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Powers, Spanberger oppose state forcing solar projects on localities
Bedford County resident Joy Powers, who is running as a Democrat for Virginia’s House 51st district, in a news release Monday said she joins gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger to “firmly reject the idea that Virginia Democrats support mandating solar projects on unwilling localities.” The release said Powers, who is running against Del. Eric Zehr, R-Campbell, makes the comments in response to recent public debate over solar zoning, stating she calls for “facts over fear, and leadership over political drama.” The district includes portions of Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania counties.
New Richmond billboard attacks Stoney for water crisis
A new billboard along Interstate 195 in Richmond features an attack on former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney for the water crisis that left much of the city without drinking water for six days in January. The ad quotes the Virginia Department of Health, which described the Jan. 6 meltdown of Richmond’s water treatment plant during a winter storm-related power outage as “completely avoidable.” Stoney, who left office at the end of last year before the water crisis occurred, served in the position for two terms, or eight years. He is one of six Democrats seeking the party's nomination for lieutenant governor in a June 17 primary.
Loudoun County schools investigating student for asking why a female was using boys’ locker room
A pro-family, pro-faith legal group is representing a student who is being investigated by Loudoun County Public Schools for asking why a female student was in the boys’ locker room. The Founding Freedoms Law Center said Monday that its client, a high school sophomore, is facing a Title IX investigation for sexual harassment in Loudoun County. Title IX bars discrimination in education based on sex.
Loudoun County school system investigates boys uncomfortable with female student in boys locker room
Loudoun County Public Schools has opened a Title IX investigation into three high school boys who said they were uncomfortable with a female student using the boys’ locker room. The Loudon County School Board policy allows students to use school bathrooms and locker rooms according to their gender identification, rather than biological sex.
Connolly will back former aide to succeed him in Congress
Next year’s Democratic primary election contest to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia) in Congress kicked off Tuesday when Fairfax County Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw became the first candidate to announce a bid — with Connolly himself seeking to clear a path for his former chief of staff with an early endorsement. “This is not a moment for on-the-job training. We need a strong representative, experienced in addressing national issues that affect our community, who can stand up to Trump and lead from day one,” Connolly said in an open letter to be sent to constituents Wednesday that was obtained by The Washington Post.
Virginia food banks feel the effects of federal funding cuts
Bob Latvis knows there may often be changes in federal funding for food banks with any new administration. This time though, many Virginia food banks are in a state of limbo as they wait for federal support. The first Trump administration provided trade mitigations that increased available food for food banks and the Biden administration provided Commodity Credit Corporation funds to help food banks purchase and distribute resources. However, roughly $500 million in commodity credit funding was cut in March, $200,000 of which was headed for the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank.
Rozell: For Democrats, a chance to reboot
Candidates for governor in Virginia’s statewide election this fall are set. One way or another, the commonwealth will have its first woman chief executive — either Republican Winsome Earle-Sears or Democrat Abigail Spanberger. The entire GOP statewide ticket draws a bye on June’s primaries. Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking reelection, has no primary challenger. John Reid has no challenger for the party's lieutenant governor nomination. That appeared to give the Republicans an early advantage by avoiding intra-party squabbling in contentious primaries. But Gov. Glenn Youngkin blew up the GOP unity when he hastily called on Reid to withdraw from the ticket and Reid very publicly refused.
Miyares to investigate Loudoun schools over transgender locker room incident
Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares on Tuesday announced they are investigating Loudoun County Public Schools for its response to an alleged incident in which a transgender student identifying as male entered the boys’ locker room and recorded a video of the teenage boys' reactions. This week, TV station WJLA, the Washington ABC affiliate, reported that Loudoun County Public Schools opened a Title IX investigation into three boys who said they were uncomfortable with the student’s presence in the boys’ locker room. Youngkin and Miyares expressed outrage on Tuesday about the Northern Virginia school district’s handling of the situation.
Yancey: Republican House primary in Danville draws more opening day voters than any other GOP races in the state
Republican voters in Danville are showing more interest in the House of Delegates primary in their area than voters in any of the other eight Republican primaries in the state. That’s based on the numbers from the first day totals on Friday. While just one day, those first-day totals are often a good indicator of overall interest in a race. There are 17 primaries — eight Republican, nine Democratic — to settle House of Delegates nominations this year.
Prince William County supervisor’s new PAC gets $100K from data center developer
Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega has received a whopping $100,000 campaign donation—likely the largest single contribution to any supervisor from an individual in the county’s history—from the wife of a local data center developer. Vega, a Republican who represents the Coles District, received the contribution through a political action committee called “YES PAC,” which was set up in December. Vega is the founder and director of the organization. Her county-paid chief of staff, Chelsea Quintern, is listed as the PAC’s treasurer, according to its statement of organization.