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Stoney points to predecessor as Richmond water crisis seeps into lieutenant governor race
Richmond’s water crisis is trickling into the lieutenant governor’s race. Former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney says he wishes the city’s prior administration had fixed the city’s water plant issues that, among other things, led to the Jan. 6 breakdown that left much of the city without drinking water for six days. Referring to efforts to replace the water plant’s switchgear, a key piece of equipment in the breakdown, Stoney shifted some of the blame to his predecessor, Dwight Jones, who served as Richmond’s mayor from 2009 to 2016, before Stoney’s eight-year tenure.
Henrico County adopts new approval process for companies looking to set up data centers
Henrico County has adopted a new approval process for companies looking to set up data centers. The Board of Supervisors voted to change regulations affecting one of Virginia's fastest-growing economic sectors—large warehouses that house servers and data storage equipment. The new regulations create a stricter approval processes for proposed data centers. Now, companies must obtain a provisional use permit, which means there will be public input and final approval from the Board of Supervisors. Previously, only approval from the planning commission was required.
Trump’s trade war impacting Va. port, reshoring hopes
As President Donald Trump’s tariff wars heat up, Virginia businesses and the industries that support them are feeling the burn. That’s according to the Virginia Advisory Committee on International Trade that met in Richmond Tuesday. When the committee last met in April, the word of the day was uncertainty. And according to Riverwind Advisors investment firm president Bob Feeser, not much has changed. “Most businesses can deal with almost any kind of trade policy regime and tariff, but there has to be some certainty that you can plan around,” he said at the meeting held at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership office.
Wood: Public must act now to prevent drilling off Virginia’s coast
Monday is the deadline for the public to make their comments known in an effort to prevent offshore drilling in Virginia and elsewhere. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is required to propose a five-year schedule of oil and gas lease sales. Coastal communities are again vulnerable to offshore drilling. Thousands of square miles of ocean — out to 200 miles offshore of Virginia as well as beyond our coastline in either direction — remain at risk because a recent executive order from President Donald Trump attempts to undo previous protections of our federal waters.
2 Republicans seek the nod from their party in the race to fill Del. Jed Arnold’s seat
Two Republican candidates are vying for their party’s nomination for the 46th District race, in a bid to represent the most conservative district out of the three open seats in this year’s House of Delegates election. Mitchell Cornett and Adam Tolbert, both Republicans, signaled their intention to run for the seat after Del. Jed Arnold, R-Smyth County, announced he would not seek reelection in March. He cited his wife’s struggle with long COVID and the need to support his family through her illness as the driving factor in his decision.
Reports: Virginia Democrats outdoing Republicans in raising campaign contributions
Democratic House of Delegates hopeful Kimberly Pope Adams raised the second-highest amount in Virginia of contributions to House campaigns for the latest campaign reporting period, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Pope Adams, who has already locked up the Democratic nomination in the 82nd House District, reported a total of $262,048 in money raised for the April 1-June 5 window, based on data from the Virginia Department of Elections that was compiled by VPAP. That trailed only House Speaker Don Scott of Portsmouth, who raised just over $344,000 for the period.
Legislators call on Shannon Taylor to recuse herself from Dominion-related matters if she wins attorney general race
Multiple state legislators and a member of Congress have called on Democratic primary candidate Shannon Taylor to recuse herself from any matters related to Dominion Energy if she is elected attorney general. The attorney general’s office is tasked with regulatory oversight of Dominion, Virginia’s largest public utility company. “As elected officials, we write to express our serious concerns regarding the unprecedented campaign contributions you have received from Dominion Energy Virginia, totaling approximately $650,000 according to recent reports,” the letter begins, which is signed by 14 current and former elected officials. ... Taylor’s campaign pointed to several other powerful Democrats who receive Dominion’s money.
Medicaid manager lays off 268 in Henrico after losing contract
Molina Healthcare Inc. will lay off 268 employees from its office on Gaskins Road in Henrico County after the company failed to win a new Medicaid contract with the state. Molina notified its employees in May and will close June 30, according to a notice filed with the state’s workforce department. The state’s Department of Medical Assistance Services opted not to award the California-based company a new contract starting July 1.
Analytics company to add nearly 250 jobs in Crystal City
Amid concerning local economic trends, there’s some good news. Arlington-based Technomics is investing more than $5 million to add nearly 25,000 square feet of space and 250 employees to its Crystal City office. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, County Board Chair Takis Karantonis, state Sen. Adam Ebbin and Del. Adele McClure touted the new jobs in an announcement ... Tuesday morning.
Hashmi leads fundraising in Va. lieutenant governor race
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, led all lieutenant governor candidates in fundraising during the final reporting period before Virginia’s June 17 primary, as six Democrats compete for the lieutenant governor nomination to face Republican John Reid. Hashmi raised $742,841 from April 1 to June 5, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Campaign finance reports published Tuesday show that former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney came in next at $702,234 followed by Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, who raised $660,180.