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Kaine and Warner: Virginia must resist Trump's attacks on higher ed – before it's too late
Last month, the Trump Department of Justice crossed a dangerous line when it interfered in the governance of the University of Virginia to oust president Jim Ryan, not for misconduct or mismanagement, but for reasons of personal and political grievance. Under Ryan’s leadership, UVa expanded access to first-generation and low-income students, navigated complex challenges around free speech and campus safety, and strengthened UVa’s standing as one of the world’s premier public research institutions. But instead of being recognized for those accomplishments, he was targeted — the latest casualty in a calculated campaign by the Trump administration to politicize higher education and undermine local governance of public education.
Yancey: Where does Earle-Sears stand? Nobody really knows because she won’t make herself available for serious questioning.
The pro-business group Virginia FREE sent out a seemingly routine announcement earlier this week: Its board of directors had met with Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, to discuss business-related issues. What wasn’t said, and what made this announcement newsworthy: Virginia FREE has been trying for three months to secure a similar meeting with Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, and still doesn’t have a commitment, according to the group’s executive director, Chris Saxman.
Chesapeake Bay is stagnating. Here’s what could help.
First, a filthy Chesapeake Bay represented all that wasn’t working with America’s stewardship of its natural environment. Then, the bay became a success story. The sloughs of poorly treated sewage at the bottom of slime-green lagoons disappeared, and oyster populations, once nearly wiped out, made a near-miraculous comeback. The turnaround seemed to show that even big environmental problems could be managed. In recent years, however, progress has stalled.
Henry County to demolish dozens of blighted properties
An abandoned property sticks out among the row of modest houses in the Greyson Street neighborhood in Henry County’s Collinsville district. For years, the home has been vacant, with overgrowth almost completely covering its street-facing exterior, to the dismay of some neighbors. “It’s about time,” said Aesha Mitchell upon learning about plans to demolish the house and similar structures throughout the county. . . . At their June 5 meeting, county supervisors voted unanimously to demolish 39 properties deemed unsafe.
As AI booms and the grid strains, Virginia grapples with competing energy visions
A new report from the Department of Energy warns that, without increased energy production, the nation’s power grid could face a sharp rise in blackouts by 2030. In Virginia, Republicans are sounding the alarm, arguing that Democratic-led efforts to expand renewable energy and combat climate change are hindering the state’s ability to meet growing demands.
Army lacks accountability in D.C. air disaster, families say
The Army has avoided accountability and shirked oversight months after the deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter in Washington, dozens of family members said in a letter to the Army’s top official, calling for action and greater transparency. . . . The Army stands alone in its lack of transparency and candor, 168 family members and loved ones said in a letter addressed to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on Wednesday and obtained by The Washington Post. Army officials have not had meaningful dialogue with families since a short briefing from Army aviation officials in the days after the collision, with the families noting the rare disclosures related to the incident seemed deliberately timed near holidays to minimize public attention.
Underwater cable plant project in Chesapeake receives $28 million in state, local grants
A major facility that will produce underwater cables for the offshore wind energy industry is receiving about $28 million in state and local grants, with more than half of that coming from Chesapeake’s coffers. The grants are being awarded to a 750,000-square-foot manufacturing facility being constructed in the city by LS Greenlink USA, a subsidiary of South Korean-based LS Cable & System. Once constructed and operable by 2028, the plant will produce undersea cables used in the offshore wind industry.
Rep. Beyer highlights research grants canceled by Trump administration at Capitol Hill event
Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) joined scientists from across the nation on Capitol Hill today to showcase research that has been halted due to grant cancellations by the Trump administration. Congressman Beyer, who represents the 8th Congressional District of Virginia (which includes Alexandria), spoke at “The Things We’ll Never Know: A Science Fair of Canceled Grants,” a three-hour event hosted by House Democrats on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer. More than twenty researchers whose federal grants have been terminated presented their work to lawmakers and discussed the impact of the funding cuts.
Turnout rate was up slightly in Virginia's June primaries, data show
What was the voter turnout for Virginia's local primary elections? The Virginia Public Access Project reports that turnout ranged widely for the June 17 primary election, with some localities having a turnout rate of more than 20%. VPAP referenced data from the Virginia Department of Elections, using the total number of votes cast for candidates running for the listed office.
HD33 GOP nominee to be chosen by district committee by end of July
The Republican nominee for House District 33 will likely be selected by the end of July by a four-member committee representing each county in the district. With the majority of the weighted vote, Shenandoah County, represented by Sheriff Timothy Carter, holds the deciding share. ... The party plan directs Legislative District Committees to select a nominee when a certified candidate withdraws after the primary deadline, as occurred when Delegate Todd Gilbert stepped down as the candidate earlier this month following his appointment by President Donald Trump to U.S. Attorney.