McDonnell’s higher-ed reform legislation passes key legislative hurdles

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s “Preparing for the Top Jobs of the 21st Century: The Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011” passed two key votes on Wednesday in Richmond. Following a vote in favor of the omnibus bill by the Senate Finance Committee earlier in the morning, the full House of Delegates voted unanimously for final…

Creigh Deeds: Session newsletter

Creigh Deeds

The midpoint in the 2011 session is fast approaching. Under the procedural rules adopted at the beginning of every session, the House of Delegates and the Senate must take final action on bills introduced in that body by crossover. The process would not work without self imposed time limits and rules, so by February 8…

McDonnell unveils education-jobs agenda

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell is pushing a bipartisan higher-education initiative that he says will help Virginia colleges and universities issue an additional 100,000 degrees over the next 15 years. “Every student in Virginia deserves the opportunity to get a high-quality education at an affordable price. Virginia’s higher education institutions are among the best in the nation….

JMU offers Ph.D. course in counseling, supervision

AFP

Natural disasters, traumatic events, crises to families and terrorist threats are on the rise in the world. James Madison University’s graduate psychology department is ready to respond. Beginning January 2011, JMU will offer a Ph.D. in Counseling and Supervision. The innovative program will address urgent national needs to train and supervise more master’s-level counselors. Its…

Governor announces specialty-crops funding

Chris Graham

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced funding today for 18 agriculture-related projects which will promote and enhance the competitiveness of Virginia’s specialty crops. The projects resulted from the competitive grant process established by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) for the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service Specialty Crop Block Grant…

Wilson Library adds to Board of Trustees

Chris Graham

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation on Tuesday announced that six members have joined its Board of Trustees: Mary Lynn Bayliss of Manakin-Sabot, Virginia; Katherine Grayson Wilkins of Washington, D.C.; R. Steven Nichols of Staunton; Hampden H. Smith III of Lexington; Rita M. Smith of Richmond; and William T. Walker Jr. of Staunton. All began…

Center, Mill projects could be ‘catalysts’ for Waynesboro

Chris Graham

Special Report by Chris Graham [email protected]   Three years and more than $3 million of architectural and environmental work in the bag, the developer of the Mill at South River project is waiting to see which of several irons in the fire will heat up first. It could very well be an effort to land a…