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‘I love my job’: Miyares fighting for second term as Virginia attorney general
Now fewer than six months from election day, Attorney General Jason Miyares is fighting to keep the position he has held for the past three and a half years for another four. As the sole Republican vying for the position, Miyares says he wants to keep Virginia on track. That’s why, he told 29News, instead of chasing the Governor’s office, he’s hoping to stay on as the Commonwealth’s top lawyer. “For me, candidly, it was an easy decision, because I love serving in this role,” Miyares said. “I love my job. I love what I do every day.”
Youngkin vetoes measure to let African American history courses count toward graduation
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed a bill that would have allowed African American history courses to count toward high school graduation requirements. The measure, which was introduced in the House by Loudoun County Del. David Reid, would have allowed students and parents to choose African American History or AP African American Studies as substitutes for either World History I or World Geography that satisfy the history and social studies credit that students must complete.
Study: Coal, natural gas retain roles in Southwest Virginia’s economy
Despite its decline in recent decades, Southwest Virginia’s coal industry still accounted for a $1.8 billion total economic impact in 2024, supporting over 5,000 area jobs, according to a new study by Chmura Economics & Analytics. Additionally, the economic impact of the natural gas industry accounted for over $480 million and supported over 1,100 Southwest Virginia jobs, the study shows. Commissioned by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, the study breaks down how the energy sector continues playing a role in the region’s economy.
Virginia Lt. Gov. race: Republican John Curran announces write-in campaign
John Curran, a business consultant from James City County, announced Monday that he intends to reenter Virginia’s lieutenant governor race as a write-in candidate. Curran initially ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor but did not turn in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot ahead of the April deadline. He alleges he had gathered 10,000 signatures but many of them were stolen by a former campaign staffer, a matter he says Virginia State Police are investigating. “I know that write-ins are historically a long shot,” he said.
More resignations at Virginia’s embattled Birth Injury Fund
A total of five employees have resigned from the Virginia Birth Injury Fund in the past month — an exodus that has gutted the small agency’s finance team as it tries to rebuild after an insider embezzled millions of dollars meant for the families of disabled children. The latest resignation is that of Kan Cheung, who was hired earlier this year to work as the fund’s director of finance and investments. Cheung was only hired in April, according to a former employee at the fund who asked to speak on the condition of anonymity.
Curran announces write-in bid for lieutenant governor
John Curran, who did not qualify for the GOP primary for lieutenant governor, announced Monday that he is launching a write-in campaign for the general election in November. "My decision is not to split the ticket but to save it," Curran said in a statement, apparently referring to the controversy over John Reid, the party's nominee for lieutenant governor. He added: "This decision is not about my opponent being gay."
Legislature narrows use of noncompetes
In recent years, federal and state governments have embraced a push toward restricting the use of noncompete agreements by employers, most notably with the ultimately unsuccessful 2024 Federal Trade Commission rule that attempted to ban noncompetes nationwide. While noncompetes are still enforceable in Virginia, recent legislation passed by the General Assembly will further narrow which employees can be subject to noncompetes. During the Legislature’s regular session earlier this year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1218, which expands the definition of “low-wage employee” to an employee who is entitled to overtime compensation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Manassas GOP Calls for Action on Jail’s Immigration Policy Ahead of Meeting
The Manassas City Republican Committee is calling on residents to fill the room at the next Prince William-Manassas Regional Jail Board meeting, pushing for the jail to renew its 287(g) immigration enforcement partnership with federal authorities. . . . The city’s Republican committee says the jail’s decision to end the 287(g) program in 2020 amounts to a “sanctuary” policy, a claim they say was confirmed by Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office. The group is calling for full cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to process all undocumented immigrants charged with crimes.