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,…

Family establishes scholarship to honor daughter’s memory

Chris Graham

Her tragic death moved the community. Now her parents want her life to impact students who like her dream of excelling in the arts. Jim and Kelly Hyson have established the Lindsay Ree Hyson Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. The first scholarship will be awarded this year to…

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can be quite deadly

Chris Graham

It’s just words, isn’t it? “That’s so gay.” “He’s gay.” “She’s a lesbian.” Kids say them, they don’t mean anything. Pay attention, and you can still hear the crowd singing “The Good Ol’ Song,” to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne,” after a touchdown at a University of Virginia football game. “We Come from Old…

The AFP Blog – Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009

Chris Graham

Tom Perriello statement on House passage of stimulus package, 6:54 p.m. Remarks by President Obama after meeting with Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs, 6:17 p.m. Norfolk, Roanoke papers force employees to furlough, 6:13 p.m. South Korean students to visit Presidential Library, 6:07 p.m. Motorists should expect lane closure tonight on I-81, 3:23 p.m. Airfares highest…