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D.C. Council split on whether to support bringing Commanders to RFK
Architects of a $3.7 billion deal to bring the Washington Commanders to the RFK Stadium site have framed the team’s return to D.C. as almost inevitable. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) celebrated the deal on Monday at a news conference, sitting in front of a burgundy and gold banner her administration had printed with the words “WELCOME HOME” written on it. . . . But Bowser and the team need a majority of the D.C. Council to agree — and lawmakers remain far from united on the deal, which is expected to cost D.C. taxpayers more than $1 billion.
William and Mary board passes anti-discrimination resolution, responding to federal DEI demands
Friday, April 25, the College of William and Mary’s board of visitors passed resolution HC-3 titled “Merit-based excellence, student opportunity and freedom from discrimination.” This resolution was introduced in response to increasing pressure from the federal and state governments to restrict universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Across the country, this pressure has already led some institutions, like the University of Virginia, to eliminate their DEI programs entirely.
Longtime NoVa congressman Gerry Connolly will not seek reelection after cancer resurgence
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, a fixture in Northern Virginia politics for more than three decades, announced Monday he will not seek reelection after a resurgence of cancer, saying the sun is setting on his time in public service. In a statement published on his social media accounts, Connolly thanked supporters for their “good wishes and compassion,” crediting their encouragement with giving him strength “in my fights — both against cancer and in our collective defense of democracy.”
Reid says he will not quit race for lieutenant governor, threatens legal action
Neither Lt. Gov. candidate John Reid nor Gov. Glenn Youngkin appears prepared to back down from the budding fight that fractured the statewide Republican party. As initially reported by The Richmonder, Youngkin called Reid Friday morning to request he step down from his candidacy for lieutenant governor. That’s after a Tumblr account surfaced that contained reposts of pictures of naked men, The Richmonder reported. The username of that account matches the name Reid uses on other personal social media platforms.
Charlottesville Dems wanted specifics on Earle-Sears’ education policy. She didn’t give them.
Clasping the sides of a lectern under a bright and beating sun, Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade said that Virginians deserve to know where Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears stands on policy, namely education. “Especially now that she’s campaigning to be the governor of Virginia,” said Wade, standing in front of City Hall flanked by Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds and Carol Bauer, president of the Virginia Education Association teachers' union.
Yancey: One of the Democratic senators who didn’t vote for solar bill says rural opposition made the difference
In her first year in the state Senate, in 2024, Lashrecse Aird of Petersburg voted for a bill that would have limited the power of local governments to regulate (and discourage) solar projects. This seemed a natural vote for a Democrat who wants to promote clean energy. Many of her constituents, the ones in the rural part of her district, let her know otherwise. “People were really angry with me for voting for the bill,” Aird says. “Lesson learned the hard way.” The lesson was that many rural residents don’t like solar energy — and they don’t want it in their county.
Del. Orrock stresses bipartisanship as he kicks off bid for 19th term in 66th District
When state Sen. Tara Durant was in the Virginia House of Delegates, she recalled Saturday, she was fortunate that her Richmond office was right next to Del. Bobby Orrock’s. Whenever the brand-new delegate had a question, all she had to do was go next door, and Orrock would say, “Come on in, young lady,” and greet her with a hug and a big smile. “What a great way to have a good friend like that when you are trying to navigate and get your sea legs and understand how to do this,” Durant told a small crowd at Angela’s Italian Restaurant in Thornburg. Durant (R-Stafford) was among a group of elected officials and GOP members who came out to support the re-election campaign of Orrock, a Republican who is the longest-serving current delegate.
Price of a home in Richmond region to likely keep climbing
Perhaps the greatest change to life in the Richmond region since the pandemic is the increased cost of buying a home. The median price of a single-family home has shot up 89% from about $220,000 in 2015 to almost $415,000 in the first quarter of this year. Now, experts have bad news for prospective home buyers: Prices are not likely to decline this year. Laura Lafayette, CEO of the Richmond Association of Realtors, said she can envision the median price rising an additional 5% to 7% this year.
Transit agency envisions bus rapid transit across Potomac
A new long-term “blueprint” to dramatically expand Northern Virginia’s bus rapid transit lines calls for significant investment along core Arlington routes. A draft Bus Rapid Transit Action Plan, unveiled yesterday (Wednesday) is meant to guide agencies throughout the region as they consider future transit investments. A proposed map of possible BRT lines envisions two routes connecting Columbia Pike to Crystal City and D.C., and another route running east from Falls Church into Rosslyn, across the Potomac River and into Georgetown. According to Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) estimates, all three of these routes would be some of the most heavily trafficked in the entire region.
Stephens and McKenna: Group offers a new vision for economic growth in Hampton Roads
In the face of the rapidly changing economic landscape, collaboration is more important than ever. That’s why the creation of the Regional Organizations Presidents’ Council (ROPC) is a pivotal step for the Hampton Roads region. The ROPC, a coalition of regional organizations and their CEOs, is committed to driving economic growth in the region by focusing on collaboration, advocacy and strategic initiatives that move our region forward. The ROPC is committed to creating a stronger, more competitive regional economy for all. The ROPC is not “yet another organization.” Instead, it was formed in 2024 to formally bring together our regional organizations.