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JLARC: Moving juvenile justice department won’t boost services
Virginia’s juvenile justice officials can connect kids in trouble with services they need faster than the state’s social services, mental health and health agencies often can, a study by the legislature’s watchdog agency found. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study investigated advocates’ recommendations that the state switch the Department of Juvenile Justice from the oversight of the Secretary of Public Safety to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources.
Proposed budget cuts expected to significantly change NASA’s research focus, workforce
NASA is positioned to lose a quarter of its budget and nearly a third of its workforce under a government proposal seeking to slash federal spending. For NASA Langley Research Center, the proposal includes cutting nearly 700 employees and impacts to research in things like aeronautics—which is research related to air and space flight—and earth science, which includes studying the atmosphere, oceans, land and ice.
Loudoun Supervisors Deny Lansdowne Cell Tower Proposal
The Board of Supervisors last night denied a commission permit for a cell tower in Lansdowne, overruling its approval by the Planning Commission. The application was submitted by Milestone Towers which has multiple cell structures within the county. The proposal would have allowed telecommunications monopole within a Virginia Department of Transportation right-of-way at the interchange between Rt. 7 and Claiborne Parkway.
Richmond won’t sue VCU Health over failed real estate deal
The city of Richmond is not planning to sue the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System as part of their prolonged disagreement over a failed real estate deal. For more than a year, the city and the state-affiliated health system have been at odds over $56 million that VCU Health promised the city in 2021 as part of the unsuccessful Clay Street real estate project. But state leaders have told VCU Health to stop writing the checks.
Stafford proclamation prompts mixed reviews
The Stafford Board of Supervisors approves dozens of proclamations each year, but one presented Tuesday, to recognize June as the month to support individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, struck a nerve among those gathered. Those who supported the recognition were aghast that people would oppose any action that might make people feel included, valued and accepted, as described by Terry Martin, a retired social worker. ... Those who opposed the measure, like Shamgar Connors, said Stafford was on a quest “to become the ultimate modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.”
Yancey: Grid operator warns of possible summer power shortage. Congress is trying to slow growth of solar energy.
The good news is that the lights (and the air conditioning) will probably come on this summer. The bad is that word “probably.” PJM Interconnection, the organization that runs the regional power grid of which Virginia is a part, has warned that under “extreme scenarios” it may not have enough power this summer, and will need certain users to reduce their electricity usage. This is the first time that PJM has issued such a warning. ... Increasingly, though, PJM is turning up in the news through no fault of its own: Thanks largely to the growth of data centers in Northern Virginia (but also the growth of data centers everywhere and our general desire to plug in more devices), we’re seeing power demand grow, both nationally and especially in Virginia.
Wong: Survivors escape traffickers yet are imprisoned by the past
Too often, survivors of human trafficking face a cruel irony: They escape their traffickers, only to find themselves still imprisoned — this time, by a criminal record that tells only part of their story. Forced into prostitution or coerced into using drugs, these survivors are often arrested and convicted for acts they were compelled to commit. As a result, they carry the lifelong weight of a criminal record ... This is where vacatur comes into play. The commonwealth now allows survivors to petition for post-conviction relief (called a writ of vacatur) that wipes a survivor’s record clean of the eligible convictions, providing more extensive relief than the pre-existing remedy of expungement.
Senate majority leader requests investigation into Virginia Birth Injury Fund
Virginia's legislature is seeking an investigation into the Virginia Birth Injury Fund, a troubled state agency that was recently robbed of nearly $7 million by an insider. The Virginia Birth Injury Fund is meant to help the families of children who suffered devastating injuries during childbirth. Many are incurred as a result of mistakes made by doctors. Children in the fund live with expensive, lifelong disabilities. The fund, which has over $700 million, is meant to support the children's therapies, wheelchairs and day-to-day medical needs.
Youngkin: Virginia’s goal is zero maternal deaths
After sitting down Tuesday with Asher Escobar Perone, 3, by his left arm and little Harlem Steele, 6, by his right to ceremonially sign two maternal health bills, Gov. Glenn Youngkin set a new target for Virginia: Zero maternal deaths in childbirth and the often-challenging months thereafter. In an appearance at Bon Secours – Southside Medical Center in Petersburg, Youngkin highlighted Senate Bill 1279, sponsored by state Sen. Emily Jordan, R-Isle of Wight, and House Bill 2753, sponsored by Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake. The measures, which Youngkin previously signed into law, say hospitals and birth centers will need to have standard protocols for some of the most dangerous ailments surrounding childbirth ...
Trump voters call president’s pardon of corrupt Virginia sheriff ‘a terrific mistake’
When Donald Trump pardoned former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins last week, the president called him a "victim" who had been "persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters' and 'left for dead.'" Jenkins is an outspoken supporter of Trump. The reprieve spared Jenkins from what Trump called an "unfair sentence" — 10 years for bribery, conspiracy, and honest services fraud — just before the former sheriff was to start serving it. More than 60% of voters in Culpeper backed Trump in last year's election. But many there, including Trump supporters, say pardoning the former sheriff was wrong.