Landes declines debate invite

Chris Graham

Citing issues with fairness, Steve Landes is backing out of a debate invitation from the News Leader and WHSV-TV3 with 25th District challenger Greg Marrow. “I’ve expressed my concerns of the editorial board – not being fair and balanced – moderating a debate between my opponent and me,” Landes told the News Leader on Thursday.

Team Coverage | Kaine talks business in Staunton

Chris Graham

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine visited several Downtown Staunton businesses on Thursday on a walking tour that took him to a new downtown restaurant, a music store and the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. AFP editor Chris Graham walked with the governor and filed a column and video report on the quick pit-stop visit to the Queen City.

What about that DNC commitment to Deeds?

Chris Graham

Is the Democratic National Committee holding on to the $5 million it has committed to the Creigh Deeds gubernatorial campaign out of concern for the campaign’s direction? The short answer to that is no, looking at campaign-finance records. The DNC has contributed $1.225 million toward the $5 million it committed to the Deeds campaign last…

Kaine uses Staunton Lowe’s as backdrop to talk energy efficiency

Chris Graham

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced the launch of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program, a new program to encourage the purchase of high-efficiency appliances and products. The program will use $15 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act to provide rebates to residential and commercial consumers on certain qualifying appliances…

Kaine on hand for announcement of new tech business in Rockingham

Contributors

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Shenandoah Sustainable Technologies, LLC (SST), a Rockingham County based sustainable construction company will add 72 jobs and $600,000 in capital investment throughout Virginia over the next three years. SST specializes in the construction of self-sufficient buildings and the retrofitting of existing buildings. The company serves residential, commercial and…

Environmental groups challenge Wise County coal plant

Contributors

A permit for a 585-megawatt coal-fired power plant under construction in Wise County, Virginia violates Clean Air Act regulations for carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution, one of the main contributors to climate change, says a coalition of environmental and clean energy groups in an appeal sent today to the Court of Appeals of Virginia. 

Website to provide important family nutritional information

Contributors

The Virginia Department of Health has awarded James Madison University a $3.4 million grant to produce content and design for an interactive website full of nutrition information for children and their families. The future “Health Bites” site is primarily designed to assure success of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)…