In-depth reporting
Crafting a Future: A look at Virginia's Struggling Furniture Industry
The $80 billion U.S. furniture industry
has changed dramatically in recent years as domestic manufacturers
struggle to compete with a flood of cheap imported furniture from
developing countries like China.
Virginia has been one of the states most affected by the changing
industry. Several of the state’s furniture companies have been forced to
close or downsize their plants, and 8,000 manufacturing workers have
lost their jobs over the past 15 years. Towns such as Galax have been
hit especially hard. Nearly one in seven people lost their job over the
past year after three local manufacturing plants shut their doors.
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Asbestos poses problems during local school renovations
Thousands of Rockbridge area residents
work for, or send their children to, one of three universities and
numerous public schools. Asbestos was used in the construction of those
schools to insulate thermal pipes, boilers and even floor tiles.
Washington and Lee University and Buena Vista City Schools have both
encountered asbestos-related hazards, possibly putting maintenance
workers and contractors at risk.
Asbestos is a hidden danger. Since 1979, 1,362 deaths in Virginia have
been attributed to asbestos. Asbestos has been blamed for three or four
deaths in Rockbridge County, and one in Buena Vista.
Reassessment reveals the new cost of owning property in Rockbridge County
When Rockbridge County reassessed property this year, many homeowners
were surprised – even outraged – that values went up an average of 60
percent. But those results reflect what some people already knew:
Property values have been rising steadily since the last assessment in
2001.
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Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming
Editing supervisor: Prof. Pamela Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd