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Virginia House speaker confirms special session on military tuition program
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said state lawmakers will return to Richmond this month to address recent changes to a state program that covers higher education costs for some military families. They will discuss the Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, which provides a tuition waiver and an annual stipend to spouses and children of veterans who are killed, missing in action, taken prisoner or at least 90% permanently disabled as a result of military service or combat. But through the budget process this year, the program was scaled back to rein in ballooning tuition waiver costs, which universities have had to cover.
Voyles: Not outsourcing Virginia’s lawmaking to California bureaucrats is a good thing
This week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced, and Attorney General Jason Miyares confirmed in an official opinion, that the commonwealth will no longer be legally bound to follow California’s electric vehicle mandate at the end of this year. Announcing the expiration of a regime where unelected bureaucrats in California dictate Virginia’s policy has inexplicably met some pushback — all of which is unfounded. In 2021, Virginia Democrats, then in control of the governorship and General Assembly, passed a law authorizing Virginia to adopt California’s costly and burdensome vehicle emission standards. These standards are set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), a group of unelected bureaucrats.
Smith: Youngkin is prioritizing child safety
It’s a sad reality that predators often prey on the most vulnerable members of society — especially children. New technologies, despite all the benefits they provide to society, have only made this old problem much worse. Today, the internet makes it easier than ever for those seeking to harm children to find victims and to distribute videos and pictures of heinous crimes against them. Elected leaders in many states have recognized the dangers children face today and have taken action. Virginia is no exception. And on May 22, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law three bills that state legislators overwhelmingly passed to protect children.
Yancey: Roanoke, which elected a Black majority council in 2020, could wind up with no Black members
Roanoke’s Democratic primary for the city council didn’t exactly come to a screeching halt this week — it will still go on because the law says it must go on — but it was essentially rendered moot. There had been four candidates seeking three slots (Roanoke elects all its council members at large). One of those four candidates, Jamaal Jackson, dropped out under mysterious circumstances. Or maybe not so mysterious. The Roanoke Rambler reports a variety of alleged problems with the petitions that Jackson filed to qualify for the ballot, including an allegation that “Jackson’s campaign improperly copied voter signatures obtained during his unsuccessful 2022 bid for Council onto 2024 paperwork for the June 18 Democratic primary.” (Jackson has declined to discuss the matter.)
Rozell: Sorry, Democrats, but Trump can win Virginia
Democrats might be tempted to consider the commonwealth friendly territory in this year’s presidential election. They have enjoyed a streak of success since 2008, winning the four intervening presidential elections, including two over this year’s Republican nominee and former president, Donald Trump — the most recent a 10-percentage-point victory in 2020. Democrats are energized in some spots across the state, but not by the top-of-the-ballot race. They’re waging difficult campaigns in two swing congressional districts — Virginia’s 7th and 10th — where Democratic incumbents Abigail Spanberger and Jennifer Wexton, respectively, are not seeking reelection.
Virginia Beach Republican Party chairwoman indicted on felony wire communications charge
The chairwoman of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach was indicted this week on a felony charge of intercepting wire communications. Laura K. Hughes, an attorney and former Virginia Beach School Board member, was indicted Monday by a Virginia Beach grand jury, according to online court records. The crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Northampton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jack Thornton on Thursday confirmed that his office was asked to handle the case after Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle recused himself. Stolle is a longtime member of the local Republican Party.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, John McGuire shouted down by protesters, cut short Albemarle County campaign rally
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s visit to Albemarle County started late and ended early Wednesday afternoon, after loud chants from protesters overwhelmed her megaphone and cut short her campaign rally for fellow Republican John McGuire. The Georgia congresswoman dropped into Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Wednesday, where McGuire, a state senator, is challenging incumbent Rep. Bob Good in the upcoming GOP primary. While the 5th is a deep-red district in the heart of Virginia, Albemarle County is a longtime Democratic stronghold — and that much was clear Wednesday.
Dominion customers to get cheaper electric bills after state’s exit from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
A surcharge on Dominion Energy bills to cover costs incurred from Virginia’s now-abandoned participation in a multi-state greenhouse gas reduction program is going away next month, the State Corporation Commission decided. The decision, requested by Dominion, translates to a $4.43 savings on a benchmark monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours – a bill that now costs $138. The electric monopoly said that Virginia’s withdrawal at the end of last year from what’s now the 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative means it no longer has to pay the body for the carbon gas it emits.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol pushes back grand opening to later in year
Leaders with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol announced on Wednesday that the grand opening of the permanent casino and resort space, initially intended for July, has been pushed back to later this year. A news release from the casino said a new timeline for the permanent casino and resort’s completion was rolled out, which involves a late-year grand opening.
Chesapeake-based Dollar Tree looking at options for Family Dollar, including possible sale of segment
Discount retailer Dollar Tree says it’s looking at strategic options for the Family Dollar stores that it owns, including a possible sale of the segment. Dollar Tree said Wednesday that alternatives also include a spinoff or other disposition of the business. Dollar Tree acquired Family Dollar nearly a decade ago for more than $8 billion after a bidding war with rival Dollar General. But the company has had difficulty incorporating Family Dollar into its business and recently announced that it would close nearly 1,000 stores, with most of them being Family Dollar locations.