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Petrine and Pace: What’s driving Virginia’s economy? It’s the talent.
Graduation season is upon us as carloads of family and friends made their way on Interstate 81 to Blacksburg and Radford to cheer on a new generation. They’re celebrating a milestone as thousands of Virginia students prepare to step into the workforce full of potential to shape their communities. Because they are products of Virginia’s higher education system, their chances of success are greater than their counterparts in other states.
McClellan: Let me tell you what the Republican budget means for Virginia
Tuesday afternoon, I walked into a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting to address federal funding for health care, energy, the environment and communications agencies and programs. More than 26 hours later, committee Republicans voted for a bill the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed will kick millions of Americans off their health insurance. This bill puts Medicaid at risk for hundreds of thousands of Virginians and raises health care costs for the rest of us. Meanwhile, House Republicans on the Agriculture Committee voted to strip food assistance away from millions of children and families to pay for House Ways and Means Republicans’ tax cuts for the wealthy just a few doors down.
Virginia investment accelerator provides clarity in an uncertain climate
Even as the Trump administration’s schizophrenic tariff policies roil markets and put pressure on American businesses and consumers, concern about their potential effects on the Port of Virginia appear muted. Port officials recently downplayed fears that higher levies on imports, especially from China, will affect the volume of goods processed there. That’s good news for Virginia and Hampton Roads, though still hardly an ideal scenario. The tariffs continue to put commonwealth businesses, both small and large, in peril, and will needlessly inflict pain on consumers — meaning Virginia families — for as long as they are in effect.
Harrisonburg declares state of emergency amid water issues
Harrisonburg has declared a state of emergency after heavy rains stirred up sediment in the city’s water supply, leading to decreased output from the city’s water treatment plant and lower water supply. In a unanimous vote during a specially called meeting on Friday, the council voted to declare a state of emergency. City manager Ande Banks said that although Rockingham County was helping to supply the city with its own water supply, the county would no longer be able to assist.
‘We are not broke’: Mount Jackson officials push back on financial concerns amid deficits
Facing questions from concerned residents, Mount Jackson officials defended the town’s financial position Monday night, insisting that despite back-to-back budget deficits and a shrinking reserve fund the town remains in good fiscal health. Mount Jackson’s general fund reserve balance is projected to drop from $2 million to $1.3 million by the end of fiscal year 2025 after covering an unexpected $700,000 shortfall. Another $737,000 gap looms for fiscal year 2026.
Hampton to consider banning camping on public property
Hampton is considering a ban on camping and storage on public property, a move that would allow the city to remove and clear homeless encampments. But city officials say the proposal is not specifically directed toward people experiencing homelessness. Senior Deputy City Attorney Brandi Law presented a proposed ordinance change during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, which would bar anyone from camping, sleeping or storing items on public property.
Hopewell city attorney on assault claim: Not his job to ‘get crossways’ with councilors
Hopewell’s city attorney says it is not his place “to get crossways” with anyone on City Council because they are all his clients, but he added that he plans to answer a charge of assault being brought against him by a councilor following a brief confrontation at a contentious meeting [last] week. In a telephone interview May 16 with The Progress-Index, Anthony Bessette said it was “on video and in clear view of the public” what transpired at the May 13 meeting between him and Ward 7 Councilor Dominic Holloway.
Logistics firm to lay off 54 in Richmond as shipping slows
A Florida-based trucking and logistics company plans to lay off 54 employees at its facility in South Richmond, as freight shipping worldwide slows down because of uncertainty over tariffs and the economy. Saddle Creek Logistics Services notified Virginia workforce officials this week that it will lay off employees at its facility on Commerce Road in July, with no plans to bring them back.
Local leaders say they’ll pay $5.6 billion to automate Metro
A fully automated D.C. Metro in the next two decades is closer to becoming a reality, as local leaders found agreement at a region-wide meeting Friday on adding hundreds of millions of dollars in annual support to the system’s coffers starting in 2027. But the idea of a regional sales tax to raise the funds was quickly rejected by local officials who said they would rather figure out where to find the money on their own. ... Other suggested options included higher vehicle registration fees, fuel and sales taxes as well as higher property taxes and real estate fees.
Fort Eustis’ Army training headquarters to relocate to Texas
The Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters is set to move to Austin, Texas, after more than a decade at Fort Eustis. The plan is part of a larger reorganization effort by the Defense Department which will see several bases around the country consolidate and combine with the Army Transformation Command — which was created during the first Trump administration and operates in Austin — to create a new Army Transformation and Training Command. . . . Roughly 10,000-13,000 soldiers and civilians live on the Army base. It remains unclear how many soldiers will leave under the transformation plan.