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As federal job losses mount, Fairfax leaders sound alarm
Is Fairfax County — long the economic engine of the Northern Virginia and the state economy — facing an “unemployment crisis?” Fairfax Board Chairman Jeff McKay and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, think so. They are pointing the finger at President Donald Trump for the county’s rising unemployment rate. They are faulting Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a close Republican ally of the president, for not doing more to protect the state and region from mounting losses of federal government jobs and contracts since Trump took office in January.
Embattled UVa Medical School dean stepping down
Four months after a resignation letter in her name was deemed a hoax and nine months after 128 health care professionals at the University of Virginia penned a letter of no confidence in her leadership, UVa School of Medicine Dean Dr. Melina Kibbe is stepping down. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston announced Monday it planned to hire Kibbe and she would officially be named president of the center after a required 21-day waiting period. UVa has not yet said who will be replacing her.
Federal license plate reader searches raise surveillance questions
Across Virginia, automated license plate readers built by Flock Safety silently capture and log details of every passing car. Most people don’t know they are being tracked; fewer know where that data ends up. Data from automatic license plate readers usually ends up in the hands of law enforcement. In Virginia, state and local law enforcement can access this data to support criminal investigations or missing persons cases. But in the City of Richmond, a recent incident is raising concerns about how technology can be misused for federal immigration enforcement.
As Richmond’s departing finance director touts progress, she warns there’s still ‘pockets of secrecy and sabotage’
In what will likely be her last presentation to the Richmond City Council, departing Finance Director Sheila White said the office she’s led has made substantial progress, while warning that “pockets of secrecy and sabotage” remain. White gave the Council’s Finance and Economic Development Committee a status update Wednesday as she prepares to leave city government on July 25. After leading the city’s struggling Finance Department since 2021, White told Council members that — from her perspective — a turnaround is underway even if it’s not obvious to businesses and residents experiencing problems with their tax bills.
Loudoun Supervisors Narrowly Approve Data Center Near Leesburg
After months of meetings in which supervisors debated the merits of allowing a data center on land near Leesburg Executive Airport, the board last night voted narrowly to approve the proposal. The rezoning application was submitted by JK Land Holdings and would permit up to 556,746 square feet of data center space on a 22-acre tract along Crosstrail Boulevard and Sycolin Road. It would also alternatively permit up to 416,000 square feet of warehouse or distribution uses, or up to 218,000 square feet of industrial uses.
Dominion substations approved to support Dulles-area data centers
Despite objections to one of the projects from nearby residents, the Fairfax County Planning Commission at its July 9 meeting approved Dominion Energy’s requests for two new electrical substations to support future data centers in the Dulles area. A 300-megawatt Towerview substation will be wedged between Sully Road (Route 28) and Park Center Road in the Floris neighborhood, just east of Dulles International Airport. Dominion will lease the site from the owner of the Dulles Gateway data center, which is being constructed immediately to its south.
Prince William neighbors clear first hurdle in Digital Gateway lawsuit
Nearly two years ago, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved the Prince William Digital Gateway, one of the largest data center developments in the world. But even before the final vote, a group of nearby residents began challenging the project in court. Now, they are awaiting a judge's decision on their case, but her refusal to dismiss their lawsuit has fueled a cautious optimism that the residents might prevail.
King George supervisors vote down solar and livestock operation
The King George County Board of Supervisors denied a special exception permit to construct a utility scale solar facility and livestock operation following a public hearing Tuesday night. The board voted 4-1 to deny the permit to Open Road Renewables and Gibson Solar I, LLC, which sought to erect the solar panels on approximately 890 acres of private land made up of 48 parcels adjacent to Kings Highway at the intersection of Big Timber Road. The applicants were also requesting a determination that the solar facility is in accordance with the county’s comprehensive plan.
Roanoke seeks share of Botetourt County’s Google data center tax revenues
Roanoke Mayor Joe Cobb has asked Botetourt County to give the city 15% of the annual tax revenue generated by the future Google data center and to replace the water that will be used by the project, citing Roanoke’s “historic contribution” to the regional water authority and fears that the data center’s water demands could have a negative impact on recreation at Carvins Cove. Botetourt County says it already planned to do all those things. The board of supervisors this month approved a plan for water replacement, and the county has paid $450,000 to the Western Virginia Water Authority to start that process.
VA slows planned staff cuts, but concerns about services remain
Expected cuts to staff of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ultimately may not be as extensive as the agency first announced. While that’s some welcome news, downsizing at the federal agency serving millions of American veterans continues to be a pressing concern, especially in a military-centered region such as Hampton Roads. VA leaders insist that the ongoing reduction in force will not affect the care and services available to veterans. But the VA has a history of problems, including lengthy wait times at facilities across the country, and with a dramatic increase in the number of people utilizing its resources, it remains to be seen if the agency can deliver on its lofty promises.