State cracking down on drunk driving

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell today kicked-off Virginia’s 10th annual Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign – a statewide law enforcement and public awareness effort to detect and deter impaired drivers in the Commonwealth. As part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s regional campaign, the Governor announced that drunk drivers on Virginia roadways will face the likelihood of arrest…

One in five children in Augusta, Rockingham at risk of hunger issues

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, today released a new study which reveals that more than 20 percent of children under the age of 18 in Augusta County are struggling with hunger. In Rockingham County, more than 19 percent of children are food insecure. The study, “Map…

Peter Leeds: Past the point of no return

You’ve certainly heard the endless stream of negative economic news lately. America’s fiscal house is in trouble, job growth has stalled, and we may be driving right into a double-dip recession. While giving their pessimistic economic outlooks, there is one thing that the doom-sayers have gotten wrong – they aren’t nearly worried enough. This isn’t…

W&L to install Virginia’s largest solar-energy system

Secure Futures LLC, a solar-energy developer based in Staunton, signed an agreement today with Washington and Lee University, Lexington, to install two solar photovoltaic arrays, totaling approximately 450 kilowatts, at two separate locations on the W&L campus. The first solar array, with a capacity of 120 kilowatts, will be installed on a canopy to be…

ACLU seeks details on government’s phone tracking

In a massive coordinated information-seeking campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and 33 other affiliates across the nation today are sending requests to more than 375 local law enforcement agencies large and small demanding to know when, why and how they are using cell phone location data to track Americans. The Virginia affiliate…

Staunton hosts sustainable Main Street training

Chris Graham

On July 20-21, Staunton hosted a statewide training presented by the Virginia Main Street program at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center. The VMS program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development since 1985, works to revitalize Virginia’s historic downtowns by providing training and technical support. Participating communities improve and beautify…