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Glenn Youngkin Hears the Clock Ticking
Interested in hearing about Glenn Youngkin’s political ambitions beyond Virginia? Good luck getting him to talk. “My future is going to be defined,” he told me here recently, “by continuing to stay focused on being the best governor I could possibly be.” After last fall’s state legislative elections ended in a whimper for Virginia Republicans, Youngkin has faded somewhat from a national media conversation that now revolves almost exclusively around the presidential race. Virginia bars governors from serving consecutive terms. Youngkin’s ends in January 2026, and he hears the clock ticking. “We just have a tremendous sense of urgency on everything that we’re working on,” Youngkin says … For now, Youngkin says, he’s keeping the focus on his day job, helping Donald Trump and other Republicans win in 2024 and continuing to sell conservatism with a smile, all while staying true to his brand.
Richmond registrar violated city policies on nepotism, internal investigation finds
Richmond Registrar Keith Balmer and Deputy Registrar Jerry Richardson violated city policies on ethics and employing family members, an internal investigation by the city’s Department of Human Resources has concluded. The violations require “immediate departmental restructuring” within the Richmond Office of Elections, investigators said in the probe’s findings, which were submitted Tuesday to the Richmond Electoral Board and the Virginia Department of Elections.
In Arlington’s race to become carbon neutral, some residents seeking green upgrades feel left behind
Arlington is rolling out a series of green initiatives, pouring millions into revamping its public infrastructure. However, climate activists caution that the county’s current strategy might fall short of achieving its goal of countywide carbon neutrality by 2050, as it addresses only a tiny fraction of the county’s overall emissions.
Va. Senate to return next week to address military education benefits
The Virginia Senate will return to special session on Tuesday — 10 days earlier than previously announced — to consider a new legislative proposal that would exempt some military families from pending changes in eligibility for educational benefits at public colleges and universities under a state program that waives tuition for survivors and dependents of military veterans either killed or almost fully disabled on active duty. The surprise announcement by the Senate Democratic Caucus on Thursday sets up a potential confrontation with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other members of the General Assembly, including some Democrats ...
Yancey: 3 questions that Tuesday’s primaries will answer
Elections don’t just tell us who has won and who has lost. They also help us answer questions. Here are some questions that Tuesday’s primaries across Virginia will help answer — at least for a while. What kind of Republican Party do Republicans want? The marquee race is the 5th District Republican primary, where state Sen. John McGuire of Goochland County is challenging Rep. Bob Good of Campbell County. Much of this race has been around who is the stronger supporter of former President Donald Trump. Trump himself has endorsed McGuire and called Good “bad for Virginia.”
Clary: Who’s the fairest ‘liberal’ of all? It’s not Good, or McGuire
I started this summer as I normally do — binge-watching a classic American program while chipping away at other projects. “How I Met Your Mother” was the sitcom of choice. ... I didn’t expect to confront the harsh reality of political grandstanding in today’s partisan climate. But, alas, here we are. ... What does any of this have to do with “How I Met Your Mother”? Virtually nothing. It was the ads that brought me to this point. They were everywhere.
Spotsylvania supervisors elect to opt out of Regional Transportation Authority
The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday night to approve a resolution allowing the county to opt out of a Regional Transportation Authority. The supervisors voted 5-1 to approve the resolution with only Battlefield District representative Chris Yakabouski voting against it. “I think we need to move something forward, and I would challenge my board in the most respectful way of, it not this, then what?” Yakabouski said. “How are we going to do these things?” An RTA would involve Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, and Stafford counties and the city of Fredericksburg.
Alumna launches GoFundMe in response to University of Lynchburg’s academic and staff cuts
The University of Lynchburg recently announced plans to cut 17 academic programs and eliminate 80 jobs, a decision that has not been well received by the university community. The cuts have sparked significant outrage, particularly among alumni and staff. Barbara Yauss, a 2020 alumna, has responded by launching a GoFundMe campaign to raise over $270,000. Her goal is to donate the funds to the university on the condition that the president and vice president step down.
Virginia, Maryland debate expanding Beltway express lanes
Heated debate about putting more express lanes on the Capital Beltway is dividing Maryland and Virginia leaders. The Potomac River is very much so the dividing line, and right in the middle of the tension is the Wilson Bridge. Some officials say there’s enough space on top of the bridge to make major changes, but not everyone is sold. The question is whether express lanes in Virginia should be expanded across the bridge into Prince George’s County. The Virginia Department of Transportation says that’s an easy yes.
Dollar Tree, A Virginia Corporate Success, Faces New Pressures Over Its History Of Violations
A state inspector showed up at a Dollar Tree store in Manassas in July 2022 and found shipping boxes stacked more than 8 feet high, perilously dangling over workers’ heads in the back room. Mountains of other boxes, thrown into jumbled piles, blocked the rear exits, leaving no pathway out in case of a fire. The inspector for the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program reported roaches crawling on the floor and dead in traps in multiple spots in the store, according to his write-up from that July 28 visit. Behind a cash register, rodents had chewed Hershey’s chocolate bars and left trails of droppings.