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Against backdrop of car dealership, Youngkin announces reversal of California-driven electric-car sale rules
Saying he was “unleashing the power” of Virginia consumers, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he planned to do away with a California-driven initiative requiring that a percentage of vehicle purchases in the state be electrically-powered cars by the end of the year. “We are ending once and for all the California Electric Vehicle Mandate in Virginia,” Youngkin said to thunderous applause Wednesday afternoon in an appearance at Loyalty Toyota.
Yancey: Dwight Eisenhower’s mother grew up in Augusta County, but no historical marker remembers her
Eighty years ago Thursday morning, Americans woke up to the news that Allied forces had crossed the English Channel and were fighting on the beaches of Normandy — the day we now remember simply as D-Day. The first indications came shortly after midnight Eastern time, from a suspicious source: German radio. American news organizations were rightly skeptical until 3:32 a.m. — 9:32 a.m. at the landing sites — when radio stations interrupted their programming to bring a message from Col. Richard Dupuy … By then, the fighting was three hours old, and many of the Virginians who were in those first waves were already dead or dying — but the liberation of Europe had begun.
Hard Rock Bristol casino pushes back opening timeline
The partners behind Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol on Wednesday announced an extension of the grand opening timeline for the permanent casino resort to “late fall” of this year. The casino was originally expected to open in July with the luxury hotel and other components later in the year. Instead of opening the permanent casino in stages beginning in July, the partnership team now plans to have a grand opening later this year with a fully operational casino and amenities for an overall better guest experience, according to a written statement.
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office turns off all comments on social media channels
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has turned off comments on its social media posts. “Our goal is to ensure that the LCSO social media platforms are informative and welcoming and that all members of our community feel respected and safe when they visit,” said a May 31 LCSO post explaining the change. “We will continue to provide information that is relevant, accurate, and timely related to law enforcement matters, public safety, community outreach, and agency news.” ... The agency’s Facebook posts regularly received dozens — and sometimes hundreds — of comments, and Julia said some were “inflammatory.”
General Assembly taps 8 for judgeships
In a special session on May 13, the General Assembly elected eight individuals to fill seats on the circuit court, general district court and juvenile and domestic relations district court.
Regulators approve request from Dominion to drop RGGI fee on customer bills
The average Dominion Energy Virginia residential customer will soon see a charge of about $4.50 dropped from their bills. The fee was being collected to recover costs through the state’s participation in the regional carbon market. On Monday, the State Corporation Commission, which regulates Virginia’s utilities, approved a request from Dominion to stop tacking the fee on customer’s bills to recoup the costs the utility racked up through participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which Virginia is no longer a part of.
VCU officials reviewing $56M payment to Richmond for failed development project, JLARC suggestions
Officials from Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System told lawmakers on Wednesday they are reviewing an agreement to pay the city of Richmond approximately $2.5 million annually in lieu of taxes for a development that was never built, after the school paid the city, investors and developers nearly $80 million to exit the failed building project.
Roanoke Council Candidate Drops Out Before Primary Amid Review of ‘Questionable’ Voter Signatures
Roanoke City Council candidate Jamaal Jackson said Monday he is dropping out of the race — effectively making obsolete the outcome of a Democratic primary in which voters have already cast ballots. Jackson made the announcement about a week after city officials received an email alleging that Jackson’s campaign improperly copied voter signatures obtained during his unsuccessful 2022 bid for Council onto 2024 paperwork for the June 18 Democratic primary, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Rambler.
Schapiro: Ahead of D-Day anniversary, pols plan strategic retreat
Eighty years to the day that American soldiers stormed the shores of Nazi-held France — among the feats of arms ensuring free college tuition for the families of Virginians killed or disabled in combat — the state’s Republican governor and Democratic legislature, ordinarily locked in political battle, are poised for a strategic retreat to quell outrage over a threatened reduction in those increasingly pricey education benefits. Fancying themselves friends of the military — how could they not be in a state that’s ranked No. 1 in defense spending and has the third-largest veterans population in the country? — Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly are vowing to reverse a provision both sides supported in the soon-to-take-effect budget ...
State air board adopts federal particulate matter standards
The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board voted to adopt federal standards for fine particulate matter found in wildfire smoke on Tuesday. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM 2.5 — particles smaller than 2.5 microns. … Karen Sabasteanski, a Department of Environmental Quality policy analyst, told members of the air board that Virginia localities are already in compliance with the standards, meaning new emissions controls won’t be needed when the rules take effect this summer. “Compared to the rest of the country, we’re in good shape,” Sabasteanski said.