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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Rolling Hills And Charming Inns Are The Calling Cards Of This Quaint Virginia Town
Orange is a small town with so much personality. There's a lot of history behind the town of Orange, Virginia, which celebrated its 150th birthday in 2022. Nestled in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as part of Virginia's Piedmont region, Orange is a quiet hamlet of around 5,000 folks that's within easy driving distance of more populated locales like Charlottesville (20 miles), Richmond (60 miles), and Washington, D.C. (70 miles). If you take a trip to this lesser-known destination, expect small town charm from shops and restaurants in its Main Street district, hospitable hosts at local bed and breakfasts, and a lesson in history thanks to the town's proximity to U.S. president and Founding Father James Madison's Montpelier. Here are the 10 best things to do in Orange, Virginia. What To Do In Orange, Virginia Learn The Town History There are several spots around town where you can get a glimpse into what Orange was like during its early days. The historic Orange County Courthouse, built in 1859 at the center of downtown, is a good place to start. A short walk away, you can learn all about the town's history at the James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage. Finally, stop into the Historic Orange Train Station, which was built in 1909 and now hosts the county's visitor's center, to get more general information about the town and its railroad past. 129 Caroline Street, Orange, VA 22960; 540-672-1776 Visit James Madison's Montpelier The big attraction near Orange is the historic plantation and lifelong home of James Madison known as Montpelier. Visitors to the national landmark have an opportunity to not only see the place that one of our Founding Fathers called home, but to learn about his impact—both good and bad—on the country. The site serves as a memorial to both James Madison and enslaved people. It's also a museum of American history and a place to learn about the Constitution. Exhibits and galleries like 'Color Through A Child's Eyes', 'The Mere Distinction of Colour,' and 'Mysteries of Montpelier' aim to tell a more complete story of the historic site and the time in which it was built. Visit the site on the first weekend in November to attend the Montpelier Hunt Races, a steeplechase horse race that's taken place here for almost 90 years. 1350 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA 22957; 540-672-2728 Get Inspired At The Arts Center For more than three decades, The Arts Center has been a hub for Orange's creative community and appreciators of the arts. Visitors can check out two gallery spaces: the storefront Morrin Gallery, which features 6 to 8 curated exhibitions annually, and the Community Gallery, which hosts artist-led projects, residencies, and other community programming. The center also offers regular ceramic studio time, classes, workshops, camps, and more. 129 E. Main Street, Orange, VA 22960; 540-672-7311 Go Skydiving If you want to take a walk—or should we say jump—on the wild side, book a session with Skydive Orange, which has been taking folks high into the sky since 1977. As one of the most established skydiving centers in the country, this is a great place to finally check off that bucket list item. You'll free fall from a height of 13,500 feet in the air, leaving plenty of time to soak in the surrounding sights of rolling hills, dramatic mountains, and all-around stunning scenery. 11269 Hangar Road, Orange, VA 22960; 703-SKY-DIVE Shop Downtown Strolling and shopping along Orange's Main Street is the perfect afternoon activity. Restaurants, boutiques, and locally owned specialty stores line the cheery streets, so there's plenty to pique everyone's interest. A couple of extra-special spots include Grelen Downtown and Objects on Main. Grelen Downtown is a well-curated gift shop and sister store to The Market at Grelen, a European-style garden shop and café located on a 1,000-acre nursery just down the road from Orange. If you love Grelen's downtown outpost, take the quick drive to its flagship, where you'll also find six miles of hiking trails and u-pick fruit in certain seasons. Objects on Main is your go-to shop for eclectic home décor, art, furniture, apparel, and more. Where To Eat & Drink In Orange, Virginia Try The Quail Lewis At Spoon & Spindle Celebrated chef Edna Lewis, who's often referred to as the Mother of Soul Food or the Grand Dame of Southern Cooking, was born and raised in Orange County. Her style of cooking contributed greatly to the world's understanding of Southern cuisine. At Spoon & Spindle, Chef Lewis is honored with a dish called Quail Lewis (quail stuffed with wild rice and white grapes). Open for lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on Sunday, Spoon & Spindle offers an elevated Southern fusion menu where dishes like Boudin Spring Rolls, Bourbon Glazed Pork Loin, and Po'Mi (a po'boy-banh mi mashup) all share space on the same menu. 323 North Madison Road, Suite H, Orange, VA 2290; 540-360-3004 Enjoy A Farm To Table Dinner At Forked on Main As a 'farm to fork' restaurant, this downtown eatery is committed to creating tantalizing dishes using locally sourced meats, produce, and ingredients whenever possible. The dinner menu offers a little of everything, from Shrimp Scampi Risotto to Grilled Chicken Skewers to Steak & Frites. Come early to catch happy hour (Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.). For dinner and a show, make a Thursday reservation; there's live music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 124 West Main Street Orange, VA 22960; 540-308-7660 Get A Classic Meal At Main Street Tavern If you've got a hankering for a traditional meal, whether that be a hamburger with fries or meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Main Street Tavern is the place to satisfy your cravings. Snag a seat on its charming alley patio, or in the cozy dining room, order a craft cocktail or beer, and get ready to be impressed. 