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Police called on McGuire supporter at candidate forum
Even before police were called, the organizers of a candidate forum for 5th District Republicans and Democrats in Louisa County were expecting a contentious evening. And contentious it was, with multiple disruptions from the crowd as attendees reacted to praise and criticism of Donald Trump just two hours after he became the first U.S. president to become a convicted felon. That news supercharged what was already bound to be a tense gathering. Although the candidate forum at Spring Creek Golf Course has been running for years, May 30 was the first time organizers requested security guards in advance, a response to a supporter of Republican state Sen. John McGuire threatening to disrupt the event, they said.
Schapiro: Ahead of D-Day anniversary, pols plan strategic retreat
Eighty years to the day that American soldiers stormed the shores of Nazi-held France — among the feats of arms ensuring free college tuition for the families of Virginians killed or disabled in combat — the state’s Republican governor and Democratic legislature, ordinarily locked in political battle, are poised for a strategic retreat to quell outrage over a threatened reduction in those increasingly pricey education benefits. Fancying themselves friends of the military — how could they not be in a state that’s ranked No. 1 in defense spending and has the third-largest veterans population in the country? — Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly are vowing to reverse a provision both sides supported in the soon-to-take-effect budget ...
Marjorie Taylor Greene, John McGuire shouted down by protesters, cut short Albemarle County campaign rally
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s visit to Albemarle County started late and ended early Wednesday afternoon, after loud chants from protesters overwhelmed her megaphone and cut short her campaign rally for fellow Republican John McGuire. The Georgia congresswoman dropped into Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Wednesday, where McGuire, a state senator, is challenging incumbent Rep. Bob Good in the upcoming GOP primary. While the 5th is a deep-red district in the heart of Virginia, Albemarle County is a longtime Democratic stronghold — and that much was clear Wednesday.
Dominion customers to get cheaper electric bills after state’s exit from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
A surcharge on Dominion Energy bills to cover costs incurred from Virginia’s now-abandoned participation in a multi-state greenhouse gas reduction program is going away next month, the State Corporation Commission decided. The decision, requested by Dominion, translates to a $4.43 savings on a benchmark monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours – a bill that now costs $138. The electric monopoly said that Virginia’s withdrawal at the end of last year from what’s now the 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative means it no longer has to pay the body for the carbon gas it emits.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol pushes back grand opening to later in year
Leaders with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol announced on Wednesday that the grand opening of the permanent casino and resort space, initially intended for July, has been pushed back to later this year. A news release from the casino said a new timeline for the permanent casino and resort’s completion was rolled out, which involves a late-year grand opening.
Chesapeake-based Dollar Tree looking at options for Family Dollar, including possible sale of segment
Discount retailer Dollar Tree says it’s looking at strategic options for the Family Dollar stores that it owns, including a possible sale of the segment. Dollar Tree said Wednesday that alternatives also include a spinoff or other disposition of the business. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar nearly a decade ago for more than $8 billion after a bidding war with rival Dollar General. But the company has had difficulty incorporating Family Dollar into its business and recently announced that it would close nearly 1,000 stores, with most of them being Family Dollar locations.
After botched real estate deal, state watchdog recommends changes to VCU Health’s board
Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, recommended changes to Virginia Commonwealth University’s hospital system leadership Wednesday. The review came after a botched real estate deal between the city of Richmond and the hospital’s board. The more than $600 million plan seemed like a good idea back in early 2021. It would’ve brought a large office park, retail space and parking to downtown Richmond. But after the pandemic hit, the idea was scrapped – leaving VCU Health owing about $80 million dollars to the city and another $2.5 million annually as a “payment in lieu of taxes”
Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Bob Good a ‘liar’ and John McGuire a ‘loyalist’ at rally
Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., stepped off a bus emblazoned with former President Donald Trump’s name and image in Louisa County on Wednesday, smiling like longtime friends. The state and federal politicians have only interacted in recent months, but Greene said she trusts McGuire and hopes he’ll become her future colleague in the U.S. House of Representatives. McGuire, a state senator and former state delegate, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Good, R-Campbell, in a Republican primary for Virginia’s 5th congressional district.
State review of failed Richmond development calls for changes at VCU Health
A year after a Richmond BizSense report revealed that backing out of an ill-fated downtown development cost VCU Health $80 million and counting, a state review is calling for significant changes to the health system’s leadership structure. At a meeting Wednesday of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission, the oversight agency of the Virginia General Assembly, JLARC staff presented the findings and recommendations from a monthslong study of VCU Health aimed at improving the health system’s governance and process for reviewing and approving capital projects.
Youngkin moves to lift Virginia’s strict auto emissions standards
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said Wednesday that he will withdraw the state from participation in California’s tough auto emissions standards at the end of this year, citing an opinion from Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares (R) as justification for undoing an action taken by the General Assembly but causing Democrats to accuse him of overreach.