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Supervisors Defer Vote on Leesburg Area Data Center
A rezoning application by JK Land Holdings to permit up to 742,000 square feet of data center use on a tract south of Leesburg was deferred Tuesday night after a motion to approve the plan failed to garner majority support from the Board of Supervisors. The application would also alternatively permit up to 416,000 square feet of warehouse or distribution uses, or up to 218,000 square feet of industrial uses. . . . The project was supported by members of the public who said data centers would be a better fit than homes, which would be negatively impacted by airplane noise, and provide more benefits to the community.
State inspector general announces investigation into Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center
Tuesday, the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) announced it will open an investigation into the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center, which is Virginia's only youth prison. The news comes in response to a request from the Commission on Youth amid "disturbing reports" of incidents at the facility in recent months.
Fairfax Supervisor James Walkinshaw declares candidacy for Congress
A former longtime adviser to Rep. Gerry Connolly appears to be running to succeed his political mentor. James Walkinshaw, a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for the past five years, filed paperwork today (Tuesday) to formally seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. Walkinshaw’s campaign sent out a mass text to supporters announcing his candidacy this afternoon.
Youngkin defends Trump even as he’s forced to fix the president’s mess
Virginia lawmakers approved a state budget this spring that invested in the commonwealth’s future. Though the Democratic-led General Assembly’s vision differed from that of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the two sides were able to reach agreement on a plan that, all told, moved Virginia forward. Some of those plans are on hold, thanks entirely to the economic turmoil needlessly caused by President Donald Trump. A grim economic forecast and the possibility of a self-inflicted recession prompted Youngkin to set aside $900 million in the state budget to insulate the commonwealth from damage.
Data center could be coming to Charles City County
For years, business leaders in the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions have been leading efforts to become a technology-focused “megaregion” known as the Interstate 64 Innovation Corridor. Now, a massive data center being proposed for Charles City County could, if approved, further position those areas as the next Global Internet Hub.
Hanover sheriff appealing ‘secret police’ case to Virginia Supreme Court
Hanover County Sheriff David Hines is pursuing all available legal remedies in order to thwart a public records request seeking the names of his employees. Hines is appealing a ruling issued in February at Virginia's Court of Appeals, where judges ruled that Hines had to release the names of employees in response to a FOIA request from a private citizen. Hines has argued that he needs to keep the names private in order to be able to staff undercover operations, like drug buys and bodyguard details.
Move to disband Loudoun County school system’s Equity Committee rejected
Loudoun County Public Schools' Equity Committee will continue meeting monthly, but its mission might change in the next several months. In a 10-2 vote at its May 1 meeting, committee members rejected a recommendation by the its charter subcommittee to stop regularly meeting. . . . The committee was formed as part of efforts that began in 2020 by the School Board to reduce systemic racism at LCPS.
Arlington County Board candidate says he’s placing ‘tracking chips’ in campaign signs over theft allegations
An Arlington County Board candidate claims to have begun placing “tracking chips” in his campaign signs after he says many of them were stolen. James DeVita, who is challenging incumbent Takis Karantonis in the Democratic primary, spent over $10,000 on campaign signs in March alone, according to campaign finance records. He told ARLnow that he has installed 500 signs around Arlington. Of these, he says that at least 200 have vanished.
Charlottesville lawyers reaffirm oath to courts, constitutions and rule of law
On a day when hundreds of others were protesting the Trump administration with shouts and placards in front of the Albemarle County Office Building, a group of lawyers assembled inside the Charlottesville Courthouse for a quieter statement of principles. Last Thursday, roughly 30 lawyers reaffirmed their oath to uphold the founding documents of the state and country. . . . Dugger said she got the blessing of the Virginia Supreme Court to participate in the reaffirmation ceremony, part of National Law Day of Action, a series of similar events around the county organized by Lawyers for Good Government Foundation, a nonprofit organization representing more than 125,000 lawyers and advocates dedicated to protecting human rights and providing equal justice under law.
Effects of Trump’s trade war loom over the Port of Virginia
Local experts and officials don’t have a clear picture of how the Trump administration’s tariff policy will affect the Port of Virginia and the many thousands of jobs connected to it, but ports across the country are bracing for a significant slowdown in traffic. However severe those impacts are, they will be felt between May and July, according to Vinod Agarwal, a professor of economics at Old Dominion University and deputy director for ODU’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy.