Augusta Health repeats top showing in safety, clinical excellence ratings

Chris Graham

For the second year, Augusta Health has been recognized as the only hospital in Virginia to be named a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence by HealthGrades and also to receive the HealthGrades Patient Safety Excellence Award. Augusta Health placed among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for clinical performance—only 268 hospitals of the nearly 5,000…

Tiller receives RMH 2011 Golden Stethoscope Award

AFP

K. Ellissa Tiller, MD, medical director of RMH Hospice and Palliative Care, has been named recipient of the third annual RMH Golden Stethoscope Award. The award recognizes an outstanding physician on the RMH Medical Staff who demonstrates excellence in patient care, customer service, communication and teamwork Dr Tiller received the award during the General Medical…

McDonnell announces state tax relief granted for victims of severe storms

AFP

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today that those affected by the severe storms that struck Virginia on April 8 and April 16 will be granted a 30-day extension for filing returns and making payments on their state taxes. This extension will apply to taxpayers located in the cities of Charlottesville and Waynesboro, and in the following…

McDonnell signs transportation-funding legislation

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law on Monday what backers are terming the most significant investment in the Commonwealth’s transportation system in a generation. The legislation, HB2527 and SB1446, sponsored by Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford) and State Sens. Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas) and William Wampler (R-Bristol), creates a framework to invest nearly $4 billion into Virginia’s…

McDonnell launches teacher performance-pay initiative

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell has invited 57 school divisions that may have difficulty attracting, retaining and rewarding experienced, fully licensed teachers to participate in his Virginia Performance-Pay Incentives initiative for hard-to-staff schools. The initiative — which was approved by the 2011 General Assembly — is a centerpiece of McDonnell’s “Opportunity to Learn” education-reform agenda. It provides…

Fall guy? FHA cites First Guaranty on loans

AFP

The Federal Housing Administration’s Mortgagee Review Board today announced a settlement agreement with a Virginia-based mortgage lender for failing to apply FHA’s underwriting standards when approving loans. Among the alleged violations, the MRB claimed First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation ignored blemished credit and payment histories, approved loans with debt-to-income ratios that exceeded HUD’s benchmarks, and permitted…

The AFP on WREL: Ready to play

Chris Graham

AFP editor Chris Graham talks sports on WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.” The segment begins with a look at the college baseball landscape. Virginia Tech availed itself well over the weekend in a series with Florida State, while UVa. continues to dominate. Can the Cavs, now #1 in all four national polls, make a serious…

The AFP on WREL: Ready to play

Chris Graham

AFP editor Chris Graham talks sports on WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.” The segment begins with a look at the college baseball landscape. Virginia Tech availed itself well over the weekend in a series with Florida State, while UVa. continues to dominate. Can the Cavs, now #1 in all four national polls, make a serious…

Downtown couture: Shop adds to local flavor in Waynesboro

AFP

Couture fashion – not exactly what you’d expect to find in Waynesboro, but that is one of the latest additions to Downtown Waynesboro with the addition Mariah Amine Couture. Don’t be too intimidated by the word couture, though; the shop still has the local feel that local shoppers are comfortable in. It’s within a few…

Harrington case to be featured on ‘Heavy Metal Mystery’

Chris Graham

The cable and satellite channel Investigation Discovery plans to air a special look at Morgan Harrington’s homicide case tonight at 9 p.m. The episode of “Heavy Metal Mystery” will feature the case of the murdered Virginia Tech student tonight at 9 p.m. The show reairs on Sunday, April 24, at 6 p.m. The program will…