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State cited Hopewell for inoperable equipment months before massive sewage spill into James River
Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the City of Hopewell’s wastewater treatment plant for eight discharges of raw wastewater six months prior to Friday night’s massive discharge of raw sewage into the James River and Gravely Run Creek. DEQ said in the NOV it had reason to believe the plant was in violation of the State Water Control Law. The plant, called Hopewell Water Renewal, treats raw sewage from the City of Hopewell, but also industrial wastewater from nearby companies like AdvanSix-Hopewell, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP, Smurfit WestRock and Virginia American Water Company, according to DEQ records.
Spanberger highlights law enforcement experience in Virginia governor’s race ad
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s (D-Va.) gubernatorial campaign launched a new ad on Tuesday highlighting her background in law enforcement. The 30-second ad, which is narrated by Spanberger’s father, Martin Davis, will be broadcast in the Richmond and Norfolk media markets and statewide on digital platforms. The Hill was the first outlet to view the ad. Davis notes Spanberger’s background working as a federal agent investigating child predators, narcotics cases and arresting drug dealers, as well as her record as a CIA officer working on counterterrorism cases.
Some Virginia school divisions inaccurately citing 2022 state law to remove books from libraries
A new state report has found that some school divisions in Virginia have been inaccurately citing 2022 state law as justification for removing books from school libraries. “This is an interesting circumstance where there’s a law in place that has been used, but the law was never really intended for that use in the first place,” Justin Brown, Associate Director of the non-partisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, told 8News.
Some Virginia schools incorrectly using state law to remove library books, study reveals
A new study from a nonpartisan government agency revealed that while most Virginia school divisions are not removing any books from their libraries, some are incorrectly citing a 2022 state law to justify removals. The study, released Monday by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), found that 344 books (243 titles were removed, with some being removed in multiple school divisions) have been removed from school libraries by about one-third of the divisions that responded to survey.
Number of unemployed Fairfax residents reaches a level not seen since mid-2021
Federal workforce cuts implemented by the Trump administration and, as of July 8, enabled by the U.S. Supreme Court have helped drive the number of unemployed Fairfax County residents to heights not seen in nearly four years. A total of 21,705 county residents were counted as unemployed in May, according to new data reported by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. That’s up 35% from a year before.
Arlington unemployment rate reaches highest point since the pandemic
Arlington’s unemployment rate has risen to its highest point in nearly four years. A total of 5,061 Arlington residents were counted as seeking jobs in May, according to new figures from the Virginia Employment Commission. That’s the highest total since the 5,523 recorded in July 2021, when the nation was still in the grip of Covid.
Judge rules in favor of Norfolk city attorney in feud with commonwealth’s attorney
The Norfolk city attorney’s office earned a win in its ongoing feud with Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi over which office has the authority to prosecute misdemeanor cases. A Norfolk Circuit Judge Joseph Lindsey ruled last week the city attorney’s office could continue to prosecute a misdemeanor city code violation appeal. The case involves a man who was charged with being in a park after sunset, a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
DOJ withdraws from Sentara investigation
The federal government is withdrawing from intervening in a whistleblower complaint against Sentara Health that alleges the Hampton Roads health care system improperly inflated local insurance rates in 2018 and 2019. On June 19, the federal government sent a notice of its decision to withdraw its prior notice of partial intervention, and that it is declining to intervene on the matter. The DOJ declined to comment when asked to elaborate on its reason for withdrawing.
Virginia Retirement System investments lag benchmark but expect ‘comparable’ rates
The Virginia Retirement System expects to adopt comparable rates for state agencies and school divisions to pay for their employees' long-term pension benefits in the next two-year state budget, even though the system's investment returns were lagging its benchmark target through March 31. The retirement system, with more than 380,000 active employees and almost 250,000 retirees, has not released its rate of return on investments in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, but those investments were earning a return of 6.3% in the first nine months of the fiscal year - below its benchmark of 7.9% and the annual targeted return of 6.75%.
‘They literally blast horns’: Overnight Metro work keeps Virginia residents awake
Track work on the southern end of Metro’s Blue Line is underway in Northern Virginia – and people who live nearby say it’s keeping them awake overnight. The Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations are closed, with shuttle buses replacing usual rail service. Alexandria residents told News4 that overnight and in the early morning hours they hear power tools, blasting horns and conversations on workers’ radios.