Transcript and video from the first President Obama news conference

AFP

President Barack Obama held the first prime-time news conference of his presidency Monday night. Obama took questions from reporters on topics ranging from the economic slowdown and discussions in Congress of his proposed stimulus legislation to issues involving Iran and the Middle East and the news that New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez has confessed…

Fishburne sponsoring NASCAR entry at Daytona

Chris Graham

NASCAR. Fishburne. Daytona. A marriage made in heaven. “Fishburne Military School is proud to sponsor Mike Wallace and wants to thank him for his dedication and devotion to Fishburne Military School,” said T. Nelson Saunders Jr., chairman of the board of Trustees of the Fishburne Educational Foundation, announcing the news that the Waynesboro-based prep military…

The AFP Blog – Feb. 6-8, 2009

Chris Graham

– Bills prohibiting Virginia from complying with Federal Real ID Act head to floor of General Assembly, Friday, 9:38 a.m. – State awards contract for design of truck-climbing lanes on I-81 in Rockbridge, Friday, 9:38 a.m. – Libertarians call on Kaine to step down as DNC chair, Friday, 9:38 a.m. – DuPont Community Credit Union…

The AFP Blog – Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009

Chris Graham

– Stuarts Draft man charged with murder for hire, Thursday, 6 p.m. – Miss America 2008 to speak at JMU on eating disorders, Thursday, 5:50 p.m. – Family Foundation praises passage of marriage curriculum bill, Thursday, 5:50 p.m. – White House announces formation of faith-based partnerships office, Thursday, 5:50 p.m. – Wagner picks up several…

The AFP Blog – Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009

Chris Graham

– Perriello criticizes tobacco tax in SCHIP bill, Wednesday, 1:40 p.m. – Conservation easements top 100,000 acres in Valley, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – Treasury announces new restrictions on executive compensation, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – House GOP pushing mental-health reforms, Wednesday, 12:50 p.m. – House bill allowing government-sanctioned sectarian prayers at government meetings unconstitutional, ACLU says,…

Decorated Army veteran, educator appointed as head of FMS

Chris Graham

Col. Roy F. “Rick” Zinser has assumed the job of president and superintendent of Fishburne Military School. Zinser became the school’s 10th superintendent effective Feb. 1. Zinser had served previously as the president of Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, the deputy superintendent, chief of staff and commandant at the New York Military Academy and as…

Tom Perriello | Report from Capitol Hill

AFP

With the economy in crisis and 16,500 Americans losing their jobs each day, Congress acted rapidly, transparently and responsibly to pass an economic recovery package for American families. The bill is not perfect and may yet be improved, but it is a reasonable and decisive step out of economic chaos. I voted for H.R. 1,…

David Cox | Thinking strategically

David Cox

Our legislators are back at it in Richmond. A couple of weeks into a session that, everyone knows, has got to tackle some excruciating budgetary problems, they seem — as so often — to have produced more heat than light. I often wonder what they’re thinking. Especially when someone comes up with a good, if…

The AFP Blog – Weekend of Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009

Chris Graham

– Singletary’s #44 to be retired, Saturday, 7:10 p.m. – President Obama’s weekly address, Saturday, 8:04 a.m. – Gannett, Media General slump deepens, Friday, 12:55 p.m. – Free-speech organizations offer support to Gloucester 40, Friday, 12:55 p.m. – Statement from Council of Economic Advisors chair Christina Romer on the fourth quarter 2008 advance GDP estimate,…