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These new housing laws will take effect next month
Manufactured homes, mobile homes, trailers — whatever they’re referred to as, this type of housing has offered tenants an affordable option to become homeowners. But they haven’t offered as much stability. That’s where Virginia lawmakers have passed some laws to help neighbors around the state have a little more peace of mind. For example, should a mobile home park be sold for redevelopment, a new law will require some financial assistance to help residents relocate and another new law strengthens protections for residents’ leases. The mobile-home-specific proposals are among a suite of housing laws that will take effect next month ...
State OKs Central Virginia Electric Cooperative rate increase
State regulators have given Central Virginia Electric Cooperative approval to increase its rates starting Wednesday. The monthly bill of an average residential customer using 1,160 kilowatt-hours will go up $8.48, or 4.54%, to $199.10. CVEC last raised rates in October by $3.39 per month for an average residential customer. The last time it had an increase significant enough to require approval from state regulators was in 2018.
Youngkin dedicates Culpeper Battlefields State Park
A decades-long effort was commemorated on Saturday with an official ribbon cutting by Gov. Glenn Youngkin at Virginia’s newest state park, Culpeper Battlefields State Park, which will eventually grow to span 2,200 acres. “These preserved battlefields and lands not only connect us to our past, but they inspire us as we walk forward into our future,” Youngkin told the roughly 100 guests during the dedication ceremony. “And of course, this place must be grounded in preservation and education.”
Appeals court denies new trial to National Guardsman pepper-sprayed by Windsor police
When Windsor Police Officer Daniel Crocker attempted to open the driver’s-side door of Virginia National Guard 1st Lt. Caron Nazario’s Chevrolet Tahoe three years ago after pulling him over, Nazario used his elbow to keep the door shut. That act, combined with Nazario’s prior statements to Crocker and ex-officer Joe Gutierrez about refusing to exit the car, was key to a panel of three federal appellate court judges upholding a Richmond jury’s 2023 verdict awarding Nazario well below the $1 million-plus in damages he’d sought.
Ferrum College president remains hopeful Virginia will consider lab school application
Ferrum College’s hopes for creating a specialized laboratory school have ended after months of discussions with state leaders, but the college’s president is still holding out for a different outcome. According to documents from the Virginia Department of Education, the private institution in Southwest Virginia joins more than a dozen institutions that are not being considered, some of which have withdrawn their applications including Eastern Shore Community College, Southside Virginia Community College, Hampton University and the University of Lynchburg.
Judge dismisses legal challenge to Diamond District financing in Richmond
A lawsuit challenging Richmond’s new approach to financing the Diamond District project was dismissed in court Friday, seemingly clearing the way for the city to move forward with issuing bonds for the ballpark-anchored development. After hearing arguments for about an hour Friday, Circuit Judge W. Reilly Marchant tossed out the complaint from local activist Paul Goldman, who alleged that his rights to petition for a referendum of city voters to weigh in on the change were unfairly burdened due to an unclear process in the city’s charter.
Two Democrats vying to run against Wittman in 1st District
Businessman Herb Jones and attorney Leslie Mehta are vying for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. The winner of the June 18 primary will face Republican incumbent Rob Wittman in the general election. Wittman has held the U.S. House of Representatives seat since 2007. The district includes portions of suburban Richmond down through York and James City counties, Williamsburg and Poquoson. Jones previously served three terms as treasurer of New Kent County. Mehta has not held elected office.
Virginia Exits the California EV Way
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to spread his anti-fossil fuel gospel far beyond California, but last week he lost a follower. Virginia canceled its plan to adopt West Coast vehicle standards, offering drivers freedom instead of climate dogma. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said his state won’t phase out sales of gas-powered vehicles, despite a 2021 law that might have set Virginia on course to ban them by 2035, as California will. “The idea that government should tell people what kind of car they can or can’t purchase is fundamentally wrong,” he said.
New judge to hear challenge of Virginia’s withdrawal from clean-air initiative
A new judge appointed to hear a challenge of Virginia’s withdrawal from a multi-state clean air program is being asked to vacate a prior judge’s ruling. In February, Floyd County Circuit Judge Mike Fleenor denied a motion filed by Virginia’s attorney general to dismiss the lawsuit, which contests the state’s decision to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Fleenor recused himself three weeks later, citing a conflict of interest. Now that retired Judge Randall Lowe has been designated to hear the case, the state is asking him to vacate Fleenor’s Feb. 7 order that allowed the lawsuit to proceed.
Mountain Valley Pipeline project in limbo
The Mountain Valley Pipeline remains in limbo, without a concrete in-service date. A May 21 filing with federal regulators said the developers of the pipeline project were aiming for an “early June” start to operations, after having previously sought authorization to go into service on May 31. “We continue to complete testing and to satisfy all legal and regulatory requirements necessary for the project to enter service,” said Natalie Cox, director of communications and corporate affairs for MVP developer Equitrans Midstream.