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U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) today requested a hearing by the Senate Banking Committee to examine whether companies and financial service providers are taking all actions necessary to safeguard consumer data and protect against fraud and identity theft in the wake of Target’s recent account data breach affecting some 40 million U.S. customers.
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Dixie Gas & Oil Corporation is proud to support the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank through BP’s Fueling Communities Program with a grant donation of $1,500. The grant will help the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank alleviate hunger in western and central Virginia. The Food Bank provides nutritious food to more than 113,000 people each month.
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Let’s bring the spirit of Christmas to Congress. The last time the minimum wage went up was in 2009, and, as the owner of a Christmas tree farm and other businesses, I think it’s time for another raise. Today’s $7.25 an hour minimum wage befits Scrooge – before he saw the error of his ways. It amounts to just $15,080 a year for full-time workers.
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Gov. Bob McDonnell unveiled the Commonwealth’s budget for the next two fiscal years in a morning address to the Joint Money Committees of the General Assembly.
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Continuing his administration’s commitment to children in the foster care system and adoption efforts, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced on Friday his biennial budget will include $27.7 million in new funding for four initiatives targeted at improving foster care adoption.
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Gov. Bob McDonnell announced an additional $4.1 million in Community Development Block Grants for four projects in Virginia. The seven community improvement projects are in addition to the $6.8 million of funding provided this year. During this year’s competitive cycle, 35 proposals were submitted by 34 localities, and 11 projects received the initial funding.
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In August, fast food workers walked off the job in 50 U.S. cities, demanding a raise to $15 an hour. The strikes touched off a national debate about raising wage floors. People who are working full-time should earn enough to be able to make ends meet. A living wage is a basic American value.
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Gov. Bob McDonnell announced more than $2 million in Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) grants for five projects in Virginia. The IRF program provides gap financing for construction projects aligned with local and regional economic development strategies, primarily in distressed communities.
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The Virginia General Assembly session gets under way on Jan. 8, but a great amount of groundwork goes into preparing for it. Beyond taking care of our personal and family responsibilities in December, legislators are rushing to survey constituents on their issues and concerns, get bills drafted and move to Richmond for at least 60 days starting in January.
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Gov. Bob McDonnell announced budget proposals today to expand crisis response and crisis prevention services for Virginia’s behavioral health system. The governor’s proposals would infuse $38.3 million over the biennium into critical mental health and substance-use disorder programs.
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