ACLU: Law signed by McDonnell threatens reproductive freedom

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed a bill requiring the Virginia Board of Health to issue regulations requiring abortion clinics that perform five or more first trimester abortions a month to be categorized as hospitals. The ACLU of Virginia and other reproductive rights advocates opposed the bill when it was introduced in the General Assembly and…

Ken Plum: Virginia in the nation

Ken Plum

Virginia spends less on per-pupil funding K-12 than does the state of Mississippi, according to an editorial in the Roanoke Times last week. Not much less; but less along with twelve other states that spend less than Mississippi, the state that has always been thought to be the bottom rung on the ladder for school…

Project to grow with grant from Augusta Health Foundation

Chris Graham

Project GROWS is proud to announce they are the recipients of a multi-year grant from the Augusta Health Foundation to reduce childhood obesity in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County. Project GROWS stands for Growing Responsibly & Organically With Sustainability and focuses on the reduction of childhood obesity through creating youth-based community gardens and teaching the…

AFP Business News

Chris Graham

Augusta Free Press LLC joins H-R Chamber Augusta Free Press LLC has joined as a new member of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1917, works to influence public policy and partners with groups in tourism, the arts, economic development, workforce, technology, downtown revitalization, higher education and law enforcement…

Martin named new director of EMU center

AFP

Ed Martin of Akron, Pa., has been named director of the Center for Interfaith Engagement at Eastern Mennonite University. The Center – earlier referred to as “Abraham’s Tent” – provides space for people from a variety of faith traditions to dialogue and collaborate on areas of common understanding. “Ed’s proven track record of relationship-building in…

Chris Graham: Nuts and berries

AFP

Where I break with Libertarians – the economy. The stuff about keeping government out of my private life, I’m there. (Which is where I break with so-called conservative Republicans, who think it’s not only OK but encouraged for government to tell you every little thing you should be able to do in your private life.)…

JMU social-work program honored

AFP

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation has recognized James Madison University’s social work program with a 2011 Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes. The program was cited for success in developing, applying and maintaining evidence of student-learning outcomes as a part of ongoing efforts to evaluate and improve the program of study….

Ken Plum: Back from Richmond

Ken Plum

Anyone who has ever been several time zones away for a period of time knows the feeling of exhaustion that can come with returning home. The tired feeling that can last for a couple of days is known as “jet lag.” Even though I had only been in Richmond since early January, I have the…