Today's News

While there aren’t any national races in this November’s election, there are still plenty of reasons for Bedford area residents to make sure they’re registered to vote. And, the fact is, this year’s gubernatorial race in Virginia is being treated by some as a national referendum on where this country is headed with the Democrats holding both Houses of Congress as well as the White House.

    So if you’re not registered to vote, you have less than a week to take care of that.

Last week, the Congress took an important action to protect seniors from increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. I joined with a bipartisan majority in the House to vote in favor of H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act. With Social Security benefits expected to remain at the same level next year, an increase in Medicare premiums would cut into seniors’ Social Security.

    If there’s any political entity within 1,000 miles of us that’s more predictable than the Virginia Republican Party, I challenge anyone to identify it.

    Here in the Year of our Lord 2009, state Republicans have come before us with their presentation for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general in the Nov. 3 election. Who have they chosen? “Bob, Bill and Ken.”

Eight educators learned of their selection this week as 2010 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year during surprise classroom visits made by their division superintendents, including Liberty High School science teacher Jami N. Key. Key was visited by a group of Central Office and School Board members during an AP Biology class Friday morning at LHS.

    Key was this past year's Bedford County Teacher of the Year.