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VaNews
March 28, 2024
Top of the News

Alexandria declares $2 billion arena project dead; Youngkin blames legislature

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The city of Alexandria declared the $2 billion Monumental arena project dead on Wednesday, expressing disappointment in the acrimonious political stalemate between the Virginia General Assembly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who had championed the project as his top legislative priority. Instead, Ted Leonsis, owner of the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals, announced a deal with Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to keep the teams in Washington until 2050.


ABC balks at adopting revised revenue forecast in face of shortfall

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority failed again on Wednesday to adopt a revised financial forecast to reflect declining sales revenues that have created an estimated $110 million shortfall in profits that the authority had promised for the pending two-year state budget. Interim CEO Tom Kirby did not ask the authority board of directors to adopt the revised forecast for the second time this month, noting that Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly had not asked for further updates since the scope of the projected shortfall became public on March 19.


Soil & Water Conservation district to pay state $300,000 for unauthorized approvals

By CHARLIE PAULLIN, Virginia Mercury

A group responsible for managing soil and water conservation efforts in Appomattox incorrectly authorized state payments for farming practices to reduce pollution entering waterways, an investigation found, and will have to pay back about $300,000 to the commonwealth. The Virginia Soil & Water Conservation Board voted Wednesday to direct the Robert E. Lee Soil and Water Conservation District, based in the Appomattox area, to make the payment after a former employee, John Wooldridge, approved the state funds to be used for several water- and soil-saving practices without having the authority to do so.


A lack of child care can be a barrier for community college students. Virginia is looking for answers.

By LISA ROWAN, Cardinal News

When Taneisha Mathews went back to school, her daughters went with her. It was Mathews’ second attempt at working toward an associate degree. When she first enrolled at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg in 2014, she was a teen mom who felt that going to college was what she was supposed to do — but she didn’t know yet what she wanted her career to look like. “I ended up flunking out because I mentally was forcing myself to do it,” she said.

The Full Report
32 articles, 23 publications

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Governor’s VCU, Mason course review requests reflect a pattern

By NATHANIEL CLINE, Virginia Mercury

George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth Universities have submitted their syllabi for courses about diversity, equity, inclusion and race to Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera for review at the request of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a move that sparked frustration among some of the schools’ students and staff who said political influence has no place in classrooms. The administration previously reviewed and rescinded similar materials related to racism, discrimination and equity from Virginia Department of Education teacher training and classroom resources, following Youngkin’s 2022 executive order to eliminate “inherently divisive concepts” from being taught in Virginia public schools.


‘We are not going to be able to survive’: Business owners urge Youngkin to sign bill allowing regulated skill games

By SIERRA KRUG, WRIC-TV

Since 2020, it’s been a hot and cold, unpredictable ride as the legality of convenience stores operating skill games came into question time and time again. Business owners started unplugging their machines last year after the Virginia Supreme Court ruled electronic, slot-like machines were too close to illegal gambling. Now, new legislation on the table could shuffle the cards once again. On Tuesday, March 26, local business owners and skill game advocates gathered in Capitol Square, pleading for Gov. Glenn Youngkin to sign a bill into law that would revitalize what they call a major source of revenue, while adding some regulations.


How the equity fund could help more people cultivate and sell cannabis—if Youngkin signs the bill

By MICHAEL CHUN, VCU Capital News Service

Virginia’s plan for a recreational cannabis market includes a way to help micro businesses, formerly known as the social equity license, get involved with what is anticipated to be a multimillion dollar business — if the plan survives the governor’s desk. The Virginia Cannabis Equity Loan Fund will provide grants, low-interest and zero-interest loans to qualified micro business licensees, according to legislation passed by the General Assembly.


A look at who Youngkin pardoned in 2023

By RYAN NADEAU, WRIC-TV

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) pardoned nearly 100 people between Jan. 16, 2023 and Jan. 16 of this year. This is Youngkin’s second year issuing pardons as the Governor of Virginia. In his first year, Youngkin granted substantially fewer pardons — 30 in total. In his four years serving as Governor of Virginia, former governor Ralph Northam (D) granted over 1,200 pardons. Of Youngkin’s total 98 pardons, the vast majority of them were simple pardons — which the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia describes as a “statement of official forgiveness.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Governor honors former state Sen. Frank Ruff

By CHARLES WILBORN, Danville Register & Bee

Gov. Glenn Youngkin paid tribute Tuesday to former state Sen. Frank Ruff by signing a bill to rename the Center for Rural Virginia in his honor. Ruff announced his retirement from the General Assembly in December citing health concerns after a recent cancer diagnosis.


Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Digital News Sites to Post Public Notices

By OLIVIA DILEO, VCU Capital News Service

Lawmakers passed bills during the 2024 General Assembly session that impact the press, including online public notices, FOIA costs and government transparency. The session was more promising for the press than some past sessions, according to Mechelle Hankerson, president of the Society of Professional Journalists Virginia Pro Chapter. ... Local governments are currently required by state law to advertise certain public notices in newspapers. ... Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, introduced House Bill 264 to allow online-only publications to also post the public notices – and generate revenue from them ...


Lawmakers tour the state, offering contrasting budget visions

By JAHD KHALIL, VPM

Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly wrapped up a tour across the state Wednesday, as they promote the budget proposal Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has been campaigning against. State Sen. Louise Lucas (D–Portsmouth) and Del. Luke Torian (D–Prince William) made a final stop at a hospital in Southwest Virginia. It comes after events in Hampton Roads, Richmond and Northern Virginia. The tours mark opposing sides taking their arguments to stops around the commonwealth — rather than expressing their views during press conferences at the Capitol and in letters to one another.

CONGRESS

Warner brainstorms about biotech during Roanoke stop

By LUKE WEIR, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

A roundtable of community leaders sent the visiting Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., back to Washington on Wednesday with ideas to nurture the up-and-coming scientific research sector in Roanoke. Research and innovation ongoing in Roanoke helps improve the world at large, while creating opportunity for economic development here at home, said local leaders in health, education and government. That’s the type of impact surrounding the work inside Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, located along the Roanoke River at the foot of Mill Mountain, where Warner finished a multi-day visit to the region.


Sen. Warner talks technology and intelligence in swing through Western Virginia

By TAD DICKENS, Cardinal News

Biotechnologists and life scientists could be players in the U.S.’s defense and intelligence worlds, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, told a group gathered on Wednesday in Roanoke. Warner was part of a roundtable at Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, where he heard a lot about the Roanoke-Blacksburg region’s growth over the past decade. Warner, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, told the group that one of his jobs is to try to broaden the definition of national security beyond tanks, guns, ships and planes.

ECONOMY/BUSINESS

Caps, Wizards will stay in D.C. under deal announced by Bowser, Leonsis

By JONATHAN O'CONNELL, TEO ARMUS, GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, MICHAEL BRICE-SADDLER AND MEAGAN FLYNN, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and Ted Leonsis, owner of the Wizards and Capitals, signed a deal Wednesday that — if approved by the D.C. Council — would keep the teams in downtown D.C. until 2050, abruptly ending the owner’s planned move to Virginia. Under the terms of the deal, D.C. will spend $515 million over three years to help Leonsis modernize the arena, and Leonsis will sign a new lease keeping the teams in D.C. for 25 more years.


NHL’s Capitals and NBA’s Wizards are staying in Washington after Virginia arena deal collapses

By SARAH RANKIN, MATTHEW BARAKAT AND STEPHEN WHYNO, Associated Press

When Ted Leonsis told District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser late last year that the NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals he owns would probably be leaving Washington for Virginia, she told him no, they would not. Ultimately, she proved to be right. The teams are staying in the District for the long term after Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s plan to lure them to Virginia imploded and the city and ownership reached an agreement on a $515 million, publicly funded arena project.


Wizards, Caps to stay in D.C. after Alexandria kills proposed Potomac Yard arena

By LIAM GRIFFIN, Washington Times

Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who confirmed Wednesday his teams will stay in the District through 2050, praised the $515 million neighborhood redevelopment package put together by Mayor Muriel Bowser and anti-crime legislation recently approved by the D.C. Council. Mr. Leonsis, head of the teams’ parent company Monumental Sports and Entertainment, said at an evening press conference alongside the mayor that the deal would include 200,000 square feet of expansion of the existing Capital One Arena complex into the nearby Gallery Place space, the creation of an entertainment district in the city’s surrounding Chinatown neighborhood and safety and transportation upgrades.


Virginians react to news that Monumental Sports won’t be moving to Potomac Yard

By KATIE LUSSO, WUSA-TV

It’s official. Northern Virginia will not be home to the Washington Capitals or Wizards anytime soon. At a news conference Wednesday night, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Monumental Owner Ted Leonsis announced that Monumental Sports had reached an agreement to keep the teams at Capital One Arena in D.C. until 2050. Their announcement, just three hours after an announcement from the City of Alexandria, that they had “ended negotiations related to the Potomac Yard Entertainment District opportunity and the proposal will not move forward.” Outside of Wednesday’s news conference, members of the Coalition to Stop the Arena at Potomac Yard celebrated.


Landowners continue their legal fight against Mountain Valley Pipeline

By LAURENCE HAMMACK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

As work on the Mountain Valley Pipeline continues, so does litigation aimed at slowing it down. Six landowners in Franklin, Montgomery and Roanoke counties asked the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday to hear their challenge of eminent domain laws used to take their private property for the controversial project. First filed four years ago, the lawsuit contends that Congress improperly delegated its power to seize private property to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees construction of interstate natural gas pipelines.


