Search
Virginia group plans nuclear test reactor to boost research efforts
A recently formed partnership in Virginia will look at the potential for creating a research facility that would include a micro-scale nuclear reactor for businesses and universities to use as they develop the next generation of nuclear power plants. The partnership — organized by a nonprofit called the Virginia Innovative Nuclear Hub, or VIN Hub — also aims to bring together Virginia’s nuclear companies and universities to research materials for advanced nuclear reactors.
How Black Lung Came Roaring Back to Coal Country
Denver Brock and his son Aundra used to spend early mornings hunting rabbits in the wooded highlands of Harlan County, Ky. But they don’t get out there much these days. They both get too breathless trying to follow the baying hounds. Instead, they tend a large garden alongside Denver Brock’s home. Even that can prove difficult, requiring them to work slowly and take frequent breaks. “You get so dizzy,” Denver Brock said, “you can’t hardly stand up.” The Brocks followed a long family tradition when they became Appalachian coal miners. For it, they both now have coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, a debilitating disease characterized by masses and scarred tissue in the chest, and better known by its colloquial name: black lung.
Andryszak and Hallam: A reliable power grid requires more pipelines
Over the past few weeks, alarms have sounded about potential grid reliability shortfalls and increased energy prices this summer. These warnings come as states across the U.S., particularly in the Northeast, face rapidly growing demand projections, making it clear: The integrity of our electric grids must be prioritized. ... At the center of this challenge is natural gas. The U.S. cannot reliably meet growing demand if we cannot expand our natural gas pipeline network to ensure the adequate energy resources needed to generate the reliable, affordable power American homes and businesses expect and deserve.
Protecting American treasures deserves federal commitment
President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year calls for $163 billion in spending cuts across a variety of non-military programs. It would slash a whopping $1.2 billion from the National Park Service and programs it oversees — including national historic sites. With that kind of money on the cutting board, a proposal to cut $158 million from the park service’s Historic Preservation Fund might sound unimportant. Make no mistake: Such a deep cut would effectively spell the end of a vital source of money that has been essential to preserving history in Virginia and in other states and on tribal lands across the country.
Yancey: Both parties face challenges this year in Virginia. Here are some of the big ones.
We now have a Democratic statewide ticket to go along with the Republican ticket that was already in place. We think of general election campaigns as the “fall” campaign but, with early voting, the first votes will be cast in what is still officially summer. Early voting begins Sept. 19, so three months from today it will already be underway. Every campaign faces challenges, some bigger than others. Here are 10 challenges in this year’s campaign, four unique to each party and two that confront both parties.
Virginia Beach sheriff’s deputy who claimed he was fired for political reasons has been rehired
A deputy who alleged in a 2022 federal lawsuit against former Sheriff Ken Stolle that he was fired for political reasons has returned to duty. William “Dave” Fowler was rehired in April by Sheriff Rocky Holcomb, according to department spokeswoman Toni Guagenti. Holcomb became sheriff in September 2023, after Stolle stepped down. He won a special election last year and is running for reelection in November. “MDII Fowler applied for a deputy position with the VBSO like any job applicant,” Guagenti said in an email to The Pilot. “He followed all the applicant procedures, including taking a written exam, a physical and a background check.”
Frederick County quashes two data center proposals
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors rejected via a consensus vote the further study of two Comprehensive Plan amendment applications for potential data center facilities during a joint work session with the Planning Commission on Wednesday night. One application was for a 644-acre data center campus called Meadow Brook Technology Park between Valley Pike (U.S. 11) and Hites Road just south of Stephens City. The other was for Winchester Gateway 2, which proposed a 105-acre data center development at the southern corner of Va. 37 and Middle Road south of Winchester.
Judge facing bribery charge allegedly sought pay raises for court staff
A Fredericksburg-area judge facing a felony charge of bribery of a public official did not attempt to enrich himself, the special prosecutor handling the case said. Richard T. McGrath, the chief judge of the 15th Judicial District of Virginia, which includes the Fredericksburg region, was indicted on June 2. The Mechanicsville resident’s next appearance in Spotsylvania County Circuit Court is scheduled for July 7. He is represented by Richmond-based defense attorney Craig Cooley, who did not return a phone call seeking comment. “What I can share is he was charged with soliciting a bribe, not offering a bribe,” said Special Prosecutor Nate Green, the Williamsburg Commonwealth’s Attorney. “He basically was asking someone to give money, not to give him money.”
Virginia professors warn against governance boards politicizing tenure processes
The Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the largest organization representing university professors in the commonwealth, is raising fresh concerns, after learning the George Mason University’s Board of Visitors inquired in February 2024 about their roles in reviewing promotion and tenure cases. The educators say they fear the pipeline of college professors could contract if more college governing boards seek to influence the process of hiring and promoting professors. The debate has bubbled up as the politicization of governing boards at public colleges and universities nationwide, including those in Virginia, has increased.
Howard: Republican budget has a few big winners, many losers
Government budgets are like box scores in basketball or baseball. If you study the numbers, you can tell who had a good day or bad day. The Republican budget that barely passed in the House will give millionaires a major victory. But millions of working families will be shut out. Republicans are being very selective in the budget numbers they highlight. They claim that almost all Americans will receive a tax cut. ... Under the House budget, the poorest 20% of Virginians, earning less than $31,000, would get an average tax cut of $100 next year. The middle 20% would get a tax cut of almost $2,000. But the richest 1% of Virginians, with incomes greater than $843,000, will benefit to the tune of $78,000 each.