Last Word

Last Word on sales tax increase, Feb. 28

Sales tax increase I don’t appreciate the sneaky way this tax hike is being motored through to support tourism and another-named slush fund. Please list the names and phone numbers of who we can call in Richmond for York, James City and Williamsburg to let our voices be heard. Thank you. Editor’s...

Last Word on sales tax, Feb. 24

Sales tax increase Instead of a 1 percent sales tax increase to feed the tourism oligarchs, how about an increase to promote affordable housing for the people who do the work that runs the tourism industry in the area? Seems like the Chamber of Commerce, JCC Supervisors and the Williamsburg City...

Last Word on Florida shootings, Feb. 21

Florida shootings A question for Congress: Why is the possession of assault weapons more important than school children's lives? Don't those children have a right, under the Constitution, to live full lives, in liberty and in the pursuit of happiness? I’m in high school and I’m scared to go to...

Last Word, Feb. 17

Shooting in Florida To all those who write in demanding rights to carry in schools, churches and other public places: do you also demand similar rights for convicted criminals, the mentally ill and those with restraining orders? Should they be allowed to build up arsenals of assault weapons? Anyone...

Last Word on harassment, Feb. 14

Looking good To whoever is decorating Lake Powell Road and Brookwood Drive with decorations: They look amazing. Can’t wait to see what you put up for Easter. This is harassment I worked at a big box hardware store. Every day, the male customers would make degrading sexual comments to any of the...

Last Word on workforce housing, Feb. 10

City taxes Here we go again, as the Williamsburg City Council looks to raise taxes after its annual retreat. The city manager can’t offer a specific reason why he anticipates a reduction in revenues from the meal and room taxes. The mayor and council members keep looking for ways to increase our...

Last Word on tourism taxes, Feb. 7

Tax for tourism I think the proposed 1 percent added sales tax for James City, York and Williamsburg is a big crock. It’s a complete, unfair burden to the citizens to have to pay this to fund tourism. Why don’t they keep doing like they’ve been doing? They’ve got taxes on the rooms and meal taxes....

Last Word about CW finances, Feb. 3

Williamsburg budget The Virginia Gazette's recent reporting on the Williamsburg City Council discussions on potential tax increases and the need to add a new position to administer the new Tourism Development Fund is very revealing. If the city ran like a business, as revenues decline, the focus...

Last Word on an angel, Jan. 31

Met my angel I had a very important doctor’s appointment the other day and stopped at a store for water on my way. I got back to my car and it wouldn’t start. I cried because I could not get to the appointment. Then my angel called, “Ma’am, Ma’am.” I looked and she offered me a ride. I had to take...

Last Word on the shutdown, Jan. 27

Williamsburg Inn On Wednesday, Last Word published a comment that said The Williamsburg Inn had been awarded the Forbes Travel Guide Fifth Star. The Inn was awarded the AAA Five Diamond designation in November 2017, one of just 120 hotels in North America to hold this distinction. However, Forbes...

Solutions come when we work together

Kantor's search for truth reflects well on journalism

CW should stay focused on history

Unwavering support for FISH is appreciated

This Day in History: Lincoln Delivers the Gettysburg Address

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Behind the scenes of Busch Gardens' Christmas Town

Apple Now Letting iOS Users Download Their Data

California Wildfires Kill 31 People

W&M names Coach Mike London to succeed Laycock

Just two days after Jimmye Laycock’s last game at Zable Stadium, the College of William and Mary named his successor: Mike London. At Noon Monday, the college’s director of athletics Samantha Huge announced Mike London would take the helm of the Tribe football team as the team’s 30th head coach,...

W&M in-state, undergrad freshmen will see a 5.4 percent tuition increase next fall

The College of William and Mary Board of Visitors approved a 5.4 percent tuition increase for in-state freshmen next fall; that equates to $18,375 a year in tuition. At their meeting in October, the board agreed to a lower increase than they had anticipated because of more state support. The resolution...

Fired up: Colonial Williamsburg kiln ready for November brick baking

Down a lush green path at the end of North Queen Street in Colonial Williamsburg, stacks of sandy-colored unbaked bricks tower about six-feet high inside unwalled sheds. It’s brick firing season in the Historic Area, and historical interpreters are ready to fire the brick kiln with long rows of...

Fall leaf collection schedules

After you’ve raked and bagged the fallen leaves in your yard, Williamsburg, James City and York have leaf disposal services to take those leaves off your hands. Williamsburg The City of Williamsburg offers free curbside leaf collection, with two separate routes collecting leaves five times from...

Colorado man Christopher Watts gets life for killing pregnant wife, 2 kids

A Colorado man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his pregnant wife and their two young daughters. Christopher Watts was sentenced Monday, nearly two weeks after pleading guilty to avoid the death penalty. Prosecutors have said Shanann Watts' family consented to the plea deal. He...

White House again threatens reporter Jim Acosta's press pass; CNN seeks hearing

The Trump administration has again targeted White House press credentials for CNN reporter Jim Acosta. After a federal judge ordered that Acosta's credentials be temporarily restored last week, the White House sent Acosta a letter saying it had made the "preliminary decision" to suspend his pass....

• Judge: White House must immediately return CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press credential

Tijuana residents chant 'Out!' in protest to migrants from caravan camped in city

Hundreds of Tijuana residents congregated around a monument in an affluent section of the city south of California on Sunday to protest the thousands of Central American migrants who have arrived via caravan in hopes of a new life in the U.S. Tensions have built as nearly 3,000 migrants from the...

• Migrant caravan from Central America

This family fled the Camp Fire. Then they learned their garage became a makeshift hospital.

Desiree Borden thought she had time to pack her things. But a friend called saying the California Camp Fire was barreling toward her home in Paradise and would be at her doorstep in a matter of minutes. Borden and her husband grabbed their toddler, their dogs and raced out with the sad resignation...