Robert Hurt: Protecting taxpayers

Robert Hurt

This past week the Department of Labor released a very disappointing jobs report for the month of June. Our national unemployment rate rose to an unacceptable 9.2 percent and only 18,000 jobs were created. The report makes it abundantly clear that the economic uncertainty caused by out of control government spending, excessive regulation, and the…

State Police searching for missing local sex offender

Chris Graham

Virginia State Police are hoping someone in the Augusta County region can help locate a wanted sex offender. William Preston Perry, 62, was convicted in October 1995 in the City of Staunton Circuit Court for aggravated sexual battery involving a juvenile. He is currently wanted by state police for failing to re-register with the Virginia…

Business park: A good idea*

Chris Graham

You might notice the asterisk. More on that in a moment. Before we get there, let me just say – oh, yeah, this business park is no question a good idea with great potential to add to the economic base for Waynesboro. I’ve been saying that since my own campaign for City Council in 2008,…

Film on sustainable farming to premiere in Waynesboro

Contributors

American Meat, a feature documentary about a grassroots revolution in sustainable farming starring Virginia’s own Joel Salatin and his Polyface Farms, will have its world premiere July 9 at Waynesboro’s Zeus Theater and July 10 at Staunton’s Visulite Theater. Reported and directed by filmmaker Graham Meriwether, the movie explains how America arrived at its current…

Kaine campaign announces staff additions

Chris Graham

Today, Gov. Tim Kaine announced the second wave of key appointments to his campaign team for U.S. Senator from Virginia. “I’m proud to announce that Mike Henry will be joining our team as campaign manager. His expertise when it comes to Virginia is unmatched. I look forward to seeing the campaign benefit from Mike’s extraordinary…

Wilson Library to host teaching institute

Chris Graham

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum today announced it will host a one-week institute for Virginia history teachers from Monday, July 11, until Friday, July 15. The summer institute is the second of three annual week-long sessions in a professional development curriculum entitled “American History in International Context” that the Presidential Library is holding…

Ken Plum: Lowest score in the House

Ken Plum

We politicians like to take credit for accomplishments even when our connection to what has been achieved may sometimes seem less than clear. We also tend to ignore things that are not going as well as they might. For example, Governor McDonnell as most governors before him regularly announces new jobs that are created in…

Webb, Warner introduce offshore-drilling legislation

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today introduced legislation that would allow oil and natural gas exploration and production off of the Virginia coast. Both senators have consistently supported safe and responsible energy exploration on Virginia’s outer continental shelf. The Virginia Outer Continental Shelf Energy Production Act of 2011 would also expand the…