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Youngkin, Earle-Sears say decision is up to Reid
Four days after he asked John Reid to withdraw as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Tuesday that “the decision is John‘s and up to John.” Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the GOP nominee for governor, agreed in a statement Tuesday night, saying: "John Reid is the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor. It is his race and his decision alone to move forward." Earle-Sears added: "We all have our own race to run."
GOP officials demand action as Youngkin’s political adviser under fire amid extortion allegations
In a stunning escalation of Virginia’s Republican infighting, Matt Moran — head of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC — has emerged as the central figure blamed for the widening rift between the governor and John Reid, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. ... Meanwhile, pressure is building inside the party for accountability. Several GOP officials are urging the Republican Party of Virginia’s Executive Committee to confidentially review the explicit images that Moran allegedly showed Youngkin — images that reportedly convinced the governor to personally ask Reid to drop out of the race.
VPAP Visual Medicaid/FAMIS Enrollment by Legislative District
See the number of people enrolled in Medicaid or a Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) plan in each of Virginia's House and Senate districts.
U.S. Department of Justice demands answers about DEI from University of Virginia
When Governor Youngkin replaced a vocal supporter of Trump Administration views about diversity, equity and inclusion on UVA’s Board of Visitors, some thought that signaled support for a more cooperative approach. Now, however, the Department of Justice appears to be holding the university’s feet to the fire.
Arlington police contact with ICE jumps as county board considers further policy changes
Arlington police are contacting immigration enforcement more than they used to. As of last week, the Arlington County Police Department had contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement 17 times since the start of the year. This is ACPD’s highest rate of voluntary cooperation with the federal agency since the county began publishing these numbers in 2022, according to data provided to ARLnow.
John Reid imbroglio tests gender, sexuality and privacy standards in Virginia politics
Amid a political firestorm, John Reid’s continued campaign for lieutenant governor — the first time an openly gay candidate of any party has run for statewide election in Virginia — represents a litmus test at the intersection of politics, sexuality, gender and privacy in the digital age. After a Tumblr account with the same name as Reid’s shared sexually explicit images of men, Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked Reid to drop out of the race last Friday. Reid, who wasn’t in any of the online photos and has denied that the account is his, refused, saying he “won’t back down.” He also accused Youngkin’s PAC of extortion and some members of his party of attacking him because of his sexual identity.
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EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Youngkin hails 44% drop in Va.’s fentanyl-related deaths
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Tuesday that fentanyl overdose deaths in Virginia dropped 44% from 2023 to 2024. Preliminary figures show Virginia saw 1,086 such deaths in 2024, down from 1,939 in 2023, according to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office at the Virginia Department of Health.
Youngkin: Virginia leads nation with greatest reduction of fentanyl overdose deaths
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced at a press conference Tuesday that Virginia is now seeing a 44% drop in fentanyl overdose deaths. The Virginia Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released this data. “I am very pleased the CDC acknowledged that Virginia over the course of the last year has led the nation with the greatest reduction of overdoses in the entire country,” Youngkin said.
STATE ELECTIONS
Youngkin defends bid to oust Va. candidate over claims of racy photos
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) Tuesday defended his request for GOP nominee John Reid to abandon his bid for lieutenant governor over allegations Reid reposted lewd photos on social media but said “the decision is … up to John,” a day after Reid’s lawyer sent a cease-and-desist notice to Youngkin’s top political adviser over the spectacle. “Explicit social media content like this is a distraction. It’s a distraction for campaigns, and it’s a distraction from people paying attention to the most important issues,” Youngkin told reporters Tuesday afternoon in Arlington at an event highlighting the dangers of the drug fentanyl.
How two Va. candidates’ scandals reflect changing attitudes
When sexually explicit videos of House candidate Susanna Gibson surfaced online in 2023, John Reid — then a conservative talk radio host — was unapologetically blunt. “Don’t get mad that I’m the only person in Virginia media who will tell the truth about this trash woman,” Reid wrote in a Facebook post, which included a still from one of the videos. “Say no to legislative hookers.” Now, nearly two years later, Reid — the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and the first openly gay nominee on a statewide ticket in Virginia — is facing his own controversy.
Spanberger shares hope of sweeping victory with Albemarle Democrats
Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger made a tour of the Charlottesville area Sunday, speaking to students at an event hosted by University Democrats before heading out west to speak to local Democrats about this year’s gubernatorial election. The event at the Greencroft Club, a fundraiser for the Albemarle County Democratic Party, was filled with supporters and local politicians — all expressing enthusiasm about Democrats’ chances this November.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Virginia lags behind in preschool access; neighboring states sprint ahead
A new national report has revealed that Virginia continues to trail behind much of the country when it comes to access to state-funded preschools. The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released its annual State of Preschool Yearbook on Tuesday, April 29, publishing data on enrollment and spending for state-funded preschool programs. Out of 44 states, Virginia maintained its rank of 30th in the nation for enrolling 4-year-olds in public preschool. By contrast, Washington, D.C. ranked first in the nation and West Virginia ranked fourth.
