Valley Pulse

Weather conditions are certainly improving here. Temperatures on Afton and in Waynesboro - unofficially recorded by my car’s digital temperature monitor (it’s an OnStar thing, I think) was 44, with temperatures in Staunton at 48, according to NBC29.

A winter storm warning is still in effect throughout Augusta County and the central Shenandoah Valley through Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

We’re not the only ones looking for stimulus money from the federal government. It’s all the rage as localities look to boost their economies.

More than 150 people turned out for the March for Peace and Justice in Staunton as part of a community vesper service at Central United Methodist Church to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The American Shakespeare Center is about $58,000 short of its $250,000 goal with five days to go.

Contractors plan to shut down the water service on the 100 block of North Delphine Avenue in Waynesboro from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 29 to tie the service lines to the new main.

Here’s the lowdown on tonight’s Waynesboro Finance Committee and City Council meetings.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the entire Augusta County region in effect from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon. A hazardous weather outlook is currently in effect, and a winter weather advisory goes into effect at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning through 6 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Sacco emerged from his cave to lead a newsroom tour today.

Reporters know when a story is about to work: It happens before a single call has been made, when the phone numbers are gathered.

We’re starting to get a sense of how Gov. Timothy Kaine’s proposed budget cuts will impact local schools around the state.

As we hope you’ve read by now, Waynesboro Commissioner of Revenue Don Coffey wants to impose a late filing penalty as a way to get people to pay their personal property taxes.

My trip to a 9 a.m. meeting in Verona Thursday became more of an adventure.

As I turned from U.S. 250 down Lew DeWitt Boulevard for a quick stop at Starbucks, it was apparent the major Waynesboro thoroughfare was more like the skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza than a city traffic artery.

Virginia Department of Forestry fire officials reported a 130 percent increase in acres burned across the state, even as the number of fires decreased 12.4 percent.

Two Staunton murder cases are meandering in the courts this week.