Today's Sponsor:
Virginia Easy Access
Sometimes, life-changing events don’t come with clear signs. Virginia’s Brain Injury Screener identifies signs of brain injury and connects you to local support. EasyAccess.Virginia.Gov/BrainInjury
Trump Justice Department Pressuring University of Virginia President to Resign
The Trump administration has privately demanded that the University of Virginia oust its president to help resolve a Justice Department investigation into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to three people briefed on the matter. The extraordinary condition the Justice Department has put on the school demonstrates that President Trump’s bid to shift the ideological tilt of the higher education system, which he views as hostile to conservatives, is more far-reaching than previously understood.
ACLU considers legal action after ICE detentions at Virginia courthouses
The American Civil Liberties Union is investigating reports of immigration officials detaining people in Virginia courthouses. "The right to access the courts is a fundamental one, because all other rights depend on it — but Virginians who rely on the protection of the courts will be forced to go without it if ICE's presence means Virginia courthouses are no longer safe," ACLU of Virginia executive director Mary Bauer said in a statement on Thursday.
A guide to the Republican primary in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District
Republicans in Northern Virginia may have had a sleepy few months during primary election season, but that’s about to change: There’s a set of special primaries this week to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D). Connolly’s death in May after his esophageal cancer returned has opened up a deep-blue seat representing much of Fairfax County — and unleashed a high-velocity set of primaries on both sides of the aisle ... The GOP nominee will face a steep uphill climb to flip Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, which elected Kamala Harris for president last fall by more than 34 points. But that hasn’t gotten in the way of a crowded race with longtime party activists and some newer faces seeking to jump in.
A guide to the Democratic primary in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District
If you were already tired of elections in Virginia, buckle up: There is a set of special primaries this week to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D). Connolly’s death in May after his esophageal cancer returned has opened up a deep-blue seat representing much of Fairfax County — and unleashed a crowded, high-velocity set of primaries on both sides of the aisle, with 10 Democrats and seven Republicans seeking their respective party’s nomination in just a matter of weeks. The Democrats’ race will test voters’ appetite for breaking from the establishment at a time when their party is caught in a tailspin over questions of age and experience.
Friday Read Hampton Roads citizen scientist makes ‘significant’ astronomical find
Most people might not seek out an empty soccer field in the dead of night, but that’s often where you can find Van Ruckman, a James City County resident who made a significant astronomical discovery earlier this year. Ruckman, 78, lives in Kingsmill on the James and contributes to a global network of citizen scientists who provide near-continuous monitoring of outer space. In January, Ruckman made a remarkable discovery on Kingsmill’s soccer field when he observed a distant asteroid and its moon, a feat that electrified the worldwide astronomical community.
From Red Oak to Greenville, Bluefield to Orange, and Goldvein to Silver Beach, VaNews delivers headlines from every corner of Virginia that would be hard to find on your own. This free, nonprofit resource relies entirely on voluntary contributions from readers like you. Please donate now! |
FROM VPAP
From VPAP New Episode of Policy Matters: Your Window Into Virginia Politics with VPAP on VPM
Join VPAP’s Chris Piper and VPM’s Ben Dolle as they recap Virginia’s June primaries and VPAP's campaign finance resources that helped voters prepare. They dig into a trove of features on vpap.org: primary night results and interactive maps that break down votes by contest and district, plus helpful post-primary tools that let users explore results down to their ballot. You’ll also hear about new data on legislator stock holdings, paid conferences, and the top VaNews headlines covering government and politics across the commonwealth.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Youngkin visits Franklin County farm to mark Virginia Agriculture Week
Gov. Glenn Youngkin stopped by Bowmont Dairy Farm in Franklin County on Thursday afternoon to celebrate Virginia’s farmers. Youngkin told a large crowd that gathered in a field overlooking the farm in Boones Mill that agriculture is the biggest industry in Virginia. ... Youngkin said 95% of the farms in Virginia are family farms, and that is the heart and soul of this sector.