CONGRESS
In letter to Colonial Heights nursing home, McClellan demands answer to questions over care
Rep. Jennifer McClellan has waded into the ongoing controversy over operations at a Colonial Heights nursing home, calling for a “thorough investigation” into reports of inadequate patient care at the embattled healthcare center. “The disturbing reports about conditions ... demand answers,” McClellan, D-Virginia, wrote in a letter to Colonial Heights Rehabilitation & Nursing Center Administrator Cara Evick.
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
Northern Virginia businesses sour on economy, many citing Trump policies
Three months has made a huge difference in the economic expectations of Northern Virginia’s business leaders, with most more concerned about the region’s economy and their company’s own prospects. A quarterly survey conducted by Pinkston Business Leader for the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce found 54% of business leaders are very or somewhat optimistic about their company’s performance over the next six months, down from 81% who said so in the same survey at the beginning of the year. When asked what aspects of President Donald Trump’s administration agenda will most benefit their company, over 50% said none.
Virginia Beach is home to Amazon’s first delivery center in the state with electric vans
You’ve likely seen them in your neighborhood. Gray vans emblazoned with Amazon’s signature blue curved arrow “smile” and a playful phrase such as: “I’m electric. Boogie woogie woogie.” The vehicles are the online shopping giant’s first electric fleet in Virginia and are based out of a new Virginia Beach delivery station on Harpers Road. A second massive Amazon building — a robotics fulfillment center across Dam Neck Road — is scheduled to open this year.
Casino employees uniting to campaign for smoke-free workplaces
Virginia’s Indoor Clean Air Act was put into law in 2009. But that was before gaming venues such as Rosie’s opened, and well before the concept of full-scale casinos in Virginia were even on the radar. Juana Wilson, who lives in Virginia Beach and who previously worked in Las Vegas, was thrilled when she learned casinos were coming to Virginia. She was hired by Rivers Casino in Portsmouth. Wilson recalls her dismay on the eve of the casino's debut, “The day before we opened, cases of ashtrays ended up coming onto the floor. And we were all kind of surprised – we were like, what’s going on? And they were like, Oh! It’s a smoking casino!”
TRANSPORTATION
WMATA removing 57 bus stops from Northern Va. service
Fifty-seven bus stops are set to be cut from Metrobus' routes in Northern Virginia, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The changes have been scheduled to take effect June 29. The 2025 Better Bus Network Redesign was first announced in November 2024, when WMATA released a list of 500 stops transportation authority wanted to get rid of across the DMV. WMATA's website claims fewer stops would make Metrobus service "quicker and more streamlined."
I-64 construction begins later this year. Officials hope it reduces Newport News’ traffic.
Construction will start later this year on a new Interstate 64 interchange that officials hope will improve traffic flow in northern Newport News. The I-64 Denbigh Boulevard Interchange Project will add a new diamond interchange between those at the intersections of Fort Eustis Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue. The addition is expected to reduce afternoon traffic congestion in the northbound lanes of Jefferson Avenue (from Brick Kiln to Denbigh), on Bland Boulevard (from Jefferson to Warwick), and in the northbound lanes of Warwick Boulevard (from Bland to Denbigh), according to a spokesperson for Newport News.
Tech-powered rides offer a lifeline as Va. schools grapple with bus shortages
A tech company is stepping in where school buses can’t. HopSkipDrive, a national ridesharing company focused on “safety, equity and care,” is expanding its supplemental school transportation services to Virginia Beach — aiming to help students with complex needs get to class while creating new job opportunities for local drivers. The company’s network of “CareDrivers” — highly vetted caregivers trained to provide transportation in communities with unique challenges, such as students experiencing homelessness, in foster care or with disabilities — has already been operating in Northern and Central Virginia, and other parts of the country.
HIGHER EDUCATION
UVa to bid on Federal Executive Institute despite public pushback
Disregarding the protests of Charlottesville residents and city officials, the University of Virginia is moving forward with plans to acquire the shuttered Federal Executive Institute in the city. The property served as the country’s leading training center for federal employees for 57 years before it was shuttered by President Donald Trump in February. Now it is at the center of a bidding war between a university with a $14 billion endowment and the city's school division with a budget of just $106.8 million.
Trump administration restores Virginia student visa records
President Donald Trump’s administration is reinstating international student visa records that it previously revoked. The announcement was made Friday, amid a slew of court cases filed by impacted students in recent weeks. Attorneys for the students argued that the cancellations were unlawful since many students weren’t given a clear reason for the terminations. Others were told they had criminal records, which consisted of parking tickets or other low-level violations with civil penalties — and even some cases where students were the victims, not the perpetrators. VPM News previously reported that at least 40 Virginia college students and recent graduates had been impacted.
