Groups call for DMV to accept federal documents as immigrants’ proof of legal presence

AFP

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations today released a letter sent to DMV Commissioner Richard Holcomb renewing a request that he rescind a recently implemented policy refusing to accept federally-issued work papers as proof of legal presence to obtain either a driver license or ID in Virginia….

Proposed cut of FOIA Council: Is it worth the trouble?

Chris Graham

There’s a saying about using a sledgehammer to kill a gnat that comes to mind with the recommendation of the Governor’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring to eliminate the Freedom of Information Act Advisory Council as a cost-saving move. The line item in the 2010-2012 state budget for the Council, a resource for the…

McDonnell targets public broadcasting

Chris Graham

Gov. Bob McDonnell, playing to a favorite issue of his partisan base, included among a package of cost-cutting proposals released on Wednesday a proposal to end taxpayer funding of public broadcasting. The proposal would save the state $2 million in fiscal-year 2012 and $4 million in fiscal-year 2013, when all funding for public television and…

The AFP on WREL: Reform challenge will go all the way

Chris Graham

Editor Chris Graham joins WREL’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan” to talk Virginia news and politics. The segment begins with a discussion of the ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that the health-care reform signed into law in March is unconstitutional. Chris breaks down where the case is likely to go from here. Next up…

City schools receive state green award

Chris Graham

Waynesboro Public Schools have been awarded first place in the 2010 Virginia School Board Association’s Green Public Schools Challenge, an honor presented by the Virginia Municipal League to local school systems who have been the most proactive in reducing energy consumption, implementing green initiatives and reducing their carbon footprint. In 2009, Waynesboro Public Schools partnered…

Dem legislator to RPV chair: ‘The people expect you to lead’

Ken Plum

A snarky letter sent by Republican Party of Virginia chair Pat Mullins to Democratic state legislators prompted a response in kind from Del. Ken Plum, D-Reston. “Your party controls two of the three bodies necessary to pass legislation, the House of Delegates and the governor. The people expect you to lead. I do not think…

VDOT back in the crosshairs

Chris Graham

The state’s transportation system could benefit from input from local and regional elected leaders and an overhaul in the way the central office of the Virginia Department of Transportation selects and manages projects. Those were key among the recommendations in an audit done by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission presented on Tuesday to…

The AFP on WREL: Another state title for Riverheads

Chris Graham

Editor Chris Graham talks sports with WREL’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.” The segment begins with a wrap of the third state-title win in the past decade by the Riverheads football program. Red Pride is in full force in the Greenville area. Chris talks about the culture of winning that coach Bob Casto has built at…