia’s first-ever prisoner re-entry statewide plan.

newspaper

Schools could benefit from change to Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit

Chris Graham

More than 1,200 of Virginia’s school buildings and facilities are 40 years or older according to a new study ordered by Gov. Bob McDonnell and concluded at the beginning of this month. The governor ordered the report in August in to demonstrate how a change to the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit could benefit the Commonwealth.

newspaper

Woodland certification workshop set for Augusta County landowners

AFP

Landowners interested in learning more about the benefits of having their woodlands certified are invited to an evening workshop Tuesday, December 3, at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona. The three-hour workshop, which will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., costs $20 per person with dinner provided.

Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe announces first round of administration appointments

Chris Graham

Virginia Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe announced on Monday his choices for four key senior administration positions: Paul Reagan as Chief of Staff, Suzette Denslow as Deputy Chief of Staff, Secretary Ric Brown, who will stay on through at least the passage of the upcoming budget as Secretary of Finance, and Levar Stoney as Secretary of the Commonwealth.

university of virginia uva

South African student explores innovative HIV ideas at UVa.

AFP

Lufuno Mavhandu, who grew up in the small village of Muduluni, is conducting research at UVa. as part of an important collaboration between the Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research in the School of Medicine and the Department of Microbiology at South Africa’s University of Venda.