Unemployment rate up, but so is the local labor force

Contributors

Waynesboro’s unemployment rate shot past the 9 percent barrier in January, and unemployment across the Greater Augusta region was up significantly across the board, according to data released by the Virginia Employment Commission on Friday. But continue reading below the fold here, because I think I might have noticed something unusual, to say the least,…

Valley Blue Dog | GOP Diversity: Can’t we all just get along?

Steven Sisson

Once upon a time, the GOP was monolithic with issues, so what’s up with the Republican Party of late? Over the past 30 years, the Grand Old Party has been reduced to mudslinging political infighting.  GOP Chairman Michael Steele calls this hot-butter popcorn. Popcorn? Not a chance. I believe it’s a case of true colors and say…

Rick Webb | Bailing out wind energy project is a misuse of stimulus money

Contributors

The Highland County Board of Supervisors has unwisely proposed that the Commonwealth of Virginia provide $1.5 million in economic stimulus money to help facilitate the proposed Highland New Wind Development project in order to “enhance the long‐term returns to the county, developer and Commonwealth.”

Who’s in charge downtown?

Chris Graham

A discount-store owner who has told the local print newspaper that he would “probably move” if Downtown Waynesboro were to ever get back on its feet is, for all intents and purposes, the point man on downtown redevelopment until that day comes. “I think the compromise, as long as the two restaurants survive through it…

Stimulating conversation

Chris Graham

Stimulus is everywhere – from City Hall to the State Capitol to the boardroom to the ‘Net. Gov. Tim Kaine today announced the launch of an overhauled Stimulus.Virginia.Gov web portal into the ins and outs regarding the money being invested in Virginia from the $700 billion-plus American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Virginia is getting just…

Of revolts and tone-deaf responses

Chris Graham

The leaders of the Augusta County citizens group leading the fight against the 2009 county property reassessment took to calling their effort a tax revolt, which I thought was a bit overwrought even as I thought their general point, that the reassessment was basically botched, was right on. Overwrought doesn’t begin to describe the finger-wagging…

McAuliffe unveils part one of Business Plan

Chris Graham

I like people who think in terms of business plans. So I’m beginning to like Terry McAuliffe. “I’m taking the same approach to figuring out how to get our economy going again that I’ve taken with businesses I’ve started or turned around. I’m starting with a Business Plan for Virginia,” said McAuliffe, a candidate for…