Chris Graham: A funny thing happened on the way to socialized medicine

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Read Bruce Kesler’s column, “The Fannie-ization of Health Care.” As a small-business owner, I think I know why our country is falling behind our competitors in the rest of the industrialized world where some version of universal health care is not the exception, but the rule. We in the business…

Harrisonburg: GMU professor to lead health-care forum

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop Advances in medical technology, from antibiotics and chemotherapy to dialysis and ventilators, have changed not just how we live, but, often, how we die. Providers and patients confront decisions that never existed before. Mimi Mahon, associate professor in the School of Nursing at George Mason University, Fairfax, will speak on the…

Waynesboro: River City 2020

Chris Graham

Column by Chris Graham [email protected] Lee Wolverton and I don’t agree on much, so when we agree, that means something. And we agree that Waynesboro is facing a critical challenge. Lee has seen what we both think is happening to Waynesboro happen elsewhere. A small town struggles with its identity when the factories close up…

Harrisonburg: Sustainable agriculture focus of EMU seminar

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop A leading spokesperson for sustainable agricultural systems will address the next Suter Science Seminar at Eastern Mennonite University. John Jeavons, Willits, Calif., will speak on “Food and Our Future: Hope and Solutions through Biointensive Farming” 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in EMU’s Lehman Auditorium. Jeavons has directed Ecology Action’s Mini-Farming program since 1972….

Harrisonburg: Retired JMU prof honored for professional achievement, service

Chris Graham

Staff Report Kathleen G. Arthur, a James Madison University professor emerita, received The Award for Exemplary Achievement, the most prestigious award given by the Southeastern College Art Conference, in recognition of personal and professional development as well as longstanding service. Arthur has served the SECAC, a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote the visual arts…

Politics: Is voting determined by nature, or nurture?

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] You don’t want to believe it – that the way you vote is determined by biology. And while it might be taking things a little to the extreme to say that the study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Pete Hatemi pins everything that you think about politics…

Education: How many children left behind?

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Twenty, twenty-five, close to thirty percent of students who start the ninth grade in the Shenandoah Valley aren’t graduating high school in four years, according to figures released by the State Department of Education on Wednesday. But are the numbers an accurate reflection of how many children are…

Harrisonburg: Candidates in Sixth talk issues

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The economy, Iraq, health care and interestingly, term limits. Voters in the Sixth District were able to get a glimpse into the differing approaches of Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte, Democrat Sam Rasoul and independent Janice Lee Allen on those issues and others in a candidates forum sponsored by WSVA-550AM in…

Harrisonburg: Learning in a real-world setting

Jim Bishop

Story by Jim Bishop For most majors, Eastern Mennonite University offers smaller classes that provide much opportunity for close student-faculty interaction and mentoring. In addition, many majors include opportunities for internships, where students apply classroom learning to “real world” settings. Beyond this, a number of students majoring in the sciences, particularly biology or chemistry, are…

Waynesboro: Moran stumps for Obama, Warner, has eyes on ’09 prize

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The last time Virginia went Democratic for president, gas was 25 cents, The Beatles were about to make their debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” Ronald Reagan was still a Democrat, and Brian Moran was 5 years old. “A lot has changed, but this year, Virginia is going to elect…