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State health regulators fine Richmond $6.8K for violations related to January water crisis
Richmond has agreed to pay state water regulators a “civil charge” of $6,817 as part of an agreement to resolve violations related to January’s water crisis. [Last] week, the city announced it had reached an agreement with the State Board of Health to resolve a series of problems that contributed to the water outage earlier this year. The order of consent between the city and the state formalizes the steps being taken to address the issues at the city’s water treatment plant, including the financial penalty.
Shenandoah Valley leaders bracing for One Big Beautiful Bill fallout
Shenandoah Valley leaders say President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, now being considered in the U.S. Senate, will have a devastating impact on health care, higher education and workforce development. They voiced their concerns over the budget reconciliation bill to U.S. Sen. Mark Warner on Friday at a business policy roundtable just outside Staunton.
Army Secretary stops in Yorktown for Army’s 250th Anniversary
Standing in front of a monument to the end of the Revolutionary War, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the crowd, which included soldiers from the 7th Transportation Brigade, that Yorktown is where the Army began. “Yorktown is where the Army's legacy actually sprung to life. After years of hardships, defeat and sacrifice, our Army turned the world upside down right here,” he said.
The Virginia Mercury’s 2025 elections questionnaire: attorney general
Three contenders — Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, and Democrats Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor — are aiming to become Virginia’s top prosecutor. The Mercury asked the attorney general hopefuls to answer a questionnaire to outline their vision for the role, their priorities concerning crime and consumer protection and what qualifies them to be the state’s leading legal counsel. Here are their responses.
Crowd lines Abingdon sidewalks for ‘No Kings’ rally
Armed with signs and placards, protesters of all ages lined both sides of Main Street in the center of Abingdon Saturday, wanting their voices and feelings opposing President Donald Trump’s recent actions be heard. Organizers said about 700 people assembled near the federal courthouse for two hours to conduct a peaceful protest.
What’s ahead for Virginia colleges if Trump targets international students?
Virginia had over 21,000 international students in its colleges in universities last year, but recent actions from President Donald Trump may see that number change. The fight over international students in U.S. colleges started last month when Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his office would move to revoke Chinese student visas from Harvard University over national security concerns. Then, Rubio announced increased vetting of all foreign students' social media accounts. And this week the president's new travel bans from 12 countries went into effect and also applies to would-be students. Some of these issues are winding through the courts, but immigration visa attorney Keith Pabian said it will disrupt US colleges.
‘No Kings’ protest in Berryville attracts crowd of at least 1,000
At least 1,000 people protested Saturday afternoon in downtown Berryville against President Donald Trump as part of a "No Kings Day" demonstration. It was one of about 2,000 such events held nationwide. Not only did it attract Clarke County residents, but also people from Winchester and Frederick County as well as Warren, Fauquier and Loudoun counties.
2020 red flag laws rarely used by most Va. localities
In 2018, police arrested Brandon Lee Rhodes in Chesterfield and charged him with assault and battery of a family member. In April 2023, he was charged again, this time after lighting the house on fire and assaulting his mother, according to a police report. That report said the attack left fingermarks on her neck. His mother explained that Rhodes suffers from mental illness. He was placed under court-ordered probation in lieu of a jail sentence. This January, Chesterfield police again rushed to the family’s home in Matoaca, where Rhodes was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Family said that Rhodes, during a mental health episode, took his brother’s gun from an unlocked gun cabinet and shot his mother’s best friend.
New documents show Averett’s finances in dire straits in 2024, but optimism in 2025
Averett University’s financial situation last summer raised serious concerns about its ability to operate, according to a draft audit prepared for the university. But the private university in Danville has had recent fundraising successes that may help pave its path forward. ... The Danville school started cutting costs a year ago, at the tail end of fiscal 2024, in response to its discovery of a budget shortfall caused by what Averett officials have said were unauthorized withdrawals from its endowment. Averett has laid off staff, eliminated academic programs and begun selling property to keep the university afloat.
Aston and Fleet: Hampton Roads lawmakers continue to deliver for higher education
It is not common these days to hear voters say positive things about what leaders in government are doing. Yet, in this age of political division, Virginians agree on at least one big thing: Our top-ranked higher education system drives growth and opportunity in our commonwealth. And, in Hampton Roads, our legislators are leading the way. Recently, our organization, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, released the results of a wide-ranging statewide public opinion survey to gauge voters’ views on higher education.