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GOP nominees share stage, but not unity
All three Republican statewide nominees appeared at the same event for the first time on Tuesday night in Vienna — but tensions appear to remain between gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears and lieutenant governor nominee John Reid. Reid said he is committed to helping Earle-Sears win in November, but she did not mention him during her speech and did not publicly interact with him after the event. While ignoring Reid, Earle-Sears advocated for attendees to support House of Delegates candidates and the Republican nominee for the Eleventh Congressional District’s election.
Court rules talk-based conversion therapy is legal in Virginia
A Henrico County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday ordered that licensed counselors be allowed to engage underage clients in a controversial form of talk therapy about gender identity and sexual orientation that medical and mental health experts say can be harmful. The case underpinning the new consent decree with the Virginia Department of Health Professions stemmed from a 2020 state law banning “any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.” Last year, Front Royal-based counselors John and Janet Raymond challenged the ban.
Virginia’s Republican statewide ticket rallies together
Hundreds of supporters packed into what became an uncomfortably warm, standing-room only event Tuesday night at the Volunteer Fire Department in Vienna to watch the Republican statewide ticket appear together for the first time. For an event billed as a unifying moment for the Republican nominees, who got off to a rocky start this year, the candidates did not themselves dwell for very long on their ticket-mates. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares and conservative radio host John Reid, who are running for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor, appeared on stage together for less than a minute at the end of the two-hour long rally.
Warner, Kaine say GOP budget bill would strip insurance from 323,000 Virginians
Virginia’s two Democratic senators voted against a Republican budget package that passed the Senate Tuesday morning in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after an all-night session. The nearly 1,000-page legislation now returns to the House where its passage remains uncertain. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released a joint statement opposing the measure. “Today, Republicans jammed through a partisan megabill that slashes Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and other critical programs that Americans rely on in order to pay for massive tax breaks to the very rich,” the senators said.
Virginia senators seek injunction against seating 8 rejected BOV appointees
Nine Democratic state senators are asking a Fairfax County circuit judge to fast-track a preliminary injunction that would prevent three Virginia universities from installing rejected board of visitor appointees, the latest salvo in the senators’ war with the Republican Youngkin administration. On Tuesday, attorneys representing Virginia state senators filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against George Mason University Rector Charles Stimson, University of Virginia Rector Rachel W. Sheridan and Thomas E. Gottwald, who was previously president of Virginia Military Institute‘s board, from recognizing eight people whom Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointed to the three schools’ boards but were rejected in June by a Senate committee.
Cousins and Oliver: Congress seems content to let Virginians go hungry
Food insecurity remains a harsh reality for too many Virginians. Now, we are facing federal funding cuts that threaten the progress we have made to ensure that no Virginian goes hungry. In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unceremoniously canceled a $21 million grant that makes it possible for Virginia farmers to supply schools and food banks with fresh produce. No reason for the cut was given, little time was provided to prepare, and Virginians who counted on this program were not offered any alternatives.
Judge voids VB City Council’s vote that implemented 10-1 voting system
A judge has ruled a 2023 vote taken by City Council to institute a 10-1 district election system is now void, but held off on dictating what system must be put into place to elect council and School Board members. Instead, state Circuit Court Judge Randall Smith, retired out of Chesapeake, stayed his ruling Monday until after a referendum on the voting system is held in November. Voters in the city will have the choice to either endorse continuing to use the 10-1 system that has been used in the 2022 and 2024 elections, or transition to a 7-3-1 system, spelled out in the City Charter.
Powhatan Board of Supervisors, School Board clash over demolition of Pocahontas Middle
Some Powhatan County residents are wanting to put a stop to parts of the former Pocahontas Middle School set to be demolished in the second week of July. The school is a symbol of desegregating Powhatan County Public Schools in 1969. This comes after a Powhatan County School Board vote on June 24. The board voted 4-1 for the partial demolition contract, but 8News is told the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors were hoping to take over the property to avoid this.
Gas station's opening in Rockingham County draws a crowd
Before the sun came up on Monday morning, Cristi Trego left her home in Houston, Delaware, to make the four-and-a-half-hour drive to Mount Crawford in Virginia’s Rockingham County to stop at one particular gas station. “We love Buc-ee’s,” Trego said about herself and her 3-year-old grandson, Mason, as they were waiting in line to meet Buc-ee the Beaver. . . . The nation’s northernmost Buc-ee’s travel center, and the first in Virginia, opened Monday morning amid huge crowds, sweltering weather, and a parking lot that was full-to-bursting with cars. County sheriffs and Buc-ee’s employees eventually had to begin directing the traffic that came from as far away as Georgia.
James City, York counties latest localities to mull data centers
As more and more data centers continue to pop up across Virginia, localities such as James City and York counties are looking to implement policies amid concerns over size, utility usage and noise. Lessons are being learned from jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, where data centers have been built without regulations in place, giving them free rein over how they operate. ... In Hampton Roads, municipalities are starting to incorporate policies about data centers with regards to where they can be located, as well as how much power and water they can use.