Youngkin signs law expanding school transportation options
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin was in Botetourt County Thursday, to sign a bill into law. The signing okays a pilot program allowing small school divisions to use forms of student transportation other than buses, such as passenger vans. This comes during a shortage of CDL-trained bus drivers.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Deeds, Youngkin react to BOV appointees lawsuit
State Senator Creigh Deeds and Gov. Glenn Youngkin offered their opinions on the lawsuit filed regarding the latter's Board of Visitors appointees. The suit, filed by the Democratic members of the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee, challenges eight appointments to the boards at UVA, GMU and VMI, including former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to UVA.
Same-sex marriage in Virginia would be banned without Obergefell
Virginia is one of 32 states where same-sex marriage would immediately be banned if the Supreme Court overturned the federal ruling that legalized it a decade ago. The state is in the middle of a multiyear process to repeal its own ban through a constitutional amendment. If passed, it would cement marriage equality in Virginia regardless of future Supreme Court decisions. Obergefell v. Hodges, the federal ruling that makes Virginia's constitutional ban unenforceable, marked its 10-year anniversary Thursday. But access to marriage equality faces increasing opposition.
State legislators respond to Reid opposing amendment to repeal defunct same-sex marriage ban
Two state legislators responded Thursday to Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid’s opposition to the repeal of Virginia’s defunct ban on same-sex marriage. Virginia Scope recently asked Reid, the first openly gay statewide nominee in Virginia, why he opposes the repeal. “It doesn’t provide protection for people who sincerely don’t agree with gay marriage,” he said. “I’m running to be the lieutenant governor, not to be somebody’s pastor, but I’ve got to protect everybody’s rights.” ... Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, is sponsoring the amendment to repeal the ban. Ebbin was the first openly gay member of the House of Delegates and state Senate.
STATE ELECTIONS
Spanberger’s ‘Span Virginia’ bus tour stops in the ’Burg
Even though she pulled up in a big purple tour bus with her name on it, Abigail Spanberger made sure to introduce herself to the cashier while ordering an iced coffee at Anita’s Cafe. “I’m Abigail,” she said. “I used to represent you in Congress, and now I’m running for governor.” Spanberger’s “Span Virginia Bus Tour” stopped in Fredericksburg on Thursday morning. The tour kicked off in Richmond last Saturday and is taking the Democratic gubernatorial candidate to more than 40 stops across the Commonwealth.
Spanberger stumps in Fredericksburg
Democratic nominee for Virginia governor Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case officer turned congresswoman, visited Fredericksburg Thursday during her “Span Virginia Bus Tour.” In the 7th District representative’s gubernatorial run versus GOP candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, Spanberger has been traveling the state since Saturday and will make more than 40 stops in various localities during the tour. On Thursday, Spanberger stopped by several businesses in downtown Fredericksburg during her stop.
Abigail Spanberger stops off at Moton during ‘Span Virginia’ tour
A total of 22.6% of Prince Edward residents are on Medicaid. That includes 36.7% of children in the community. As a result, proposed cuts to the program have people concerned. It was one of several issues members of the community shared with Virginia candidate for governor Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday night. The Democratic candidate continued her “Span Virginia” tour with a stop first in Appomattox at Baine’s Books, before speaking to a packed house at the Moton Museum. Residents spoke with Spanberger about rising prices and a higher overall cost of living, shared concerns about what the proposed Medicaid cuts would do and asked what the state could do to take some of the pressure off, if she were elected.
Spanberger pushes back against Mamdani comparisons
Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, pushed back against attacks from the state GOP linking her to Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s probable Democratic candidate for mayor. “That’s a pretty ridiculous linkage, but I’ll say that I don’t begin to pretend like I know anything about New York politics,” Spanberger told reporters after a full day stumping in northern Virginia on Thursday. “Because I’m a Virginian and I’m focused on Virginia, and so I’ve been traveling across the commonwealth talking to voters about the issues that matter.”
Hashmi to receive $1M from Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association
Virginia’s Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, will receive a $1 million donation from the national Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association — the largest donation ever received by a lieutenant governor nominee in the state, the group says. The DLGA is a national organization that works each year to elect Democratic lieutenant governors and candidates across the U.S.
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
Virginia Democrats target Trump in race to replace Gerry Connolly in Congress
Democrats vying to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly in a deep-blue northern Virginia district are zeroing in on one issue: who can best take on President Donald Trump. In his announcement video, former Connolly chief of staff and Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw said Trump officials threatened to throw him in jail, referring to letters sent to local officials in so-called sanctuary jurisdictions last December that threatened jail time for supporting and enforcing sanctuary laws. State Sen. Stella Pekarsky’s launch video touts her Greek heritage, which she said helps her “stand up to Donald Trump.” And state Del. Irene Shin said Democrats are running the “same old tired plays” while Trump is “dismembering and defunding our government.”
