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Salgado: Va. is in urgent need of campaign finance reform
George Nader was sentenced in federal court in July 2023, and I was the federal prosecutor who represented the United States in that case. Before sentencing, Nader was known for his role as a witness in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, in which Nader was alleged to have arranged meetings between a Russian national and individuals close to then President-elect Donald Trump. . . . As nefarious as Nader’s conduct may strike most Americans, all of it would have been legal had Nader done it to get a candidate elected to state or local office under Virginia’s campaign finance laws.
Tech-powered rides offer a lifeline as Va. schools grapple with bus shortages
A tech company is stepping in where school buses can’t. HopSkipDrive, a national ridesharing company focused on “safety, equity and care,” is expanding its supplemental school transportation services to Virginia Beach — aiming to help students with complex needs get to class while creating new job opportunities for local drivers. The company’s network of “CareDrivers” — highly vetted caregivers trained to provide transportation in communities with unique challenges, such as students experiencing homelessness, in foster care or with disabilities — has already been operating in Northern and Central Virginia, and other parts of the country.
Northern Virginia businesses sour on economy, many citing Trump policies
Three months has made a huge difference in the economic expectations of Northern Virginia’s business leaders, with most more concerned about the region’s economy and their company’s own prospects. A quarterly survey conducted by Pinkston Business Leader for the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce found 54% of business leaders are very or somewhat optimistic about their company’s performance over the next six months, down from 81% who said so in the same survey at the beginning of the year. When asked what aspects of President Donald Trump’s administration agenda will most benefit their company, over 50% said none.
U.S. Department of Justice demands answers about DEI from University of Virginia
When Governor Youngkin replaced a vocal supporter of Trump Administration views about diversity, equity and inclusion on UVA’s Board of Visitors, some thought that signaled support for a more cooperative approach. Now, however, the Department of Justice appears to be holding the university’s feet to the fire.
Flint Hill fire company lawsuit heads to Virginia Supreme Court
A three-judge panel of the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that the full court will consider appeals made by the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors and former Flint Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue leader Karen Williams in a case regarding the fire company’s ousted leadership. This case began in 2023 when local attorney David Konick represented former leaders of the Flint Hill fire company in filing a lawsuit against the county after the Board of Supervisors voted to remove their leadership.
Charlottesville beats out UVa for Trump-shuttered Federal Executive Institute
The Charlottesville school division has come out on top in a contest for the Federal Executive Institute property shuttered by the Trump administration earlier this year — beating out well-heeled competitor the University of Virginia. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Department of Education approved Charlottesville City School’s application to acquire the 14-acre site — last assessed at $19.6 million — completely free of charge via a “public benefit allowance” available to educational institutions through the Federal Real Property Assistance Program.
Youngkin: Virginia leads nation with greatest reduction of fentanyl overdose deaths
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced at a press conference Tuesday that Virginia is now seeing a 44% drop in fentanyl overdose deaths. The Virginia Department of Health Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released this data. “I am very pleased the CDC acknowledged that Virginia over the course of the last year has led the nation with the greatest reduction of overdoses in the entire country,” Youngkin said.
Hampton hopes to redevelop Fort Monroe into a landmark. Years of stagnation have slowed it.
At a historic site that’s been hampered by development setbacks for years, officials said ongoing projects will help Fort Monroe look completely different a year from now. Virginia took over the 565-acre former Army base in 2011 and planned to restore and convert it for private development. Those plans have since been nixed due to rising project costs and uncertainty surrounding potentially hazardous materials still sitting on the fort’s grounds.
Youngkin PAC director breaks silence on Reid controversy
Matt Moran, executive director of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political action committee, broke his silence Wednesday in the escalating feud with Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid — accusing Reid’s campaign of knowing about a controversial Tumblr account before the governor called for him to step aside. Moran’s response — delivered in part through an attorney and in part in a sworn affidavit — outlines a detailed timeline that he says shows Reid was given a chance to review the material but skipped the meeting. Moran also claims Reid’s campaign manager, Noah Jennings, acknowledged knowing of the account’s existence and asked for help finding clients this summer.
WMATA removing 57 bus stops from Northern Va. service
Fifty-seven bus stops are set to be cut from Metrobus' routes in Northern Virginia, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The changes have been scheduled to take effect June 29. The 2025 Better Bus Network Redesign was first announced in November 2024, when WMATA released a list of 500 stops transportation authority wanted to get rid of across the DMV. WMATA's website claims fewer stops would make Metrobus service "quicker and more streamlined."