Opinion

The recently passed federal budget called for over $1 billion in cuts from workforce development programs. These programs help people earn GEDs and finish school, get job training and certifications, learn trade and technical skills, and connect with employers and apprenticeships. 

Natural gas generation is neither the only nor the best option for meeting Virginia’s growing power needs. Renewable energy still proves to be the least cost and quickest power generation to deploy, even without federal subsidies. An energy portfolio based on wind, solar, and storage would provide the same power and capacity needs for less than half the price of a new natural gas plant.

An analysis of recruiting lists shows how Virginia Tech’s dominance of in-state recruiting, particularly in Hampton Roads, has declined since its national championship run in 1999. Once nearly a third of the state’s top recruits went to Blacksburg; more recently only 11.2% do.

The formal job is presiding over the state Senate and serving on a few boards and commissions. The two candidates both see other ways they can use the office.

In the early 1990s, there was a proposal to build a new state college, to be located in Northern Virginia.

A student from Tazewell County makes the case for international study.

Democrats lead all three statewide races, but the lieutenant governor’s race is within the margin of error. Ghazala Hashmi is particularly weak with independents.

In the 1980s, utilities and coal companies wanted to build a coal slurry pipeline across the southern part of the state.