STATE GOVERNMENT
New regulation requires impact offsets on some Virginia solar projects
Solar developers face new rules to get certain projects approved in Virginia after the enactment of a new regulation earlier this month — part of an ongoing discussion about how to meet Virginia’s growing energy needs. The new regulation, set in motion by a 2022 state law, would require projects under 150 megawatts that impact enough prime farmland or forestland would be required to mitigate those impacts, either through on-site work or off-site conservation easements.
CONGRESS
Warner demands cost analysis for HUD move to Alexandria, concerned about displaced National Science Foundation
Senator Mark Warner is demanding a full cost-benefit analysis of the federal government’s decision to relocate the Department of Housing and Urban Development to Alexandria, expressing skepticism about claimed taxpayer savings and concern for displaced National Science Foundation employees. The Virginia Democrat, speaking during a media availability Thursday (June 26), said he has not seen any cost evaluation for the move that will displace approximately 1,800 NSF employees from their headquarters at 2415 Eisenhower Ave.
Kaine: Attacking Iran needs congressional approval
From the start of his time in the U.S. Senate, Tim Kaine has tried to convince presidents that it’s up to Congress to declare war. Now, he’s trying again, hoping to remind President Donald Trump that he needs to go to Congress before attacking Iran. Before last week’s attack, Kaine filed a resolution saying “Congress hereby directs the President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran or any part of its government or military, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.”
Rep. Don Beyer buzzes to spelling bee win
“Stygian” means having the characteristics of death, but the word kept a lawmaker alive in a spelling competition Wednesday night. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., D-Va., got it correct to move on to the final round of the National Press Club’s Press & Politicians Spelling Bee, where he squared off against Jessica Mendoza, a podcast co-host at The Wall Street Journal. Mendoza spelled “caryatid” right, while Beyer missed “espalier” to start the round. But then Mendoza stumbled on “trichinosis,” knocking her out of the contest altogether and leaving Beyer as the last speller standing.
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
Editor-in-chief position eliminated for The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press
Virginia Media recently changed the leadership of its newsroom operations. Tribune Publishing, owned by Alden Global Capital since 2021, eliminated the editor-in-chief position held by Kris Worrell since August 2019. As executive editor, she oversaw The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press, The Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review and was dedicated to serving readers and the communities with engaging, informative and meaningful stories.
Kroger to close at least two Virginia stores
At least two Virginia Kroger stores will be among the 60 locations the Cincinnati, Ohio-based company plans to shutter over the next 18 months to improve efficiency and profitability. Kroger announced the plan during a corporate earnings call Friday. The company hasn’t said which stores it plans to close ... On June 20, Kroger filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) ... The filing said 81 employees will lose their jobs by Aug. 22 due to the store at 1904 Emmet St. N in Charlottesville ... A news release distributed Friday by United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 ... noted that in addition to the Charlottesville store, another Virginia Kroger, a location at 466 S. Cummings St. in Abingdon, will close Sept. 19.
HIGHER EDUCATION
DOJ officials call for UVa President Jim Ryan to resign
In an unprecedented move, U.S. Department of Justice officials are calling on University of Virginia President Jim Ryan to resign, saying he has slow-walked the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the school and misrepresented the steps UVa has taken to end them. DOJ officials have asked Ryan to step down on multiple occasions, as first reported by the New York Times on Thursday. The DOJ did not immediately respond a Daily Progress request for confirmation.
VCU lobbying for additional state support for military tuition waivers
Virginia Commonwealth University is continuing to lobby for more state funding to help pay for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program as more students are expected to enroll in the tuition waiver program for qualifying veteran dependents and spouses this fall. VCU officials said during Wednesday’s board of visitors meeting that they expect around 1,500 students to enroll in the program for the upcoming fall semester, up from 1,006 students in the 2023–24 school year. This reflects a statewide trend of continued program growth, according to Lee Andes, finance director with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. He said that’s likely due to a number of factors, including increased program awareness.
