Focus | A move toward equity

Chris Graham

Kaine proposes employee-benefits policy change Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The Kaine administration, in a sort of last act as its final days count down, has proposed a change in state policy that would allow state employees to choose between covering a spouse or an “otherwise qualfied adult” on their employee plus one health-care policies….

The price of inconsistency

David Cox

Column by David Cox Columns, letters: [email protected] One week ago, Western State Hospital in Staunton broke ground for a brand-new facility. Gov. Kaine was there – and much emphasis was placed on the importance of mental-health facilities in the Commonwealth of Virginia…even as a cloud hangs over the whole enterprise. If you’ve not been there,…

Letter | John Horejsi

AFP

Why is Virginia ranked last in stimulus spending? Gov. Kaine, as reported in the media – that Virginia Ranked Last in Stimulus Spending – is apparently in no hurry to spend stimulus money, money given to the state of Virginia that could create and sustain jobs. The stimulus money is available, but is not being…

Restaurants are going smoke-free Dec. 1

AFP

With just about 50 days to go before the Commonwealth’s landmark smoking ban goes into effect, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is joining dining patrons and community leaders across Virginia today to highlight restaurants that have already gone smoke-free. The new law—called “monumental” in one of the nation’s biggest tobacco-producing states—takes effect Dec. 1 and will…

Wagner releases plan to aid Virginians with disabilities

Chris Graham

Today, in coordination with the beginning of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor Jody Wagner unveiled her agenda to help Virginians with disabilities. The first statewide candidate to release a comprehensive plan dealing with disabilities, Wagner pledged to protect rights and improve quality of life of Virginians living with disabilities.

Virginia air is cleaner

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced significant improvements in Virginia’s air quality during the past decade. Between 1999 and 2009, the Commonwealth saw a 96 percent decrease in the number of days that exceeded the national air quality standard for ground-level ozone at monitoring stations statewide, with summer 2009 standing out as the best year…

Virginia eighth in domestic-visitor spending

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Tuesday announced that Virginia’s tourism industry rose to eighth in the nation for domestic visitor spending in 2007. The increase from tenth to eighth saw Virginia move past New Jersey and Georgia in nationwide rankings for domestic visitor spending, according to data just released by the U.S. Travel Association. The…

Amtrak launches new passenger-rail service in Virginia

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today joined Gov. Linwood Holton, Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman and state and local officials on a Whistle Stop Train Tour to launch new passenger rail service between Lynchburg and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Beginning October 1, Amtrak Virginia, a partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia…

State announces tax amnesty

Chris Graham

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today helped launch Get Square VA, a program administered by the Virginia Department of Taxation offering amnesty to delinquent taxpayers who pay their back taxes between Oct. 7, 2009 and Dec. 5, 2009. Most delinquent taxpayers, business or individual, may pay back taxes to the state of Virginia during this limited…

Loan program to promote energy efficiency

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the recapitalization of the Commonwealth’s Energy Leasing Program, a loan program to finance energy efficiency projects in state agencies. The Commonwealth has secured $40 million in financing for the projects, including $10 million in capital from Grant Capital Management, a state-certified SWAM vendor. The loans are expected to be…