UVa. loses Tucker to leave of absence

Chris Graham

Forward Jamil Tucker is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Virginia men’s basketball team to focus on personal matters UVa head coach Tony Bennett announced on Wednesday. Tucker, a 6-9 senior from Gary, Ind., will not play in games or practice with the team during his leave of absence. “Jamil has some things…

Two VMI players taken in NBDL draft

Contributors

A pair of former Keydets have been selected in the 2009 NBA Development League draft, held on Thursday, Nov. 5. In the third round, Reggie Williams ’08 was selected by the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce, while Travis Holmes ’09 was taken by the Utah Flash in the event’s sixth round. Williams (Prince George, Va.) spent…

Ken Plum | From Campaigning to Governing

Ken Plum

Elections are over except for the post-mortems. While winners may be tired from strenuous campaigning, there is little time to relax. The deadline for requesting the drafting of pre-filed legislation is Dec. 7. By the middle of December, a $70 billion biennium budget must be ready for the legislature to consider. The annual General Assembly…

The Rant | The Two McDonnells

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It was a moderate centrist Bob McDonnell who ran up a large majority in last week’s gubernatorial election. It’s a right-wing Bob McDonnell vowing to opt Virginia out of health-care reform if given a chance by Congress. The duel between the Two McDonnells could get mighty interesting these next four years, AFP editor Chris Graham…

Panera partners with Food Bank

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Panera Bread bakery-cafes will partner with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network to help put food on tables for Food Bank recipients throughout the state when they host their first “Panera’s Pantry” food drive campaign through Nov. 23. Patrons can bring nonperishable canned food items to any Panera Bread location in the Blue Ridge Bread…

SRI marks formal grand opening

Chris Graham

Story by Chris Graham With AFP Video It’s nearly been three years since state leaders announced the move of SRI International to locate its East Coast research and development headquarters north of Harrisonburg. Local and state officials marked the formal grand opening of SRI’s new Center for Advanced Drug Research on Monday afternoon. “Today, we…

Focus | Kaine offers advice to McDonnell on health care

Chris Graham

Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell doesn’t think health-care reform with a public option is going to be “something that is going to help us in Virginia.” His predecessor recommends that he wait until Congress makes its final call on reform before painting himself into a corner. “What I would say – he’s going to make his own…