Immigration forum in Harrisonburg

Chris Graham

Virginia Organizing is hosting an immigration forum on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Community Mennonite Church, 70 S. High St., Harrisonburg. The forum will focus on preserving immigrants’ rights with a heavy amount of attention on immigrants’ issues in the 2011 Virginia General Assembly. The forum will feature Walter Tejada, currently on the Arlington…

Robert Hurt: Jobs remain a top priority

Robert Hurt

It was great to spend the entire week in the Fifth District. After meeting with and hearing from many constituents, local leaders, and businesses, it became clear that job creation remains the top priority for Central and Southside Virginians. Getting the chance to visit several different businesses in the district and directly asking our employers…

What’s going on in Charlottesville?

Chris Graham

The bloom was already off the Tony Bennett rose before the news that another underclassman was leaving the Virginia basketball program. Last year it was freshman Tristan Spurlock, sophomore Sylven Landesberg and junior Jeff Jones. This year it’s Billy Baron, who unlike last year’s departees doesn’t have the distinction of having been a holdover from…

What's going on in Charlottesville?

Chris Graham

The bloom was already off the Tony Bennett rose before the news that another underclassman was leaving the Virginia basketball program. Last year it was freshman Tristan Spurlock, sophomore Sylven Landesberg and junior Jeff Jones. This year it’s Billy Baron, who unlike last year’s departees doesn’t have the distinction of having been a holdover from…

It’s showtime! AWE primed, ready for debut

Chris Graham

The minutes are counting down. “I’m pumped. Let’s get it on!” said Marvin Ward, the president of Awesome Wrestling Entertainment, a Virginia-based professional-wrestling promotion with aspirations toward the big time. AWE will mark its launch Saturday night with its first live event at Waynesboro High School. The main event pits former WWE superstar Jimmy Wang…

Scholarship program will add to ties between Waynesboro, Wanzhou

Chris Graham

One way to keep the growing United States-China global competition from descending into 20th century-style Cold War is to push cultural and economic connections – the likes of which are being forged between Waynesboro and its sister city Wanzhou, China, a bustling industrial city on the Yangtze River with a population of 1.7 million. Adding…

House passes McDonnell transportation package

Chris Graham

The Virginia House of Delegates voted 65-33 on Friday in favor of the $4 billion transportation package being pushed by Gov. Bob McDonnell that includes a significant amount of state borrowing. “This transportation funding plan is a timely and innovative solution to many of the infrastructure issues facing our Commonwealth,” said House Speaker Bill Howell,…

Creigh Deeds: Session report

Creigh Deeds

The 2011 General Assembly session is racing toward conclusion. We are now at the halfway point, the crossover, when each house must complete work on its own bills. We are just days away from having competing versions of the budget adopted and finalizing actions on a number of controversial issues. Intensifying the work is the…

Baron leaving UVa. to go back home

Chris Graham

Freshman guard Billy Baron (East Greenwich, R.I.) is leaving the Virginia men’s basketball program and plans to transfer to the University of Rhode Island this semester. “I love my coaches and my teammates at Virginia,” Baron said. “Virginia is a great place, but I want to go home, be with my family and play for…