Tom Perriello: Focus on small business

AFP

Small businesses remain the backbone of our economy, and true economic recovery will come from rewarding the innovation and resilience of our local entrepreneurs. I have been fighting to shift the focus from bailing out big companies to investing in small business, and the tide is starting to turn towards a strategy of making, building,…

ACLU challenges limits in whistleblower law

Chris Graham

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union will present oral arguments in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals tomorrow in a lawsuit challenging the overreaching secrecy provisions of a federal whistleblower law that prevents the public from learning about serious allegations of fraud against the United States government. Complaints filed under the False Claims Act…

Ken Plum: Financial engineering

Ken Plum

After months of frantic work between the governor’s staff and the distilled spirits lobbyists, a plan to privatize Virginia’s alcoholic beverage sales has been announced. Read the plan at www.reform.virginia.gov. Who would have thought that the number one issue facing the Commonwealth was the sale of whiskey through state stores that has been the situation for…

Jim Bishop: On not despairing when life needs repairing

Jim Bishop

I saw it coming, but pretended it wasn’t happening. Eventually, the problem caught up with me. Technology – specifically, nearly-outdated technology – stopped me in my (recording) tracks, mid-sentence and mid-music selection. I went back and started over repeatedly over a two-day period and finally told myself, “Houston – or Harrisonburg – we’ve got a…

BC to honor three with induction into Hall of Fame

Chris Graham

Three stellar former Bridgewater College athletes have been selected for induction into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 8, in the Kline Campus Center, as part of Homecoming activities. The inductees for 2010 are Mary Frances Heishman, ’66, of Dayton, Va.; Anthony Lawrence, ’90, of Chantilly, Va.; and Pattiann Dzikowicz Beach, ’91,…

State announces funding for prisoner re-entry

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell on Friday announced initial funding for his strengthened prisoner re-entry program currently under development. Under the leadership of Banci Tewolde, appointed by the governor to serve as the state’s first prisoner re-entry coordinator, the Commonwealth has secured federal funding for three components of the governor’s comprehensive prisoner re-entry initiative. Virginia has been…

Voting changes in store in Waynesboro?

Chris Graham

On the horizon in Waynesboro – a fifth city voting ward and November city elections. Both could be among suggestions early next year from voter registrar Lisa Wooten. The talk about creating a fifth voting ward is being pushed by population growth in the city’s West End, especially in the area currently constituting Ward D….

Shelli Poe: A clear breach of justice

AFP

On Thursday, Sept. 23, the Commonwealth of Virginia has scheduled the execution of Teresa Lewis. Her execution would be a clear breach of justice, and ought to shake our trust in the competency and adequacy of the Commonwealth’s justice system. On Oct. 30th of 2002, Teresa Lewis’ husband, Julian, and stepson, C.J., were shot and…

Conservation group marks 20 years

AFP

Founded in 1990, Valley Conservation Council has reached a milestone, celebrating 20 years of success in its mission to “promote land use that sustains the farms, forests, open space and cultural heritage of the Shenandoah Valley region.” Executive director John Eckman presented the annual Conservator of the Year award to Laura Thurman, the Staunton-based easement…