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Central Virginia food banks, pantries issue warning about effects of potential SNAP cuts
Central Virginia’s food banks and pantries are voicing their concerns about potential major cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. Early Thursday morning, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Big Beautiful Bill Act, and, with sweeping tax breaks and significant cuts to funding, the vote marks a significant success for the Trump administration’s agenda. As Congress heads home for the Memorial Day break, the bill is on its way to the Senate, where some changes are expected. One of the federal programs that stands to be significantly diminished, however, is one that allows lower income, qualifying Americans to purchase food from grocery stores. In an effort to curb food aid spending, the bill would rip billions of dollars from SNAP over a 10-year period.
For state police job, recruiters handed Youngkin a ‘superstar’ candidate. He hired an insider instead.
In the wake of a sudden retirement announcement by Virginia’s longtime state police superintendent, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that a nationwide search would take place to hire a replacement. But in the end, Youngkin chose an internal candidate while the recommendations from the nationwide search didn’t get a final-round interview, according to two sources familiar with Youngkin’s recruitment for the state police job. Both asked to remain anonymous given the sensitivity of the deliberations.
Virginia’s western congressional delegation forms own search committee for U.S. attorney post
Virginia’s three Republican congressmen from the western part of the state have formed their own search committee to select candidates for the next U.S. attorney for the commonwealth’s Western District. Their effort comes after Virginia’s two Democratic U.S. senators conducted interviews and provided two names for consideration to the White House to replace acting U.S. Attorney Zachary Lee. Lee assumed the role on Dec. 21, following the resignation of U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh. The power to appoint a new U.S. attorney belongs to President Donald Trump, subject to Senate confirmation.
What to expect from a special election to replace late Rep. Gerry Connolly
In an election year dominated by state offices, Fairfax County voters now face the prospect of also electing a new lawmaker to represent them in Congress. Following the death of longtime Rep. Gerry Connolly yesterday (Wednesday), voters will soon need to select a new representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District — a critical decision given the Republican Party’s slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. But, when could that happen? And how does the special election process work? According to Virginia law, it’s a joint effort between the state executive and local political parties.
Virginia Supreme Court, examining new law, rules in railroad’s favor against internet provider
A Virginia law meant to speed broadband deployment across railroad lines has hit its first guardrail, in the form of a state Supreme Court ruling. The court, drawing a distinction between a “public benefit” and a “public use,” ruled that Cox Communications cannot use the 2023 law to impose eminent domain on railways’ property while trying to reach the commonwealth’s more remote areas. Cox, a private, for-profit company, attempted to use the law to cross Norfolk Southern lines in eastern Virginia last year.
Dems’ lieutenant governor candidates split over Tysons casino, skill games at debate
Virginia’s six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor debated issues ranging from education to transgender rights during a Thursday night debate in Prince William County, the last time all the candidates will appear together in public ahead of the June 17 primary. While the candidates shared common ground on many progressive priorities, the biggest point of contention was a proposal to allow a casino in Fairfax County's Tysons Corner — one of the few issues that revealed a real divide among the field.
Education Department opens investigation of admissions at selective Virginia high school
The Education Department said Thursday it is opening a civil rights investigation into Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia over the admissions policy at an elite, selective high school. A change in the admissions policy introduced five years ago at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology led to the enrollment of more Black and Hispanic students and faced a court challenge from some parents. The plaintiffs argued it came at the expense of Asian American students, whose numbers at the school dropped.
Magnet school in Northern Virginia faces federal racial discrimination probe over admissions policy
The Trump administration launched an investigation Thursday into the admissions policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, citing a state report that found that the elite program lowered its standards to increase racial diversity at the expense of Asian-American students. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened the probe a day after Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares released the results of a two-year investigation into the 2020 revisions to the prestigious magnet school’s admissions criteria.
Trump Administration Opens Investigation Into Diversity Efforts at Virginia School
The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it was investigating the admissions system at an elite public high school in Fairfax County, Va., which has been accused of discriminating against Asian American students to favor other racial groups. The administration has repeatedly argued that the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in college admissions should also apply to K-12 education. But the court has never made such a statement, and it chose last year to allow the high school’s admissions program to stand.
Youngkin announces $16.9M investment in workforce housing
Governor Glenn Youngkin visited the Harrisonburg Innovation Hub on Wednesday, May 21 to announce more than $16.9 million in state funding for workforce housing investments across Virginia. The funds, which are part of the Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program, will support 10 projects statewide and are expected to leverage more than $254 million in private investment.