110 E Main St., Orange, VA 22960; 540-661-0004 Grab A Pint And Slice At Iron Pipe Alewerks The father-son duo behind Iron Pipe Alewerks started their business in their family garage. Over a decade later, they've upgraded their operation to a brewpub inside the 1929 American Silk Mill Factory building downtown. Several of Iron Pipe's brews have won awards, like their OC Light, which won the 2023 gold medal in the U.S. Beer Open, and the Gandalf the Haze, which won bronze in the same competition. Since nothing goes with beer like pizza, Iron Pipe also makes an awesome brick-oven pizza. 323 N Madison Road Orange, VA 22960; 540-522-0673 Where To Stay In Orange, Virginia Choose a Charming Inn Hotels and home rentals are both great depending on the vacation vibes you're hoping to achieve, but in Orange, the undisputed best place to stay is an inn. Though the town is small, its selection of inviting inns is large. The Inn at Willow Grove is the ultimate in elegance and luxury with a 3,000-square-foot spa, full-service restaurant, and spacious suites. For a touch of romance, check into the 1895 restored plantation home known as the Mayhurst Inn. Its rooms feature period décor, Italian marble fireplaces, and whirlpool tubs. The Holladay House's six guest rooms are situated conveniently in the heart of downtown. For an extra- special experience, make a reservation for high tea complete with porcelain teapots, finger sandwiches, and pretty pastries. Read the original article on Southern Living Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
RAND PAUL: I'm not just "a rubber stamp" for Trump, Republicans
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) opened his remarks at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce's Coffee Hour event on Friday afternoon with the words of the one of the nation's founding fathers. "(James Madison) said by separating powers between the President, legislature and the judiciary, that we would pit 'ambition against ambition.' And what he meant by that was, men and women — by their very nature — when given power, tend to abuse it," Paul said. "By separating powers between the President and congress, maybe pitting those ambitions against each other, would stop one from getting too much power." More than 200 years later, Paul says Madison's thoughts on government are just as important — if not more important — than ever. "Sometimes there's not enough pitting 'ambition against ambition,' because people just go along without asking enough questions," Paul told the group of business leaders from Madison County, which is named after the nation's fourth president. Paul has never been the kind of politician to just 'go along with' anything — including his own party. The Libertarian-leaning Republican from Kentucky once again thrust himself in the national spotlight recently with his opposition to President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." He was one of only three GOP senators — Tom Tillis of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine — to vote against the massive piece of legislation. The bill passed through the Senate after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. It later cleared the U.S. House of Representatives by a narrow margin and was signed by Trump on July 4. "People say, 'Why don't you just stay in line? What don't you do what the President tells you?' I just tell them that there are separate branches of government and I am supposed to give (the President) some advice," Paul said. "That doesn't mean we are odds. There should just be some back-and-forth." In the days before the vote, the senator was contacted by Trump. That conversation, Paul said, was one very one-sided. "(After the call), I looked at my phone and it was 59 minutes long. He spoke for 58 and 45 seconds. And in the 15 seconds I did get to speak, he kept interrupting me," Paul said with a laugh. "He was not very happy, because he just wanted me to do what I was told." That call didn't change Paul's perspective. And after he voted against the bill, Trump lashed out at him on social media. "He never has any practical or constructive ideas," Trump said. "His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can't stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!' That criticism, though, didn't surprise the senator. "He is a guy with a big ego and a lot of things he believes in. So, isn't always easy," Paul said. "My job is to represent Kentucky and to listen to people and ask tough questions. Not just to be a rubber stamp. I'm a Republican, but that doesn't mean I'm always going to go along with everything President Trump wants." Paul's biggest objection to the bill was that there weren't enough spending cuts. "We are running a $2 trillion deficit every year and we are going to add $500 million in new spending," Paul said. "How are we going to make that work without things getting worse." Paul took questions from members of the chamber of commerce and the media during the event. When asked about potential cuts to Medicaid associated with the bill, the senator said