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MARRIAGE IS CENTER STAGE IN LOCAL PLAY
MADISON GIRLS WIN REGION CROWN
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Sun Gazette VOLUME 38
GREAT FALLS McLEAN OAKTON TYSONS VIENNA
NO. 23
FEBRUARY 9-15, 2017
Gov. McAuliffe:
HEADED TO THE BASKET
State’s Economic Position Is Solid, With Challenges BRIAN TROMPETER Staff Writer
George C. Marshall High School’s Charlotte Donnellan drives to the basket against Wakefield’s Jami Tham during a Capitol Conference girls basketball showdown on Feb. 3. The Statesmen fell in the contest, and will be the No. 3 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. See details in Sports. PHOTO BY DEB KOLT
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Virginia continues to be an economic powerhouse, but several factors – including new Trump administration policies – may throw a wrench into the juggernaut, Gov. McAuliffe said Feb. 1 during local economic symposium. The governor touted his frenetic, worldwide efforts to draw businesses and trade to Virginia Inside: and said the common- Fairfax ended wealth’s wine, craft-beer the year with and shipping industries unemployment were going like gang- rate of 3% busters. See Page 14 But McAuliffe expressed concern that a second round of federalbudget “sequestration” cuts might be imposed later this year. The first batch of reductions, implemented from 2011 to 2013, cost Virginia 158,000 jobs and $9.8 billion in direct spending, he said. The governor, a big backer of Democrat Hillary Clinton’s failed presidential run last year, said he was “a little concerned” about the Trump administration’s hectic first week in office. McAuliffe worried that repeal of the Affordable Care Act without a suitable replacement plan would cost Virginia $300 million immediately. Trump’s federal hiring freeze will hit Virginia harder than any other state, and the president’s new immigration policies also will affect the state negatively, he said. The governor also opposed Trump’s backing