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Virginia legislators express concern over medical school’s treatment of baboons
A group of three state legislators sent leadership at Eastern Virginia Medical School a letter expressing concerns over the treatment of pregnant olive baboons used for experiments. “We are especially troubled by the school’s history of repeated noncompliance with federal animal welfare regulations,” the lawmakers wrote. The letter comes after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a complaint with the city of Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi, calling for a criminal probe on May 14. PETA obtained extensive records showing that school researchers subjected mother baboons to traumatic, invasive procedures without legally required adequate care.
Charlottesville Police Civilian Oversight Board Can Request Police Reports Again—But Issues Remain
After eight months of being essentially non-functioning, the Charlottesville Police Civilian Oversight Board got some of its teeth back — it can now request access to police records it needs for proper misconduct oversight. But the long awaited resolution has some issues. On Friday, May 31, Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders signed new standard operating procedures providing detailed guidance on information sharing, ending a prolonged period during which the Charlottesville Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) was unable to access any police records or investigate potential cases of police misconduct.
Hard Rock Bristol casino pushes back opening timeline
The partners behind Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol on Wednesday announced an extension of the grand opening timeline for the permanent casino resort to “late fall” of this year. The casino was originally expected to open in July with the luxury hotel and other components later in the year. Instead of opening the permanent casino in stages beginning in July, the partnership team now plans to have a grand opening later this year with a fully operational casino and amenities for an overall better guest experience, according to a written statement.
Proposed data center project could bring billions in investment to Pittsylvania County
Billions of investment dollars could be coming to Pittsylvania County with the development of a data center that was unanimously recommended by the planning commission at its Tuesday meeting. The project could represent up to $5 billion in investment, according to the Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority. It could also contribute up to $120 million in tax revenue over a 10- to 15-year period, though it’s too early to say for sure, said Matt Rowe, the economic development director for the county. The data center, which would be the first of its kind in Pittsylvania, could also create up to 500 jobs.
Virginia governor says state will abandon California emissions standards by the end of the year
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that Virginia will abandon California’s stringent vehicle emissions rules aimed at reducing carbon pollution at the end of the year when that state’s current regulations expire, citing an attorney general opinion. In response to a request from Youngkin and Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle, Attorney General Jason Miyares’ opinion issued Tuesday states that Virginia isn’t required to comply with new mandates adopted by the California Air Resources Board set to take effect on Jan. 1.
Youngkin Pledges to Decouple Virginia from California Vehicle Emissions Standards by End of 2024
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has pledged to return Virginia to federal vehicle emissions standards, three years after the state’s Democratic-led legislature passed a law committing the state to follow more stringent emissions rules set by California. “The idea that government should be telling Virginians what kind of car they must drive is just simply wrong,” said Youngkin Wednesday afternoon at a press conference held at a Toyota dealership south of Richmond. … But environmental groups say the governor’s move is an illegal overreach of his powers, one that attempts to circumvent a law he finds distasteful but that his party has so far failed to undo in the legislature.
Tearful testimony opens first trial of man who participated in 2017 torch-carrying mob at UVa
The tearful testimony of a Jewish University of Virginia alumna was the first evidence presented in the trial of Jacob Joseph Dix, an Ohio man charged with using fire to racially intimidate for his role in the 2017 torch-carrying mob at the University of Virginia the night before the deadly Unite the Right rally-turned riot. Diane D’Costa told the jury about Aug. 11, 2017, the day she moved into her room on UVa’s hallowed Lawn, the center of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village, when she heard chanting outside her door.
Casey: Reps. Griffith, Cline question Dr. Anthony Fauci and Attorney General Merrick Garland
Did you catch representatives from Western Virginia shining in some congressional hearings earlier this week? Those would be Reps. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and Ben Cline, R-Botetourt. OK, “shining” might not be the most accurate descriptor for Cline, R-Fincastle and Griffith. But hey, each got exposure and some of the limelight. That ought to be worth something, right? Cline and Griffith aren’t exactly household names beyond Front Royal and Big Stone Gap, respectively.
80 years after D-Day, a national memorial in Bedford keeps memories alive
It’s commonly called one of the major turning points of World War II. On June 6, 1944 — D-Day — more than 150,000 Allied troops crossed the English Channel to storm the beaches of Nazi-occupied Normandy, France, supported by paratroopers and aerial and naval bombardment. Thousands of Allied soldiers died after meeting fierce resistance from German forces, but the operation kicked off the eventual liberation of Western Europe. The National D-Day Memorial that honors the “valor, fidelity and sacrifice” of D-Day veterans is in Bedford, a site chosen in large part because it’s thought to have suffered the greatest per-capita losses of any American community on that historic day.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, John McGuire shouted down by protesters, cut short Albemarle County campaign rally
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s visit to Albemarle County started late and ended early Wednesday afternoon, after loud chants from protesters overwhelmed her megaphone and cut short her campaign rally for fellow Republican John McGuire. The Georgia congresswoman dropped into Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Wednesday, where McGuire, a state senator, is challenging incumbent Rep. Bob Good in the upcoming GOP primary. While the 5th is a deep-red district in the heart of Virginia, Albemarle County is a longtime Democratic stronghold — and that much was clear Wednesday.