Deeds touts higher-ed initiative at UVa.

Chris Graham

Sen. Creigh Deeds stopped in Charlottesville on Wednesday to discuss his plans to increase access to higher education with students and faculty at the University of Virginia. At the stop, Deeds outlined his plan to create 70,000 new degrees over the next 10 years. At the core of that plan is the ‘Virginia Forward’ scholarship…

The Pulse | What Will Saxman Do?

Chris Graham

I can hardly make it a day without somebody asking me a variation of that question. It’s known on both sides of the political fence that soon-to-be-former Republican State Del. Chris Saxman and I are bipartisan birds of a feather, in a manner of speaking. “So surely, Chris, you’d know, if anybody would, what Chris…

Distance learning expanding reach of Eastern Mennonite Seminary

AFP

Thirty-three new students have entered programs at Eastern Mennonite Seminary the fall semester of 2009. The unique aspect: over half of this group has begun programs not on the main campus of EMS in Harrisonburg. While enrollment on the Harrisonburg campus of EMS remains steady with 15 newly-enrolled students, there has been a significant increase…

Lohr under fire on relationship between business, Rockingham school system

AFP

State Del. Matt Lohr on Monday defended the payments from the Rockingham County school system to the motivational-speaking company operated by Lohr and his wife, Andrea, for teacher in-service training conducted by the Lohrs. “It’s $3,000 over three years,” Lohr, a Republican, answered a question from a caller to a live candidates debate featuring Lohr…

Religion plays central role in Bell-Curren radio debate

Chris Graham

A question about 20th District Democrat Erik Curren’s religious beliefs was a highlight of the debate between Curren and Republican Dickie Bell on WSVA-550 Monday morning. The question came from a caller to the live 11 a.m. interview who said he wanted to know what Curren’s “religious persuasion” is. A similar issue was raised earlier…

JMU calendar for Oct. 2-11

AFP

Oct. 2-Dec. 15: PRISM Gallery Exhibition, open during normal building hours, lower level of Festival Conference and Student Center: “Looking Out – Thirty Years of Study Abroad at JMU, 1979-2009” traces the development of JMU’s study abroad program since its beginnings in London; the program continues to flourish and now sends more than 1,000 students…