Bridgewater Civil War Institute focuses on those who fought

AFP

To continue its commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Bridgewater College will focus its fifth annual Civil War Institute on “‘They Who Fought Here:’ Armies, Soldiers and Civilians,” and will feature four renowned scholars as panelists. The one-day institute, which is free and open to the public, will be held April 21…

Supreme Court prohibits warrantless use of GPS tracking devices

AFP

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that police may not place GPS tracking devices on the cars of citizens with first obtaining a warrant. “When this often divided Supreme Court can come together and agree on such an important decision about protecting individual privacy, that’s cause for celebration,” said Kent Willis,…

McDonnell announces $2B investment in VRS

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that his proposed biennial budget will recommend a total of $2.21 billion in employer contributions to state employee and teacher funds by state and local governments – the largest employer contribution to VRS in history. The recommended employer contribution for state employees alone for FY2013/2014 is a record $596.9 million….

Drive safe – or else – this holiday weekend

Chris Graham

Notwithstanding statewide progress in the fight against drunk driving over the past decade, drunk driving is still killing six people a year in Augusta County, according to Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles data of alcohol-related traffic deaths averaged over the last five years.  Augusta County averaged the 11th most drunk-driving fatalities in Virginia during the…

FEMA denies earthquake aid

Chris Graham

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied Virginia’s request for individual assistance to help property owners affected by the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Virginia on Aug. 23.  Damage assessments for residential properties are nearly $15 million, mostly in uninsured costs. “We are very disappointed in FEMA’s decision, and we will immediately appeal,” Gov. Bob McDonnell…

Augusta County Sheriff’s Office goes green

AFP

The Augusta County Sheriff’s office announced this week the conversion of eight Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers currently in their fleet to propane autogas. Conversions are being made through funding from the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy as well as the United States Department of Energy. Grant funding is managed by Virginia Clean…

ACLU seeks details on government’s phone tracking

AFP

In a massive coordinated information-seeking campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and 33 other affiliates across the nation today are sending requests to more than 375 local law enforcement agencies large and small demanding to know when, why and how they are using cell phone location data to track Americans. The Virginia affiliate…