Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber represented at Chamber Day at the Capitol

AFP

   Staff Report News tips: [email protected] The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce made its presence known in Richmond on Wednesday at the annual Virginia Chamber of Commerce “Chamber Day at the Capitol”. Twenty-six Chamber of Commerce and 58 statewide organizations, leadership programs and businesses descended upon the Capitol to express support for business friendly legislation and…

State Police: Remains in Albemarle appear to be Harrington

Chris Graham

   Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The Virginia State Police is saying that human remains found on a farm in southern Albemarle County appear to be those of Morgan Harrington, 20, a Virginia Tech student who was reported missing after attending a concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville on Oct. 17. “We’re fairly…

Job creation

Chris Graham

   Column by Sen. Robert Hurt www.roberthurtforcongress.com The first full week of the 2010 General Assembly here in Richmond has now concluded. The week began with the Gov. McDonnell’s first State of the Commonwealth address and the ended with committees getting fully underway in reviewing and taking action on individual legislation. In addition, because of…

Helping disabled veterans

David Cox

   Column by David Cox Submit guest columns: [email protected] As the General Convention goes about its business in Richmond, it’ll take up a matter that everyone voted for last time. Before they do again, I hope they’ll look at a better way of meeting their objective: helping disabled veterans. Last winter, the House and Senate…

McDonnell lays out jobs agenda

AFP

   Staff Report News tips: [email protected] Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced that leading Republican and Democratic lawmakers will carry the budget amendments necessary to implement the job-creation proposals he outlined in his Address to the Joint Houses of the General Assembly last week. In the Senate the amendments will be carried by ranking Senate Finance…

Fighting early release

AFP

   Column by Del. Rob Bell www.delegaterobbell.com Last Saturday, I was very surprised to hear that Gov. Tim Kaine had approved the transfer of a Virginia inmate, Jens Soering, to Germany. Pursuant to the agreement, Soering would be eligible for parole in as soon as two years. Soering was the University of Virginia student from…

Local officials back jobs program

AFP

   Staff Report News tips: [email protected] As U.S. mayors gathered in Washington this week to meet with the Obama administration about unemployment and the economy, Virginia local government officials and community leaders are calling for the creation of a Community Jobs program. The jobs program would provide funding to localities across the country to create…

Hurt: Put Virginia back on a sound financial footing

Chris Graham

   Column by Sen. Robert Hurt www.roberthurtforcongress.com On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, citizens from all across the Commonwealth of Virginia gathered at our Capitol here in Richmond for the inauguration of our 71st governor, Robert F. McDonnell. As the members of the General Assembly gathered on the front portico of our historic capitol, I was…

Local authors forum in Harrisonburg

AFP

Staff Report News tips: [email protected] The community is invited to a gathering of local authors and their books on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, 382 High St., Dayton. Following a discussion of each book, there will be a book signing. Refreshments will be served. The event is free and…

No surprise – House rejects proposed Kaine tax increase

Chris Graham

   Story by Chris Graham [email protected] A move by House Republican leaders to get outgoing Gov. Tim Kaine’s politically tone-deaf state income-tax increase up for an early vote on the House floor did what it was supposed to do. The House voted 97-0 on Thursday to reject the proposed 1 percent state income-tax hike that…