the goal shouldn't be to cut the program, but to have fewer people in need of that kind of assistance. "I think we have more people on Medicaid now than we can afford to have," Paul said. "Our goal should be to have less people (on Medicaid). It is not that we want people (without) insurance, we need to convert people from Medicaid to jobs that have insurance. There are jobs out there, with insurance, which need to be filled." Paul also spoke critically of Trump's trade policies during his comments to the chamber. The senator said he believes tariffs are not only bad for the economy, but the way the president has implemented them may be illegal. "Tariffs are a fee, a fine. Who pays them? They are a tax, essentially," the senator said. "Our constitution says all taxes should originate in the House of Representatives, then go to the Senate before going to the President to sign. They can't be just originated by one person." When asked if he had thoughts on which person he would like to serve with in the U.S. Senate representing Kentucky in the future, Paul was a bit more cautious. "Yes. But, I can't tell you," the senator told a reporter. Mitchell McConnell is finishing up his seventh — and final term — in the U.S. Senate. Several high-profile candidates have already launched their 2026 campaigns, including U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (6th-KY) and former state attorney general Daniel Cameron. "I'm not going to get involved or endorse anyone," Paul said. "I'm like every other voter. I'll look at all the candidates and decide who I want to vote for. I want to see them present their ideas on debt, spending and our involvement in the wars."
Time Magazine
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Why the Founders Fought for Separation of Church and State
Two hundred fifty years ago, the American Revolution began with the 'shot heard 'round the world.' The Revolution set the stage for a new nation based not on ethnicity or geography or religion, but on striving for democratic principles. Religious freedom was among the most important of those principles. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and 18th-century evangelicals were all deeply committed to religious freedom, including a strict separation of church and state. Having lived in a world in which government and religion were intertwined, they saw separation as essential to prevent corruption of both religion and government, and to mitigate conflicts among diverse new citizens. Sadly, that founding principle is under attack today in the courts and by President Donald Trump and his supporters. Several Supreme Court justices have openly questioned the principle, its application to the states and its historic antecedents. And Republican lawmakers have promoted initiatives to fund religious schools with tax dollars and use claims of 'religious freedom' to undermine laws against discrimination. Jefferson, Madison, and their evangelical supporters would be stunned. The Revolution's 250th anniversary is a good time to reflect on not only the importance of religious freedom, but also how it was won and what it meant to the patriots who fought to secure it. Before the Revolution, there was no separation of church and state in the American colonies. Many colonies supported established churches with tax dollars. Others imposed religious restrictions on voting or holding office. Read More: How Oklahoma Became Ground Zero in the War Over Church-State Separation In Virginia, the most populous colony, the Church of England was the established church. Everyone paid taxes to support it, even non-members: Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, Lutherans, and other religious dissenters. For most, the church tax was the largest tax they paid. The Anglican Church also controlled marriage, poor relief, care of orphans, and enforced laws regarding profanity and church attendance. If dissenters with young children died, Anglican officials would often place the orphaned children in a good Anglican home. Religious dissenters who failed to attend Anglican services regularly were frequently fined, while a blind-eye was turned to Anglican members' absences. But in spite of this discrimination, religious dissent grew rapidly in the mid-18th century, led by evangelical Presbyterians and Baptists. In response, Anglicans turned from legal discrimination to outright persecution. Establishment supporters chased dissenting ministers with dogs, threw rocks and occasionally fired a shot. Men on horseback whipped gathered worshippers. A hornets' nest was thrown into one prayer meeting. A communion table was desecrated with 'the most slovenly things,' Baptist minister Morgan Edwards reported. By the time of the American Revolution, over half of the Baptist ministers in Virginia suffered jail time on trumped-up charges of disturbing the peace or preaching without a license. Many countered that their license came from 'King Jesus.' Even in prison, ministers were attacked: James Ireland was urinated on as he preached from a ground-level window in a Culpeper County jail; John Weatherford, with arms outstretched in prayer from his cell in Chesterfield County, had his arms cut with knives. Despite these attacks, when the Revolution began, dissenters accounted for as much as one third of Virginia's population, and patriot leaders quickly realized that their support was desperately needed in the fight against Britain. Dissenters saw their chance and demanded religious freedom as their price for supporting the war. An extended negotiation ensued. Dissenters flooded the General Assembly with petitions listing needed reforms—ending church taxes, making poor relief a civil matter, and giving dissenting ministers the right to perform marriages. 