The United States is fighting a global war against the forces of Islamo-fascism. The national and global economies are sputtering, due to the subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. and the high price of oil globally. The country faces threats and challenges across the policy spectrum, from energy to climate change to global development.

The wheels of government can be slow, but rarely as slow as the effort to reduce the speed limit on portions of Virginia 151 in Nelson County.

Ninety-nine and counting. That’s how many days it is until Election Day.

As is clear from recent headlines, Virginia continues to do its best to frustrate common sense and to oppose all human decency in its relentless pursuit to keep the death penalty functioning in the commonwealth.

You can always count on Congress to take a relatively simply, straight-forward bill and load it up with goodies for just about every constituency under the sun. It doesn’t matter whether Republicans are calling the shots or if Democrats are in charge: It’s part of a politician’s genetic makeup.

Monday in Richmond was a day many people thought would never come: the day a monument was dedicated on the grounds of the state Capitol to honor the foot soldiers on the front lines of the civil rights battles of the 1950s and 1960s.

The soaring cost of fuel and a slumping economy have caught up with the state budget. That’s no surprise, really, but unless economic projections improve quickly, the state could be in for some hard times in the months ahead.

When the Bassmasters come to town, they bring fast boats, lots of devoted fans and big bucks. The good news for Central Virginia is the professional bass fishermen are returning to Smith Mountain Lake. Bedford County is preparing to roll out the red carpet for them.

One measure of good places to live is the level of public transportation to which residents have access. Is it available and is it available to locations that people need to get to and from?

These are tough times for America and its citizens, no doubt about it.

The General Assembly’s special session, called by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to take up various proposals to deal with the state’s looming transportation crisis, ended in utter failure.

You couldn’t help but be spooked by the news Sunday afternoon that the federal government and the Federal Reserve were stepping in to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The move by Washington says pretty clearly that the subprime mortgage crisis hasn’t run its course.

With gasoline prices at $4 per gallon in Central Virginia, would you be willing to take steps to increase fuel mileage to save money at the pump? You’re probably thinking, yes, I would.

Tougher laws requiring more boater education with an emphasis on safety are paying big dividends this season at Smith Mountain Lake. It almost makes you wonder why it took so long to get those laws on the books.