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Appalachian Power requests decreased transmission rate for Va. customers
Appalachian Power has filed a request with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to lower the electric transmission cost for customers. Appalachian Power says this rate, known as the T-RAC, is the part of a customer’s bill that recovers costs for transmission services, fees and new construction. Costs allocated to the company by PJM — an independent regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid in 13 states — have decreased, and they say they’re passing that lower cost to customers.
Details emerge about criminal case against Virginia Beach GOP chairwoman
The chairwoman of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach was indicted this week on a felony charge of intercepting wire communications. Laura K. Hughes, an attorney and former Virginia Beach School Board member, was indicted Monday by a Virginia Beach grand jury, according to online court records. The crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A court document filed in the case says the charges stem from an incident in February, but did not provide any details. However, a Republican Party member who said he was there during the alleged offense, recounted the incident.
Gov. Youngkin signs executive order regarding voter list maintenance
On Friday, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order to strengthen Virginia’s voter rolls and ensure better data accuracy. According to a release from the governor’s office, Executive Order 31 builds on the administration’s improvements to list maintenance. This includes establishing one-to-one data-sharing agreements with seven states; conducting two National Change of Address mailings; and streamlining the process for removing voters who have died from the system.
After city jail fire, Portsmouth plans to keep inmates at Hampton Roads Regional Jail
A fire at the Portsmouth City Jail last week forced more than 150 inmates and staff to move to the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, where city officials hope they will remain during the coming months as the city works to finalize the purchase of the facility. Portsmouth City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams told The Virginian-Pilot the city is working to negotiate a temporary lease agreement to occupy the HRRJ earlier than planned given the circumstances. She was unable to provide details this week about cost and timeline.
Chesapeake ponders changing voting system to districts
An effort to change the way City Council and School Board members are elected in Virginia’s second largest city is gaining momentum. Tuesday, a resolution is up for a vote in front of City Council that, if passed, would place an advisory referendum on the November 2024 ballot. Voters would be asked if they would like to change from Chesapeake’s at-large system, in which all members of City Council are voted on by all registered voters, to a system that has the city divided into eight districts, where you only vote for the mayor and the council member that lives in your district.
Richmond father, son who stormed Capitol are sentenced
A Richmond father and son who pleaded guilty to felony charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington were sentenced Friday to 30 months and 50 months in prison, respectively, court records show. Farhad Azari, 63, and his son, Farbod Azari, 32, on Jan. 22 had each pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon and one count of civil disorder.
Virginia still seen as stretch for Trump despite two tied polls with Biden
Two recent polls show President Biden and former president Donald Trump tied in Virginia, a surprising finding for a blue-trending state that Biden won by 10 points in 2020 and that independent analysts still see as a stretch for the presumptive GOP nominee. Trump was deeply unpopular in the Old Dominion while he was in the White House, allowing Democrats to roll up big wins in the state over those four years. But Biden’s popularity tanked after winning the state. A Fox News survey released Thursday has Biden and Trump with 48 percent apiece, and a Roanoke College poll late last month had them both at 42 percent.
Judge dismisses Goldman lawsuit, clearing way for Richmond’s Diamond District stadium
A judge on Friday tossed out a lawsuit that had the potential to wreck the city of Richmond’s plan to build a new minor league baseball stadium. The decision could pave the way for the city to issue bonds later this month and break ground next month. If the plaintiff, Richmond lawyer Paul Goldman, appeals, doing so could delay the project several weeks, costing the city millions of dollars.
Cellphone ban in Chesapeake schools a success in first year, officials say
Students are less disruptive and paying more attention in class after the Chesapeake school division banned phones and personal devices this school year, officials said. The division revised its policy and regulations around the use of phones, tablets and other personal electronics last summer. Before the change, students were allowed to use them for classwork if teachers allowed them. The new rule requires devices to be off and put away — in a bag, locker or vehicle — during school hours.
Richmond housing authority CEO calls plan a ‘last chance’ opportunity to tackle evictions
The Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority (RRHA) presented its “Compassion Action” plan in what it says is a “last chance” effort to help residents to pay their rent on time. The RRHA’s CEO, Steven Nesmith, presented the new plan on Thursday, June 6. This comes after the RRHA previously announced in April that about 60% of families were behind on rent payments which totaled more than $3 million.