Q and A: Erik Curren and the 20th

Chris Graham

It started for me when I got the e-mail from the Erik Curren House campaign last week pushing back a self-imposed campaign-fundraising deadline. The questions. The Curren camp had wanted to raise $20,000 following the announcement that Republican incumbent Chris Saxman was dropping out of the race to show viability and support at the home…

Poll tacks

Chris Graham

A funny thing about polls. One that has Bob McDonnell up big over Creigh Deeds in this year’s governor’s race had its respondents telling them Virginia went to John McCain 52 percent to 43 percent last November. And then the other one had its respondents splitting 52-41 for McCain.

Stop the Presses | Seriously, Jody, cut it out

Chris Graham

I just love getting caught up in the crosshairs of a political controversy. “We appreciate the Augusta Free Press setting the record straight,” an e-mail from the campaign of Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling offered up, after having explained that we had reported that Democratic Party lieutenant-governor nominee Jody Wagner had gotten it wrong when…

Deeds commits to restoring lost unemployment stimulus funds

Chris Graham

Sen. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic nominee for governor, on Tuesday committed to pursue legislation next year that accepts $125 million in unemployment stimulus funds. The money will help Virginians who lost their jobs participate in workforce-training programs and assist the unemployed and their families as they search for work in the worst economy since the…

President, Webb, Warner mark enactment of New GI Bill

AFP

At George Mason University on Monday, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) was joined by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, former Sen. John Warner, and student veterans at an event celebrating the enactment of Webb’s “Post-9/11 GI Bill,” which offers comprehensive educational benefits to veterans of the wars in…

News from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Chris Graham

Monday, Aug. 3, 2009 – Press Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs – Remarks by President Obama and Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah before Oval Office meeting – Remarks by President Obama at George Mason University on the Post-9/11 GI Bill – Statement by the press secretary on the visit of President Mubarak of Egypt to the…

State funds focus on disability employment

AFP

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced last week that the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) awarded $500,000 in federal funding to 12 Employment Services Organizations (ESOs) with projects designed to increase employment for Virginians with disabilities. The funds were made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a portion of which serves as…

A new class of landlords

AFP

As homeowners contend with a chilly housing market, many are turning to others to pay their mortgages for them – by renting out their properties. Through first quarter 2009, Allstate saw approximately a 25.3 percent increase in the number of Virginia homeowners switching to landlord policies over prior year.