Tag: local news
What do the feds know? Augusta County ranks low on measure of natural amenities
The Washington Post has put together a map of the United States that uses a federal government measure of supposed natural beauty on a county-by-county basis.
City of Charlottesville releases draft Chesapeake Bay total maximum daily load action plan
The City of Charlottesville has completed the draft Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan to comply with the Special Condition of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL.
Parker Bows donates money to Vector Industries expansion
Parker Bows is first on board in assisting the nonprofit Vector Industries with its move to a new facility on Hopeman Parkway in Waynesboro.
Farm Bureau still supportive of FDA authority for GMO labeling
Citing a need for consistent and credible messaging, the American Farm Bureau Federation again voiced its support for legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority on the use and labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients.
Farm Bureau says waters rule would disregard exemptions for normal farming activities
Without dramatic alterations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Waters of the U.S. rule will result in potential Clean Water Act liability and federal permit requirements for a tremendous number of commonplace and essential farming and forestry practices nationwide, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.
FDA deems GMO apples and potatoes safe for consumption
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has completed its evaluation for two varieties of genetically engineered apples and six varieties of genetically engineered potatoes and concluded that those foods are as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts.
George Mason baseball falls to Fordham in series finale
The George Mason baseball team (11-17, 3-6 A-10) fell by the final score of 8-6 to the Fordham Rams (10-18, 2-4) in the final game of the series on Saturday afternoon.
Farmers: Closing elk hunting would put farms, drivers at risk
A proposal by the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to close the elk hunting season in 31 counties west of the Blue Ridge is cause for concern among farmers.
#4 UVA women’s lacrosse blitzed by #17 Notre Dame, 14-4
The No. 4 Virginia women’s lacrosse team (9-5, 2-3 ACC) had its six-game win streak snapped with a 14-4 loss to No. 17 Notre Dame (7-5, 2-3 ACC) on Saturday (April 4) at Klöckner Stadium.
Culpeper VDOT District Traffic Alert: April 6-10
The following highway work is scheduled, weather permitting, in the Culpeper VDOT District during the upcoming week.
Governor McAuliffe announces $89.25 million investment in City of Hopewell
Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Thursday that Ashland Inc., a leading global specialty chemical company, will invest approximately $89 million over the next three years to expand its manufacturing operation in the City of Hopewell.
Second arrest in Staunton shooting
On Thursday, Staunton Police arrested Kathryn Elizabeth Curry, 27, of Waynesboro, on two counts of accessory after the fact in connection with the shooting of Rakeem Moats.
Virginia State Police advises safe travel on St. Patrick’s Day
With three days left until St. Patrick’s Day, the clock is ticking to find a designated driver because choosing one isn’t being lucky, but smart.
Staunton Police make arrest in counterfeiting case
Staunton Police arrested Ashley R. Wright, 27 of Staunton, on Wednesday, in connection with an incident involving counterfeit currency. Wright was charged with one count of Forging Coin and Bank Notes.
Valley author to speak on controversial aviator Charles Lindbergh
A noted former Smithsonian curator, aviation enthusiast and author will speak to his passion – Charles Lindbergh – Thursday, February 19, at the Smith Center in Staunton.
ACLU: Fine owed to Petersburg no excuse for curtailing free speech rights
On February 5, the ACLU of Virginia sent a letter to Petersburg City Attorney Brian Telfair demanding that Petersburg Resident Linwood Christian be permitted to speak during public comment portion of City Council meetings.
Staunton accepting applications for Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
The City of Staunton is now accepting applications for its recently formed Staunton Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Public notice ads are a thing of the past: And yet, they’re here to stay?
Legislation proposed by Staunton Republican Del. Dickie Bell would give local governments in Virginia flexibility in advertising public notices outside current requirements to pay to publish the notices in local newspapers.
New Augusta Free Press print magazine to debut in January 2015
Augusta Free Press is set to debut a new print magazine in January. Titled Augusta Free Press: The Magazine, the publication from the award-winning AFP will feature local news, politics, business and lifestyle trends in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia. Editors Chris Graham and Crystal Graham talk up the project in this edition of Inside the Newsroom.
