Pittsylvania County

Members of Virginia's Coal and Energy Commission heard from Pittsylvania County residents last night, who urged the commission to consider the full impact of of proposed uranium mining activity on the area.

Virginia Uranium's projections for the proposed mine and mill indicate it could employ up to 350 people, paying salaries and benefits of $23 million and producing $140 million in annual revenue.

Read more in The Richmond Times-Dispatch....

The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission’s Uranium Mining Subcommittee will meet at 6:00  Tuesday evening at Chatham High School. Residents are invited to comment on the draft of a socioeconomic study of uranium mining and milling. When complete, the study will examine the social, economic, and environmental impacts that uranium mining and milling would have on the community.

“Certainly all pertinent suggestions would be added to the revised draft of the scope that will be crafted after the public meeting,” said David A. Bovenizer, the spokesman for Uranium Mining Subcommittee Chairman.

Anyone who wants to comment can sign up about an hour before the meeting starts. They will be given three minutes to speak. 

Uranium mining and milling activity could have an impact on property values in Pittsylvania County, and that needs to be addressed in the study. Homeowners should speak out to protect their interests.

A draft of the study is available here. The site also has contact information for subcommittee members.

Read more in the Danville Register & Bee....

The Virginia Employment Commission has released a report detailing employment statistics across the Commonwealth. Experts say that the job market has a direct impact on the housing market -- good jobs allow homeowners to pay the mortgage and stay in their homes. Poor job markets can lead to declining property values.

Virginia’s unemployment rate was 7.7% in February, lower than the national rate of 10.4%.

Read more in local news outlets....

• Jobless rate slips in city (Martinsville Bulletin)
• Danville-area unemployment worse than a year ago (The Danville Register & Bee)
• Jobless rate climbs to 9.3 percent for area in February (Northern Virginia Daily)

Statewide, counties and cities are pulling out all the stops to find the funds needed to keep their schools and government services up and running. Some are cutting jobs and salaries, many are cutting back on programs, and others are looking for extra money in unusual places.

Read more in the local news outlets below:

York School Board passes $115 million budget Monday night (Daily Press)

Beach weighs options to save ailing golf courses (The Virginian-Pilot)

Roanoke tries to cut $10 million from city budget (The Roanoke Times)

Clearbrook fire and rescue station would welcome $93,600 (The Roanoke Times)

Pittsylvania County Supervisors talk finances (The Danville Register & Bee)

Campbell Co. School Board approves budget with school closure, job cuts (Lynchburg News & Advance)

County, school leaders get down to numbers in Bedford (The Lynchburg News & Advance)

Overtime debated, fees considered by Augusta supervisors (The Waynesboro News Virginian)

Public hearing tomorrow on Goochland County budget issues (The Goochland Gazette)

County, schools get additional $1 million (Mechanicsville Local)

School board OKs budget with 12 staff cuts (Amherst New Era Progress)

Early retirements will aid Washington County school budget (Bristol Herald Courier)

County proposes position, capital project cuts (The Staunton News Leader)

School districts across Virginia are pressing officials for more money. Homeowners may feel torn between the need to keep taxes low in a tough economy and keeping the quality of local schools -- and their property values -- high. Read more from the local press....

York school board will ask county for more money (The Daily Press)

Schools chief not proposing to pay, middle school athletics (The Lynchburg News and Advance)

Augusta schools budget decision delayed (The Waynesboro News Virginian)

Council: It's too soon to tell if more funds possible for schools (Martinsville Bulletin)

Danville schools could lose 46 positions (The Danville Register and Bee)

Parents rally to save youth sports in Pittsylvania County (The Danville Register and Bee)