Virginia: Freedom of expression ends at polling-place door

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The State Board of Elections voted today to ban clothing and hats and other campaign materials that directly advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate or issue from polling places in Virginia. The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged a prohibition handed down last month by the State…

White House ’08: The Obama Effect

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Not a day goes by that I don’t hear from an Obama-Biden supporter about the Wilder Effect – or what some folks call the Bradley Effect, the basics being a major-party candidate who is African-American whose support in pre- and post-election polling registers higher than actual performance in the polls….

Winners and Losers: McCain, $528,000, ‘Drill, baby, drill’

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] LOSER: McCain campaign loses a friend in John Lewis I was sitting in the press box at Scott Stadium on Saturday at halftime of the UVa.-ECU football game when I saw something in my e-mail in-box from the John McCain campaign that caught my attention. “Congressman John Lewis’ comments represent…

Valley: VDOT road work schedule for Oct. 13-17

Chris Graham

Staff Report The following is a list of highway work projects that might affect traffic in the Staunton Transportation District during the coming weeks. Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Also, when traveling through a work zone,…

Education: How many children left behind?

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Twenty, twenty-five, close to thirty percent of students who start the ninth grade in the Shenandoah Valley aren’t graduating high school in four years, according to figures released by the State Department of Education on Wednesday. But are the numbers an accurate reflection of how many children are…

Harrisonburg: Annual relief sale a big success

Chris Graham

Story by Jim Bishop Economic woes apparently took a back seat to spectacular weather that helped draw an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 10,000 to the 42nd annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale held Oct. 3-4 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. This year’s sale raised approximately $307,638 in total receipts for Mennonite Central Committee. This does not…

Local Politics: Are we all losing our minds?

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Dinah Gottschalk is a volunteer in the Waynesboro Democratic Committee. She’s a committed Democrat, a lifelong Democrat, and she’s been working hard this campaign season at the local Waynesboro Dems election headquarters in Willow Oak Plaza with me and dozens of other Waynesboro and Augusta County Democrats. She was, to…

Harrisonburg: Republicans for Warner

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The press release billed the event as being the launch of something to be called Virginians for Warner, and let us know that former Republican state senator John Chichester was going to be tagging along with his friend from across the aisle. It didn’t say anything about the gaggle of…

College Basketball: Alexander new in analyst chair on UVa. hoops broadcasts

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Waynesboro native and former UVa. star Cory Alexander will join new play-by-play man Dave Koehn as the color analyst on Virginia men’s basketball radio broadcasts this fall. Alexander replaces long-time analyst Jim Hobgood, who had filled the role alongside former play-by-play announcer Mac McDonald for the past 12 seasons. The…

Local Politics: A view of the ’08 election from BRCC

Chris Graham

Story by Riley Murray blueridgedata.blogspot.com In the swing state of Virginia, the deadline of Oct. 6 for voter registration is fast approaching. Across Virginia, voter registration efforts are breaking records. With the race for the White House entering its last full month, the focus is on the Shenandoah Valley region. This rural region, in the…