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Hard Rock Bristol casino pushes back opening timeline
The partners behind Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol on Wednesday announced an extension of the grand opening timeline for the permanent casino resort to “late fall” of this year. The casino was originally expected to open in July with the luxury hotel and other components later in the year. Instead of opening the permanent casino in stages beginning in July, the partnership team now plans to have a grand opening later this year with a fully operational casino and amenities for an overall better guest experience, according to a written statement.
Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office turns off all comments on social media channels
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has turned off comments on its social media posts. “Our goal is to ensure that the LCSO social media platforms are informative and welcoming and that all members of our community feel respected and safe when they visit,” said a May 31 LCSO post explaining the change. “We will continue to provide information that is relevant, accurate, and timely related to law enforcement matters, public safety, community outreach, and agency news.” ... The agency’s Facebook posts regularly received dozens — and sometimes hundreds — of comments, and Julia said some were “inflammatory.”
Virginia man’s brothers died in WWII, but French admirers keep their memory alive
Donald Stevens couldn’t make it to Normandy this year for the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday, but he considers his spirit to be there anyway. It’s there with his brother Paul, killed two weeks after landing at Omaha Beach in the Allied invasion. And it’s there with another brother, Bill, killed nearly a year later in Germany as the war neared its end. Donald Stevens, now 97, was the youngest of the three. When he became the sole survivor on active duty, the military told the teenage seaman second class to go home to prevent more deaths in one family. He refused and wound up relegated to a dead-end assignment in Philadelphia, angry and bereft.
General Assembly taps 8 for judgeships
In a special session on May 13, the General Assembly elected eight individuals to fill seats on the circuit court, general district court and juvenile and domestic relations district court.
Cell Phone Ban Adopted in King George County Schools
King George County Public Schools this week became the first area school division to implement a total ban on cell phones, and similar bans are being considered in Stafford and Caroline county schools. The King George School Board adopted Policy JFCK at its regular meeting on Monday. The policy states that “possession or use of portable communications devices such as cellular telephones, or other hand-held computing devices, shall be prohibited at each school to prevent disruption of the educational environment and to maintain order on school property during the instructional day.”
Monumental data center project revealed for Pittsylvania County
A mammoth data center proposed in the Ringgold area — representing up to $5 billion in investment and at least $120 million in tax revenue over a 10 to 15 year period — cleared its first hurdle Tuesday night with a unanimous recommendation by the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission. The details of the project were aired by Tom Gallagher, representing Anchorstone Advisors SOVA, seeking to rezone about 946 acres located off U.S. 58 and Cedar Road to an Industrial District. ... Speaking in favor of the project — and shedding light on the extreme scope — was Joey Faucette, chair of the Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority.
Virginia governor says state will abandon California emissions standards by the end of the year
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday that Virginia will abandon California’s stringent vehicle emissions rules aimed at reducing carbon pollution at the end of the year when that state’s current regulations expire, citing an attorney general opinion. In response to a request from Youngkin and Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle, Attorney General Jason Miyares’ opinion issued Tuesday states that Virginia isn’t required to comply with new mandates adopted by the California Air Resources Board set to take effect on Jan. 1.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, John McGuire shouted down by protesters, cut short Albemarle County campaign rally
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s visit to Albemarle County started late and ended early Wednesday afternoon, after loud chants from protesters overwhelmed her megaphone and cut short her campaign rally for fellow Republican John McGuire. The Georgia congresswoman dropped into Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Wednesday, where McGuire, a state senator, is challenging incumbent Rep. Bob Good in the upcoming GOP primary. While the 5th is a deep-red district in the heart of Virginia, Albemarle County is a longtime Democratic stronghold — and that much was clear Wednesday.
Proposed data center project could bring billions in investment to Pittsylvania County
Billions of investment dollars could be coming to Pittsylvania County with the development of a data center that was unanimously recommended by the planning commission at its Tuesday meeting. The project could represent up to $5 billion in investment, according to the Pittsylvania County Industrial Development Authority. It could also contribute up to $120 million in tax revenue over a 10- to 15-year period, though it’s too early to say for sure, said Matt Rowe, the economic development director for the county. The data center, which would be the first of its kind in Pittsylvania, could also create up to 500 jobs.
Schapiro: Ahead of D-Day anniversary, pols plan strategic retreat
Eighty years to the day that American soldiers stormed the shores of Nazi-held France — among the feats of arms ensuring free college tuition for the families of Virginians killed or disabled in combat — the state’s Republican governor and Democratic legislature, ordinarily locked in political battle, are poised for a strategic retreat to quell outrage over a threatened reduction in those increasingly pricey education benefits. Fancying themselves friends of the military — how could they not be in a state that’s ranked No. 1 in defense spending and has the third-largest veterans population in the country? — Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the General Assembly are vowing to reverse a provision both sides supported in the soon-to-take-effect budget ...