Category: Local

Norfolk school board appointee opts out

Norfolk was all set to nominate Joseph Lindsay to the school board - until the City Attorney belatedly said he had to choose between serving on the school board or being a substitute judge. Not surprising, Lindsey chose the latter.

Opinion, please: politician participate in program

A Virginia Beach council member, Barbara Henley, helped to create a farmland preservation program some 15 years ago. Tonight, the council will decide if Henley, 69, along with her husband, can put 99 acres into the program. If approved, they will receive about $32,000 a year for each of the next 25 and a lump … Continue reading Opinion, please: politician participate in program →

The mis-education of the Wall Street Journal

I can't believe this editorial. Yes, the Wall Street Journal is entitled to its opinion, but not to its facts. Yet this editorial is full of what can politely be called inaccuracies. How about this? But Ms. Sullivan—a sociologist by training—turned out to favor what she called an "incrementalist" approach. As late as this March, … Continue reading The mis-education of the Wall Street Journal →

A proud heritage has been stained

My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. It was an attempt to answer a question that I had seen posed around the 'net as well as to me personally on Twitter: why is the UVA story news and why should we care? I didn't even mention the issue of transparency, which I … Continue reading A proud heritage has been stained →

Is UVA mess brought to you by Goldman Sachs and EDMC?

While others have written about the UVA mess in terms of deconstructing it and the people involved, I have been taking a look at why the university would want to bring upon itself all this unwanted publicity. I don't think that any organization wishes to have a situation like this thrust upon them, and that's … Continue reading Is UVA mess brought to you by Goldman Sachs and EDMC? →

Florida, League of Women Voters and the US Attorney General

A while back Vivian wrote a blog about the registration problems that were happening in Florida that made groups like the League of Women Voters stop registering students and other groups.This month Florida lost that fight.  The League of Women Voters said they are ready to resume their interrupted registration efforts just days after winning … Continue reading Florida, League of Women Voters and the US Attorney General →

Norfolk real estate tax relief to be scaled back

The City of Norfolk is scaling back a tax relief program for the elderly and disabled. According to an article in The Virginian-Pilot, the budget which goes into effect July 1 places a $6 million cap on the program, which cost $7.5 million this year. Longtime readers of this blog will remember that I once … Continue reading Norfolk real estate tax relief to be scaled back →

Exposed: Rev. Jim Webb

The Virginian-Pilot's Lou Hansen has a well-researched two part story on Rev. Jim Webb, the former pastor of the revered Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Norfolk. I don't know what prompted Hansen to delve into this; perhaps it was the arrest of Webb on an outstanding warrant when a background check was run on him … Continue reading Exposed: Rev. Jim Webb →

Thorne-Begland appointed to the bench

The Circuit Court of Richmond has appointed Tracy Thorne-Begland to the open seat on that city's General District Court. Thorne-Begland has accepted the appointment. A couple of things have happened since the House of Delegates rejected his appointment in a late night session. Legal heavyweights from Richmond, including a Republican former AG, announced their support. … Continue reading Thorne-Begland appointed to the bench →