Search
VCU withholds degrees of several students over Pro-Palestinian gathering
Several Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) students [participated] in commencement ceremonies but with degrees currently withheld pending an investigation. “I think these policy violations shouldn’t have happened in the first place, they shouldn’t have been given out to us,” said Sereen Haddad, a senior at VCU. According to VCU officials, the matter pertains to a gathering on the lawn of the Cabell Library on April 29, 2025 where about 40 students were gathered.
Virginia unemployment claims rise amid federal layoffs
A recent spike in Virginia unemployment claims can likely be traced to sweeping federal layoffs under the second Trump administration. For the week ending May 3, the number of individuals filing initial claims for unemployment was 2,720, according to a Thursday news release from the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, which is also known as Virginia Works. That’s an 8.1% increase in claims over the previous week and an 8.9% increase over a comparable week in 2024.
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.
Hampton Roads leaders, businesses fear loss of clean energy tax credits
About a decade ago, retired Navy doctor Doug McNeill started getting online advertisements from residential solar companies and decided to do some research. After weighing the costs and benefits of installing a solar system, he chose to put up a 28-panel array on a detached garage at his home in Chesapeake. One big financial factor in McNeill’s calculation was the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which saved him almost $8,000 in upfront costs. “That brought it down by at least a quarter, which made it an easy decision,” he said.
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.
Virginia and East coast fishery managers remain vigilant over status of Atlantic striped bass
Virginia fishery managers and others from Maine to North Carolina, as well as members of the public, convened on Tuesday to decide the next steps to protect the future of Atlantic striped bass, a valued and remarkable animal facing consecutive years of low spawning success and an overfished stock. Atlantic striped bass have been referred to as “everyman’s fish” because they are caught by such a wide population of anglers up and down the coast, said Alex McCrickard, the aquatic education coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
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.
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.
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.
U.S. Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
The U.S. Department of Education reversed course, passing off the now-shuttered Federal Executive Institute to the University Friday. The Department previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools. In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover said that the decision was “completely unexpected,” and that they received the notice Friday. “We are currently reviewing it and seeking additional information,” Glover said.