Tackling Technology

Is it Time to Telework?

The one constant about life in Northern Virginia is traffic. Should you work from home?

Living in Northern Virginia means dealing with traffic. The concept of "rush hour" is lost when commuters jam the roads from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. and a single accident, broken-down car or construction zone can bring everything to a standstill at times. So, maybe it's time to make the business case to your boss to allow you to telework? The many benefits of telework for the employee  Teleworking is also good for employers Not all of us can telework Some workers need to be there either because of the nature of the job (nurses, retail, trades, etc.) or the nature of the facilities. You also may not have the required tools to do the job. Your home may not have a fast and reliable internet connection. There may not be a place in your home that …

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Virginia's 511 Service Now a Smartphone App

You can find comprehensive travel information via VDOT's 511 service on your phone, the web and now as an app for iOS and Android devices.

Last month, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that their 511 service is now available for Android phones and tablets and Apple's iPhones and iPads as a free app. The service was previously available via phone calls to the 511 number and on the web at www.511virginia.org. As we all too well know, summertime travel on Virginia roads can be unpredictable. There are of course some known knowns, to paraphrase a former Secretary of Defense, such as I-95 South will be a parking lot every Friday from 2 p.m. onward. But when you encounter stalled traffic on a late evening mid-week as you try to run errands or when you find out too late that there are going to be periodic lane closures on the beltway to accommodate …

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Manassas Rest Stop Closed After Body Found

Virginia State Police have closed the rest stop/welcome center on westbound I-66 just before Manassas (mile marker 48) after a body was found on the grounds.

Presidents Day County Closures

What's open and what's closed.

Prince William County Government offices, courts and all libraries will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, for Presidents Day. In addition, all neighborhood libraries will be closed on Saturday, Feb. 18.  The Landfill is open regular hours from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Monday.  Prince William County Schools will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday.  Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission will be operating on a modified schedule. Virginia Rail Express will not be operating on Monday. 

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Connolly, Dems Ask McDonnell to Oppose Transit Bills

Rep. Gerry Connolly asked Gov. Bob McDonnell to oppose the measures in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Gerry Connolly joined other Virginia Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday to ask Gov. Bob McDonnell to voice opposition to a package of bills in Congress that Connolly says would cut millions of dollars of federal funding for public transit in Virginia. Connolly, along with Reps. Jim Moran and Bobby Scott, sent a letter to McDonnell Wednesday, criticizing a package of transportation-related bills in Congress scheduled to come up for a vote this week. The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act would approve $260 billion in federal transportation programs over the next five years. Two attached bills would require federal workers to pay more for their retirement and attempt to promote oil shale production, …

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