Court ruling blocks efforts to halt EPA greenhouse-gas limits

Chris Graham

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals today denied requests from numerous industry groups and their allies that sought to halt regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency to control greenhouse-gas emissions from vehicles and power plants and other large sources. The EPA rules include an “endangerment” finding, which confirmed that carbon dioxide and other pollutants contributing…

The Valley’s maverick Republican: Hanger gears up for State Senate re-election run

Chris Graham

It hasn’t been that long since the word “maverick” triggered the next drink in the drinking game. John McCain, the original GOP maverick, has since made a hard turn to the far right, judging his political survival to be of more import than his political legacy. The maverick is a dying breed in the Republican…

Obama offshore drilling ban draws bipartisan criticism

Chris Graham

A bipartisan group of Virginia leaders will work to get the Obama administration to reverse its move to block drilling off the coast of Virginia until at least 2017. “As a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we learned a number of lessons, most importantly that we need to proceed with caution and focus…

Valley man finalist in PETA Sexiest Vegetarian contest

Contributors

What do Prince, Sir Paul McCartney, and Christie Brinkley have in common? Besides their enduring star power, they are all sexy vegetarians who just happen to be over 50. Their sizzling example is what inspired PETA to expand its popular series of Sexiest Vegetarian contests to include the over-50 set. After receiving hundreds of entries…

Webb: Congress should end ethanol subsidies

Chris Graham

U.S. Jim Webb, D-Va., today called for an end to costly ethanol subsidies and tariffs. In a bipartisan letter, Sen. Webb and other senators urged Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kent., to eliminate the protections currently manipulating ethanol costs and restricting U.S. trade. The current subsidies and tariffs on domestic…

Singing the Y’s praises

Contributors

For Sherri Mayo, the Waynesboro Y is a caring environment for her 5-year-old son, Cooper, who is enrolled in the pre-K class at the Y. “There is never a day when I take him to his class that I am concerned about his care. I know he is in a learning environment that is structured,…

Kicking the can: City needs to take lead on stormwater improvements

Chris Graham

Waynesboro, as we know, is good at studying problems for years and not doing anything to bring the solutions to fruition. The city technically isn’t doing nothing to resolve its issues with stormwater management, though what is being done is not too far removed from sticking a finger in the floodwall and hoping that holds…

DEQ approves first renewable-energy reg

Chris Graham

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has approved the state’s first permit regulation for renewable energy projects, following legislation from the 2009 General Assembly that transferred permitting authority for such projects from the State Corporation Commission to DEQ. The permit regulation, known as a “permit by rule,” seeks to balance two statutory goals: to streamline…