Visa restored for third — and final — UVa international student
The University of Virginia on Monday disclosed that the legal status of a third international student who had lost their right to study in the U.S. has been restored. A university webpage providing updates on recent federal actions noted the change, saying that as of Sunday the visas of all three UVa students whose records were terminated earlier in April from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, had been restored.
William & Mary adopts resolution in support of students and faculty
William & Mary adopted a resolution affirming “values-based and merit-based” support to students and faculty on Friday, while also standing alongside higher education’s fight for academic freedom. The university’s board of visitors voted 14 to 2 to approve the resolution. It affirms what it calls William & Mary’s values-based and merit-based approach to supporting all students during evolving federal guidance.
William and Mary board passes anti-discrimination resolution, responding to federal DEI demands
Friday, April 25, the College of William and Mary’s board of visitors passed resolution HC-3 titled “Merit-based excellence, student opportunity and freedom from discrimination.” This resolution was introduced in response to increasing pressure from the federal and state governments to restrict universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Across the country, this pressure has already led some institutions, like the University of Virginia, to eliminate their DEI programs entirely.
ODU breaks ground on $184M biosciences building
Old Dominion University on Monday broke ground on the biggest capital construction project in the 95-year-old university’s history — a new biological sciences building. The planned five-story, 162,586 square-foot building will be located on ODU‘s campus in Norfolk, near the university’s Oceanography and Mills Godwin Life Sciences buildings.
One year later, students, staff reflect on Virginia Tech pro-Palestine protest arrests
A year after police broke up an encampment on the lawn of the Virginia Tech Graduate Life Center and arrested 82 people, protestors returned to the site to show support for Palestine and reiterate their demands of the university. More than 50 people gathered on the lawn Tuesday evening for the launch of the People’s University, a “sanctuary campus” created by students.
VIRGINIA OTHER
D.C. Council split on whether to support bringing Commanders to RFK
Architects of a $3.7 billion deal to bring the Washington Commanders to the RFK Stadium site have framed the team’s return to D.C. as almost inevitable. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) celebrated the deal on Monday at a news conference, sitting in front of a burgundy and gold banner her administration had printed with the words “WELCOME HOME” written on it. . . . But Bowser and the team need a majority of the D.C. Council to agree — and lawmakers remain far from united on the deal, which is expected to cost D.C. taxpayers more than $1 billion.
D.C. AG sues five Maryland and Virginia drivers for ‘dangerous and illegal conduct’
Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced lawsuits against five drivers from Maryland and Virginia for $425,000 in unpaid fines, penalties, and fees owed to the district for “dangerous and illegal conduct on DC streets.” Schwalb announced the lawsuits, using the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility, or STEER, Act, on Tuesday after he previously invoked the law to sue three Maryland drivers for their unpaid fines for unlawful driving activities. The legal action comes as Washington officials have aimed to crack down on drivers from outside the district breaking traffic laws and avoiding penalties.
D.C. targets Maryland, Virginia drivers with hundreds of violations in new lawsuits
D.C. continues to crack down on dangerous drivers with a second batch of lawsuits against Maryland and Virginia individuals who've racked up tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid fines. The city struggled to hold out-of-jurisdiction drivers accountable for decades. But under the new STEER Act, the District is finally able to go after repeat offenders.
LOCAL
Purcellville budget meeting delayed after commonwealth’s attorney advises against vice mayor’s participation
Several hours before a scheduled special Purcellville Town Council meeting April 29 to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, Mayor Chris Bertaut announced the meeting has been postponed until May 6. Bertaut said in a statement that the Loudoun County commonwealth’s attorney has issued clarification of his April 21 advisory opinion stating that Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett is prohibited from participating in any votes or discussion concerning the town’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget deliberations.
Purcellville Mayor Suspends Budget Discussions
Purcellville Mayor Christopher Bertaut announced just before 5 p.m. that he will be suspending council discussions on the fiscal year 2026 budget until the question about whether Vice Mayor Ben Nett may participate in those discussions is resolved. The announcement came just one hour before a special meeting was planned to discuss the budget following last week's vote to reverse a plan to close the town's Police Department in FY 2026.
Records: Richmond employee used city credit card to spend $40K at company registered at his own house
A former management analyst for the Richmond Fire Department in 2023 used his city credit card to spend nearly $40,000 at a company registered to his home address in Henrico County, according to records obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. That employee is now under investigation by the city’s internal watchdog agency, officials say.
