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Democratic candidates vying for Va. 7th Congressional District seat discuss plans for small businesses
Democratic candidates running for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District seat met June 6 to discuss small business issues at a candidates forum hosted by the Virginia Minority Chambers. The candidates – Andrea Bailey, Margaret Franklin, Elizabeth Guzman, Briana Sewell and Eugene Vindman – presented their platforms and answered questions from the representatives from the chambers Candidates were given eight minutes to give a speech and five minutes afterward to answer prepared questions from the moderator, Virginia Minority Chambers Board Director Neil McKinnon.
Ongoing war between GOP factions entering new stage as Va., S.C. reps fight for reelection
The Republican establishment has plowed millions of dollars this year into primaries to produce what it views as a less dysfunctional House GOP conference. It’s still got a long way to go. Major Republican leaders and donors have notched some key victories in their ongoing war against far-right insurgents who threaten the ability to govern as a unified party. But even those successes have come at a cost: the enormous amount of effort, money and time it’s taken to push their candidate over the finish line. That raises the stakes for the upcoming battles over the next few weeks ...
Sturtevant: Youngkin warned us about China’s Trojan horse. He was right
In January 2023, Virginia’s news media reported that Gov. Glenn Youngkin withdrew the commonwealth from being considered as the landing ground for a new CATL-Ford battery factory. CATL, also known as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited, is a Chinese battery manufacturer that would have partnered with Ford to produce batteries for the F-150 Lightning series in Pittsylvania County. Following the announcement that Virginia had terminated negotiations with CATL, Youngkin’s decision was widely panned by Democratic legislators and political journalists.
Charlotte supervisor indicted on new perjury charges
A Charlotte County grand jury issued criminal indictments Wednesday against longtime Charlotte County supervisor Gary Walker on eight new felony charges of perjury. The indictments are tied to concerns about the accuracy of information Walker provided on his annual Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) forms filed between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 11, 2023. Walker was previously indicted in January on three felony charges of perjury and two misdemeanor charges of failure to submit a yearly SEI form.
Youngkin calls out Pentagon’s plan for rooftop solar panels, questions link to China
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin penned a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to question the wisdom of the Pentagon’s plan to use $104 million in taxpayer funds to add solar panels to the rooftop of the Pentagon. The Virginia Republican told Austin that he has “serious concerns” about the plan to secure solar panels to the rooftop of the Pentagon and other military installations, most notably that there has been no “stated requirement that such panels be made in America using American technology.”
Mountain Valley Pipeline is ready to go, developers say
After a decade of planning, construction and controversy, developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline say it’s ready to begin operations. The company asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday to grant authorization by Tuesday that would allow the natural gas pipeline to start service in the coming days.
With a week to primaries, money keeps flooding campaigns
If money talks, the volume is getting loud a week before Virginia primaries for the U.S. Senate and a handful of competitive House districts. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has raised more than $14.6 million for his reelection campaign and had $8.6 million in the bank on May 29. Kaine has more money on hand than all five Republicans vying in the June 18 primary have collected.
Former Del. Anderson files federal lawsuit against Virginia speed cameras
A federal lawsuit filed Monday challenges the legality of Virginia’s speed camera law. The cameras are allowed to be placed around schools to try to address speeding. Attorney and former state delegate Tim Anderson is a known critic of the cameras. He filed the lawsuit on behalf of a man named Gerrod Seifert, who was fined for speeding by a camera in Chesapeake in Sept. 2022, the lawsuit says. The suit names the City of Chesapeake and the Chesapeake Police Department as defendants. Anderson has also filed lawsuits in state court against the cities of Chesapeake and Suffolk.
Russell County votes to end negotiations over controversial landfill plan
The Russell County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday night to end negotiations on a host agreement with a company that wants to put a private landfill on the former Moss No. 3 prep plant site in the Carbo area — a decision that drew an eruption of cheers and cries from residents who have urged the board to reject the plan for months. It was a big victory for the group, We Say No to Moss 3 landfill, which has worked for months to get county leaders to turn down the proposed landfill. Opponents feared that the project would harm the environment, negatively impact the health of residents and create odor issues and traffic.
Richmond fires several finance department employees amid meals tax review
Several people have been fired this spring from Richmond’s finance department, two sources told VPM News. The move comes following the city bringing on government management specialist Anne Seward to consult with the department on policy and to assist in a review of the meals tax. Seward is a subcontractor through Davenport & Co. LLC, according to a memo the city shared with VPM News.