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McDonnell announces opening of agricultural trade office in Europe

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Thursday the formal opening of a representative office in Europe focused on increasing agricultural and forestry product exports to the region. With the opening, the Commonwealth is believed to be the only state in the U.S. to currently have a dedicated agricultural trade representative in the European market, one of the world’s largest economic regions. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the governor.

Ken Plum: Measure of being poor

Ken Plum

I have always maintained that the poor in Northern Virginia are worse off than others living in less affluent parts of the state because the cost of living is higher in this region. The difference can be seen most clearly in the cost of housing; and there have been many notable efforts on the part of local governments to increase the stock of workforce, affordable housing. The traffic coming into Northern Virginia from the west and south is made up largely of people who cannot afford housing in the area.

mark warner

Sen. Mark Warner urges commission to look at voting wait times

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) today sent a letter to the chairmen of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, Robert F. Bauer and Benjamin L. Ginsberg, urging them to take strong steps to address the hours-long election lines that too many voters endured during the 2012 election.