Three Republican candidates square off tonight in a primary for the Virginia Senate seat in the 14th district. The retirement of Harry Blevins opened up the seat, which will be contested in a special election on August 6. The three candidates are Del. John Cosgrove, activist Chris Stearns, and former Chesapeake council candidate Bill Haley. … Continue reading GOP Senate election tonight
According to The Virginian-Pilot's Jill Nolan, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim has the five votes necessary for an 4-cent increase in the real estate tax rate. I guess we can't complain - Hampton is looking at as much as a 23-cent increase. I'm not completely sold on the need for the additional two cents, although I … Continue reading Norfolk heading for a 4-cent increase in real estate tax rate
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-PIlot Friday. The U.S. Senate is expected to take up the Marketplace Fairness Act today. Most expect it will pass. While the House of Representatives is another hurdle, I'll go out on a limb and say that it will pass there, too. The states are hurting and … Continue reading ICYMI: The end of tax-free sales online
Cumberland County schools has received a waiver of SOL reading score requirements from the Commonwealth Department of Education as part of a move to receive federal funds to try raising the scores. A Reading Specialist is now at the Cumberland Elementary School to begin teaching in the effort. The school division is facing a nearly … Continue reading Cumberland County schools receive waiver from SOL reading test
The Immigration Centers of America facility in Farmville was missing two of their detainees earlier this week. As of this writing, there is still one missing. This is the facility that Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli bragged about not too long ago at a Chamber of Commerce lunch in Farmville. Instead of being part of the … Continue reading Immigrant prison Cuccinelli helped still looking for escapee
Norfolk held a hearing tonight on the proposed 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate for school construction. Hearing from the parents of children in our schools, most notably Larchmont and Ocean View Elementary Schools, was just heart-wrenching. How our schools ended up in such disrepair is beyond me. None of the speakers were … Continue reading But it’s for the children!
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Friday. Of all 43 speakers at last Wednesday's public hearing on the budget, it was the comments of longtime civic activist, Alton Robinson, that resonated the most. Either council is unaware - or doesn't care - that the optics of putting $89 million into the … Continue reading ICYMI: Leaders in reverse
Cumberland County 5th District Supervisor Parker Wheeler is being sued by his 5th District constituents over a delinquent tax bill that came to light earlier this year. A retired judge from the 14th Circuit Court has been appointed after the judge from the 10th Circuit Court recused himself and the rest of the judges on … Continue reading Cumberland Supervisor sued by constituents over back taxes, Judge recuses self
(Some of the following information comes from a newspaper report in the Farmville Herald.) During remarks to the Farmville Chamber of Commerce recently, candidate for Governor Ken Cuccinelli claimed to have some influence in "cutting red tape" for the immigrant detention center/prison built in Farmville a few years ago. "He went to the head of … Continue reading Cuccinelli brags about “cutting red tape” for Farmville immigrant prison
You know it's silly season when the gubernatorial candidates for governor are talking about their personal taxes. What relevance, exactly, do personal income tax returns have to the ability to serve as governor? Absolutely none. But if you have nothing to say, I guess it makes for an easy diversion. And that's exactly what we … Continue reading VA Guv candidates’ taxes
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 