So much for open government: National Biological Information Infrastructure program to get axe (0)
10/06/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — My apologies to those who have already seen my Facebook pages and listserv posts about this. I just learned from David Inouye, moderator of the ECOLOG-L list, that the National Biological Information Infrastructure program will be terminated in January. According to the NBII Web site: In the 2012 President’s Budget Request, the […]
Recent Posts
A GOP war on the environment, II: Ken Cuccinelli vs. climate change (0)
3/30/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Last year, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli made himself a hero to climate change sceptics worldwide by calling into question the science of climate change. One of his first shots against climate change occurred in December 2009 before he took office. In his newsletter, Cuccinelli Compass, he claimed that seasonal winter weather—snowstorms—was […]
A GOP war on the environment? (1)
3/09/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Environmental protection programs took a disproportionate hit in the recent congressional debate over H.R. 1, a continuing resolution to fund the federal government the rest of the current fiscal year. The core resolution proposed to slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by 30 percent—the largest cut, percentage-wise, of any federal government agency. […]
The Chesapeake Bay funding vote: Reaction and accountability (0)
2/23/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Check out how the The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star began an editorial response to the House approval of Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-Va.) amendment to prevent federal funding of the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay restoration effort: REP. BOB GOODLATTE, R– Roanoke, seems the sort of fellow who would prefer Pottersville to Bedford Falls. In the […]
House approves amendment to prohibit federal funding of Chesapeake Bay restoration plan (0)
2/19/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — The House voted late tonight to approve a budget amendment by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) that would prohibit federal funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay restoration plan. Goodlatte’s amendment to the House continuing resolution (H.R. 1), mandates that “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used […]
Budget amendment may torpedo Chesapeake Bay restoration plan (0)
2/18/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Weeks after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a plan to restore the Chesapeake Bay by putting it on a strict “pollution diet,” a Virginia congressman has introduced a budget amendment that would prevent the use of federal funds to carry the plan out. Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who represents Virginia’s 6th District, […]
Editorial reflection: Why this Blog? (0)
2/13/11 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Every now and then a news publication (in the traditional and 21st century senses) should rethink its mission. Why does it exist? What audience does it serve? Does it serve that audience well? The time for such reflection (personal inventory for those of you familiar with 12-step programs) has come to The Chickahominy […]
Review: Shooting in the Wild (0)
11/24/10 •
Chris Palmer Shooting in the Wild: An Insider’s Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 2010 ISBN: 978–1–57805–148–91. 223+xxiii pp. $24.95 (US) MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — On September 22, an article in The Washington Post touched off a vigorous discussion on ECOLOG-L, a popular scientific listserv sponsored by the Ecological […]
Flooding leads to closure of shellfish harvesting in two Va. rivers (0)
1/29/10 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health has closed portions of two Virginia rivers to shellfish harvesting because of potential pollution in floodwaters triggered by heavy rains in western Virginia. The affected rivers are the James and Rappahannock. All of the lower James River, from the vicinity of Hog Point in Hog Island State […]
Explosives spill shuts down North Carolina port (0)
1/12/10 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — The port of Morehead City, N.C., has been closed this morning because of a leak of the explosive PETN. Morehead City Mayor Jerry Jones told CNN about noon today that the leak has been contained. Chief Petty Officer Mike Hvozda (USCG) said the PETN was released from nine heavy cardboard-sided containers — […]
Apologies for the hiatus (0)
1/10/10 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Anyone who has looked at this blog has noticed that nothing has been posted here in a long time. Some of you have e-mailed me and asked “Why?” I face the same problem that many freelance journalists do: These days, it “pays” to blog, yet it really doesn’t $PAY$ to blog. In other […]
N.C. legislature passes plastic bag ban for Outer Banks (0)
6/22/09 •
EDITOR’S NOTE: The story was modified on June 23 to update the lede with more recent developments concerning the bill. MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Despite opposition from business and industry groups, the North Carolina legislature Tuesday passed a bill to ban some uses of plastic bags in the three Outer Banks counties. The Senate version of the […]
New climate change report suggests dire effects in Mid-Atlantic (0)
6/19/09 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — “Human-induced climate change is a reality, not only in remote polar regions and in small, tropical islands, but in every place around the country — in our own backyards. Climate change is happening. It’s happening now.” So said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans & Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, at a […]
FEMA warns of lingering hazards from West Virginia flooding (0)
6/12/09 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned residents of flood-stricken areas of southern West Virginia that, even though the water has gone, lingering threats remain. Heavy rains triggered flash flooding in southern West Virginia on Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9. More than 300 buildings were destroyed, mud and debris littered miles […]
Mid-Atlantic governors sign pact to protect ocean environment (0)
6/11/09 •
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Last Thursday, just a weekend before the first official observance of World Oceans Day, the governors of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia signed an agreement committing the states to a cooperative effort to protect the ocean waters of the Mid-Atlantic. The “Mid-Atlantic Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Conservation” establishes the […]
Older Posts
- It’s Official: Today is World Oceans Day
- Hormone may link fish kills, intersex fish in western Virginia rivers
- Ocean acidification threatens shellfish in estuaries, coastal ecosystems
- Expect a near normal hurricane season, but…
- VMRC: Despite signs of blue crab recovery, catch restrictions to continue
- Mysterious bat disease forces closure of caves, mines
- TNC says shellfish reefs most endangered marine habitats
- New study suggests U.S. coasts may see greatest sea-level rise
- Welcome to The Chickahominy Report
Featured Categories
Book Review»
11/24/10 •
Review: Shooting in the Wild
Chesapeake»
2/23/11 •
The Chesapeake Bay funding vote: Reaction and accountability2/19/11 •
House approves amendment to prohibit federal funding of Chesapeake Bay restoration plan2/18/11 •
Budget amendment may torpedo Chesapeake Bay restoration plan6/01/09 •
Ocean acidification threatens shellfish in estuaries, coastal ecosystems5/27/09 •
VMRC: Despite signs of blue crab recovery, catch restrictions to continue
Climate»
3/30/11 •
A GOP war on the environment, II: Ken Cuccinelli vs. climate change6/19/09 •
New climate change report suggests dire effects in Mid-Atlantic5/29/09 •
Expect a near normal hurricane season, but…5/23/09 •
New study suggests U.S. coasts may see greatest sea-level rise
Disease»
Hazards»
1/12/10 •
Explosives spill shuts down North Carolina port6/12/09 •
FEMA warns of lingering hazards from West Virginia flooding
Health»
Oceans»
6/11/09 •
Mid-Atlantic governors sign pact to protect ocean environment6/08/09 •
It’s Official: Today is World Oceans Day6/01/09 •
Ocean acidification threatens shellfish in estuaries, coastal ecosystems5/27/09 •
VMRC: Despite signs of blue crab recovery, catch restrictions to continue
Rivers»
1/29/10 •
Flooding leads to closure of shellfish harvesting in two Va. rivers6/05/09 •
Hormone may link fish kills, intersex fish in western Virginia rivers
