Search
U.S. DOJ launches employment discrimination probe into George Mason University
The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday said it had launched an employment discrimination probe into George Mason University in Virginia, making it the latest college to be targeted by the Trump administration. The civil rights probe will examine whether George Mason, a state university, "is engaged in discriminatory practices" based on race and sex, the department said. It said the investigation was spawned by comments made by George Mason's president and policies "which indicate that race and sex are motivating factors in faculty hiring" in order to achieve diversity goals.
Immigration arrests have surged 470% in Virginia so far this year — with majority now having no criminal record
Immigration arrests have skyrocketed across the DMV region since President Donald Trump's inauguration, and a new WUSA9 analysis shows an increasing share of those arrests are of people with no criminal history beyond their status in the country. Arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maryland have jumped 290% year-over-year, while Virginia has seen a staggering 470% increase, according to WUSA9's analysis of ICE data from the Deportation Data Project. Washington D.C. has also experienced rising numbers, though not to the dramatic extent seen in Maryland and Virginia.
Virginia public media stations brace for impact of federal funding cuts
A bill granting a White House request to claw back $9 billion in federal spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid will likely shutter at least 80 NPR and PBS member stations nationwide, according to NPR CEO Katherine Maher. The rescission package, which the US Senate passed Thursday morning, withdraws all funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, leaving even stations that remain operational scrambling to restore their budgets. ... Bert Schmidt, president and CEO of WHRO, says the Norfolk-based station will lose $2 million in federal funding.
Youngkin touts Va. record in Iowa, land of presidential hope
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) made a campaign-style visit to the Iowa state GOP Thursday night — a logical first step toward a 2028 presidential run, though he insisted his full attention is focused on finishing his term as governor. “The invitation is humbling. … It is just a wonderful Iowa trait for you all to be so warm in the way you greeted me,” Youngkin said to a crowd of several hundred as the featured guest speaker for the Iowa Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Dinner. With its traditional first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses every four years, Iowa usually plays a leading role in selecting the party’s presidential contenders.
VPAP Visual Fundraising Outside Virginia
How much have candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general raised from donors outside of Virginia? Toggle among offices to see the share of total donations from outside Virginia, and compare donations from each state.
State agencies leaving Monroe Building will scatter across Richmond
When state government employees leave the James Monroe Building next year, they will disperse to about a dozen different office spaces downtown and outside Richmond. The Department of General Services, which manages real estate for the Virginia government, recently agreed to leases with landlords of local office buildings. The 29-story Monroe building is considered no longer functional — employees have gotten stuck in elevators and restrooms are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. State leaders expect the tower to be vacant by next spring. The new homes won’t be permanent. Eventually, state leaders plan to move government employees to a yet-to-be-built office at 1401 E. Broad St.
Sears, Spanberger offer their take on Virginia’s data center-driven future
Data centers, the massive, power-hungry facilities that make the internet and AI work, continue to pop up across the Commonwealth. They bring billions in revenue for Virginia and its localities, but they can also bring neighborhood complaints, development concerns and drains on natural resources. The current landscape leaves open lots of options for how Virginia’s candidates for governor say they’d shape the data center future.
Hundreds of Richmond residents participate in nationwide ‘Good Trouble’ protest
The sound of car horns honking and people shouting filled the air as Richmonders took their activism to the streets yet again, this time hoping to get into some “good trouble.” “Good trouble is saying what you mean and what you feel,” said one of the demonstrators, Jane Ward. Hundreds were scattered on medians on Monument Avenue between Lombardy Street and Willow Lawn. It’s just one of 1,600 Good Trouble protests that began nationwide on Thursday. The phrase was dubbed by the late Congressman John Lewis, who encouraged people to get into “good trouble” to fight for justice and equality. Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of his passing.
Nuclear power company celebrates expansion with $50M investment, 500 new jobs
Framatome officially unveiled its newly expanded facility on Mill Ridge Road with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning, signaling both a bold investment in the future of nuclear power and a commitment to the Lynchburg community. ... Framatome’s North American President and CEO Tony Robinson said the ribbon cutting is not just opening a new facility but a testament to the shared vision and commitment to nuclear energy and its unwavering commitment to Lynchburg and Virginia. The upgraded site is part of Framatome’s broader $50 million investment to expand capacity, modernize its facilities and add up to 500 new jobs in Central Virginia.
Democrats lead fundraising in top statewide races, but Miyares outpaces AG opponent
New campaign finance reports show Democrats hold a fundraising edge in Virginia’s races for governor and lieutenant governor, while Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares is leveraging his incumbency to outpace his Democratic challenger. The latest reports, covering the period from June 6 to June 30, show Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger raised more than $4.2 million and ended the month with over $15.2 million in the bank.