Judge urges attorneys in Richmond whistleblower case to resolve discovery disputes
As lawyers in the whistleblower case brought by former Richmond public records official Connie Clay against the city and its former top spokesperson continue to clash over records and depositions, a judge is ordering them to make more of an effort to get along as the discovery process continues. “I understand strong advocacy,” Richmond Circuit Court Judge Claire Cardwell told attorneys in a Tuesday morning hearing. “But without pointing fingers in either direction, I would like counsel to start anew.”
Henrico schools to provide ‘vetted’ resources on subjects deemed controversial
The Henrico School Board approved a new policy for vetting in-classroom materials related to topics deemed controversial. The policy update was among a trove of routine policy updates passed at its most recent board meeting. The new policy regulating controversial subjects — P7-04-011 — says that the division of learning will “provide vetted resources for students and staff on topics that may be controversial.”
Attorneys argue whether Norfolk Electoral Board member failed job duties
Lawyers debated whether or not a Norfolk Electoral Board member’s actions were grounds for removal during a Circuit Court trial Tuesday. A prosecutor attempted to convince a judge that Marianne McKay, the vice chair of the Norfolk Electoral Board, had failed her job duties, while her attorneys said her actions were legal and permissible as an electoral board member.
Suffolk Public School Board suspends equity policy
In a 4-3 vote, the Suffolk School Board voted to suspend Board policy section 1-5.1:2 titled, “Education Equity Defined; Guiding Questions; Equity Goals; Equity Measurements; Key Terms” in order to comply with state and federal education department’s requests. The policy defines “education equity” as “fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers.”
Living in the shadow of uncertainty near the Petersburg Compressor Station
Peggy Birchfield, 61, grew up in Prince George County — a block away from a compressor station near the edge of Petersburg. She moved away briefly, but returned to the same house as an adult with her husband, Howard. The station — an industrial factory that pressurizes gas by compressing it before pumping it through local pipelines — has been running for as long as she can remember, and she never gave it much thought until now.
Commonwealth’s attorney won’t back down from investigating ICE action at Albemarle courthouse
Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingeley isn’t backing down from his position that the method U.S. Immigration and Customs agents used to arrest two men at the Albemarle County Courthouse last week “constitutes a grave danger to our community.” Nor is Hingeley shutting down his investigation into the matter, even after an unnamed ICE spokesperson blasted the Albemarle official, accusing him of using the moment to “gain political capital.”
Flint Hill fire company lawsuit heads to Virginia Supreme Court
A three-judge panel of the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that the full court will consider appeals made by the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and former Flint Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue leader Karen Williams in a case regarding the fire company’s ousted leadership. This case began in 2023 when local attorney David Konick represented former leaders of the Flint Hill fire company in filing a lawsuit against the county after the Board of Supervisors voted to remove their leadership.
Botetourt County Board of Supervisors candidate reprimanded by state bar association
Dirk Padgett, candidate for Botetourt County Board of Supervisors, received a public reprimand dated April 22 from the Virginia State Bar Association for violating rules that govern fees, safekeeping property and misconduct between a lawyer and a client. The state bar association took issue with Padgett’s recordkeeping regarding client fees, his use of the term “non-refundable” in a contract with a client, and an agreement he entered into with the client which, the association said, limited her right to pursue a complaint against Padgett with the state bar, among other issues.
Today's Sponsor:
Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Bridging the gap between hospital and home, Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center provides warm and loving care in a home-like center. Learn more: https://colonialheightshc.com/
COLUMNISTS
Schapiro: Youngkin blows up the Republican Party he built
All of Glenn Youngkin’s horses and all of Glenn Youngkin’s men couldn’t put the Republican Party of Virginia back together again. First, Youngkin pulled off the improbable: He was narrowly elected governor in 2021, seemingly signaling in a blue-trending state the comeback of a moribund GOP. Youngkin’s victory was a testament to, among other things, a generous self-investment.
Yancey: Trump wants more manufacturing. Here are 7 forces at play, 6 of which complicate that goal.
President Donald Trump is zigging and zagging on tariffs — They’re on! They’re off! Exceptions! No exceptions! — but he’s been steadily consistent on one thing: He wants to restore America’s manufacturing base. That’s a goal that has eluded three previous administrations — Barack Obama, Trump in his first term and Joe Biden — despite very different policies on how to do that. Manufacturing jobs peaked under Jimmy Carter in June 1979, but fell most sharply under George W. Bush in the early 2000s — a fall that had more to do with the North American Free Trade Agreement and China’s entry into the World Trade Organization than it did with Bush’s policies. That freefall of manufacturing jobs bottomed out in February 2010, about a year into Obama’s first term, but hasn’t changed much since, which raises the question: Can any one president’s policies change these global trends?
OP-ED
Speasmaker: UVa needs to stand up for its physicians
The extremely public and disparaging attacks on the credibility of the University of Virginia physicians’ motives for bringing their concerns to the UVa Board of Visitors were, at the very least, grossly inappropriate in decorum and stature. They require a thoughtful response.