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Lucas endorses Spanberger after initial skepticism
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, one of Virginia’s most powerful Democratic lawmakers, has endorsed Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s campaign for governor, signaling peace in the valley for Democrats moving forward. Lucas had previously expressed skepticism about Spanberger’s candidacy. She was among those encouraging Rep. Bobby Scott (D-3rd) to launch a campaign for governor, arguing that Spanberger had not done enough to connect with Black communities across the state. Scott ultimately decided against entering the race, and Spanberger became the Democratic nominee.
Accused of making Metro less safe, watchdog relents on self-driving trains
After a two-month standoff with its safety watchdog, Metro received approval Tuesday to use self-driving trains on three of its six subway lines. Automation will expand beyond the Red Line to the Green and Yellow lines Friday. But a broader conflict between the two agencies continues, and multiple elected leaders say the commission created in 2018 to address Metro’s dysfunctional safety culture is now creating problems that add risk instead of reducing it. They are pushing back on a commission plan to start fining Metro for failing to follow orders — and backing Metro’s calls for an outsider to resolve future conflicts instead.
Preservation of clean-energy laws is essential to Hampton Roads’ growth
State and local officials last month joined with economic development personnel and leaders from LS GreenLink USA to break ground on a project that could transform Chesapeake and create new opportunities for Hampton Roads. Construction of a new subsea cable factory, slated to be the tallest building in Virginia, represents a massive investment in the future of the region’s steadily growing clean energy sector. But its success, as well as that of the larger sector, depends on Congress protecting tax credits that enable companies such as GreenLink to invest in these facilities and create the renewable energy needed to power America’s future.
Liberty University pays $15 million to former president Falwell Jr. in settlement
Liberty University has agreed to pay former President Jerry Falwell Jr. $15 million as part of recent settlements tied to lawsuits following his resignation. According to a copy of Liberty University's 2023-2024 tax form, Falwell will receive $5.5 million to settle the lawsuits. This amount is in addition to nearly $10 million he received as part of his retirement package.
Virginia reports first mammal with bird flu
Virginia has reported its first case of bird flu in a mammal, as the disease continues to ravage the U.S. poultry industry sending the price of eggs skyrocketing. The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Clarke County recently admitted an adult female red fox found in Loudoun County that tested positive for H5N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza. ... Though a first for Virginia, other states have reported many bird flu cases in mammals, especially dairy cows and free-roaming domestic cats
Virginia lawmakers prepare for new restrictions on campaign funds
Candidates for state office are about to get some new restrictions about how they can use campaign cash. Paying your home mortgage with a campaign account? That would be prohibited under a new law signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin. So would using campaign cash for clothing, automobiles, vacations, tuition, sporting events, concert tickets or even country club memberships. Senator Jennifer Boysko is a Democrat from Herndon who says she would have liked to have seen an exemption for candidates to use political contributions to buy a wardrobe.
TRADOC ‘isn't going anywhere right now,’ Army officials at Fort Eustis say
Army officials say no final decisions have been made about relocating the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, to Texas. The officials confirmed that part of the Army Transformation Initiative includes merging TRADOC with the Army Futures Command. Together, they will create the Army Transformation and Training Command. ... However, after conversations with Army leadership, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said the merger would not impact day-to-day operations at Fort Eustis.
Senators including Virginia’s Warner push Trump to release broadband deployment funding
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., has joined a call for the Trump administration to release broadband deployment funds and refrain from changing guidelines about what to do with the money. Warner, a co-author and negotiator of the 2021 law that created the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, says that President Donald Trump has been blocking the so-called BEAD dollars for months. Late last week, he co-signed a letter to Trump, calling on him to follow the law. “This unprecedented move by the NTIA [National Telecommunications and Information Administration] will further delay our communities from having the connectivity they need to grow and thrive,” read the letter, which Warner and 11 other Democratic senators signed and sent on Friday.
Access to mental health, addiction recovery services at risk if Congress reduces Medicaid funding
Robyn Hantelman, director of treatment and recovery at Encompass Community Supports in Culpepper, gets a lump in her throat whenever she thinks about the possible cuts to Medicaid that have been floated at the federal level. “Ten years ago, when I first started thinking about getting into recovery and getting sober and trying to change my life, I would have had to travel 45 minutes to an hour — maybe even an hour and a half — to get medication for substance use,” Hantelman said. Today, however, many clinics have opened and other services expanded, with Medicaid being partially responsible for the improvements, especially in more remote areas. Medicaid can even help with transportation when patients need to travel further for better care, Hantelman explained.
How proposed federal cuts to Medicaid could impact Virginians
The massive tax cut and immigration bill narrowly advanced by House Republicans this week would have sweeping impacts to Medicaid users, including Virginians. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates at least 8.6 million people could become newly uninsured by 2034 as a result of Medicaid spending cuts proposed under President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” In Virginia, experts say most people would likely lose Medicaid access by failing to comply with new administrative regulations on enrolling in and maintaining coverage. Virginia Medicaid, called Cardinal Care, and Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, together cover nearly 1 in 4 Virginians.