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‘Time is running short’: Letters show growing Justice Department ire at U-Va.
Over two months this spring, Justice Department officials sent seven letters to the University of Virginia, alleging possible racial discrimination in admissions and hiring, inaction to address antisemitism on campus, and a failure to remove diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the institution. The letters, obtained by The Washington Post through a records request, revealed the agency’s increasing frustration at U-Va. They warned that a failure by the university to take “immediate corrective action” could lead to punitive steps, including possible termination of federal funding.
How do you get 850 students to improve their attendance? In Norton, it’s all about relationships
Improving attendance at Norton public schools sometimes looks like tracking down one chronically absent student at a time. Sometimes, that entails going to find them at their part-time jobs. Sarah Davis, the attendance specialist at the small Southwest Virginia school division, recalled one student who was skipping afternoon classes so she could pick up extra shifts at a local fast-food chain. . . . Davis’s efforts, combined with those of school administrators and a nonprofit partner organization, have made significant progress to improve attendance in Norton. For the 2022-2023 school year, more than one-third of the 325 students at J.I. Burton High School were chronically absent, meaning they missed more than 18 days of school for any reason. For the 2023-2024 school year, chronic absenteeism dropped from 37% to just 2%.
UVa board meeting abruptly canceled after Ryan resignation
Several minutes after it was set to begin, a special meeting of the University of Virginia’s governing Board of Visitors over a "resignation faculty matter" was abruptly canceled “as it was no longer needed,” according to school officials. ... The virtual meeting scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday was called to “discuss a faculty resignation personnel matter,” as announced on the board’s website on Tuesday evening. At around 11:35 a.m. — with more than 300 people waiting online for the meeting’s livestream to begin — the link suddenly stopped functioning. The meeting was then listed as canceled on the board’s calendar.
Loudoun's congressional delegation rips Trump tax and spending bill
President Donald J. Trump says his transformative tax and spending cuts bill will increase Americans prosperity and security, but the members of Loudoun County’s congressional delegation say its effect will be ruinous. The Senate passed the bill July 1 in a 50-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The House of Representatives, which passed an earlier version of the bill and sent it to the Senate, took it up again July 2. Trump had demanded passage by July 4. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, and Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Virginia both voted no. In a written statement July 1, they called the bill “disastrous legislation,” saying it slashes Medicaid and other social safety net programs to fund tax cuts for the rich.
Gigaland data center developer offers county $15M for land conservation
The developers of Gigaland, a seven-building, 2-million-square-foot data center campus proposed near Remington, are offering $15 million to Fauquier County’s land conservation program as part of a package of incentives to encourage county supervisors to approve it. The project initially included an offer of $1 million for county parks and trails, $1 million for Remington recreation programs and $500,000 to the nearby Meadows subdivision to mitigate its effects. With the additional $15 million, “it’s a bigger proffer package than the county's ever seen for anything ever, and certainly, the economics are very compelling,” said county Supervisor Ike Broaddus.
New state renters protection law aims to reduce evictions for public housing tenants
Tenants living in public housing across Virginia are now protected by a new law aimed at reducing evictions and eliminating certain fees. As of July 1, public housing authorities issuing notices of nonpayment to renters must now print those notices on pink or orange paper to clearly inform tenants of their rights. This is part of a broader push to strengthen renter protections and help prevent homelessness.
Critics clash with Gov. Youngkin over Medicaid, SNAP impacts of 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is throwing his support behind the Republican-led “Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping federal budget package that’s stirred controversy over its potential impact on low-income Americans. Youngkin, in an interview with WUSA9 Wednesday, called the need to pass the bill “very important” and emphasized its promises of tax relief, border security funding and fiscal responsibility. . . . “I don't believe there will be people who need services who will have to go without,” the governor said.
New Cardinal Care Managed Care program to serve Virginians with Medicaid
The new Cardinal Care Managed Care program, intended to assist 1.4 million Virginians, was announced by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services Tuesday. The program will serve those in the Commonwealth for Medicaid starting July 1 by prioritizing member-centered care that meets the diverse needs of Medicaid members while enhancing care and support.
Samuels Public Library Opens New Chapter Without County Funding, But With Strong Community Support
Samuels Public Library began a new chapter today, one that library leaders call “unusual” but deeply meaningful. As of July 1, the library is operating without funding from Warren County for the first time in decades. Still, the halls were filled with smiling faces, coffee cups, and Apple House donuts as supporters streamed in for an open house celebrating community resilience and a commitment to keeping services alive. . . . Although the mood inside the library was cheerful, the backdrop to this event was serious. For over two years, Samuels Public Library has been at the center of a tense funding dispute with the Warren County Board of Supervisors, stemming from concerns over library content and operations.
Faculty members express deep concern over President Ryan’s resignation
Faculty members across the University expressed their shock and concern after the resignation of University President Jim Ryan last Friday, pressured by Trump’s Department of Justice. At the time of publication, around 160 faculty members have signed an open letter condemning political interference and urging the Board of Visitors, the University’s highest governing body, to resist pressure from the federal government. “The forced installation of a new president under these circumstances would impede the exchange of ideas, set a dangerous precedent for the destruction of academic freedom, and cast a shadow on the integrity of the research and teaching conducted at the university,” the faculty wrote.