McDonnell signs charter-school legislation

Chris Graham

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   Nine days before Virginia’s new laws take effect, Gov. Bob McDonnell today ceremonially signed legislation that will facilitate the expansion of charter schools in the Commonwealth. The legislation, HB1390, sponsored by Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge, and SB737, sponsored by Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, was part of the governor’s 2010…

David Toscano: BP and Cuccinelli

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Column by David Toscano Submit guest columns: [email protected]   Virginia is the model of the citizen legislature. Delegates and senators are not full-time elected officials; most of us have other jobs. The House of Delegates and the State Senate meet for only 60 days during one year and 45 days during the next year. While…

Virginia enters Wind Energy Consortium

Chris Graham

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   Gov. Bob McDonnell signed onto a Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and nine East Coast governors, to establish the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium. Through this consortium, Gov. McDonnell will encourage the environmentally-responsible development of wind energy, and other sources of renewable energy,…

Wildlife Center to play role in post-spill Gulf

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Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   They’ve got plenty of people down on the Gulf Coast washing oil off birds. Ed Clark is focusing his attention at the Wildlife Center of Virginia on ecosystem issues. “We don’t need to go down there and wash birds. They’re already well cared for by the professional groups. What…

Democrats criticize Cuccinelli on picketing case

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   Virginia Democrats are howling over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s refusal to file a legal brief in support of the family of a fallen U.S. soldier suing a fundamentalist church that uses military funerals as a backdrop to protest gay rights. “I have a real problem with anyone who wants…

The Gulf Oil Spill: A Virginia Perspective

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   There’s only a “slim chance” that oil from the BP oil spill off the coast of Louisiana will end up washing ashore on beaches in Virginia, according to a James Madison University professor who is a Gulf Stream expert. “The Gulf Stream, as it travels eastward, reaches its closest proximity…

Ken Plum: Lessons from tragedies

Ken Plum

Column by Ken Plum www.kenplum.com   There was undoubtedly a feeling of elation among the 2,228 passengers and crew members as they boarded the Titanic ocean liner for her maiden voyage April 10, 1912.  There was no way to know that by April 15 only 705 of them would survive her sinking.  After all, the…

Host an exchange student

Edited by Chris Graham [email protected]   Temporary and permanent families are sought by the Scottsdale, Ariz.,-based STS Foundation to host students coming to Virginia in the fall. Families are responsible for providing a nurturing and safe environment. All family types are welcome to apply including traditional families, empty nesters, older couples, younger couples and single…

Grant helps SCCF relaunch small-business training

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected]   A $10,000 grant from a community-development group based in Southwest Virginia will enable the Staunton Creative Community Fund to relaunch small-business development training. “It’s an opportunity, from our perspective. We really believe in the concept of microenterprise development and are impressed with what you’re doing here,” People Inc. President…