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‘Extremely distressing’ Chesapeake Bay blue crab populations call for curtailing harvest, experts say
Blue crab populations in the Chesapeake Bay have taken a sizable hit in 2025, marking a need for more cautious harvest regulations, some environmentalists say. Each winter, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at William & Mary cooperate on a dredge survey to record the population of blue crabs.
Osprey population ‘near complete collapse’ on the Eastern Shore, scientists report
The osprey population on the Eastern Shore has dropped to just 18 birds, and scientists at Williams & Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology say it’s a sign of an “early complete collapse” of the species. In 1975, one of the first aerial surveys for ospreys, there were 68 breeding pairs on the Eastern Shore. In 1987, when the area was surveyed again, the population was about 83 pairs. Now, researchers have found only nine pairs from Fisherman Island to the Chincoteague Causeway.
Rush to finish work on Capital Beltway expansion in Virginia is underway
The final phase of the $660 million, 2.5-mile Capital Beltway expansion in Virginia is in the home stretch after nearly four years. Crews plan to mark another milestone on June 27 when they are scheduled to shift the Outer Loop southbound lanes to begin completion on a key phase of the project.
Controlled environment agriculture and vertical farming looking up in rural Virginia
One by one the frizzle sizzles, brush strokes and violas make their way from plastic tubs to greenhouse beds. The tiny flowers rise just an inch or two out of rockwool, peat and oasis foam. They had germinated in a vertical grow room at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Innovation Center in Danville. Now that they’ve sprouted, plant science student Jacob Haymore carefully places each one in the greenhouse slots where they will grow for the next several weeks. Soon they’ll stand about 8 inches tall, ready to add color to a summer salad.
Independent candidate files at last minute for 49th District race
As expected, just a small portion of registered voters showed up at the polls in Danville and Pittsylvania County on June 17 to nominate a candidate in the 49th District House of Delegates primaries. Also, an independent candidate filed a petition that day in Pittsylvania County to compete against Republican Madison Whittle and Democrat Gary Miller for the House seat being vacated by Republican Danny Marshall, who is stepping down at the end of his term in January. ... Pittsville resident Barbara Hancock plans to vie for the seat as an independent candidate in the contest. She has not yet been certified by the Virginia Board of Elections as of Friday ...
Yancey: 25 more places on the western side of the state that Spanberger, Earle-Sears should visit for policy lessons
By the time you read this, Democrat Abigail Spanberger will be rolling somewhere between Martinsville, Wytheville, Blacksburg and Roanoke on her eight-day bus tour. Alas, that’s as far west as her bus tour goes, so that makes this a good time to remind her, and readers, about the list of 25 places in Southwest Virginia that candidates should see because they all might help inform future policy choices. She won’t get to any of them on this campaign swing. This is also a good time to remind everyone that you can drive three hours west of Wytheville and still not be in the state’s westernmost corner. On the other hand, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears doesn’t put out a campaign schedule — or many policy statements, either, for that matter.
Spanberger, Earle-Sears top ticket, but Trump will top the talk
Formally, the candidates in this year’s statewide election campaign will debate the advantages of a political trifecta (governor, House and Senate) versus divided government, casting outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin either as a roadblock to Virginians’ desires or a brake on legislative extremism. But the central character in this year’s drama over whether Abigail Spanberger or Winsome Earle-Sears will be the state’s next chief executive will likely be neither, political scientists agree.
Kaine, Warner criticize U.S. strikes on Iran; Youngkin backs Trump’s actions
Virginia’s U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner criticized the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites without congressional authorization, while Gov. Glenn Youngkin supported President Donald Trump’s actions. Democrats in Virginia’s congressional delegation faulted the president for acting without congressional backing or consultation, while Republicans supported the U.S. effort to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat.
Virginia Bar Association cancels gubernatorial debate after candidates don’t RSVP
The Virginia Bar Association has canceled its scheduled July 19 gubernatorial debate after neither candidate accepted an invitation before the organization’s June 9 deadline. The VBA said April 28 that it invited the two nominees, Democrat former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, to debate during the association’s summer meeting at the Omni Homestead Resort in Bath County. The VBA hosted debates for the statewide races for governor and U.S. senator from 1985 to 2020.
Fauquier Planning Commission recommends denial of Gigaland data center project in Remington
The Fauquier County Planning Commission voted 4-1 Wednesday night to recommend denial of a proposal for a data center campus near Remington. The vote followed a three-hour public hearing that drew significant community interest. The application, known as Gigaland, seeks approval for a 2.2-million-square-foot data center complex spanning 202 acres south of Lucky Hill Road, just outside Remington town limits. The project would include seven two-story buildings up to 80 feet in height — comprising a 65-foot structure with a 15-foot parapet — alongside public water infrastructure such as a water treatment facility, an aboveground water storage tank, two wells and four electrical substations.