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Chesterfield one step closer to hosting world’s first commercial nuclear fusion plant
A zoning application has been filed in Chesterfield County for what could be the world’s first commercial nuclear fusion power plant. ... The application was submitted under a conditional use permit (CUP), which outlines the development of a 94-acre parcel of land within the James River Industrial Center.
Virginia Beach School Board votes to officially end DEI initiatives
School board members in Virginia Beach voted 6-5 to officially end diversity and inclusion initiatives in the school district. Specifically, the board has spent several meetings discussing updates to Policy 5-4, formerly known as “Educational Equity.” The policy had previously included several sections and references to “diversity,” “inclusion,” “implicit bias,” “cross-cultural” and “equity.” All of those references are now removed, and Policy 5-4 is renamed to “Educational Opportunity and Achievement.”
Virginia Beach schools, special education leaders reexamining student seclusion policies
Amid concerns about the treatment of an 11-year-old autistic boy in a special education program, a top administrator said the type of makeshift seclusion area where the child was placed should not have been in classrooms. Laura Armstrong, executive director of Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, told members of the Virginia Beach Special Education Advisory Committee during a May 12 meeting that special education classrooms “can’t have an impromptu seclusion area” like the one reported in a VCIJ at WHRO investigation. A Virginia Beach City Public Schools administrator told the panel that the division is re-examining its policy on using restraint and seclusion to calm students during a behavior crisis.
Roanoke Spent $5 Million More in 2024 Than Council Authorized, Violating State Law, Audit Says
Roanoke spent $5 million more than the City Council authorized last budget year, a violation of state law and significant lapse in oversight, according to an auditor’s report. The finding, made in the city’s annual comprehensive financial report released last week, underscored accounting issues that have plagued the government and which emerged during a belt-tightening budget year.
New trails will connect Hampton Roads cities, offer regional boost
As warming days remind us that summer is nearly here, the call of the outdoors can be heard even by those whose daily lives play out in cities and densely settled neighborhoods. Fortunately, thanks to foresight, planning and hard work, the developing South Hampton Roads Trail is beginning to offer residents of the region’s five cities — Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk — easier ways to get out in nature, whether they are enjoying an alternative way to reach a destination or simply exercising in the fresh air and sunshine.
Yancey: U.S. House wants to axe a tax credit that has driven growth of high-wage manufacturing jobs in rural areas
President Donald Trump wants to boost American manufacturing, a goal that has eluded other presidents in the so-called “post-industrial” era but a laudatory one nonetheless. However, many of the manufacturing jobs that he and other administration officials talk most prominently about are likely minimum-wage or other low-wage positions. Meanwhile, the “big, beautiful” bill now moving through Congress would likely slow the growth of one fast-growing manufacturing sector where the average annual income is $81,600. Furthermore, those jobs are concentrated in places that voted for Trump in 2024, meaning that some Republican members of Congress are finding themselves in the position of potentially slowing manufacturing growth in their own districts.
Cowan: Officials should protect Chesapeake from data center noise
As a mental health professional, I never expected to speak out against a data center. But after learning more about the recently proposed facility in Chesapeake, I was, quite frankly, disturbed — disturbed that city leaders would consider placing such a massive industrial structure next to long-established neighborhoods. These are homes where families have built lives, where children play and where peace and quiet have long been part of daily life. At this month’s Planning Commission meeting, the developer addressed the projected decibel level of the facility and outlined general mitigation efforts. What he failed to address, however, is one of the most concerning and least understood aspects of data centers: low-frequency noise.
From VPAP Sample Ballot for June 17 Elections
Our easy-to-use tool provides a complete list of candidates on Virginia ballots for the June 17 primary elections. Enter your address to see the candidates seeking a party's nomination for statewide office, the Virginia House of Delegates, and local offices, along with your polling location.
Youngkin to set special election for Connolly’s seat amid primary season juggle
As Fairfax County laid to rest longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly Tuesday, attention shifted to the fast-moving process of replacing him in Congress — a decision that rests with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and could reshape the calendar for both parties in the politically vital 11th District. ... A spokesperson for Youngkin on Tuesday declined to say whether the governor has made a decision on when to schedule a special election. Under Virginia law, the governor is required to issue a writ of election to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, there is no mandated timeline for doing so.
‘Here we go again’: Richmond hit with second boil water advisory in five months
For months, Richmond officials have said January's water problem should never happen again. On Tuesday, it happened again. “Here we go again,” said Melanie Horner, one of several city residents who took to their nearest grocery store on Tuesday morning to stock up on bottled water after learning tap water in some parts of Richmond had been deemed unsafe to drink without boiling it first. The routine felt all-too-familiar for many city residents and businesses as Richmond officials announced Tuesday that clogged filters at the water treatment plant had led to a loss of pressure.