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Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Digital News Sites to Post Public Notices

By OLIVIA DILEO, VCU Capital News Service

Lawmakers passed bills during the 2024 General Assembly session that impact the press, including online public notices, FOIA costs and government transparency. The session was more promising for the press than some past sessions, according to Mechelle Hankerson, president of the Society of Professional Journalists Virginia Pro Chapter. ... Local governments are currently required by state law to advertise certain public notices in newspapers. ... Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, introduced House Bill 264 to allow online-only publications to also post the public notices – and generate revenue from them ...

VaNews March 28, 2024


Haas: By vetoing gun storage bill, Youngkin plays politics with public safety

By LORI HAAS, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Does Gov. Glenn Youngkin truly prioritize the safety of our children? Clearly, he does not when he ignored a crucial opportunity. Gov. Youngkin had the chance to sign a bill that many might call a no-brainer. A bill with rigorous research to support it and widespread public support. A bill solving a problem that we’ve already seen play out in Virginia too many times. A bill that would require the safe and secure storage of firearms to keep them out of the wrong hands. A bill that Gov. Youngkin just vetoed.

Haas is the advocacy manager for the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Yancey: The Alexandria arena is dead: Potomac Yard claims a second governor

By DWAYNE YANCEY, Cardinal News

There must be something magical about Potomac Yard that, like mythical sirens calling out to sailors, lures unsuspecting governors to their political doom. More than three decades ago, then-Gov. Douglas Wilder looked at the old railyard in Alexandria and saw a football stadium. He negotiated a deal with Jack Kent Cooke, then owner of Washington’s National Football League team, and in July 1992 announced with great flourish a plan to move the team to Virginia. “The announcement at Potomac Yard was a media extravaganza,” The Washington Post reported. “Local television carried the event live. There was a large model of the 78,600-seat stadium on display, as well as signs declaring the site the home of ‘Jack Kent Cooke Stadium at Potomac Yard.’” The NFL commissioner was on hand, and so was the team’s legendary coach, Joe Gibbs.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Schapiro: Apparently, third time wasn’t the charm

By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Glenn Youngkin said his proposed $2 billion sportsplex for Alexandria — now dead — would produce 30,000 jobs and pump $12 billion into the local economy over 40 years. In other words, he argued, the arena was a game changer. The Republican governor, fast running out of time to fashion a legacy founded on compromise with Democrats, rather than combat, had already changed two other games — to the dismay of communities on opposite ends of the state.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Spotsylvania officials speak out against regional approach to transportation

By TAFT COGHILL JR., Fredericksburg Free Press

Most of the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors made it clear during a meeting Tuesday night they have no interest in joining a Regional Transportation Authority with Fredericksburg as well as Stafford, King George and Caroline counties. While Battlefield District representative Chris Yakabouski and Deborah Frazier of the Salem District left open the possibility if more information demonstrates that it will be beneficial to the county, others stated explicitly they do not support the idea.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Hampton Roads regional landfill is filling up fast

By IAN MUNRO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The South Hampton Roads regional landfill is filling up faster than previous planning scheduled, leaving questions about how residents will dispose of their waste in the future and what it will cost. The challenge is twofold. The landfill is facing an uphill regulatory challenge to expand its capacity, according to Dennis Bagley, executive director of the Southeastern Public Service Authority. Meanwhile, a facility that burns up to 70% of waste destined for the landfill and converts it into energy is closing in June and has already dialed back how much waste it’s burning.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Chesapeake Public Schools’ new security includes scannable IDs, weapon detectors

By CONOR HOLLINGSWORTH, WTKR-TV

... Last week, the Chesapeake Public Schools Security Task Force outlined security changes they are making. One of them is a weapon detector pilot program. “It uses propriety sensors in an AI system to look at anything that carries the level of alloy, shape, that would construe a weapon so then we’re not having the whole historical metal detectors where you’re dumping everything in a basket to go through,” said [Penny Schultz, Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools].

VaNews March 28, 2024


Though Richmond is taking action now, past audits show city finance woes date back several years

By TYLER LAYNE, WTVR-TV

Over the past few months, Richmond business owners have come forward to share concerns about dramatic meals tax late fees, inaccurate advice they received from finance employees, incorrect tax accounts, and a lack of transparency from City Hall. The issues have left business owners and some city leaders wondering how the finance department got into this position in the first place, where the problems stem from, and when officials knew about them.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Hanover approves zoning request for 1,200-acre data center project

By JACK JACOBS, Richmond BizSense

The Hanover Board of Supervisors has given the nod to a massive planned industrial project outside Ashland. Development company Tract on Wednesday secured the zoning approval needed to create a 1,200-acre data center park along Hickory Hill Road east of Interstate 95 in Hanover County. Tract Chief Investment Officer Graham Williams previously told BizSense that the company anticipated the project area would be able to support up to 9 million square feet of data center space spread across 30 buildings on multiple campuses.

VaNews March 28, 2024


Warren supervisors seek to block Front Royal Economic Development Authority’s return of McDonald house

By ALEX BRIDGES, Northern Virginia Daily

Warren County supervisors said Tuesday they want to block the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority from allowing the EDA’s former executive director to buy back her home. The EDA took ownership of property at 158 Faith Way, the home of Jennifer McDonald and her husband, Samuel North, on Feb. 5. The EDA took the property as part of a court-ordered civil settlement after McDonald was accused of funneling millions in EDA money through banks and other agencies ... The EDA board of directors voted at its March 22 meeting to authorize the transfer of the property back to McDonald and North in exchange for $350,000.

VaNews March 28, 2024