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Supporters of Loudoun County theater teacher ask Virginia attorney general to investigate his removal
Supporters of Rock Ridge High School theater teacher Tony Cimino-Johnson are asking the Office of the Virginia Attorney General to investigate why he was placed on leave from his job by Loudoun County Public Schools April 1, and to investigate alleged wrongdoing by LCPS. In a May 12 letter to Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares, a Republican, supporters say Cimino-Johnson's removal from class was retaliation for actions he has taken. Cimino-Johnson has taught at the school in Loudoun Valley Estates since 2014.
Virginia’s retention of recent college graduates needs improvement
Every May, university campuses across the commonwealth are filled with shouts of joy and raucous applause as thousands of young people receive their degrees. Graduating college is a laudable achievement — the product of hard work, persistence, curiosity and determination — which should make the heart swell with pride. Yet studies show that in a matter of years, a good many of these graduates will leave Virginia, taking their skills and talent to other states. It’s a persistent problem here and one that officials, policymakers and university officials must work together to address.
Confrontation between Misjuns, Faraldi interrupts Lynchburg council meeting
The circus-like atmosphere surrounding Lynchburg City Council over the past two years was fully on display again Tuesday night as the council’s meeting had to go into recess to deal with a confrontation between Ward IV Councilman Chris Faraldi and At-large Councilman Martin Misjuns. Yelling could be heard coming from behind the dais in the Council Chamber during the public comment period, leading people in the audience to avert their attention from the speaker. Police were then directed to see what was going on.
Chesapeake Planning Commission recommends denial of data center proposal
Applause and cheers filled a packed Chesapeake City Hall at almost midnight Wednesday as dozens of residents celebrated successful pushback against the region’s first proposed industrial-size data center. Following hours of public comment from more than 50 residents, the Chesapeake Planning Commission denied a proposal from developer Doug Fuller to rezone 22.6 acres of agricultural land to light industrial and construct a 350,000-square-foot facility dubbed the Etheridge Lakes Data Center.
Republicans prioritize data centers in attempt to flip House seat in Prince William County
With just a little more than a month left in their primary election campaigns, Sahar Smith and Gregory Lee Gorham are focusing their campaigns on data centers and taxes in an attempt to represent Republicans come November and flip Prince William County-based House District 21, one of the few Virginia House of Delegates swing districts in the region. ... State Del. Joshua Thomas currently represents this district and is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for his second term.
GOP presents plan to seize legislative majorities in Virginia and New Jersey this November
The Republican State Leadership Committee is looking to make key expenditures in this year’s New Jersey and Virginia state legislature races. Republicans are wary of how well Democrats tend to over-perform in off-year elections, but they have a strategy to “defy” expectations in November. In a memo, the RSLC said the races “present significant challenges for Republicans, reminiscent of the complex political landscape of 2017, the last odd-year election Republicans had full control of Washington.”
Advocates say cuts to SNAP would have significant impacts for Virginia families
Families that are in poverty and struggling to make ends meet might be cut off from social welfare benefits if Congress moves forward with a funding proposal now under consideration. Virginia could be facing a shortfall of more than $350 million – that’s if Congress moves forward with a budget proposal to change the funding formula for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps. One of the new features is a work requirement that Lily Roberts at the Center for American Progress says is a misnomer.
Amazon picks Goochland for next fulfillment hub
Amazon is building a new state-of-the-art robotics fulfillment center in Goochland County, the company’s fourth in Virginia, creating more than 1,000 jobs and further deepening its footprint in the commonwealth. The 3.1 million-square-foot facility, known as RIC6, will occupy a 107-acre parcel in the Rockville Opportunity Corridor. It joins a growing network of Amazon investments in Virginia that include fulfillment and delivery centers, dozens of data centers, Whole Foods Markets, Amazon Fresh stores, and the company’s second headquarters in Arlington.
Amazon breaks ground on 3 million-square-foot Goochland fulfillment center
Construction of a massive new Amazon facility in Goochland got off to a ceremonial start this week. Officials from the e-commerce giant crowded into the county’s agricultural center Wednesday morning to officially announce plans for (and ceremonially break ground on) the previously reported 3.1 million-square-foot robotics fulfillment center on a 105-acre site at 2022 Ashland Road in the Rockville area.
Norfolk attorneys in turf war over authority to prosecute shoplifting cases
A feud between Norfolk’s city attorney and the city’s top prosecutor over whose office should handle misdemeanor shoplifting cases quickly escalated into a political turf war with both sides claiming chief authority. The Norfolk City Council unanimously approved a code change Tuesday that will let the City Attorney’s Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases after Mayor Kenny Alexander complained Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi wasn’t bringing charges.