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Sentara, Virginia Wesleyan partner on new college of health sciences
Sentara Health will develop a new College of Health Sciences at Virginia Wesleyan University, the two institutions announced Monday. The details of the partnership haven’t been hammered out yet, but a statement from the health system and university said they’re aiming to minimize disruption and ensure continuity for students, faculty and staff. The move comes two months after Sentara College of Health Sciences, an arm of the state’s largest healthcare system, announced it would stop offering degree programs for nurses and other health professions after 130 years.
Acoustical Sheetmetal Co. to invest $46M in Virginia Beach expansion
Virginia Beach-based Acoustical Sheetmetal Co. will invest $45.8 million to expand its operations, with plans to add 350 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday. Acoustical Sheetmetal is a manufacturer of steel and aluminum enclosures for the power generation industry, providing on-site power integration for large-scale data centers. It plans to build an additional 250,000-square-foot building and add significant machinery on 21.1 acres of land it purchased at the Virginia Beach Innovation Park from the City of Virginia Beach.
Virginia's trailblazing candidates for governor prepare to battle over the economy, abortion and Trump
Tuesday is primary day in Virginia — but the general election matchup for the commonwealth’s highest office is already set. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former U.S. representative, and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor, have known for months that they would face off against each other in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, since they were the only major-party candidates to qualify for the ballot. One of them is guaranteed to make history by being elected Virginia's first female governor. And they’ve already been running general election-focused campaigns for months, providing an early jump-start to one of just two governor’s races this year (the other is in New Jersey).
Spanberger looks to unite party after primary day
On the eve of Virginia’s down-ballot primaries, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger announced a statewide bus tour and criticized her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, during a campaign rally Monday. The event, held just hours before Democrats select nominees for other statewide races, signaled her intent to steer the party clear of the internal conflicts currently dogging the Republican ticket. Hundreds of supporters packed a hallway at the new J.R. Tucker High School, the school Spanberger attended growing up.
The Virginia Mercury’s 2025 elections questionnaire: lieutenant governor
With seven contenders vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, the Mercury asked all the hopefuls to answer a questionnaire to outline their political and legislative experiences, their plans should they be elected to preside over the state senate and their positions on policy that shapes citizens’ lives. Here are their responses.
Thousands gather across Virginia on Saturday for ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump
Saturday was the first time Elizabeth Prom-Wormley had protested, she said. “But it just … enough's enough already,” she said. “I feel hurt. I feel angry. I feel hopeless, and I don't like feeling that way as somebody who pays their taxes on time and gives to my community over and over and over again.” Prom-Wormley was one of thousands who gathered at the Virginia state Capitol, as thousands more across the commonwealth protested against the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration. And the demonstrations in Richmond, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., were among thousands of planned protests in the U.S., offering contentious counterprogramming to a military parade for the Army’s 250th birthday, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.
Volunteers keep watch over Smith Mountain Lake’s water quality for nearly four decades
For nearly 40 years, volunteers and environmental experts have made sure Smith Mountain Lake is ready for a season of fishing, swimming, and other recreational use. And while finding help over that time is rarely a problem, concerns about Harmful Algae Blooms are bringing new focus to their work. Ferrum College laboratory supervisor Carol Love has been monitoring Smith Mountain Lake since the late 1990’s.
What’s the future of drone production in the U.S.? Sen. Warner tackles the question at Manassas’ RapidFlight
Sen. Mark Warner visited Manassas-based RapidFlight Thursday for a discussion on the future of domestic drone production. The fireside chat, hosted by Axios reporter Colin Demarest, was held in RapidFlight’s headquarters and production facility in downtown Manassas. RapidFlight was founded in 2021 and announced it would be opening its operation in Manassas in 2022. The company designs and manufactures 3D-printed unmanned systems, more commonly called drones.
2020 red flag laws rarely used by most Va. localities
In 2018, police arrested Brandon Lee Rhodes in Chesterfield and charged him with assault and battery of a family member. In April 2023, he was charged again, this time after lighting the house on fire and assaulting his mother, according to a police report. That report said the attack left fingermarks on her neck. His mother explained that Rhodes suffers from mental illness. He was placed under court-ordered probation in lieu of a jail sentence. This January, Chesterfield police again rushed to the family’s home in Matoaca, where Rhodes was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Family said that Rhodes, during a mental health episode, took his brother’s gun from an unlocked gun cabinet and shot his mother’s best friend.
Aston and Fleet: Hampton Roads lawmakers continue to deliver for higher education
It is not common these days to hear voters say positive things about what leaders in government are doing. Yet, in this age of political division, Virginians agree on at least one big thing: Our top-ranked higher education system drives growth and opportunity in our commonwealth. And, in Hampton Roads, our legislators are leading the way. Recently, our organization, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, released the results of a wide-ranging statewide public opinion survey to gauge voters’ views on higher education.