Tea Party to McDonnell: Don’t borrow and spend

Chris Graham

Tea Party leaders in Virginia have a message for Gov. Bob McDonnell regarding the Republican’s plans to jumpstart transportation improvements with a large issuance of public debt. “Now is the time for Virginia to cut spending and ensure that the essential functions of government, including transportation, are funded without borrowing money or increasing the tax…

The AFP on WREL: The Virginia news beat

Chris Graham

AFP editor Chris Graham joins WREL’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan” to talk Virginia news and politics. The segment begins with a discussion of the latest on Bob McDonnell’s $4 billion transportation plan. Some Democrats are raising issue with what they’re calling the “borrow and spend” provisions, but Chris thinks in the end most Democrats will…

Report: Transportation investment would boost economy

Chris Graham

Virginia’s economy would expand by $4.1 billion and support 56,798 additional jobs if 16 infrastructure mega-projects being considered by the Virginia Department of Transportation are completed, according to research conducted by Stephen S. Fuller, a George Mason University professor in the School of Public Policy and Director of the Center for Regional Analysis. Gov. Bob…

VMI announces signing class

Chris Graham

VMI head coach Sparky Woods today announced the signings of the 2011 football signing class. The group features 17 signees, eight of which come from the state of Virginia, and eight from out-of-state. Eight states are represented in this year’s signing day class. “It’s going to be a talented class -one I think we can all…

McDonnell’s higher-ed reform legislation passes key legislative hurdles

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell’s “Preparing for the Top Jobs of the 21st Century: The Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011” passed two key votes on Wednesday in Richmond. Following a vote in favor of the omnibus bill by the Senate Finance Committee earlier in the morning, the full House of Delegates voted unanimously for final…

William and Mary signs 15

AFP

Fresh off the school’s fourth conference crown and a top-10 national finish, William and Mary football coach Jimmye Laycock announced the College’s signing of 15 players to National Letters of Intent this afternoon. “This is a versatile class, with nine of the 15 players coming in at skill positions,” stated Laycock. “We addressed a broad…

UVa. adds class of 26

Chris Graham

The Virginia football program signed 24 players to a National Letters of Intent (NLI) for the 2011-12 academic school year head coach Mike London announced. Two additional recruits enrolled at UVa in January, topping the class off at 26. Highlighting the nationally ranked class are five ESPNU Top 150 prospects, 17 signees from the state…

JMU football: Dukes open with UNC

AFP

The James Madison University football team will have five home games along with a road game at Football Bowl Subdivision school North Carolina on its 2011 schedule, announced today. Time for the home games will be announced in the coming weeks. Coming off seven straight winning seasons, JMU will open the season on the road…

JMU grinds out win over Drexel

AFP

James Madison used a key 8-0 run to take the lead and closed the game on a 24-13 swing to defeat Drexel 60-52 in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Convocation Center. JMU snapped a three-game skid and improved to 16-6 overall, 6-4 in the CAA. Drexel fell to 13-7…

Festival features best of Virginia indie film

AFP

The Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance are cooperatively producing the fourth annual Virginia Indie Film Festival Feb. 26 and 27. The Festival features independently produced documentaries, short films and features from Virginia filmmakers. The films were selected by panels of industry professionals and come from Midlothian, Blue Ridge, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke,…