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Finkelstein: If the attorney general won’t defend Virginia, who will?
It’s not every day that George Mason University lands on the front page of The Washington Post, in an op-ed by Virginia’s U.S. senators and in a joint investigation by The Chronicle of Higher Education and ProPublica. In 2006, when Mason stunned the nation as the “Cinderella” team in the NCAA Final Four, the attention was exhilarating. Today, the spotlight feels far more threatening. Since July 1, Mason has been notified of two federal civil rights investigations by the U.S. Department of Education — one concerning allegations of antisemitism and the other focused on diversity-related hiring practices.
Earle-Sears shakes up campaign for Virginia governor as fundraising, polls lag
GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has asked her campaign manager — a pastor with no political experience — to step away from that role amid calls from some fellow Republicans to shake up a campaign that is lagging in fundraising and polls, according to two people familiar with the matter. Will Archer, pastor of Potomac Valley Church in Dumfries, may stay on with the campaign in a different role, according to the two, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. The move came this week as the latest campaign finance reports indicate that Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman, is widening her fundraising lead and a new poll shows Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor, trailing by double digits.
When will UVa have a new president?
There is no guarantee that the University of Virginia will have a new president by the time students return to Grounds in Charlottesville on Aug. 26. UVa announced Wednesday that the selection of an interim president will take weeks and is set to include a nomination process as well as multiple listening sessions with university community members. Former UVa President Jim Ryan's resignation took effect last Friday after he announced June 26 he would be stepping down under pressure from the Trump administration Department of Justice.
Embattled UVa Medical School dean stepping down
Four months after a resignation letter in her name was deemed a hoax and nine months after 128 health care professionals at the University of Virginia penned a letter of no confidence in her leadership, UVa School of Medicine Dean Dr. Melina Kibbe is stepping down. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston announced Monday it planned to hire Kibbe and she would officially be named president of the center after a required 21-day waiting period. UVa has not yet said who will be replacing her.
Federal license plate reader searches raise surveillance questions
Across Virginia, automated license plate readers built by Flock Safety silently capture and log details of every passing car. Most people don’t know they are being tracked; fewer know where that data ends up. Data from automatic license plate readers usually ends up in the hands of law enforcement. In Virginia, state and local law enforcement can access this data to support criminal investigations or missing persons cases. But in the City of Richmond, a recent incident is raising concerns about how technology can be misused for federal immigration enforcement.
As Richmond’s departing finance director touts progress, she warns there’s still ‘pockets of secrecy and sabotage’
In what will likely be her last presentation to the Richmond City Council, departing Finance Director Sheila White said the office she’s led has made substantial progress, while warning that “pockets of secrecy and sabotage” remain. White gave the Council’s Finance and Economic Development Committee a status update Wednesday as she prepares to leave city government on July 25. After leading the city’s struggling Finance Department since 2021, White told Council members that — from her perspective — a turnaround is underway even if it’s not obvious to businesses and residents experiencing problems with their tax bills.
Loudoun Supervisors Narrowly Approve Data Center Near Leesburg
After months of meetings in which supervisors debated the merits of allowing a data center on land near Leesburg Executive Airport, the board last night voted narrowly to approve the proposal. The rezoning application was submitted by JK Land Holdings and would permit up to 556,746 square feet of data center space on a 22-acre tract along Crosstrail Boulevard and Sycolin Road. It would also alternatively permit up to 416,000 square feet of warehouse or distribution uses, or up to 218,000 square feet of industrial uses.
Dominion substations approved to support Dulles-area data centers
Despite objections to one of the projects from nearby residents, the Fairfax County Planning Commission at its July 9 meeting approved Dominion Energy’s requests for two new electrical substations to support future data centers in the Dulles area. A 300-megawatt Towerview substation will be wedged between Sully Road (Route 28) and Park Center Road in the Floris neighborhood, just east of Dulles International Airport. Dominion will lease the site from the owner of the Dulles Gateway data center, which is being constructed immediately to its south.
Prince William neighbors clear first hurdle in Digital Gateway lawsuit
Nearly two years ago, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the Prince William Digital Gateway, one of the largest data center developments in the world. But even before the final vote, a group of nearby residents began challenging the project in court. Now, they are awaiting a judge's decision on their case, but her refusal to dismiss their lawsuit has fueled a cautious optimism that the residents might prevail.
King George supervisors vote down solar and livestock operation
The King George County Board of Supervisors denied a special exception permit to construct a utility scale solar facility and livestock operation following a public hearing Tuesday night. The board voted 4-1 to deny the permit to Open Road Renewables and Gibson Solar I, LLC, which sought to erect the solar panels on approximately 890 acres of private land made up of 48 parcels adjacent to Kings Highway at the intersection of Big Timber Road. The applicants were also requesting a determination that the solar facility is in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.