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Mecklenburg solar project neighbors get fake letter dangling cash
Property owners near a proposed solar project in Chase City have reportedly received a fake “good neighbor agreement” that was made to look as if it was issued by solar developer Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC for its 7 Bridges Solar facility. The document in question contains an offer, purportedly from Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC and 7 Bridges Solar LLC, to pay homeowners an initial sum of $10,000 for signing the agreement. . . . Longroad Energy officials say the letter is a fabrication. . . . At least twice, public allegations have been made claiming that Longroad Energy has reached out to nearby landowners, offering money to them, in exchange for the promise of the landowner to withhold any objection to development of 7 Bridges Solar.
Misjuns asks about waste, fraud in survey sent to Lynchburg city employees
Lynchburg At-large Councilman Martin Misjuns sent an online survey to city employees Monday morning asking them to identify any waste and fraud they may have seen in the operations of city government. In the email, Misjuns said the survey is part of his “commitment to collaborate with the City Manager on effective governance” and the survey results will help “enhance our financial oversight.” . . . Misjuns said the survey was not coordinated with the city manager’s office, which did not know it was going to be sent out Monday morning.
5 former Richmond Public Schools bus drivers say they were fired for advocating for overtime pay
Sonny Randolph said parents are still calling him to tell him their kids won’t get on the bus. Randolph began driving buses for Richmond Public Schools in 2014. Until recently, he was responsible for picking up children with intellectual disabilities and making sure they made it safely to their schools. . . . Randolph is among five former RPS bus drivers — alongside Cynthia Cole, Katina Hickman, Darryl Brinson-Williams and Kimya Williams — who allege they were fired last month in retaliation for attending a Richmond School Board meeting on April 8, where Williams, Brinson-Williams and some of their colleagues spoke in defense of their overtime pay.
King George Firefighters Defend their Right to Speak
Members of the King George chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF Local 4438)—supported by members of Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, and Winchester chapters—spoke in defense of their First Amendment rights at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The membership turned out in response to comments made by some of the supervisors at the April 11 budget work session. The comments hinted at retaliation against the Local 4438 president, Triston Beverly, for writing a letter expressing concern about the proposed budget for the fire, rescue, and emergency services department.
Delegate candidates speak on crime, guns, solar panels
The Three Rivers Republican Women’s Club held its third annual candidate forum on April 30. Candidates running for the House of Delegates in the 84th and 89th districts answered questions posed by the audience about local issues. Felisha Storm (R) is running for Delegate in the 84th district. Mike Lamonea (R) and Kristen Shannon (R) are running for Delegate in the 89th district. The forum was moderated by Kerry Dougherty from WTAR.
Fauquier County dump expansion could threaten historic Schoolhouse 18
A planned expansion to a Fauquier County trash collection site in Marshall could threaten the historic schoolhouse next door, advocates are warning. Built in 1887, the one-room school now surrounded by well-tended gardens closed in 1964 and was the last of 31 Fauquier County elementary schools serving African American students. . . . Some advocates say the changes will make the site safer and reduce traffic, but opponents worry the plan will roll back progress that has improved the historic property next door.
Pamunkey Indian Reservation named among America’s most endangered historic places
Climate change is threatening the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, and now the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the area as one of the most endangered historic sites in the country. Settled on a 1,600-acre peninsula in King William County, the reservation is surrounded by the Pamunkey River on three sides. Kendall Stevens, cultural resources director for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, said like other coastal communities, the reservation is not spared from the struggle of erosion, rising sea levels, sinking land and more severe storms.
Virginia tribe and state officials accuse each other of Medicaid fraud
The administration of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and the Nansemond Indian Nation have traded allegations of deception over a tribal health-care service and its Medicaid expenses, with the state claiming in court filings last week that the Nansemonds “may be engaging in fraudulent billing practices.” On Wednesday, lawyers for the tribe responded in documents: “The only fraud before this Court is the one orchestrated by [the commonwealth].” The escalating legal conflict involves millions of dollars in health-care reimbursements and marks the first instance of Virginia facing a government-to-government clash with one of its newly recognized Native tribes.
Prison lieutenant gets 1-year sentence for Petersburg death in custody
Wade Scott Walters died in a suicide watch cell in a Petersburg federal prison. His death, in precisely the type of cell where a prisoner should be keenly observed, caused an inquest within the Bureau of Prisons. According to a video described by prosecutors, Walters, a vulnerable adult who could not speak for himself, banged his body against the walls of his cell at least 23 times. His cause of death was ultimately ruled to be a broken skull. Federal prosecutors pursued criminal charges against a handful of staff involved. On Wednesday, Shronda Covington, a 16-year-veteran of FCI Petersburg, was handed her punishment for her role in Walters' death.
Helicopters were banned near National Airport. They are disrupting flights anyway.
Police, medical and military helicopters have continued to fly in close proximity to Reagan National Airport in the three months since an Army Black Hawk and regional jetliner collided and killed 67 people, requiring airline pilots to abort landings and sparking pointed disagreements between agencies responsible for flights. The continued need for passenger jet “go-arounds” — as the sudden avoidance maneuvers are called — and finger-pointing by transportation and military officials within the Trump administration reveal the extent to which officials continue to wrestle with coordination and safety around the congested airport.