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Virginia lawmakers to learn of strides, challenges in Chesapeake Bay clean up
The Chesapeake Bay is one of Virginia’s top economic drivers and premiere recreational sites. The commonwealth, as well as surrounding states, have taken strides to clean up the waters over the last decade. But as the estuary faces new, climate change-fueled challenges, researchers will provide critical information and recommendations to lawmakers this weekend on how to meet the obstacles head on. . . . Virginia has achieved 84% of its 2009-2025 reduction goal for nitrogen, 91% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 100% of its reduction goal for sediment, according to Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Stefanie Taillon.
Navy reservist announces campaign to unseat Rep. Jen Kiggans
With congressional midterms still more than a year away, Democrat James Osyf is the latest candidate to announce intentions to challenge Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. Osyf, a first-generation Ukrainian-American and a Navy reservist who served on the USS Norfolk submarine, announced his candidacy Thursday. “I think running for Congress, at least for me, boils down to one fundamental, and that’s really to help Virginia’s veteran and working class families who are being left behind,” said Osyf, a 40-year-old who works at Lockheed Martin as a defense innovation executive.
A fourth Democrat, lawyer Melvin Tull, seeks to challenge Wittman
A fourth candidate, attorney Melvin Tull, has joined the list of Democrats seeking to challenge Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st. The district, which stretches from the Northern Neck to the western portions of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, is one of the 33 Congressional districts with Republican incumbents that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted to flip. . . . Also seeking the Democratic Party nomination to challenge Wittman are Chesterfield County Circuit Court Clerk Amanda Pohl, Lisa Vedernikova Khanna, former president of the Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats, and civil rights lawyer Andrew Lucchetti.
Candidates running for late Rep. Connolly’s seat in Va. weigh in on key issues
In two months, some Virginians will head to the polls to pick a candidate to fill the Congressional seat vacated by the late Rep. Gerry Connolly. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a special election will be held on Sept. 9. Connolly died in May following a battle with esophageal cancer. He served Virginia’s 11th congressional district, which includes Fairfax City and most of Fairfax County. James Walkinshaw, a longtime Connolly staffer and Fairfax County supervisor, won the Democratic primary. Stewart Whitson, a former FBI agent and Army combat veteran, is the Republican candidate.
Virginia awards $67M to fight flooding across the state
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation awarded $67 million in grants from the state’s Community Flood Preparedness Fund on July 1. The fund supports cities and counties across the state in their efforts to manage or prevent flooding. It used to be fueled partly by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), but Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin pulled the state out of the agreement in 2023. The initiative reduces emissions by making power plants pay a fee if they exceed their emission limits. In lieu of funds from RGGI, the Republican governor added $50 million directly to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund this past legislative session.
New “Blue Envelope” program in Virginia aims to ease traffic stops for drivers with autism
A new initiative across Virginia is working to make traffic stops less stressful for people on the autism spectrum. It’s called the Blue Envelope Program, and it’s now available at DMV customer service centers statewide. The envelope is designed to help bridge communication gaps between drivers with autism and law enforcement officers during traffic stops. . . . The Blue Envelope acts as a signal to officers that the person they’re interacting with may communicate in a different way — and that a little extra patience can go a long way.
Federal cuts claim new victim: Virginia’s status as top state for business
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has faithfully defended President Donald Trump’s tariffs and cuts to the federal workforce despite their economic harm to the commonwealth, but on Thursday that allegiance deprived Youngkin of a favorite talking point. Virginia lost its coveted “Top State for Business” ranking from the CNBC financial news network, falling to No. 4 thanks to Trump administration action that the network said “hits The Old Dominion where it lives.” . . . “With economic anxiety rising, Virginia’s economic situation is just shaky enough to take it down a few pegs,” the network said. North Carolina took the top spot on the list.
Virginia drops multiple places in CNBC’s Top States for Business
After a year in the top spot, Virginia has dropped to No. 4 in America’s Top States for Business list, though the commonwealth remains a business powerhouse. Virginia’s neighbor, North Carolina, claimed the top spot for 2025, CNBC revealed Thursday. Last year, Virginia barely beat the No. 2 Tar Heel State. ... The study revealed that budget cuts and tariffs dropped Virginia to 14th for economy. CNBC special correspondent Scott Cohn said this is Virginia’s worst showing since 2018.
Support for Trump policies coincides with Virginia’s drop in business rankings
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has consistently backed former President Donald Trump’s policies, even as reports suggest those policies have harmed Virginia’s economy. Despite growing concern, Democratic leaders have urged Youngkin — along with Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares, to break their silence and challenge the administration’s approach, warning that continued support could further damage the commonwealth’s economic outlook. On Thursday, a key economic indicator—one Youngkin has previously cited as a benchmark of success — delivered more evidence that Trump’s policies are taking a toll on Virginia’s economy. CNBC’s annual list of Top States for Business was released Thursday morning, and Virginia fell from first place last year to fourth this year.
As part of FEMA Review Council, Youngkin to assess state, federal disaster coordination
In the wake of deadly flooding in central Texas and New Mexico that claimed over 100 lives with nearly 200 still missing, scrutiny of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which provides disaster recovery services and funding, has mounted. Before the floods, the federal government had announced plans to eliminate or remake the agency and is now reviewing its procedures, funding, and execution of agency missions, a process in which Virginia’s governor is taking an active role.