Southwest Virginia landowners again appeal Mountain Valley Pipeline case to U.S. Supreme Court

By MATT BUSSE, Cardinal News

Six Southwest Virginia landowners are once again asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case related to the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Since 2020, the six have argued that Congress violated the constitutional separation of powers when it delegated the legislative power of eminent domain to the executive branch by way of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates interstate pipeline construction. In 2017, FERC authorized developers to take property from the six landowners for the 303-mile natural gas project.


Pharrell movie filming in Richmond

By COLLEEN CURRAN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

A musical based on Pharrell Williams’ childhood is set to begin filming in Richmond. Details are scarce at the moment, but here’s what we know: “(T)he film is said to be a coming-of-age musical, set in 1977 Virginia Beach, which draws inspiration from Williams’ childhood growing up in the city’s Atlantis Apartments,” Deadline reported. Michel Gondry, director of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” has signed on to direct the Universal project.

TRANSPORTATION

Baltimore cruises to reroute; Carnival will move some operations to Norfolk

By HANNAH SAMPSON, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Cruise lines are scrambling to make alternative plans and avoid the Port of Baltimore while officials suspend vessel traffic amid cleanup and rescue efforts around the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Three major cruise lines sail from Baltimore, though no ships were in port Tuesday morning. The next cruise was scheduled to depart Sunday, but its operator confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that the voyage would instead head out from Norfolk.


Nauticus preps for thousands of cruise passengers in Norfolk after Baltimore bridge collapse

By PRESTON STEGER AND ANGELIQUE ARINTOK, WVEC-TV

Nauticus is gearing up for thousands of cruise ship passengers arriving and departing Norfolk on Easter weekend following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Tuesday morning. Amid clean-up and recovery efforts around the bridge, Carnival Cruise Lines announced Tuesday night it will temporarily move its Baltimore-based operations of the Legend vessel to Norfolk. Officials with the Port of Baltimore said incoming and outgoing vessel traffic is suspended until further notice.


Amtrak service delay to Christiansburg could also impact Bristol

By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Passenger rail service to the New River Valley has been pushed back to at least 2028 and potential changes there could impact extending service to Bristol. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority notified stakeholders in the New River Valley in late January of the delay. Amtrak service from Roanoke to the greater New River Valley area was originally proposed by 2025 or 2026.

HIGHER EDUCATION

UVa. president to meet graduate students and address payment concerns

By THOMAS BAXTER, Cavalier Daily

In what some graduate students concerned with years of late and incorrect stipend payments see as a turning point, President Jim Ryan has agreed to meet with graduate student leaders April 4 to discuss solutions to the payment problems. Ryan agreed to meet with graduate students after members of the University’s chapter of the United Campus Workers of Virginia attended the March 1 Board of Visitors meeting with signs and flyers detailing their concerns and highlighting the importance of graduate workers for the University’s academic success and longevity. The protest did not disrupt any Board activities.

LOCAL

Prince William School Board appoints local Moms for Liberty leaders to key advisory committees

By CHER MUZYK, Prince William Times

The Prince William County School Board recently appointed three leaders of the local Moms for Liberty chapter to key school division advisory committees at the request of school board member Erica Tredinnick. … Moms for Liberty is a national organization comprised of local chapters of typically conservative parents. The organization was first formed in Florida in 2021 to challenge mask rules and other pandemic-related restrictions. It has since spread to dozens of states with the stated goal of supporting “parental rights” in public education ...


Warren supervisors seek to block Front Royal Economic Development Authority’s return of McDonald house

By ALEX BRIDGES, Northern Virginia Daily

Warren County supervisors said Tuesday they want to block the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority from allowing the EDA’s former executive director to buy back her home. The EDA took ownership of property at 158 Faith Way, the home of Jennifer McDonald and her husband, Samuel North, on Feb. 5. The EDA took the property as part of a court-ordered civil settlement after McDonald was accused of funneling millions in EDA money through banks and other agencies ... The EDA board of directors voted at its March 22 meeting to authorize the transfer of the property back to McDonald and North in exchange for $350,000.


Hanover approves zoning request for 1,200-acre data center project

By JACK JACOBS, Richmond BizSense

The Hanover Board of Supervisors has given the nod to a massive planned industrial project outside Ashland. Development company Tract on Wednesday secured the zoning approval needed to create a 1,200-acre data center park along Hickory Hill Road east of Interstate 95 in Hanover County. Tract Chief Investment Officer Graham Williams previously told BizSense that the company anticipated the project area would be able to support up to 9 million square feet of data center space spread across 30 buildings on multiple campuses.