'These things granted,' they would support the fight. If religious freedom was guaranteed, internal 'animosities may cease,' they offered—an implicit threat. Noting the desperate need for unanimity, a newspaper letter demanded restrictions be removed, closing portentously, 'a word to the wise is enough.' In what Jefferson described as 'the severest contests' he ever fought, the General Assembly slowly lifted restrictions on dissent. But by War's end, reforms were incomplete. When supporters of the old Anglican order sought to impose a new church tax in 1784, dissenters reacted with outrage. One Baptist minister wrote 'the unlawful cohabitation between Church and State, which has so often been looked upon as holy wedlock, must now suffer a separation and be put forever asunder.' With Jefferson serving as minister to France, Madison introduced in the Assembly Jefferson's Statute for Religious Freedom which later became a foundation for the First Amendment. The Virginia Statute separates church and state, explaining that 'our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions' and religion 'shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect [a person's] civil capacities.' Jefferson later triumphantly declared that the First Amendment created a 'wall of separation between church & state.' In 1879, a unanimous Supreme Court agreed. Of course, religious restrictions continued for years: officials and people testifying in court often had to take a religious oath. Bible reading was mandated in many schools. Other discrimination was imposed. But over time, a strong American movement steered toward Jeffersonian separation of church and state. This shouldn't surprise us. In fact, many of the principles on which this nation was built were aspirational, and not always met by the Founders. The foul institution of slavery, as well as persistent discrimination against women and Native Americans, made a mockery of the declaration that 'all men are created equal.' But the principle became a rallying cry for millions who demanded, and continue to demand, that they be treated with equity. The same has been true for religious freedom. Our nation continues to struggle with fully implementing the principle, including separation of church and state. For example, Jefferson was clear that religious freedom did not give anyone a right to ignore neutral (what he called 'impartial') laws. Up to the late 20th century, the religious exemptions that Jefferson warned about were widely rejected. For example, in a 1990 Supreme Court case, Employment Division V. Smith, Justice Antonin Scalia pointed out that religious exemptions to 'neutral' laws would entangle government and religion, and result in a hodge-podge of laws. But then, in the poorly-named 'Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993,' Congress overturned that principle and put the burden on the government to oppose such exemptions. Read More: The Implications of Supreme Court's 303 Creative Decision Are Already Being Felt Now, if a law prohibits a business from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, a business might try to refuse to serve a same-sex couple citing religious beliefs. A business or hospital opposed to birth control might try to claim an exemption from government health care or insurance regulations. In 2017, President Trump sought to expand such religious exemptions by executive order and has since promised more church/state entanglements. In the past, this type of exception left the door open, for example, to businesses refusing to serve African Americans claiming that they are suffering the 'curse of Ham.' Today, people may attempt to justify other illegal actions based on religion. Jefferson and his supporters understood that such mixing of church and state corrupted both. In 2005, when the Supreme Court struck down a courthouse display of the Ten Commandments, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor channeled Jefferson by asking 'those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state, … why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?' The question rings true today. The fight for religious freedom and separation of church and state continues, as it does for all founding principles, from equality to citizenship rights to freedom of movement. But in spite of the failures and shortcomings, these principles still stand as ideas that Americans can strive to realize. John A. Ragosta, formerly the Interim Director of the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, is author of Religious Freedom: Jefferson's Legacy, America's Creed. The Road to 250 series is a collaboration between Made by History and Historians for 2026, a group of early Americanists devoted to shaping an accurate, inclusive, and just public memory of the American Founding for the upcoming 250th by History takes readers beyond the headlines with articles written and edited by professional historians. Learn more about Made by History at TIME here. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What to know about the Indiana Hoosiers in 2025
