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Greene County staff permitted to speak to press after pushback from First Amendment groups
Greene County leaders now say staff are free to talk to the press after multiple county employees said they were previously gagged under county "policy." Those leaders, who have denied there ever was such a policy, were prompted to speak after First Amendment lawyers and advocates sent a letter to the county supervisors last month demanding they rescind the policy. "It remains a mystery how Greene County employees came to believe they were strictly prohibited from speaking to the press if no such thing was ever communicated to them,” Seth Stern, director of advocacy for the New York-based Freedom of the Press Foundation and one of the letter's signatories, told The Daily Progress in an email.
Leffel: When it comes to crypto, Virginia needs CLARITY
Virginia has been a quiet leader in the blockchain and cryptocurrency revolution. From Shenandoah Valley vineyards using blockchain for weather tracking to family owned farms in Highland County accepting crypto to coworking clubs like mine in downtown Richmond selling memberships via Bitcoin, there are many local innovative businesses using this multipurpose technology. However, the legal clarity that would allow these local businesses to thrive has not always been there. Despite legislative efforts in the past, there are still questions on how to classify or separate these businesses and use cases.
Virginia Retirement System investments lag benchmark but expect ‘comparable’ rates
The Virginia Retirement System expects to adopt comparable rates for state agencies and school divisions to pay for their employees' long-term pension benefits in the next two-year state budget, even though the system's investment returns were lagging its benchmark target through March 31. The retirement system, with more than 380,000 active employees and almost 250,000 retirees, has not released its rate of return on investments in the fiscal year that ended on June 30, but those investments were earning a return of 6.3% in the first nine months of the fiscal year - below its benchmark of 7.9% and the annual targeted return of 6.75%.
Norfolk judge rules the city attorney can prosecute some misdemeanors in court
Last week, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge ruled the city’s charter allows the City Attorney’s office the authority to prosecute violations of local ordinances in that court. It’s the latest round in a turf spat between Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko and Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi. Fatehi has sought to prohibit such a decision. The legal ruling stems from an appeal of Virginia Beach resident Jared Fuller's conviction in the General District Court for being in Northside Park after dark at 7:06 p.m. on Nov. 6, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Judge rules in favor of Norfolk city attorney in feud with commonwealth’s attorney
The Norfolk city attorney’s office earned a win in its ongoing feud with Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi over which office has the authority to prosecute misdemeanor cases. A Norfolk Circuit Judge Joseph Lindsey ruled last week the city attorney’s office could continue to prosecute a misdemeanor city code violation appeal. The case involves a man who was charged with being in a park after sunset, a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Prince William supervisor’s PAC receives another $100K, this time from Dumfries data center backer
Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega earlier this month received a $100,000 campaign donation via her political action committee, YES PAC, from a real estate developer with ties to a recently-pitched data center project near the Four Seasons at Historic Virginia retirement community in Dumfries.
Data center demand brings first gas substation to Nokesville
Western Prince William County needs an infusion of electricity to avoid getting close to running out of power by as soon as 2027 due to soaring demand from power-hungry data centers. That will mean big changes for a stretch of Vint Hill Road that’s already a tangle of high-voltage power transmission lines. Dominion Energy plans a major upgrade of an existing electrical substation near Vint Hill Road and Reid Lane in Nokesville. That’s where a picturesque, mostly rural roadway is interrupted by a confluence of three high-voltage power transmission lines with giant metal poles and towers.
Free Narcan, fentanyl testing available through new Richmond vending machines
Richmond is installing new harm reduction vending machines across the city, equipped with free Narcan, fentanyl testing strips and personal hygiene products. “This life-saving program is about meeting people where they are, with compassion and dignity,” Mayor Danny Avula said. The machines are part of the city’s Office of Opioid and Substance Use Response. Officials say the goal is to prevent overdoses and support Richmonders living with substance abuse disorders.
Remains of former ‘Spirit of Norfolk’ vessel now an artificial reef in Florida
The Spirit of Norfolk now rests beneath the waves off the coast of Florida, transformed into an artificial reef nearly three years after a fire ended its time on the Elizabeth River. The cruise vessel had been sitting at Colonna’s Shipyard in Norfolk since June 2022, when it caught fire during a lunch cruise with 108 passengers and crew on board. All were safely evacuated. The fire, which started in an operating port generator, took several days to extinguish and caused an estimated $5 million in damage, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Gilbert sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney
Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, resigned his seat in the Virginia House of Delegates early Monday morning and was sworn in at 11 a.m. as interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, following his formal nomination by President Donald Trump.