VIRGINIA OTHER
‘Hallowed ground, desecrated’: ICE sweeps at Chesterfield court draw fierce backlash
Jessica Schneider, a member of Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors, was about to address a growing crowd of people protesting area immigration raids outside the Chesterfield County Courthouse Wednesday morning when her phone buzzed with news that visibly shook her. Another immigrant, Salvador Calderon-Cuella — whose immigration status remains unclear at this time — had just been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and quietly whisked away through the courthouse’s back entrance. Calderon-Cuellar had pleaded guilty in April to two misdemeanor traffic offenses — driving without a license and failing to yield when entering a highway. The fines totaled $130, according to Chesterfield General District Court records. On Wednesday, he arrived at the court to make the payment.
‘Forever chemicals’ mar pristine reputation of Virginia’s Chickahominy River
The Chickahominy River in Virginia is known for its physical beauty, with bald cypress trees and lily pads decorating the water that meanders through largely undeveloped acres of forests and wetlands. But the river’s appearance tells only part of the story. In May, the Virginia Department of Health issued its first fish consumption advisory for the presence of harmful chemicals in the Chickahominy River, which is a James River tributary, and the White Oak Swamp where its waters originate. The advisory notifies the public of the risk of exposure to PFOS, a so-called “forever chemical,” by eating too many (or, in some cases, any) of some fish species from the waterway.
Schools in Hampton Roads region brace for potential federal cuts, explore block grants
As the federal government considers transitioning from using a funding formula to dole out money to public schools nationwide to providing block grants instead, the proposition is stirring debate among Virginia lawmakers and education leaders. A House of Delegates committee and school leaders convened last week to talk about the possible shift in education funding and the continued impacts of federal funding cuts statewide. Supporters of block grants, or large sums of federal funding, argue that they would give states more flexibility to address individual issues. Critics, meanwhile, are concerned about whether the block grants would be appropriately and equitably distributed, including to English learners and at-risk students from low-income families.
LOCAL
Chesterfield supervisors approve incentive agreements for data center projects
While some mystery remains over who exactly is behind them, two sizable data center developments planned for western Chesterfield are now eligible for an extra financial boost from the county. The Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved tax incentive agreements for the EDA-initiated projects at sites near Moseley and Westchester Commons. The agreements lock in the county’s personal property tax rate for the code-named data center projects at the current 24 cents per $100 of assessed value for a 30-year period.
Luray will stop adding fluoride to drinking water
On Thursday, the Town of Luray issued a notice to all residents and municipal water customers that the long-held practice of adding fluoride to the Town’s drinking water will cease in September. “Based on significant discussions and updates by Town staff, the Town Council [has] elected to discontinue the addition of fluoride to its drinking water,” the Town’s June 26 notice states. ... While the benefits of adding fluoride to public drinking water to aid in dental health has been debated since the practice began in the United States in 1945, the Town of Luray started the practice about a quarter century ago. The key benefit was aimed at preventing tooth decay.
Today's Sponsor:
Virginia Easy Access
Sometimes, life-changing events don’t come with clear signs. Virginia’s Brain Injury Screener identifies signs of brain injury and connects you to local support. EasyAccess.Virginia.Gov/BrainInjury
COLUMNISTS
Yancey: We almost ran out of power this week. Congress is trying to make it harder to get new power onto the grid.
We got through the week without any blackouts. That shouldn’t be news, but it is. Three times this week PJM Interconnection, which runs the 13-state (plus District of Columbia) electric grid that Virginia is part of, issued a “Maximum Generation Alert,” in which it instructed utilities to crank out as much power as possible. That was the fourth such alert this year, twice as many as last year. The prompt this week was a brutal heat wave, but those triple-digit temperatures came on top of electric demand that was rising anyway, due primarily to the growth of energy-guzzling data centers.
OP-ED
Jumper: Funding cuts threaten a life-changing college grant program
For the last 25 years, GEAR UP Virginia has helped more than 20,000 students, mostly from low-income families, fulfill their academic and career goals. Unfortunately, discussions are underway in Washington, D.C., to cut funding for the program. GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded grant program that increases the number of students from low-income communities who successfully transition to and through postsecondary education. It is a coordinated effort between the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and local school divisions.