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Yancey: How George Washington paved the way for the first American pope
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was announced as Pope Leo XIV, people went racing to find some connection to the first American pope. Chicago White Sox supporters found a fellow fan; photos have turned up showing the future pope at a World Series game in 2005. Villanova grads found one of the most impressive alumni notes of all time; some students in the 1970s shared classes with the math major who went on to become pope. There’s no clear Virginia connection that we know of, except for a philosophical and constitutional one: It was Virginians in the 1700s who embraced what was then the radical concept of religious liberty, which allowed the Catholic faith to flourish in a place that once banned its practice.
When Trump visits, the Loudoun sheriff’s office assists with security. But who pays?
When President Donald Trump visits Loudoun County the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office assists in providing protective services to the president but isn't being reimbursed for the cost. On May 5, Trump was transported from Leesburg Executive Airport to the Trump International Golf Course in Lowes Island, in the Sterling area, halting traffic starting at about 6:55 p.m. . . . Sawyer said the LCSO's overtime budget is not designed to support Trump's visits.
Virginia Lt. Gov. race: Republican John Curran announces write-in campaign
John Curran, a business consultant from James City County, announced Monday that he intends to reenter Virginia’s lieutenant governor race as a write-in candidate. Curran initially ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor but did not turn in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot ahead of the April deadline. He alleges he had gathered 10,000 signatures but many of them were stolen by a former campaign staffer, a matter he says Virginia State Police are investigating. “I know that write-ins are historically a long shot,” he said.
Citizens Warn of Data Center Impacts in Rural Virginia
What started as a community conversation quickly turned into a passionate call to action. On Saturday afternoon, May 10th, Warren County residents met at the Warren County Community Center to hear firsthand how data centers—the massive, windowless facilities that power cloud computing and artificial intelligence—are reshaping rural Virginia. For many in the room, it was the first time they had heard the full scope of the issue.
Feds undo Federal Executive Institute decision in Charlottesville
Just over a week after it awarded the former Federal Executive Institute campus to Charlottesville City Schools, the US Department of Education has reversed course and announced that it will instead transfer the property to the University of Virginia. In a letter sent Friday to CCS Superintendent Royal Gurley, USED management analyst Barbara L. Shawyer wrote the department believes “that UVA will meet Presidential Executive Orders and that the University best meets the Secretary’s priorities for property reuse.” It was not immediately clear what US Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s “priorities for property reuse” are.
Martinsville council member questions legality of city manager pay raise, signals court challenge
A 15 percent raise awarded to City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides has ignited public controversy and deepened divisions among Martinsville City Council members, with at least one council member indicating he will pursue a legal challenge. Following a May 6 community budget meeting, council member Aaron Rawls said that to his knowledge, there had not been a vote on the city manager’s salary increase, but he believes there should be.
City audit finds Richmond Retirement System paid $550K to dead people
The City of Richmond’s retirement system paid out more than $550,000 to 44 deceased retirees over nine years, a new audit found. Most of the money has not been recovered. City Auditor Riad Ali on Friday released an audit of the Richmond Retirement System, which administers the benefits and pensions of former city employees. The new city audit found, among other issues, inadequate oversight of the retirement system, outdated operating procedures and incomplete death audit reports.
More resignations at Virginia’s embattled Birth Injury Fund
A total of five employees have resigned from the Virginia Birth Injury Fund in the past month — an exodus that has gutted the small agency’s finance team as it tries to rebuild after an insider embezzled millions of dollars meant for the families of disabled children. The latest resignation is that of Kan Cheung, who was hired earlier this year to work as the fund’s director of finance and investments. Cheung was only hired in April, according to a former employee at the fund who asked to speak on the condition of anonymity.
Curran announces write-in bid for lieutenant governor
John Curran, who did not qualify for the GOP primary for lieutenant governor, announced Monday that he is launching a write-in campaign for the general election in November. "My decision is not to split the ticket but to save it," Curran said in a statement, apparently referring to the controversy over John Reid, the party's nominee for lieutenant governor. He added: "This decision is not about my opponent being gay."
Legislature narrows use of noncompetes
In recent years, federal and state governments have embraced a push toward restricting the use of noncompete agreements by employers, most notably with the ultimately unsuccessful 2024 Federal Trade Commission rule that attempted to ban noncompetes nationwide. While noncompetes are still enforceable in Virginia, recent legislation passed by the General Assembly will further narrow which employees can be subject to noncompetes. During the Legislature’s regular session earlier this year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1218, which expands the definition of “low-wage employee” to an employee who is entitled to overtime compensation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.