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Northam calls for VMI racism probe
Before the academic semester begins, new cadets at Virginia Military Institute must endure Hell Week, a punishing 10-day rite of passage that introduces students to the military discipline, drill and physical fitness expectations required of them. For one Black freshman in 2018, it meant a white sophomore telling him he’d “lynch” his body and use […]
Va. to expand networking program to new regions
During the next two years Virginia will invest $1.7 million to expand the Network2Work workforce development initiative, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The commonwealth will partner with the Virginia Community College System to pilot the Network2Work model in the Shenandoah Valley, Hampton Roads and greater Richmond regions. Network2Work was established by Piedmont Virginia Community College […][...]
Lexington sheds some Confederate monikers
Lexington memorializes Confederate Gens. Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson and Robert E. Lee so much, Lee’s final resting place in the city was described as “a kind of Confederate Graceland” in a 2009 Washington Post travel story. Lexington’s image changed some this summer, however. While Virginia Military Institut[...]
JMU names associate VP for diversity, equity and inclusion
James Madison University announced Tuesday that Brent Lewis became its inaugural associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) on Sept. 1. Lewis was most recently the chief diversity officer and director of identity, culture and inclusion with Randolph College in Lynchburg. He will work in JMU’s Division o[...]
Augusta County expands business relief fund
The Augusta County Economic Development Authority (EDA) announced Tuesday it has expanded its Disaster Recovery Grant Fund to allow businesses that have previously received Paycheck Protection Program loans (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to apply for grants of up to $15,000. “The expansion of our grant fund will allow additional Augusta County businesses […]
Frederick County launches $1M business grant program
The Frederick County Economic Development Authority announced Monday it has allocated $1 million of federal CARES Act funds for a business grant program. Applications can be submitted at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 through 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. The program will award grants of $5,000, $7,500 and $10,000 to businesses with 2019 annual gross […]
A tale of two authorities
The town of Front Royal is moving forward with its own economic development authority independent from its cooperative EDA with Warren County, which is still reeling under the weight of a high-profile embezzlement scandal. Front Royal is the only locality in the state with two EDAs. The move was granted earlier this year in legi[...]
More college students head into quarantine as COVID-19 cases rise
RICHMOND — As more universities open, they’re collecting and releasing COVID-19 data and grappling with contingency plans for those who contract the disease. As of Thursday evening, universities across Virginia were reporting that more than 550 students, staff and faculty members have tested positive for COVID-19 since s[...]
JMU introduces COVID-19 dashboard
Joining other state universities, James Madison University introduced a COVID-19 dashboard Tuesday to track positive results among students, faculty and staff. According to the dashboard, JMU has 24 self-reported cases and four positive tests performed at the university health center; all but one of the cases were among students. The university noted in its description […]
UPDATED: Sen. Chase refused to wear mask at Harrisonburg restaurant
Updated, Aug. 19 The owners of a Harrisonburg restaurant posted a message on Facebook saying that GOP gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase refused to wear a mask in their restaurant Sunday and threatened to sue them for enforcing the policy. “Chase came into our restaurant,” wrote Katharine Nye Pellerito, co-owner of Vito’s Italian Kitchen with her […]
Va. Main Street Merit Award winners announced
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on Thursday announced the 2020 Virginia Main Street Merit Award winners, with businesses and projects in the Shenandoah Valley and Northern, Southern and Southwest Virginia recognized. Below are the 2020 award recipients: Best Downtown Public Improvement Project: town of St. Paul for the Downtown Comprehensive Infrastructure […][...]
From Donkey Kong to online tips – raising funds for restaurant workers
After restaurants and bars in the Harrisonburg-Waynesboro-Staunton region closed or cut back to skeleton crews due to the coronavirus earlier this year, area residents rallied to help service industry workers. One of the more unconventional fundraisers was Nevin Zehr, who hosted a livestream event in March as he attempted, over [...]
