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Virginia High School League executive committee approves updated transgender athlete participation policy
The Virginia High School League on Wednesday ratified legislation on its updated transgender athlete policy, which follows President Donald Trump's executive order, "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," during an executive committee meeting in Charlottesville. The policy was approved without any discussion from the executive committee.
New College Institute says business plan was submitted in February 2024, but funding was still vetoed
New College Institute says it submitted a requested business plan to Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year. On Friday, Youngkin vetoed $500,000 in supplemental funding for New College Institute claiming he has twice “recommended that NCI develop a meaningful business plan that best supports the educational and training needs of Southern Virginia, including exploring merging the Institute with existing regional education entities.” On Monday, a news release from NCI stated its board of directors was disappointed in the governor’s veto of funding that received broad bipartisan support by the General Assembly.
VPAP Visual New Voter Registrations: April 2025
New registrations are slightly lower overall than in 2021 and 2017 but still follow the same trend as the previous two election cycles. Virginia has had 59,130 new registrations so far this year.
Virginia tribe and state officials accuse each other of Medicaid fraud
The administration of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and the Nansemond Indian Nation have traded allegations of deception over a tribal health-care service and its Medicaid expenses, with the state claiming in court filings last week that the Nansemonds “may be engaging in fraudulent billing practices.” On Wednesday, lawyers for the tribe responded in documents: “The only fraud before this Court is the one orchestrated by [the commonwealth].” The escalating legal conflict involves millions of dollars in health-care reimbursements and marks the first instance of Virginia facing a government-to-government clash with one of its newly recognized Native tribes.
Two Democrats join race to succeed Connolly in Congress
The race has begun in Northern Virginia for a successor to Rep. Gerry Connolly, who announced last week that he will not run for reelection after eight terms in Congress. Two Democrats — Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw and state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax — both announced this week that they are running for the 11th District seat in midterm elections next year that will test public reaction to President Donald Trump and the effect of his policies on the Northern Virginia economy.
Pamunkey Indian Reservation named among America’s most endangered historic places
Climate change is threatening the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, and now the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the area as one of the most endangered historic sites in the country. Settled on a 1,600-acre peninsula in King William County, the reservation is surrounded by the Pamunkey River on three sides. Kendall Stevens, cultural resources director for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, said like other coastal communities, the reservation is not spared from the struggle of erosion, rising sea levels, sinking land and more severe storms.
Billboards popping up across Richmond slam national park cuts
A pro-labor news outlet is putting up seven billboards across Richmond this week to protest the Trump administration's cuts to national parks. More Perfect Union launched a multimillion-dollar national ad blitz in more than 40 cities decrying the gutting of "one of our nation's most treasured assets." The billboards warn of the potential consequences of National Park Service layoffs, like longer waits, more trash and dirty bathrooms. Shenandoah National Park was among the hardest-hit in the nation by the Trump administration's purge of federal employees at national parks.
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.
Favola: Gutting health care funding will only cost us more
Budgets tell the stark truth about a society’s sense of fairness, justice and economic opportunities. Sixty years ago, Congress enacted the federal-state Medicaid program because too many Americans could not afford to see a doctor when they were sick. This basic need still exists today, but is overshadowed by the desire of the Republican majorities in Congress to provide tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. Make no mistake, there are enormous human and societal costs associated with denying individuals essential health care.
Audit dispute triggers bitter feud between Virginia Beach Republicans and district leaders
What started as a call for financial transparency has exploded into bitter infighting within the Republican Party of Virginia Beach, pitting local GOP chair Laura Hughes and her conservative grassroots allies against the leadership of the 2nd Congressional District GOP Committee — and, by extension, the party’s entrenched establishment wing. With accusations of stonewalling, sabotage, and political retribution flying, the dispute has deepened long-standing tensions and raised concerns about how party unity will hold heading into key statewide elections in November.