Pam Solo and Grant Smith: The Myth of Energy Independence

Contributors

The definition of “energy independence” is evolving. Up to recently, it has meant the U.S. producing enough of our own oil so that we were not dependent on other nations for our energy needs. But now we’re in a world of oil interdependence. Oil markets know no national allegiance. Globalization and profit motive are altering a once patriotic concept into this: Producing enough oil and gas so that we export more to our trading partners than we import. While this new energy independence framework may help some companies’ profits, it stands to hurt many Americans’ pocketbooks, water supply, and overall health.

Non-discrimination bill signs 46 legislative co-patrons

Chris Graham

State Sen. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) and State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) announced on Thursday that they are co-patrons of a bill to add non-discrimination protections for state employees. Senate Bill 701 protects state employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in addition to current federal standards. “This is about fairness,”…

Virginia adopts strategy to address potential water quality concerns

Contributors

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be implementing a new strategy to proactively address potential water quality concerns that may arise on small farms that raise livestock and poultry in a concentrated area. These may include dairies, feedlots, poultry operations and other types of farms.

Matt Lohr

Matt Lohr: What are you doing to protect your family farm?

Contributors

It is a common issue in Virginia and just about every other state: what to do to protect your farm from development or any other situation that would take it out of production. Sometimes this occurs because a farmer gets an offer he or she simply can’t refuse. Certainly no one would deny any farmer the right to make a nice profit, especially if it’s just before retirement. (Not that farmers every really retire.)

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UVa. women win on the road at Georgia Tech, 62-51

Contributors

The UVa. women’s basketball team earned its first road ACC victory of the season with a 62-51 win at Georgia Tech. The Cavaliers never trailed in the game and took a 14-point lead in the first half. Georgia Tech pulled to within seven in the second half, 39-32, when Kelsey Wolfe (Jr., Germantown,Md.) scored seven straight points for Virginia to extend the lead back out to 14. The Cavaliers held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.