The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a cool tool that lets you create and submit your own budget proposals to balance the state budget.

Click here to create your own balance-the-budget proposal.

It's 34 degrees outside here in Halifax and it is raining on top of our beautiful snow.  However, our neighbors to the north are seeing cooler temperatures.  And, with these cooler temperatures, they are seeing snow and the dreaded three letter word, ice.

I just heard from a co-worker who lives near Farmville that his power had just gone out.   If you would like to see where else the power might be out, Dominion Power has a handy website:

953HLF.com and 1045TheDan.com are now posting weather closings & delays on their websites.

There is also a form on each website for businesses & organizations to submit your weather closing information online; we encourage you to use the online forms rather than calling or faxing, as the staff can update the website from any computer that is online.  That means if the staff is snowed in, they'll still be able to receive your info and get it online.

Did you know that the IRS has partnered with 19 software companies to allow eligible taxpayers to file their federal taxes online for free?  Each of the companies have different guidelines as to who is eligible for free filing, and most of them take into account Adjusted Gross Income and/or age to determine eligibility.  Some of the companies offer free or paid state tax preparation and e-filing services, and some may not offer state tax preparation and e-file services for all states.

Visit http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html to learn more, and to either select your own Free File company, or complete a questionnaire to help you find a company.

I never knew that Wayne Newton, Mr. Vegas himself, was born and raised in Virginia! 

Newton was in Richmond to address the General Assembly yesterday, and Shelia Bradley, 60th District Del. James Edmunds' aide, is pictured with him.