Search
Gov. Youngkin can help strengthen federal emergency response
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency ripe for reform. Residents here know that while its work is essential in the aftermath of a disaster, funding can be slow to arrive, the process of receiving aid can be frustrating and overly bureaucratic, and the agency is routinely impeded by staffing and funding shortfalls. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was last week appointed to a presidential review council to study that agency and recommend changes to FEMA. That’s a difficult charge, given that President Donald Trump has called for the agency’s elimination, but the council has an important opportunity to make federal emergency response efforts more effective and financially responsible, which would benefit us all.
Mecklenburg solar project neighbors get fake letter dangling cash
Property owners near a proposed solar project in Chase City have reportedly received a fake “good neighbor agreement” that was made to look as if it was issued by solar developer Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC for its 7 Bridges Solar facility. The document in question contains an offer, purportedly from Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC and 7 Bridges Solar LLC, to pay homeowners an initial sum of $10,000 for signing the agreement. . . . Longroad Energy officials say the letter is a fabrication. . . . At least twice, public allegations have been made claiming that Longroad Energy has reached out to nearby landowners, offering money to them, in exchange for the promise of the landowner to withhold any objection to development of 7 Bridges Solar.
Powers, Spanberger oppose state forcing solar projects on localities
Bedford County resident Joy Powers, who is running as a Democrat for Virginia’s House 51st district, in a news release Monday said she joins gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger to “firmly reject the idea that Virginia Democrats support mandating solar projects on unwilling localities.” The release said Powers, who is running against Del. Eric Zehr, R-Campbell, makes the comments in response to recent public debate over solar zoning, stating she calls for “facts over fear, and leadership over political drama.” The district includes portions of Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania counties.
New Richmond billboard attacks Stoney for water crisis
A new billboard along Interstate 195 in Richmond features an attack on former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney for the water crisis that left much of the city without drinking water for six days in January. The ad quotes the Virginia Department of Health, which described the Jan. 6 meltdown of Richmond’s water treatment plant during a winter storm-related power outage as “completely avoidable.” Stoney, who left office at the end of last year before the water crisis occurred, served in the position for two terms, or eight years. He is one of six Democrats seeking the party's nomination for lieutenant governor in a June 17 primary.
Save Local Pharmacies Act signed by governor
It went down to the wire, so to speak, with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin not announcing his decision until minutes before the deadline. But in the end, Youngkin did respond on Friday, May 2, signing the Save Local Pharmacies Act into law. The goal of the new law is to streamline the Medicaid process for local pharmacies, especially independent ones. It will create one single, state-contracted Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) for Medicaid. Rather than seeing pharmacies deal with multiple departments or contacts in an attempt to get reimbursed for Medicaid patients, there will just be one central hub they work with.
Bon Secours opens Harbour View hospital in Suffolk
Bon Secours on Tuesday will officially open its new $80 million, 100,000 square-foot Harbour View Medical Center in Suffolk. The three-story addition adjoins the existing Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View campus. Bon Secours broke ground on the hospital in October 2022, and construction wrapped up on March 31. On Monday, hospital leaders and Suffolk officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the center’s opening. . . . The new medical center includes 18 private inpatient rooms and four new operating rooms, a freestanding emergency department and on-site laboratory and imaging services including CT, MRI and X-ray capabilities. Spicknall noted that area patients would no longer have to travel long distances or travel to another city to receive care.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth to add $65M hotel
Rivers Casino Portsmouth and Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming are planning to break ground on a $65 million hotel in Portsmouth this summer, more than two years after the casino first opened. Portsmouth Mayor Shannon Glover revealed the plans for The Landing Hotel Portsmouth during his annual State of the City address Friday. The eight-story hotel will be located directly adjacent to the casino, overlooking the property’s water feature. It will have 106 guest rooms, including 32 suites ranging from roughly 400 to 800-plus square feet.
Virginia saw 73% voter turnout in 2024
About 73% of voting-age Virginians cast a ballot last November, per new U.S. Census Bureau estimates. That's the fourth-highest voter turnout share in the nation — and a much higher percentage than the country at large, which saw 65% of voting-age Americans voting last year.
Loudoun County schools investigating student for asking why a female was using boys’ locker room
A pro-family, pro-faith legal group is representing a student who is being investigated by Loudoun County Public Schools for asking why a female student was in the boys’ locker room. The Founding Freedoms Law Center said Monday that its client, a high school sophomore, is facing a Title IX investigation for sexual harassment in Loudoun County. Title IX bars discrimination in education based on sex.
Loudoun County school system investigates boys uncomfortable with female student in boys locker room
Loudoun County Public Schools has opened a Title IX investigation into three high school boys who said they were uncomfortable with a female student using the boys’ locker room. The Loudon County School Board policy allows students to use school bathrooms and locker rooms according to their gender identification, rather than biological sex.