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Fariss waives preliminary hearing on drug, gun charges, sending case to grand jury
Former Del. Matt Fariss waived his right to a preliminary hearing on felony drug and firearm charges on Tuesday, sending his case to a Campbell County grand jury. Fariss was arrested March 23 during a traffic stop in Campbell County. Deputies found a hunting rifle in his pickup truck and ammunition and a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine in his pocket. He was charged with felony counts of drug possession and possession of a firearm, as well as a misdemeanor charge of violating a protective order.
Thousands of convicted felons would benefit from Youngkin’s mercy
Hours after a Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts for falsifying business records before the 2016 election, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wanted to talk about justice and voting. “The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to ‘get’ President Trump,” the governor tweeted. “On November 5th, Americans will render their verdict on Joe Biden’s failed leadership based on the issues that affect them everyday.” Youngkin echoed the thoughts of many Republican officials, in Washington and Virginia, who dutifully lined up behind Trump following the Thursday verdict. Their disparagement of the 12 New Yorkers who rendered their judgment against the former president shows their commitment to “law and order” is hollow.
Portsmouth, Hampton councils to consider giving themselves raises after state law increases pay scale
Mayors and city council members in Hampton and Portsmouth this month will consider whether to nearly double their annual salaries after state law was changed this year to allow cities to increase the elected officials’ pay. Legislation passed by the General Assembly in April amended the maximum amounts that Virginia mayors and council members can earn. The legislation creates new salary caps based on population, and nearly doubles the maximum amount local elected officials can earn if cities vote to increase pay. So far, two Hampton Roads cities are moving forward to discuss and consider the change.
Richmond deputy registrar charged almost $80K to city credit card
Deputy Registrar Jerry Richardson charged nearly $80,000 to her city-issued purchasing card last year, according to records obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The revelation comes as both Richardson and General Registrar Keith Balmer, who lead Richmond’s Office of Elections, are under investigation by the Richmond Inspector General’s Office for claims of financial improprieties and nepotism. The 2023 charges to Richardson’s card include around $7,800 at hardware stores, over $5,000 on hotels and lodging, a roughly $1,200 charge at a shoe store and over $1,000 at Southern Police Equipment — which sells guns, ammunition, body armor and other tactical gear.
Christiansburg site back in discussion for NRV passenger rail hub
Discussions are ongoing to potentially use a former Cambria option to extend passenger rail service to the New River Valley. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority announced Tuesday that it is in preliminary discussions with Norfolk Southern Corp. to pursue that option to return passenger rail to the NRV on the Norfolk Southern main line (N-Line). The authority also is seeking to purchase the Manassas Line in Northern Virginia.
Marjorie Taylor Greene and John McGuire plan 5th District event in Albemarle
Charlottesville’s city government was caught off guard Monday afternoon when it first learned that U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and fellow Republican and congressional candidate Virginia state Sen. John McGuire were planning to visit City Hall. So too was Albemarle County when, hours later, the McGuire campaign suddenly decided to move its planned “Early Vote Rally to Save America” from City Hall to a county polling location.
Education benefits for military families caught in political crossfire
Gov. Glenn Youngkin and General Assembly leaders agree that they need to take another hard look at changes that all of them had advocated to a program providing higher education benefits for the families of military veterans either killed or almost completely disabled while on active duty. The question is how and when. The Republican governor and Democratic legislative leaders don’t agree on whether the assembly needs to meet this month to repeal the budget provisions that it passed and he signed to narrow eligibility for free tuition and other benefits under the Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program.
East, West Join Forces in Loudoun Power Line Battle
Loudoun County has been grappling with impact of the growing demand for power for some time, but it has largely been limited to eastern Loudoun where the Lansdowne Conservancy has been leading the charge in mitigating the impacts of needed power infrastructure on local communities. Last December, the concerns expanded to western Loudoun as a proposal to build a 500-kilovolt line between Harpers Ferry and the Leesburg area were approved by PJM Interconnection, the regional power coordinator. Since then, the Piedmont Environmental Council and Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance have held community meetings in Purcellville, Hillsboro, Waterford and Lovettsville to raise awareness and garner community action on the lines.
Prince William supervisors approve 2nd mid-county data center project
Prince William County’s data center alley is likely to stretch into Prince William County’s mid-section in the coming years as a result of the board of supervisors’ vote Tuesday to approve the controversial Mid-County Industrial Park. In a 5-3 vote, the supervisors voted to approve a rezoning that would allow three 90- and 95-foot-tall data centers on about 64 acres just north of the intersection of Va. 234 and Minnieville Road. It will be the second planned data center complex in the mid-county area. The first, on land formerly owned by Parson’s Farm, recently sold to Amazon for $218 million or $2.4 million an acre.
Spotsylvania School Board votes to record closed sessions following assault allegation
After a contentious closed session meeting on May 20 resulted in one Spotsylvania County School Board member filing assault and battery charges against another, the board voted 6-0 Monday to record future gatherings that are not open to the public. April Gillespie of the Berkeley District abstained, stating that she agrees with recording closed sessions but needs more information from school board attorney Micah Schwartz before voting. Carol Medawar of the Courtland District made the motion, which was seconded by Lee Hill District representative Lisa Phelps. It was Phelps who filed an assault and battery charge on Nicole Cole of the Battlefield District, alleging that Cole slammed a door into her shoulder and extended her leg to trip her during the May 20 meeting.