The decision by Rep. John Kline not to seek reelection in 2016 set off a scramble about who will become the next chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Kline, who's chaired the committee since 2011, was already set to relinquish the chairmanship in 2017 under term-limits rules. But his retirement announcement Thursday eliminated any possibility he might seek a waiver and set off a succession scramble. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) was the first to indicate her interest in the... Read more

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx was in Statesville Tuesday, and she decried the use of the term “August recess” as a misnomer in describing the period of time between sessions of Congress. “We call it is a district work period,” said Foxx, whose 5th District takes in Statesville and much of northern Iredell County. “Contrary to popular belief we are not on recess. We are out listening to what our constituents have to say so we can bring their concerns back to Washington.” And what they have to say does ... Read more

On Friday morning, Stan Elrod stood on a stage straddling the 50-yard line of Reagan High School’s football field. Ten years and three days earlier, he stood outside the then-brand new building, ready to welcome the very first students. “There was a rooster crowing in our front yard and deer running across (this) field,” said Elrod, Reagan’s first principal. Reagan, along with Atkins High School, opened its doors in the fall of 2005. It started the year with 885 students — mostly freshmen and so... Read more

As the assistant athletic director at Mount Tabor High School, Bill Dinkins usually spends summers making sure that everything sports-related is ready for the coming school year. This summer, he stepped off the mower long enough to head to Washington for a week in mid-July to learn more about how government works day-to-day. Dinkins was one of two teachers in the 5th Congressional District who participated in Rep. Virginia Foxx’s “Teacher in Congress” internship program. It was a great experienc... Read more

With Congress on an August recess, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5, on Thursday met with County Commissioners Chairman Greg Edds to discuss ongoing projects and funding needs in Rowan. Among the topics discussed were education, a runway extension at the Rowan County Airport and various economic development projects across the area, according to Foxx. “During this August recess, I’m trying to do things I normally don’t have the chance to do,” Foxx said. “It’s important to keep up, in general, with w... Read more

Slumped shoulders, fatigue, low self-esteem and a poor attention span are the telltale signs of a child who did not get enough to eat over the weekend. “You can see it in their eyes,” said Denise Combs, cafeteria manager at Valle Crucis School. In the summer — when students do not have access to regular school meals — the risk for malnutrition is even greater. In northwest North Carolina more than 180,000 public school children qualify for free or reduced meals, but fewer than 10 percent of elig... Read more

Rep. Virginia Foxx presented U.S. Marine Corps veteran Brett Bush of Ashe County with the Purple Heart on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The Purple Heart is a medal given to members of the military wounded or killed by enemy action or in action against the enemy. Bush served eight years as a U.S. Marine, earning the rank of sergeant. He was wounded in Afghanistan on Nov. 26, 2010, during his third tour. Bush was sworn in as a trooper for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in January 2015 and serves in Fo... Read more

Rep. Virginia Foxx presented U.S. Marine Corps veteran and native of Ashe County, Brett Bush, with the Purple Heart. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) presented U.S. Marine Corps veteran Brett Bush of Ashe County with the Purple Heart, a medal given to members of the military wounded or killed by enemy action or in action against the enemy on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Bush served eight years as a U.S. Marine, earning the rank of sergeant. He was wounded in Afghanistan on Nov. 26, 2010, during his third tour. Bus... Read more

Eighteen members of Congress, including Republicans and Democrats, are lining up to support Rowan County commissioners’ prayer practices. The group on Monday filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, asking to reverse a lower court’s ruling that declared Rowan’s prayer practices unconstitutional. The Town of Greece v. Galloway ruling in 2014 – permitting volunteer chaplains to open each legislative session with a prayer — is cited and frequently compared in the brief... Read more

Virginia Foxx, who represents Ashe County in the U.S. House of Representatives, has joined 64 other House colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation blocking all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. “With so many Americans fundamentally opposed to abortion, organizations that perform elective abortions should not receive taxpayer dollars,” Foxx said in a news release. “While there are currently restrictions that prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to fund elective a... Read more