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Dominion’s power line plan for data centers sparks opposition
Chris Colvin spent two years fighting a data center proposed near her family’s historic farm in Fauquier County. Now, she’s having nightmares about another threat to their land: Dominion Energy’s new, high-power transmission line needed to feed data centers outside the county. Since learning Dominion is considering a route alongside the rear of their 268-year-old farm — about “20 yards from where I put my head on my pillow,” she says — she’s woken her husband with shouts of “No! Stop! Help!” “My husband and I founded Protect Catlett two years ago and now it’s become extremely personal,” Colvin said of the group that stopped a planned data center in Catlett last year.
Charlottesville names new city attorney — a year after the last one was put on leave
Charlottesville is set to once again have a city attorney after a little more than a year of the office sitting empty — a vacancy that has been shrouded in mystery. Jacob Stroman, the former city attorney was placed on leave in April of last year after an undisclosed complaint was lodged against him. Although an investigation into the matter cleared him of wrongdoing, Stroman nevertheless decided to retire in September.
Community Pushback Is Stalling $64 Billion in Data Center Development Nationwide, Report Shows
As Elena Schlossberg of Prince William County, Virginia, sees it, the community effort to fight the richest companies in the world seeking to build data centers began about a decade ago when opposition coalesced in the early days of the industry’s development. Then, a couple of years ago, when people began to learn much more about the warehouse-like server farms proliferating at double the earlier rate, the fight strengthened with a meeting in Warrenton. ... Such community opposition is the focal point of a recent report by Data Center Watch, a research organization tracking data center opposition. A key finding: “$64 billion in U.S. data center projects have been blocked or delayed by a growing wave of local, bipartisan opposition.”
‘Resilience Amid Resistance’: New marker reveals Virginia’s fraught journey to school integration
A state historical marker titled “Resilience Amid Resistance” now stands on the Western District U.S. Courthouse grounds in Harrisonburg, where a Virginia judge twice upheld the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to desegregate schools in America, allowing local Black students to attend white schools and access an equal education. Betty Kilby was the lead plaintiff in one of the Virginia cases stemming from localities’ failure to comply with the high court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling, part of the state’s Massive Resistance policy to buck desegregation, history referenced in the marker unveiled on Saturday.
VCU hires outside firm to oversee federal anti-DEI compliance
Virginia Commonwealth University has hired an outside firm to review its compliance with a federal mandate to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. That’s in addition to the university’s own review, which has resulted in the shuttering and changing of multiple programs and some job reassignments or layoffs. Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos said the university hired Cozen O’Connor because federal guidance isn’t clear about which programs are allowed — and said the firm will assist in identifying programs “that either illegally discriminate or are perceived to be illegally discriminating.”
Fort Eustis is set to lose a major command as part of an Army shakeup
The headquarters for the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is expected to leave Fort Eustis as part of a large reorganization. The command has been headquartered at Fort Eustis since 2011. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George recently told the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee that the headquarters at Fort Eustis will be combined with Army Futures Command in Austin, Tx. to form the new Army Transformation and Training Command.
State regulators approve Columbia Gas increase
State regulators have approved an increase for Columbia Gas of Virginia’s non-gas rates and charges that would add about $6 to the average residential customer’s monthly bill. The average customer using 5.1 dekatherms of gas monthly will see their bill increase from $76.26 to $82.47, up 8%, according to terms filed with regulators in December and approved on Thursday.
Del. Phillips cites family, faith, and economic vision in reelection bid
Eric Phillips, 49, is seeking re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates representing District 48 as the Republican nominee. He will face Melody Cartwright, the Democratic nominee and an opponent he previously defeated in the 2023 special election. If re-elected, Phillips said he plans to continue prioritizing the interests of the Martinsville-Henry County area. Phillips said he will maintain his focus on pro-life policies, economic development, and protecting Second Amendment rights.
Educators push back after Youngkin vetoed bill that let African American history courses count toward graduation
A bill that could have made African American history count as a required social studies credit in Virginia high schools was vetoed last month by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The decision drew sharp criticism from educators, lawmakers and scholars who say the move perpetuates the marginalization of Black history in public education. House Bill 18-24, introduced by Democratic Delegate David Reid, aimed to let students substitute either African American History or Advanced Placement African American Studies, for World History I or World Geography.
Richmond real estate tax bills were sent to residents with mortgages; city is working on next steps
The city of Richmond sent real estate tax bills to "several thousand" homeowners with mortgages, even though those bills are traditionally paid by the lending company, officials announced Saturday. The Richmonder contacted the city on Friday night regarding the issue, and on Saturday morning, Mayor Danny Avula posted a message to social media. "I am now aware that this is a system error in terms of getting the right data into the right place," he said.