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Renovation and expansion projects at 10 Virginia colleges and universities put on pause
Gov. Glenn Youngkin paused over $600 million in funding requests for 10 renovation and expansion projects at Virginia’s higher education institutions to prepare for possible statewide repercussions stemming from uncertainty about the country’s economic future. As President Donald Trump’s administration continues slashing federal spending and programs and overhauling global trade policies, Youngkin and lawmakers are keeping a keen eye on the state’s purse strings.
Recall petition effort in Highland County dismissed
Petitions to remove Highland County supervisors Harry Sponaugle and Henry Budzinski have been dismissed. Highland County Circuit Court Judge Edward K. Stein ordered both cases dismissed on May 7. This was the second attempt to recall the supervisors started by Debbie Hodges of Doe Hill. The first try was dismissed without prejudice last fall after the registrar’s office failed to properly certify the signatures on the petitions.
Chesapeake Planning Commission recommends denial of data center proposal
Applause and cheers filled a packed Chesapeake City Hall at almost midnight Wednesday as dozens of residents celebrated successful pushback against the region’s first proposed industrial-size data center. Following hours of public comment from more than 50 residents, the Chesapeake Planning Commission denied a proposal from developer Doug Fuller to rezone 22.6 acres of agricultural land to light industrial and construct a 350,000-square-foot facility dubbed the Etheridge Lakes Data Center.
Confrontation between Misjuns, Faraldi interrupts Lynchburg council meeting
The circus-like atmosphere surrounding Lynchburg City Council over the past two years was fully on display again Tuesday night as the council’s meeting had to go into recess to deal with a confrontation between Ward IV Councilman Chris Faraldi and At-large Councilman Martin Misjuns. Yelling could be heard coming from behind the dais in the Council Chamber during the public comment period, leading people in the audience to avert their attention from the speaker. Police were then directed to see what was going on.
With egg prices at a record high, backyard chickens get the OK in Frederick County
It's official, people who live in certain residential areas in Frederick County finally have the ability to make omelettes with the main ingredient coming from their own backyards. On Wednesday night, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors voted 5-1 to approve an ordinance amendment to county code allowing residents in two zoning districts to have backyard chickens. ... Even though chickens have always been allowed in the county's rural areas, efforts to make them permissible in residential areas failed to gain approval from the supervisors three times over the past seven years. But recent record-high egg prices revived interest in allowing backyard chickens, eliciting support from multiple supervisors.
Purcellville recall petitions certified; next steps begin
Petitions to recall Purcellville Mayor Chris Bertaut, Vice Mayor Carl "Ben" Nett and Council members Carol Luke and Susan Khalil have been certified, according to Loudoun County General Registrar Judy Brown. The four petitions, one each for the mayor and three council members, have been sent to Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens' office for the next steps in the process, she said. Clemens confirmed that he has the petitions, and he was reviewing them on Thursday morning.
House clerk blocks three Youngkin vetoes of budget items
The clerk of the House of Delegates exercised his rarely used power to reject gubernatorial budget vetoes on Wednesday by declining to recognize Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s attempts to veto three items in the revised two-year budget he signed early this month. House Clerk Paul Nardo, acting in his capacity as keeper of the rolls, informed Youngkin that he cannot publish three of the governor’s vetoes because they are unconstitutional under the Virginia Constitution.
Big bills, tough choices: Proposed federal cuts threaten Va.
Virginia would face big bills and tough choices if the Congress adopts federal spending cuts GOP committees proposed this week that would shift the cost of food assistance to states, make it harder for people to get health care through Medicaid and cost them more to buy health insurance. A pair of Republican-controlled committees in the House of Representatives released proposed budget cuts that could cost Virginia hundreds of millions of dollars each year and force the state to increase its share of spending or reduce services to people who need help the most.
Hotline between military and air traffic controllers in Washington hasn’t worked for more than three years
A hotline between military and civilian air traffic controllers in Washington, D.C., that hasn’t worked for more than three years may have contributed to another near miss shortly after the U.S. Army resumed flying helicopters in the area for the first time since January’s deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, Sen. Ted Cruz said at a hearing Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Administration official in charge of air traffic controllers, Frank McIntosh, confirmed the agency didn’t even know the hotline hadn’t been working since March 2022 until after the latest near miss.
Richmond’s inspector general staff threaten resignations over personnel changes
Multiple investigators in Richmond’s Office of the Inspector General have threatened to resign over recent personnel changes in the department, 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Wednesday evening. The inspector general is tasked with investigating allegations of fraud, waste and abuse within city government. The office reports to City Council.