Weekly Newsletter
January 5, 2017
In the News
At North Elementary School in Colonial Heights, Students Go Anywhere but South

Schools Across Virginia Strive to Accommodate Increasing Demand 
Partner Spotlight
For more than 65 years, the people of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative have focused their energies on safely and affordably generating and transmitting power. Because they are owned by an 11 member cooperative, every decision is made with the foremost consideration of the impact to the customer. Cooperative is more than what they are; it's how they operate.

 
New Legislative Package to Make Higher Education More Accessible

Staff Report | Progress-Index | Full Article

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam announced yesterday a series of legislative recommendations on higher education accountability, affordability and accessibility.
"We have a world-class higher education system here in the Commonwealth," Lt. Gov. Northam said. "Today we announced legislation aimed at making sure every young Virginian has the opportunity to pursue higher education without drowning in debt. Greater access to apprenticeship programs across the state will help make sure students are equipped to enter the workforce."
President Signs Into Law Expansion of Petersburg National Battlefield

By Sarah Rankin (AP) | Progress-Index | Full Article

President Barack Obama has signed into law a bill that will allow Petersburg National Battlefield to expand and become the nation's largest protected battlefield. The park commemorates climactic sites in the Civil War's longest battlefield conflict, spanning some ten months between 1864 and 1865. Legislation signed days ago by President Obama authorizes the addition of more than 7,000 acres to the existing 2,700 acres of rolling hills, earthworks and siege lines already under protection at Petersburg.