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Sea levels in Hampton Roads continue to rise, but at a steady pace
Hampton Roads continues to see rising tides linked to climate change and sinking land. But the rate of change in recent years has stayed in line with past forecasts, according to the latest “sea level rise report card” from William & Mary’s Batten School and Virginia Institute of Marine Science. “We are accelerating at a high rate compared to a lot of the rest of the country, but that rate hasn't been changing, really,” said Molly Mitchell, an assistant research professor. “It's been a pretty consistent rate.”
Virginia Commonwealth University using Siegel Center rentals to raise funds to pay student athletes
Virginia Commonwealth University will start renting out the Siegel Center for concerts and events in an effort to generate revenue for athletes. VCU has partnered with a California-based event management company, ASM Global to manage the facility. The university expects to spend $5 million compensating its athletes beginning next year. For the first time, colleges will be able to directly and legally pay their players, pending final approval of a lawsuit against the NCAA.
Yancey: How George Washington paved the way for the first American pope
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was announced as Pope Leo XIV, people went racing to find some connection to the first American pope. Chicago White Sox supporters found a fellow fan; photos have turned up showing the future pope at a World Series game in 2005. Villanova grads found one of the most impressive alumni notes of all time; some students in the 1970s shared classes with the math major who went on to become pope. There’s no clear Virginia connection that we know of, except for a philosophical and constitutional one: It was Virginians in the 1700s who embraced what was then the radical concept of religious liberty, which allowed the Catholic faith to flourish in a place that once banned its practice.
Behind the scenes of Vice President and Mrs. Vance’s surprise visit to Little Washington
When innkeeper Amanda Huff answered the phone at the Foster Harris House bed and breakfast last Friday morning to take a lodging reservation for the next night, she never could have imagined to whom she would be serving her fresh-baked ginger scones less than 48 hours later. She wasn’t given a guest’s name for the room reservation. The person on the other end of the line only said that the guest was a “protectee” of the U.S. Secret Service.
Martinsville council member questions legality of city manager pay raise, signals court challenge
A 15 percent raise awarded to City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides has ignited public controversy and deepened divisions among Martinsville City Council members, with at least one council member indicating he will pursue a legal challenge. Following a May 6 community budget meeting, council member Aaron Rawls said that to his knowledge, there had not been a vote on the city manager’s salary increase, but he believes there should be.
More resignations at Virginia’s embattled Birth Injury Fund
A total of five employees have resigned from the Virginia Birth Injury Fund in the past month — an exodus that has gutted the small agency’s finance team as it tries to rebuild after an insider embezzled millions of dollars meant for the families of disabled children. The latest resignation is that of Kan Cheung, who was hired earlier this year to work as the fund’s director of finance and investments. Cheung was only hired in April, according to a former employee at the fund who asked to speak on the condition of anonymity.
City audit finds Richmond Retirement System paid $550K to dead people
The City of Richmond’s retirement system paid out more than $550,000 to 44 deceased retirees over nine years, a new audit found. Most of the money has not been recovered. City Auditor Riad Ali on Friday released an audit of the Richmond Retirement System, which administers the benefits and pensions of former city employees. The new city audit found, among other issues, inadequate oversight of the retirement system, outdated operating procedures and incomplete death audit reports.
Virginia House Speaker Scott joins national Democratic campaign board
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, is joining the board of directors of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the national party’s state-level strategy arm, just as Virginia enters one of its most consequential election years in recent memory. The DLCC will draw on Scott’s experience — alongside that of six other new board members from around the country — to help shape its plans to support state legislative races this year and beyond.
When Trump visits, the Loudoun sheriff’s office assists with security. But who pays?
When President Donald Trump visits Loudoun County the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office assists in providing protective services to the president but isn't being reimbursed for the cost. On May 5, Trump was transported from Leesburg Executive Airport to the Trump International Golf Course in Lowes Island, in the Sterling area, halting traffic starting at about 6:55 p.m. . . . Sawyer said the LCSO's overtime budget is not designed to support Trump's visits.
Facing backlash, School Board shelves editorial oversight changes to Alexandria high school’s student publications
What started as a simple policy change has erupted into a full-blown fight over the First Amendment in Alexandria City Public Schools. Facing backlash from city leaders, the Alexandria School Board officially went back to the drawing board Thursday night (May 8), by announcing that its intended policy changes on the oversight of Alexandria City High School’s student publications have been put on hold.