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Yancey: Nationally, Republicans have lost faith in higher education. Virginia Republicans have not, new poll shows.
President Donald Trump wants to revoke the tax-exempt status for Harvard University. A few years ago, future Vice President JD Vance gave a speech entitled “The Universities Are the Enemy.” You’d think that Republicans don’t have a lot of faith in the nation’s system of higher education. Nationally speaking, you’d be right. The Gallup polling group has documented how American confidence in higher education has fallen over the past decade, with much of that decline coming from a sharp drop among Republicans. That’s why a recent survey about Virginians’ attitudes on higher education stands out: Not only do Virginians have more confidence in higher education than Americans as a whole, the main reason is because Virginia Republicans are much more supportive of higher ed — as in, more than twice as enthusiastic as their national counterparts.
Southwest, Southside Virginians could bear the brunt of Medicaid cuts
More than one-third of Virginia’s rural hospitals are operating in the red, and federal threats to Medicaid funding could put many hospitals that mainly serve residents in Southwest and Southside Virginia at risk. Virginia has 28 health care facilities that fit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ definition of “rural hospitals.” They serve populations that are older, with higher rates of chronic illness and poverty. Many of their patients have a greater reliance on government-funded health insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare, according to a Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association report.
James Madison University students protest DEI’s dissolution during new president meet and greet
Recently-selected JMU President James “Jim” Schmidt, alongside Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller, planned to speak to Dukes on Thursday so he could acclimate himself to campus and get to know the student body, but as he arrived to the Warner Commons in front of D-hall, he was met with a group of students protesting JMU’s dissolution of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) division last month. . . . Holding pamphlets with QR codes to a change.org petition, Puerto Rican flags, and signs that read “DEI IS NOT A CRIME” and “REJECT FASCISM,” students continuously chanted “knowledge is power, inclusion is strength” across from Schmidt, who was conversing with Dukes and other faculty. The students said the protest’s proximity to Schmidt was intentional.
Youngkin Vetoes Clean Energy Bills That Garnered Support From Dominion, Environmental Groups
Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills for the development of small solar projects and energy storage that had won bipartisan votes and support from Dominion Energy, environmental groups and farm and forestry representatives. The bills would have encouraged private homes and companies to initiate solar projects and bolstered the existing utility’s efforts to capture electricity from renewable sources for later use. Dominion said in April, in an application to purchase electricity from third-party suppliers, that enhanced solar production and its own plans to store electricity would result in billions of dollars of fuel savings through 2035.
Pushback in Petersburg City Council after planning commission asks for pay
“This is a don't shoot the messenger item,” City Manager John "March" Altman cautioned city council Tuesday evening. He did so before Planning and Community Development Director Naomi Siodmok began her presentation on the Planning Commission’s request to be paid for the work they do for the city — a contentious item that caused some debate during the city council meeting’s public comment period.
Allen: I was a GOP governor. I’m supporting a lawsuit against Trump’s tariffs.
Some might be surprised that I, a Republican, am challenging President Donald Trump’s tariffs plan. But my opposition to tax increases is not new. In fact, that conviction is why I strongly disagree, as a matter of constitutional principle, with the president’s “emergency” declaration to impose near universal import taxes on products from allies and adversaries alike. The Constitution is clear that taxes are the purview of Congress, not a tool to be implemented by presidential proclamation.
From ‘tariffs’ to hiring freeze, GOP-led Lynchburg council discusses ways to reduce taxes
Lynchburg Republicans on city council are flexing their political muscle as they move toward adopting a budget for fiscal year 2026, with many of their proposals mirroring what President Donald Trump introduced in his first 100 days in office. From local forms of so-called tariffs to attacking the city bureaucracy to taking steps similar to Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, Republicans, who have a 6-1 majority on council, are identifying ways to scale back government in the Hill City and creatively fund the remaining operations.
Spotsylvania school board chair issues ‘first warning’ about decorum during public comment
Spotsylvania County School Board Chair Megan Jackson issued a warning to public speakers via email earlier this week, stating that the board will strictly adhere to a recently-revised policy regarding decorum at meetings. “Due to increasing disruptive behaviors, we are reminding the community of our school board policy BDDH,” Jackson wrote in an email to parents. “This notice shall serve as an official first warning. If a second warning is warranted at a school board meeting, [the] violator will be told to leave immediately.”
Williamsburg-area school board halts middle school renaming
The Williamsburg-James City County School Board has tabled talks on renaming James Blair Middle School, but some board members say they hoped the issue would continue to encourage conversation. Tuesday’s decision to table came several months after a grassroots group called the school’s name into question, pointing out that Blair, a Scottish minister who founded William & Mary, was an enslaver who also advocated for slavery.
OSHA investigating Alexandria’s Parks and Rec department
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the safety conditions of the City of Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities. A safety complaint preceded the investigation that sent a handful of OSHA officials to RPCA’s administrative office on March 10. The initial OSHA complaint accused RPCA of falsifying a safety investigation, mishandling two near-accidents and stonewalling employee safety concerns, residents close to the situation said.