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U.Va. Faculty Senate overwhelmingly adopts a no confidence vote in Board of Visitors
The Faculty Senate held an emergency meeting Friday as part of ongoing discussions surrounding the University’s next steps towards choosing a new president. In the meeting, the Faculty Senate passed a resolution for a vote of no-confidence in the Board. The resolution passed 46 to 6, with eight senators abstaining.
Faculty Senate Executives hear from Rector Sheridan and Vice Rector Wilkinson
The Faculty Senate Executive Council held an emergency meeting with members of the Board of Visitors Wednesday to continue discussions of the tumultuous fallout of President Jim Ryan’s resignation. A majority of the two-hour meeting was spent engaging in conversation with Rector Rachel Sheridan and Vice Rector Porter Wilkinson both of whom began their terms July 1. The meeting was the first time that representatives of the Board openly engaged with faculty members in a formal setting following Ryan’s resignation. Many of the questions posed by faculty were met with no comment.
George Mason’s president appears to be the Trump administration’s next target
Another Virginia university president appears to be in the crosshairs of Donald Trump’s administration — just weeks after pressure from Trump’s Department of Justice pressured University of Virginia President Jim Ryan until he resigned. The federal Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights notified George Mason on July 1 that they are opening an investigation into the university after receiving a complaint about antisemitism on campus.
Federal funding pause threatens Virginia after-school programs
The Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia is facing a financial crisis after a $6 billion pause in Department of Education funds, initially set for release on July 1. This funding, which includes $108 million earmarked for Virginia schools, is crucial for the club, which relies on federal support for 60% of its budget. Rebekah Meadows, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, said, "It's complicated, we have 8 sites that use this funding, and so we are working through scenarios for each of those."
'Old name, new legacy': Fort Lee's renaming celebrated in ceremony on post
Fort Lee has ceremoniously rechristened itself after two years under the name “Gregg-Adams,” but speakers at the July 11 event that unveiled new signs say that while the page might be turned on the post’s name, the book will never close on the legacies of its former namesakes. “Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams represented the very best of our Army,” post commander Maj. Gen. Michelle Donahue said.
Loudoun Panel Supports Replacing Flex-Warehouses with Data Centers
A proposal that would replace flex-warehouse buildings near Sterling with data centers and a utility substation received a recommendation of approval from the county Planning Commission this week. The application would rezone 17 acres from Planned Development – General Industrial to Industrial Park and permit the redevelopment of 268,700 square feet of existing flex-warehouse space into nearly 600,000 square feet of data center uses and a five-acre substation. ... Project Manager Erin Fisher said this is the first application of an influx of proposals to convert warehouse space to data center and industrial uses along the Rt. 28 corridor.
Stafford riverfront residents fear impact of proposed data centers
Data centers tend to be in the same boat as prisons, landfills and airports — they’re needed facilities that nobody wants in their backyard. But residents along State Route 3 east in Stafford County, beyond the Ferry Farm development and before King George County, are rallying the troops to oppose nearby data centers because of a major difference with their situation. The Rappahannock River is in their backyard.
Spotsylvania approves water use agreement for data center
Data centers require heavy use of water to cool the equipment in the facilities that power the Internet, something Spotsylvania County leaders have addressed while approving numerous developments. Before approving numerous data center developments, the county established an agreement with developers, including Amazon, to construct a re-use water system to be used to cool the facilities.
Following shoplifting charge, bond revoked for ex-Middletown treasurer accused of embezzlement
Middletown’s former treasurer and town manager had her bond revoked Thursday after she was arrested last week for shoplifting from a Martin’s grocery store in Frederick County. Rebecca Louise Layman, 52, is set to stand trial in November on 12 felony counts of embezzling from Middletown. Authorities have not disclosed how much she allegedly took from the town, but Frederick County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Heather Enloe said Thursday that the amount is “in the six figures.”
Virginia Intermont campus owners pay off Bristol taxes
The owners of the former Virginia Intermont College property, on Friday, paid off its current and delinquent Bristol, Virginia, tax bills — effectively negating a city lawsuit filed Thursday. John Kieffer, a local attorney representing U.S. Magis International Education Center, delivered cashier’s checks totaling $353,484 to city Treasurer Angel Britt’s office at noon Friday. ... The funds arrived at TACS on Thursday, the same day Bristol Virginia filed action in Circuit Court seeking control of the property due to non-payment of taxes under provisions of a new state law designed to address vacant, blighted properties.