The Top Story: Obama, McCain visiting Va.

Chris Graham

The Top Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Barack Obama is not welcome in Southwest Virginia. That was the rather curious, to me, anyway, message today from the presidential campaign that has said that it will tone down the partisan rhetoric and even reach out across the aisle to welcome Democrats into its reform-minded administration if…

Augusta: Family of teen convicted of rape, assault pleas for leniency

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Story by Chris Graham [email protected] The family of a Greenville teen convicted in June of the abduction and rape of his 15-year-old former girlfriend has launched an Internet petition to plea for leniency in his upcoming sentencing. “Our hope is that anyone with sons will feel that something like this could very easily happen to…

Sixth District: Rasoul proposed congressional debate schedule

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] Sixth District Democratic Party congressional nominee Sam Rasoul wants to get on a stage with Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte to debate the issues of the day in front of Western Virginia voters. Rasoul today proposed a schedule of six debates – two each in the Roanoke, Lynchburg and Shenandoah Valley…

White House ’08: Unemployment on the rise, and candidates respond

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Story by Chris Graham [email protected] Another key measure of economic performance appears to show the continued effects of slowdown. The national unemployment rate rose four-tenths of a percent in August, topping the 6 percent mark, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment fell in the manufacturing and employment-services sectors, with gains in the mining…

College Lacrosse: Starsia inks extension with UVa.

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] UVa. men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia has agreed to a contract extension that will keep the three-time national title-winning coach in Charlottesville through 2012. “I am about to start my 17th year here at the University of Virginia. The time has come and gone in a heartbeat. My family and…

Valley News: Food Bank benefits from ‘Idol Gives Back’

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham [email protected] As much as many of us can’t stand the TV show “American Idol,” there’s a reason to thank Simon and Paula and Randy and Ryan and the crooners. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network announced yesterday that it has received a $100,000 grant to fight child hunger in the…

Winners and Losers: McCain-Palin, NV-Jim Gilmore, reporters arrested at RNC

Chris Graham

Compiled by Chris Graham [email protected] THE PALIN CALL STILL BOTHERS ME: But what do I know? If they’d vetted her as well as they had the others, and then the ethics investigation and the Bridge to Nowhere line that doesn’t make sense given that she took the money and ran anyway and the, ahem, family…