By JILL PALERMO,
Prince William Times
About 9,000 more Prince William County elementary, middle and high schoolers returned to school buildings Thursday morning for the first time this school year as a result of the school board’s decision last week to override Superintendent Steven Walts’ request to wait a few weeks longer.
School Board Chairman Dr. Babur Lateef defended the decision Tuesday, saying he is expecting challenges -- including more outbreaks and quarantines -- but believes the benefits of providing in-person instruction to those who want it outweigh the risks.
By EMMA NORTH,
WAVY-TV
The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is joining the competition to build and operate Richmond’s first resort casino. The tribe’s casino would be under full minority ownership and be completely Virginia-based.
The tribe’s proposal includes a 300-room hotel with a spa, fitness center and rooftop pool. Dining options range from fast casual to fine dining.
By JESS NOCERA,
Richmond Times-Dispatch
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The Chesterfield County School Board on Thursday approved a $744.7 million operating budget that aims to provide better wages for teachers as well as increased funding for legally required expenses such as increases in retirement benefits and health care for employees.
Last year, the county made deep cuts to its budget because of COVID-19, including eliminating a 2% raise for all school employees.
By KENYA HUNTER,
Richmond Times-Dispatch
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The Henrico County School Board on Thursday approved a $665.2 million spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that would restore cuts made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposal anticipates using federal relief funds for 10 additional school counselors who were originally paid through CARES act dollars, fully funds existing positions, foots the bill for employee healthcare increases and pays for an app to help families track school buses, among other things.
By LISA VERNON SPARKS,
Daily Press
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Hampton and Newport News have partnered to use a federal grant to set up a revolving loan program to help struggling businesses affected by the pandemic.
The City Council on Wednesday approved a $1.5 million CARES Act grant that it will share with Newport News. The award was a portion of the $13.9 million in grants to capitalize revolving loan funds for small businesses across Virginia, according to a city release from August.
By GORDON RAGO,
Virginian-Pilot
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Last week, about 60 volunteers fanned out across parts of Norfolk to pick up litter. In all, the group picked up over 100 bags of trash. But there’s much more out there. As the coronavirus pandemic has worn on, cities across Hampton Roads and Virginia are experiencing upticks in roadside trash. Chesapeake had a unique double whammy, losing contracts with firms it normally pays to pick up litter and having fewer local jail inmates available to collect it.
By EMILY HOLTER,
Tidewater Review
After taking office mid-February, King William Treasurer Mary Sue Bancroft and Commissioner of the Revenue Karena Funkhouser offered updates on the state of their respective offices and requested salary increases at the county’s February Board of Supervisors meeting.
The pair took office following a February special election after their predecessors resigned mid-term when a county-led probe into their offices’ revealed poor bookkeeping and mismanagement.
By KATHERINE KNOTT,
Daily Progress
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Neither the Charlottesville nor Albemarle County school division is planning to extend the school year or move up the first day of school.
Instead, the divisions are planning to expand summer school offerings. More details about those plans will be presented to the respective school boards in the coming months.
By GRACIE HART BROOKS,
Madison Eagle
A Madison creek’s name may soon be a thing of the past—literally.
Late last year, a committee of the Madison Equality Project (MEP) began pursuing the renaming of Madison County’s Mulatto Run due to the derogatory and offensive nature of the word “mulatto.” The term refers to a person of mixed race.
By ALLISON BROPHY CHAMPION,
Culpeper Star Exponent
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To all the rurally located homes in Culpeper County still without high-speed internet service in 2021, help is finally on the way.
Following months of negotiations stretching back to September of 2020, the Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee on Tuesday advanced a $3.2 million contract with Leesburg-based All Points Broadband, a regional internet service provider.
By JACLYN BARTON,
News Virginian
The Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro Democratic committees will host drive-thru petition signature events in each of their localities this upcoming Saturday.
During the event, attendees will have the chance to sign petitions for candidates to get on the ballot for the June 8 Democratic Primary.
By ALEX BRIDGES,
Northern Virginia Daily
The Warren County voter registrar says she expects early voting to increase the cost to run her office. Registrar Carol Tobin presented her funding request to the Board of Supervisors at a work session on the fiscal year 2022 budget on Tuesday. Electoral Board Secretary Leander B. “Lee” Bowen also attended the work session. Tobin has requested $497,185 for fiscal 2022 — a 53.8% increase over the current budget of $323,342.
By ALEX BRIDGES,
Northern Virginia Daily
The Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority can resume its civil lawsuits against former Executive Director Jennifer R. McDonald, a federal judge has ruled.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Rebecca B. Connelly granted the EDA’s motion earlier this month for relief from a stay that froze the authority’s litigation seeking to recoup more than $20 million from McDonald and her real estate company MoveOn8. The EDA claims in the lawsuit in Warren County Circuit Court that McDonald misappropriated or embezzled authority money for her own benefit.
By RANDY ARRINGTON,
Page Valley News
Community leaders and decision-makers in Page County have long talked about the need for better broadband service, and now some of that discussion is evolving into action thanks to new federal and state funding streams.
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the need for better internet connectivity higher up the priority scale at all levels of government across the country. As a result, monies aimed at improving broadband service — particularly in rural and underserved areas — have been included among federal CARES Act funding allocated to states to address issues related to the pandemic.
By NANCY DRURY DUNCAN,
Eastern Shore Post
Angela Hinman “Angel” Taylor, the former Hallwood town clerk who was charged with 65 felony counts of embezzlement, pleaded guilty to 12 felony charges in Accomack circuit court Thursday in a plea agreement with the commonwealth. The crimes occurred between Aug. 31, 2011, and Sept. 12, 2017.
During the course of a state police investigation, a Virginia State Police special agent identified 65 instances when Taylor, 48, of Hall Street in Hallwood, committed felony embezzlement by writing checks to herself and paying her personal electric bill with town funds.