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Yancey: Salem is losing population. Here’s how demography drives the proposed HopeTree development
Today we tell a tale of two cities. Charles Dickens told his through London and Paris. I shall tell this one through Salem and Roanoke, although the issues involved here are universal so you don’t need to live in either of those places to find some relevance to the issues they’re dealing with. The Salem City Council faces an upcoming decision: whether to allow mixed-use development of part of the HopeTree Family Services property, often known as the Virginia Baptist Home. It would be the largest residential development in the city’s history. This is broadly similar to a decision that the Roanoke City Council recently made — in that case, on whether to allow development of the Evans Spring property, the largest undeveloped piece of land in the city.
UVa officials say outside agitators, aggressive behavior prompted state police crackdown on protesters
University of Virginia officials held a virtual “town hall” Tuesday, their first public appearance since Saturday’s chaotic crackdown on an anti-war protest on Grounds, during which 27 were arrested and several others were pepper-sprayed by state troopers. The virtual meeting was meant to “provide an update and answer questions about Saturday’s protest near the UVA Chapel that led police to declare an unlawful assembly and arrest demonstrators who didn’t leave.” Many left with their questions still unanswered. That was because the university curated all of the questions it would answer beforehand.
Loudoun Supervisors Ratify County’s First Collective Bargaining Agreement with Firefighters
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ratified a tentative collective bargaining agreement between the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3756 and the county government. The 8-0-1 vote of approval came nine days after the agreement was ratified by union members.
As new Roanoke recovery house opens, advocates say many more are needed
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that has flooded the United States and driven a surge in deadly drug overdoses. It’s also ballooned the demand for treatment and recovery services. Roanoke marked National Fentanyl Awareness Day Tuesday by dedicating a new recovery house. Before organizers and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin cut the ribbon on the Four Truths Recovery house on Staunton Avenue they laid out the troubling facts—Roanoke has one of the highest fatal overdose rates in the state, according to the Virginia Department of Health. And a recent study found the region needs more than 900 recovery program beds.
Loudoun Schools to Launch New Pathways Lab with George Mason, NOVA
George Mason University is partnering with Loudoun County Public Schools and the Northern Virginia Community College to launch a lab school to increase help for at-risk students as they transition from high school to college and on to high-demand careers. The Accelerated College and Employability Skills Academy, to be known as ACCESS, will be inside some Loudoun high schools with funding provided by the Virginia Board of Education. Chief Academic Officer Ashely Ellis said the partnership happened quickly, with GMU reaching out to the division about partnering with them.
Virginia health officials launch ‘surveillance system’ for kids sickened by cannabis
Virginia officials are instructing health care providers to start keeping track of “adverse events” involving children and teens being exposed to cannabis products. In an April 24 letter to clinicians, State Health Commissioner Karen Shelton said her agency had received enough reports of minors getting sick from products containing CBD and THC, chemical compounds found in cannabis, that the state was establishing a “special surveillance system” to keep tabs on the issue.
Russell County votes to close 2 schools to afford raises for teachers
Russell County School Board members said they voted Tuesday night to close two small elementary schools because they felt it came down to a difficult choice between keeping the buildings open or giving teachers much-needed raises. The school system’s teacher salaries are the lowest in this region and at or near the bottom across the state. Over two years, the system has lost 51 teachers to other school systems that pay more, according to Superintendent Kimberly Hooker. As a cost-savings move, she recommended the closings of Swords Creek and Copper Creek elementary schools after this school year.
UAE plans diplomatic compound in McLean after paying $55M for 3 lots
The United Arab Emirates paid a staggering $55 million for 18 acres overlooking the Potomac River in McLean, where the government now plans to build three diplomatic residences and a nearly 11,500-square-foot “exercise structure.” The UAE acquired 1019, 1049 and 1079 Crest Lane in September 2022 in a single off-market transaction that was never recorded with the area’s listing service, but does appear in public records.
Virginia eviction filings surpass pre-pandemic highs
Eviction filings continue to climb, according to an analysis from researchers with Virginia Commonwealth University. The report, which analyzed eviction cases from the last quarter of 2023, identified nearly 42,000 eviction filings across the state of Virginia — a 15.6% increase from the prior quarter. Eviction filings now stand at 125% of pre-pandemic levels, according to VCU’s RVA Eviction Lab. The lab studies publicly available data and issues quarterly reports on housing instability. ... Eviction filings do not translate directly to executed evictions.
UVa leaders address protest response, ‘fully and painfully aware’ of loss of trust from students
University of Virginia (UVA) President Jim Ryan hosted a virtual ‘Town Hall’ Tuesday afternoon to address concerns and backlash from students, alumni and community members in response to events that unfolded at the school on Saturday. Riot police were called to clear a Pro-Palestinian protest, which led to 27 people – including 12 students – being arrested.