Warner, Webb urge Obama administration to select Mid-Atlantic region as test range for unmanned aircraft systems

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Jim Webb (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Wednesday sent a joint letter to the Secretaries of Defense, Transportation and the NASA Administrator urging them to select the Virginia/Maryland region to host an Unmanned Aircraft Systems test range. The Senators pointed out that UAS design and testing…

McDonnell touts transportation plan

Chris Graham

An analysis of 10 highway projects funded by Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2011 $4 billion transportation program shows they will provide nearly 3,700 direct jobs during their construction, $190.8 million in personal income, $14.8 million in state and local tax revenues and other benefits to Virginia. “The Virginia Department of Transportation advertised more than $2 billion…

EMU women set final home game as Play 4Kay

Contributors

The Eastern Mennonite University women’s baskeball team has announced a Play 4Kay (formerly WBCA PinkZone) game for its home basketball game this Saturday against Virginia Wesleyan at 4 p.m. The designation is done in cooperation with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as an outreach and fundraising effort to raise breast cancer awareness in college communities…

Clan Mhor on Crozet Tunnel at WTA’s Gateway

Contributors

The Clan Mhor Organization of researchers will present its lecture/slide show on the building of the tunnel that connected the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Shenandoah Valley. The presentation is sponsored by the Waynesboro Heritage Foundation Inc. The lecture will be held at WTA’s Gateway, 329 West Main in Downtown Waynesboro…

Report: Wine industry contributes $747M to state economy

Contributors

A newly released economic impact study shows that Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry contributes $747 million annually to Virginia’s economy, an increase of 106 percent over the figures from the last economic impact study conducted in 2005. All major economic drivers examined in the comprehensive study showed significant double-digit percentage growth. “The Virginia wine industry has…

Local author pens personal history of undersea exploration

Contributors

Anyone who enjoys reading of adventures and discoveries will love Bob Wicklund’s new book.  He has a talent for storytelling—some tales almost unbelievable, yet they are all true. The pages of Eyes in the Sea come alive with remarkable stories. Wicklund, a regular guy, relates the fascinating string of events that propelled him to become…

Poll: Virginians oppose ‘fox penning’

Ken Plum

A new poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research shows that Virginia voters overwhelmingly oppose the abuse of animals in “fox penning” operations by a more than 8-to-1 margin—and a majority support legislation to prohibit the practice. Fox pens are fenced enclosures where dogs are released in competitions to chase down and torment captive foxes,…