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The late Congressman Gerry Connolly gets one more legislative victory
... Congressman Gerry Connolly is having one final victory in the House of Representatives this week with the approval of the Gerry Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act. The bill was renamed for the late congressman the day he died last month, and it has bipartisan support including from Republican Congressman James Comer of Kentucky, chairman of the House Oversight Committee.
New initiative hopes to help N. Va. workers ‘pivot’ amid federal government upheaval
Local economic development organizations have joined forces to launch a comprehensive initiative aimed at assisting federal employees, contractors and other professionals facing career disruptions. “The Pivot” is an initiative of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance, which includes the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “Participants will gain insights into career exploration, entrepreneurial ventures, and skill development to successfully transition into new opportunities,” the alliance said in launching the effort last Friday (May 30).
Virginia Tech approves budget amid turbulent times for higher education
Amid uncertain times for research funding, Virginia Tech leadership approved a budget for the next school year that is mostly unaffected by federal changes, officials said. “The recommended internal budget for all operations is $2.5 billion,” university documents said. “This is an increase of $174.2 million, approximately 7.6 percent, over the adjusted FY25 budget.” The university board of visitors approved the proposed budget during a quarterly meeting inside the Classroom Building on Tuesday afternoon.
Trump budget request would slash Va. housing programs, advocates say
President Donald Trump‘s budget request for the next fiscal year would cut $1.9 billion of various housing and community development funds Virginia receives, the Virginia Housing Alliance says. Trump’s budget proposes eliminating several rent assistance programs for low-income Americans, including the Housing Choice Vouchers that make up the difference between market rent and the amount voucher holders pay, about 30% of their income. Virginia landlords received more than $554 million through these vouchers in fiscal year 2024.
Proposed cuts to clean energy tax credits could hurt Virginia projects, advocates say
Environmental groups in Virginia are worried some clean energy projects may be at risk of losing important tax credits if federal energy credits remain on the chopping block as part of President Donald Trump’s massive tax cut bill. The bill is “a disaster for Hampton Roads” and could be a “serious blow” to jobs and economic development, said Blair St. Ledger-Olson, director of advocacy and campaigns for the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.
Digital dashboard dives into rural demographics, housing, health and more
Looking for the median age of residents where you live? Or are you interested in the availability of broadband in your area? Maybe you want to dig deeper into the housing shortage, or you’re curious about the financial stability of your city and how it compares to other localities. Perhaps you’re interested in health care and want to know the number of primary care physicians in your city or county. You can quickly and easily find the answers to these and many other questions in one place: the new Rural Virginia Opportunity Dashboard, recently developed by the Virginia Rural Center.
Dominion proposing alternate route for transmission line project
Dominion Energy is proposing an alternative route for its Golden to Mars electrical transmission line project that would skirt Loudoun County Public Schools property, but be closer to Loudoun Valley Estates homes. The $402 million project, which many Loudoun Valley Estates residents oppose, was discussed at meeting of the Joint Committee of the Loudoun County School Board and Loudoun Board of Supervisors on June 2.
Spotsylvania School Board member ordered to pay legal fees in lawsuit
There was another twist this week in a long-running feud between Spotsylvania County School Board members. A Spotsylvania judge on Monday ordered attorneys for Nicole Cole (Battlefield District) to pay thousands for failing to respond to defense attorneys representing Lisa Phelps (Lee Hill) and April Gillespie (Berkeley). Cole’s attorneys also were ordered to respond to discovery and hearing requests by the defense attorneys. Cole defense team has 14 days to respond to defense attorneys and pay fees totaling $5,468.
Judge orders Spotsylvania School Board, former superintendent to negotiate settlement
Former Spotsylvania County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Taylor and the Spotsylvania School Board will come to the table to settle a dispute later this year. A judge with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Taylor and the school board to attend a judicial settlement conference on Aug. 27 at 9:30 a.m. ... Taylor filed a lawsuit against school board members Nicole Cole, Lorita Daniels, Megan Jackson, Carol Medawar and Belen Rodas after they voted to fire him in March 2024.
Williams: Defund the police? America gutted the rule of law, instead
Richmond was burning five years ago, at least metaphorically, in a way it hadn’t since the last days of the Civil War. People were marching the streets demanding justice in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer. Police tear-gassed demonstrators, including families with children, at the Robert E. Lee monument, ahead of a curfew. Two days later, about 1,000 people showed up at the doorstep of Richmond City Hall in a show of fury that clearly unnerved then-Mayor Levar Stoney.