Chris Graham: Immigrant invaders in Staunton
The Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center is housing seven children from Central America have been placed at the center in the past month. Meaning the world, as we know it, is coming to an end.
Petersburg Progress-Index sold to New York City-based firm
New Media Investment Group Inc. (“New Media” or the “Company”, NYSE:NEWM) announced Tuesdaythat it has completed two acquisitions with a total purchase price of $15.3 million that includes the purchase of the Petersburg Progress-Index.
EMU women’s soccer makes cookies for RMH holiday bake sale
The Eastern Mennonite University women’s soccer team combined a fun team get-together with helping out a good cause, as they made cookies to donate to Rockingham Memorial Hospital. The soccer women baked and decorated cookies, which they then donated to the RMH annual bake sale.
Live Blog: #UVavsNorfolkState
Augusta Free Press editor Chris Graham will be courtside at tonight’s men’s basketball game between UVa. (8-3) and Norfolk State (#UVavsNorfolkState). Tipoff is at 7 p.m. The game is being broadcast online at ESPN3.
JMU’s Brown, Carroll draw preseason baseball All-America recognition
Senior infielder Conner Brown (Richmond, Va./Godwin) and junior outfielder Chad Carroll (Oakton, Va./Oakton) were each selected to preseason All-America teams as two college baseball publications released their predictions less than two months before the start of the 2014 season.
JMU’s Ron Curry selected CAA Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
After averaging 21 points per game with the two highest-scoring games of his career, James Madison sophomore guard Ron Curry (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) was selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week for games of Dec. 16-22.
Video highlighting asthma care improvements wins national award
For a video detailing efforts to improve the quality of care for children with asthma, University of Virginia Health Systemhas earned a national award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The foundation selected UVA as one of four winners of its “Voices of Quality” video contest, which highlights how hospitals and healthcare providers use performance data to improve quality.
Terry McAuliffe Inaugural Committee announces additional parade participants
The Terry McAuliffe Inaugural Committee has announced additional parade participants for the inauguration of Terry McAuliffe as 72nd Governor of the Commonwealth.
Court of Appeals finds Johnathon Montgomery innocent
The Virginia Court of Appeals on Friday found Johnathon Montgomery – convicted and imprisoned in 2009 for sex crimes he did not commit – actually innocent of those charges after his alleged victim recanted her testimony and was convicted of perjury in August.
Robert Hurt: Showing appreciation for our troops this holiday season
As we gather with friends and family to observe this holiday season and to pray for peace on earth and good will toward men, I thank you for the opportunity to represent Virginia’s Fifth District in the United States Congress. The blessings we enjoy as Virginians are abundant, and I am grateful every day for the natural beauty, the agricultural bounty, and the hardworking entrepreneurial spirit we see all across our great district.
Watercolor classes at Staunton Augusta Art Center
The Staunton Augusta Art Center announces a series of six Wednesday Watercolor Classes for beginners to experienced painters. Build from the basics and explore new techniques to practice more complex watercolor painting skills. Learn by making value sketches, mixing color in different ways, experimenting with color combinations.
George Mason basketball loses to #17 Iowa State, 79-67
The George Mason men’s basketball team dropped a hard-fought 79-67 decision to No. 17 Iowa State to open the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Sunday in the Stan Sheriff Center. Patrick Holloway led the Patriots with a career-high 19 points.
Local Wendy’s franchise donating $4,000 to help feed local families
The Shirley May Food Group, a local Wendy’s franchise, will present the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank with a $4,000 donation on Monday. Joe Harris, representing the Shirley May Food Group, said they were inspired to give more after hearing about the success of the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce in the Governor’s Bowl Food and Fund Drive.
Holiday Hoops Classic raises over 100 tons of food for Virginia’s food banks
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced the winner of the food and fund drive held in conjunction with the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic taking place this afternoon and evening at the Richmond Coliseum. A month-long food drive on the campuses of the four participating Virginia universities raised over 100 tons of food for food banks throughout the Commonwealth.
