Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
If President Donald Trump is removed from office how will that affect America’s strong economy? WFIR’s Ian Price asked an economy and public policy professor:
Virginia’s Junior Senator says the Christmas season shows why the U.S. should be accepting of refugees. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Photo: Salem City
The new city manager in Salem is hardly new to the city. Jay Taliaferro was selected at a City Council meeting this morning. Taliaferro grew up in Salem, and he has worked for the city since 1991, more than 18 of those years as Assistant City Manager, and the past 11 months as Acting City Manager. He tells us he is already at work in efforts to make Salem City government more efficient:
He says helping current business there grow — and improving the Moyer Sports Complex — are two of his initial goals, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
Taliaferro was selected from the 42 candidates who applied after a council majority asked for and received the resignation of former city manager Kevin Boggess last January.
NEWS RELEASE: This morning, Salem City Council members met in closed session and emerged from their discussions to announce that Jay Taliaferro has been chosen to lead the city on a full-time permanent basis. Taliaferro was selected over 42 other candidates who expressed interest in the job through a nationwide search that was conducted by the independent firm, GovHR USA, on behalf of Council. Taliaferro has served as Salem’s interim CityManager since January, when Council relieved Kevin Boggess of his duties after more than a decade of service.
With more court dates ahead for the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center regarding an aviary enclosure it wants to build – and a defamation suit – supporters have started a new 30-day fundraising campaign to help pay legal bills. More on “25 in 30” from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Proposed Radford facility
Governor Northam’s proposed biennial budget will include 101 million dollars for a new 178-thousand square foot building at Radford University that would create an inter-disciplinary space for Health and Human Services and the College of Science and Technology. The new facility would include what Radford University calls The Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity. It would be the largest capital construction project in school history in terms of funding and square footage. Caitlyn Scaggs is Radford’s Associate Vice President for University Relations:
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is pushing for tuition-free community college for low- and middle-income students who pursue degrees in high-demand fields.
Northam announced Thursday that his budget proposal for the upcoming legislative session includes $145 million for the initiative.
Northam calls the program his “G3” initiative. It stands for: “Get Skilled. Get a Job. Give Back.” He campaigned heavily on the idea when he ran for governor in 2017.
The plan targets industries that include health care and information technology.
Passing a two-year state spending plan will be a top priority for the General Assembly during the 2020 session. During last month’s legislative elections, voters gave Democrats full control of the General Assembly for the first time in a generation.
The governor is expected to share full details of his budget plan next week.