After parting ways with Tom Allen, Indiana made a splashy hire by bringing in Curt Cignetti from James Madison for the 2024 season, and the program benefitted immediately. Cignetti brought with him a large contingent of Dukes and also hit the transfer portal hard for a complete roster overhaul ahead of the 2024 season. After losing many key pieces from last year's squad, Cignetti is attempting to achieve the same success with another large batch of transfer additions. Here's a look at Indiana as the 2025 season draws closer. 2024 in review In his first year at the helm, Cignetti led the Hoosiers to their first 10-win season in program history and added an 11th win for good measure. His unprecedented success led to Indiana's first College Football Playoff appearance, which ended with a loss to Notre Dame. Though he benefited from a soft schedule, the success can't be overlooked. Head coach profile Cignetti famously told a reporter "It's pretty simple - I win. Google me" after being hired at Indiana before the 2024 season. He did just that, taking the Hoosiers to historic sights. Prior to that, Cignetti was the head coach at James Madison for five seasons. In his first season, he led the Dukes to an FCS title game appearance followed by a semifinal appearance the year after. When James Madison transitioned to the Sun Belt to join the FBS ranks, it went 8-3 and won a share of the division championship before improving to 11-2 the following year despite being ineligible for the Sun Belt title game. Top offensive player After finding success with transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke last season, the Hoosiers brought in Fernando Mendoza from Cal, who figures to be one of their top offensive players in 2025. Mendoza was ranked as the No. 4 quarterback transfer by 247Sports and threw for over 3,000 yards at a 68.7% clip with 16 touchdowns to six interceptions. Top defensive players Edge rusher Mikail Kamara likely would've been drafted this offseason had he declared, but he opted to return for a second season at Indiana and fourth with Curt Cignetti after following the head coach from James Madison. Kamara recorded 10 sacks last season, fourth most in the Big Ten and most among returning players. Additionally, cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, another former Duke, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last year and is a first-round hopeful after recording 55 tackles and three picks last season. 2025 schedule The Hoosiers will visit Happy Valley in early November for their first trip to Beaver Stadium since a 33-24 loss in 2023. Penn State has won the last three matchups and 25 of 27 total matchups, but Indiana's most recent win came on Michael Penix's infamous walk-off two-point conversion at the pylon in 2020. Both teams will serve as a major benchmark for the other, and the loser of this game may be knocked out of the playoff picture as a result. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads
Wall Street Journal
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
‘A Journey North' Review: Road Trip in a Young Country
In May 1791 Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson met Rep. James Madison in New York to take a nearly 900-mile trip through four northeastern states. Louis P. Masur calls his account of their spring break 'a short book about a brief journey.' But he argues that what the two men saw and did offers a window into their relationship and their country under its new Constitution. Jefferson was 48 years old, Madison 40. They lived a day's ride from each other in the Virginia Piedmont, but politically and personally they were already united in their libertarian interpretation of the American Revolution's principles. Jefferson was the star of the pair—tall, eloquent, quirky; Madison was the understudy—short, slight and all brain. By 1791 Jefferson had helped Madison weather a broken romance, and both of them had begun their long war against the Federalist Party of George Washington, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. But, as Madison would later write, it was their trip that year that made them 'immediate companions.' It would be their first and last recreational journey together, as well as the last long journey either would ever make. Jefferson and Madison went by boat and by carriage from New York City north as far as Lake Champlain, then swerved through Vermont, western Massachusetts and Connecticut. A short sail took them to eastern Long Island, N.Y., whence they returned to New York City by mid-June. The journals the travelers kept are spare and the letters they sent from the road few. Mr. Masur confronts his narrative difficulty by resorting to thematic chapters, each focusing on one aspect of the trip and venturing backward and forward over their lives to supply additional details. The author begins with the ostensible object of their journey, the Hessian fly, a pest that was devastating American wheat. The insect first appeared on Long Island during the Revolution. Americans blamed Britain's German mercenaries for introducing it. One Pennsylvania politician called it 'as great a Curse as the British Army was, if not greater. We could combat their other Hessian Auxiliaries, but this is unconquerable.' Wheat was an important American crop, newly so in Virginia, where planters were abandoning tobacco thanks to exhausted soil and collapsing prices. The American Philosophical Society, a scientific study group founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin, named a committee to study the creature. Jefferson headed it, quizzing the many farmers he met in New York and New England about when it had first appeared and what it had done to their crops. He found that it seemed to attack certain strains of wheat more than others, and attacked the stalks rather than the ears (which meant that American wheat harvests could be exported without fear of spreading it further).