Work to begin on Interstate 64 upgrades in the Shenandoah Valley
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced last week that VDOT is moving forward with technology upgrades designed to improve safety and traffic flow on Interstate 64 over Afton Mountain. The Commonwealth Transportation Board recently awarded a $4.6 million contract to G4S Technology of Springfield to design and build an Active Traffic and Safety Management System.
VDOT road report: Dec. 23-Jan. 3
The following is a list of highway work that might affect traffic in the Staunton VDOT transportation district during the coming weeks.
AAA: Gas prices falling again
Motorists’ spirits are bright across most of the country as stable, and in some areas somewhat lower, gas pump prices take hold in time for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. This week the national gas price average dropped three cents to $3.22 per gallon Friday, a penny more expensive than one month ago and mirroring the same price as this time last year.
Virginia women’s basketball downs Florida Gulf Coast, 85-56
The Virginia women’s basketball team (5-6) defeated Florida Gulf Coast (6-5), 85-56 in the finale of the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. Virginia made nine consecutive three-point attempts in the first half, finishing the period shooting 90.0 percent (9 of 10) from long range. Six different Cavaliers made at least one three-pointer in the game with senior guard Kelsey Wolfe (Germantown, Md.) connecting on 4-of-7.
McDonnell applauds efforts to aid Syrian refugees
Gov. Bob McDonnell applauded the efforts of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and its members, Paxton Van Lines, and Maersk to provide over 18,000 blankets to Syrian refugees in Turkey. This initiative began following a recent NVRC cultural exchange trip to the region where local and state government officials from the Commonwealth toured a refugee camp near Adana, Turkey.
JMU wins in Holiday Hoops Classic over Hampton, 55-49
Sophomore guard Ron Curry (Pennsauken, N.J./Paul VI) poured in 19 points as JMU held off Hampton in the final minutes for a 55-49 victory on Saturday afternoon in the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic in the Richmond Coliseum. JMU won for the second time in three games to improve to 4-9 overall while HU dropped to 5-7. JMU also improved to 4-1 in the all-time series.
McDonnell sets date for special election in Senate District 33
Gov. Bob McDonnell has set Jan. 21st, 2014 as the date for the special election to fill the seat of State Sen. Mark Herring, who was elected attorney general and is resigning from the Senate effective January 11th.
Earth Talk: Teaching kids about climate change
Kids today may be more eco-savvy than we were at their age, but complex topics like climate change may still mystify them. Luckily there are many resources available to help parents teach their kids how to understand the issues and become better stewards for the planet.
Chris Graham: Quick hits from the UVa.-Northern Iowa game
Northern Iowa beat VCU last week 77-68, and earlier this month lost in overtime to #17 Iowa State. This wasn’t your average 5-5 team coming in here today, and considering that UVa. last played two weeks ago, losing 75-72 at Green Bay, today was no easy task for the ‘Hoos. Nice effort after the sluggish start to take control in the second half.
UVa. basketball overcomes sluggish start in 57-43 win over Northern Iowa
Virginia and Northern Iowa combined for 10 points in the first 11 minutes. The Cavs heated up in the second half en route to a 57-43 win over UNI Saturday in Charlottesville. UVa. (8-3) led 21-16 at the break despite shooting just 29.76 percent from the field.
Wanted Waynesboro teen turns himself in
A Waynesboro teen wanted on charges of obtaining money by false pretenses turned himself in at the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday. Michael Paul Bennett, 19, originally of Waynesboro, was wanted for eight counts of obtaining money by false pretenses.
UVa. women’s basketball loses to Tulane in OT
The Virginia women’s basketball team (4-6) fell 79-72 in overtime to Tulane (6-3) in the opening game of the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Cavaliers trailed by 20 points in the first half, coming back to tie the game with 17:07 left in regulation. After trailing by eight with 6:14 remaining, the Cavaliers again came back, holding a one-point lead, 65-64, with 19 seconds remaining.
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