Virginia Patriot Front members sued for defacement of Richmond’s Arthur Ashe mural

By LUCA POWELL, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Residents of the Battery Park neighborhood of Richmond are suing 27 members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front for defacing a mural of Arthur Ashe, the Black civil rights icon and tennis legend. Arthur Ago, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said the group’s actions were “evidence of white supremacy.” Ago said the vandalism led to the partial closure of the park and deprived residents of its use. The vandalism was never criminally prosecuted.


Though Richmond is taking action now, past audits show city finance woes date back several years

By TYLER LAYNE, WTVR-TV

Over the past few months, Richmond business owners have come forward to share concerns about dramatic meals tax late fees, inaccurate advice they received from finance employees, incorrect tax accounts, and a lack of transparency from City Hall. The issues have left business owners and some city leaders wondering how the finance department got into this position in the first place, where the problems stem from, and when officials knew about them.


Chesapeake Public Schools’ new security includes scannable IDs, weapon detectors

By CONOR HOLLINGSWORTH, WTKR-TV

... Last week, the Chesapeake Public Schools Security Task Force outlined security changes they are making. One of them is a weapon detector pilot program. “It uses propriety sensors in an AI system to look at anything that carries the level of alloy, shape, that would construe a weapon so then we’re not having the whole historical metal detectors where you’re dumping everything in a basket to go through,” said [Penny Schultz, Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools].


Hampton Roads regional landfill is filling up fast

By IAN MUNRO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The South Hampton Roads regional landfill is filling up faster than previous planning scheduled, leaving questions about how residents will dispose of their waste in the future and what it will cost. The challenge is twofold. The landfill is facing an uphill regulatory challenge to expand its capacity, according to Dennis Bagley, executive director of the Southeastern Public Service Authority. Meanwhile, a facility that burns up to 70% of waste destined for the landfill and converts it into energy is closing in June and has already dialed back how much waste it’s burning.


The future of energy in Hampton Roads: Local leaders weigh how to meet rising demand

By KATHERINE HAFNER, WHRO

Hampton Roads officials are discussing how to address energy demand that’s expected to surge in the coming decades — because they say doing nothing is not an option. “We will not keep a status quo if we get no new energy in our region,” Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting said at a recent meeting of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. “We will actually fall even further behind. … ” The ongoing discussions have grown out of a regional analysis completed a couple years ago called the Hampton Roads Long-Term Energy Roadmap.


Spotsylvania officials speak out against regional approach to transportation

By TAFT COGHILL JR., Fredericksburg Free Press

Most of the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors made it clear during a meeting Tuesday night they have no interest in joining a Regional Transportation Authority with Fredericksburg as well as Stafford, King George and Caroline counties. While Battlefield District representative Chris Yakabouski and Deborah Frazier of the Salem District left open the possibility if more information demonstrates that it will be beneficial to the county, others stated explicitly they do not support the idea.

 

COLUMNISTS

Schapiro: Apparently, third time wasn’t the charm

By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Glenn Youngkin said his proposed $2 billion sportsplex for Alexandria — now dead — would produce 30,000 jobs and pump $12 billion into the local economy over 40 years. In other words, he argued, the arena was a game changer. The Republican governor, fast running out of time to fashion a legacy founded on compromise with Democrats, rather than combat, had already changed two other games — to the dismay of communities on opposite ends of the state.


Yancey: The Alexandria arena is dead: Potomac Yard claims a second governor

By DWAYNE YANCEY, Cardinal News

There must be something magical about Potomac Yard that, like mythical sirens calling out to sailors, lures unsuspecting governors to their political doom. More than three decades ago, then-Gov. Douglas Wilder looked at the old railyard in Alexandria and saw a football stadium. He negotiated a deal with Jack Kent Cooke, then owner of Washington’s National Football League team, and in July 1992 announced with great flourish a plan to move the team to Virginia. “The announcement at Potomac Yard was a media extravaganza,” The Washington Post reported. “Local television carried the event live. There was a large model of the 78,600-seat stadium on display, as well as signs declaring the site the home of ‘Jack Kent Cooke Stadium at Potomac Yard.’” The NFL commissioner was on hand, and so was the team’s legendary coach, Joe Gibbs.

OP-ED

Haas: By vetoing gun storage bill, Youngkin plays politics with public safety

By LORI HAAS, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Does Gov. Glenn Youngkin truly prioritize the safety of our children? Clearly, he does not when he ignored a crucial opportunity. Gov. Youngkin had the chance to sign a bill that many might call a no-brainer. A bill with rigorous research to support it and widespread public support. A bill solving a problem that we’ve already seen play out in Virginia too many times. A bill that would require the safe and secure storage of firearms to keep them out of the wrong hands. A bill that Gov. Youngkin just vetoed.

Haas is the advocacy manager for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.