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Council approves 4-cent property tax increase for new high school; Mayor says MRRJ expansion is ‘off the table’
The Harrisonburg City Council on Tuesday approved a four-cent increase on the real estate tax rate, which will help restart construction of the new high school — all part of the final version of the city’s nearly $295 million Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Also in Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Deanna Reed announced why a proposed expansion of Middle River Regional Jail is a no-go.
Recent JMU land purchases give new life to a longstanding city anxiety
To James Madison University, demolishing the house at 201 Port Republic Road – purchased for $245,000 in February, 2020 – was a sensible move, given its condition. To many residents of the Purcell Park neighborhood, however, it was an ominous sign
Crowd rallies downtown in solidarity with Palestine
More than 200 people stood outside the Rockingham County Courthouse late Saturday morning to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, after nearly two weeks of fighting between Israel and Palestine in Gaza and the West Bank.
Statewide environmental news roundup – May 2021
Pipeline controversies continue. What should happen after cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) to property seized under eminent domain and through agreements with landowners? The same question pertains to land seized for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP). Two Roanoke landowners sued for just compensation and received a jury award for considerably more than the MVP owners wanted to give.
Our student contributor reviews Harrisonburg author’s children’s book: ‘MERIN And Her Very Bright STAR’
Harrisonburg Resident Lori Mier has published her first children’s book, MERIN And her Very Bright Star: A Story of Resiliency. Based on her story of losing loved ones as a child, the story touches on themes of connection, resilience, loss and community. We asked The Citizen’s student contributor, Latham Copeland, to read the book and write a review.
As an employer, Harrisonburg is close to living wage certification. What’s holding it back?
Leading up to the 2020 city council election, Ramona Saunders, leader of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Living Wage Campaign, began working with Democratic candidates to try to move Harrisonburg’s city government toward certification as a living wage employer.
School district in final stages of revising ‘healthy life skills’ curriculum
A group charged with reviewing changes to the Harrisonburg City Public Schools sexuality and family life curriculum will be surveying parents about proposed revisions, which include emphasizing topics such as pregnancy prevention, gender identity and sexual consent.