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Virginia hospitals could lose more than $2 billion annually under latest version of Trump budget
Advocates have been warning for weeks that federal cuts to Medicaid would impact Virginia’s healthcare system. Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration briefed legislators on those cuts for the first time [last] week. And they are significant if amendments aren’t made. Cheryl Roberts, Director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, tried to lighten the mood during Wednesday’s Senate Finance meeting by offering both good and bad news:
Citizens tell Griffith’s staffer of the power of ‘A thousand whispers’
More staff from the Blue Ridge Job Corps wanted to speak to Rep. Morgan Griffith’s staffer Thursday in Marion, but a Rapid Response Team was at the educational institution to help employees prepare for unemployment while they’re trying to help students prepare for their uncertain future. Jeanette Winston was one of the BRJC staffers who did come and told the gathering of like-minded citizens and Griffith’s representative that the proposed closure “just breaks my heart.” If BRJC is closed, she said, many of the students will be going to nothing. About 12%, she said, are homeless. Yet, at BRJC, those students have a home, a bed.
Loudoun congressional delegation critical of U.S. bombing of Iran
Members of Loudoun County's congressional [delegation] condemned President Trump's bombing of Iran on Saturday, saying it was unconstitutional. After the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, said in an online statement that the majority of Americans oppose war with Iran and noted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on June 20 that Israeli bombing had set back Iran's nuclear program "at least two or three years."
D.C. region leaders criticize, endorse U.S. attack on Iran
U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites drew mixed reactions from Washington, D.C.-area leaders, whose response to President Donald Trump’s actions split along partisan lines. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) called Trump’s orders a reckless display of “horrible judgment,” as Democrats suggested that the United States was being drawn into Israel’s war with Iran.
Clean Virginia looks for change with entire Democratic ticket as allies
After hard-fought primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general — where Clean Virginia and Dominion Energy poured money into opposing candidates — Clean Virginia now backs the entire Democratic ticket, an unprecedented shift that the group hopes will weaken Dominion’s political influence. Clean Virginia, a nonprofit that advocates for clean government and clean energy by fighting what it terms utility monopoly corruption in Virginia politics, donated $957,543 directly to statewide candidates this year, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. Dominion, the state’s largest public utility, donated $1.27 million to their candidates this year.
Virginia Democrats kick off ‘Worst of Winsome’ tour in Charlottesville
Charlottesville was the first stop Friday on a new tour criss-crossing Virginia ahead of November’s gubernatorial election spreading the message: Winsome Earle-Sears is “so far right, she’s wrong for Virginia.” A small crowd of local Democratic voters and elected officials gathered outside Charlottesville City Hall Friday to blast Earle-Sears, the sitting lieutenant governor and the Republican nominee for governor. The Democratic Party of Virginia, which has organized the tour, has been explicit that it is not connected to the official campaign of Earle-Sears’ Democratic opponent, former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th.
Democrats' statewide ticket boasts unity at first joint meeting in Richmond
The statewide Democratic ticket appeared together for the first time on Saturday afternoon in Richmond, four days after voters picked the party’s nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general. The GOP ticket, which was finalized in April, still has not appeared together. The Democratic trio includes former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, the party’s nominee for governor; state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, the Democratic lieutenant governor nominee; and former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, the party’s nominee for attorney general.
Electoral college reform group eyes Virginia’s elections with hope
Could Virginia become part of a growing national movement to elect presidents based on securing the popular vote? Though America is in its 47th presidency (with many presidents serving multiple terms), just five times has a candidate won the popular vote but lost the election. Although the majority of Americans voted for the losing candidate in those contests, the winners garnered enough Electoral College votes to ascend to the White House. ... National Popular Vote, a bipartisan network of advocates nationwide, is examining whether the outcome of Virginia’s gubernatorial and House of Delegates elections could influence the state to join a growing coalition of states to support the popular vote.
Chesley: Despite tough challenge, don’t underestimate Earle-Sears
Many signs suggest a comfortable victory this fall for Democrat Abigail Spanberger against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial contest. Spanberger had $14.3 million in cash on hand this month compared to just $3 million for Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor. Spanberger, a former congresswoman, has led in early polls, including a whopping 17-point advantage in a Roanoke College survey in May. (Yeah, I know, many Virginians aren’t tuned in yet, so that barometer is shaky.) Earle-Sears, meanwhile, is the standard-bearer for Donald Trump’s party in a state that’s voted against him three times in presidential contests. He’s tried to recklessly chop the federal workforce; some 341,000 federal workers lived here in 2023. Also, Black candidates have struggled to win statewide contests in Virginia – Earle-Sears’ own victory in 2021 notwithstanding.
Suffolk approves new rules for solar farms
New solar farm regulations are a “good start” for a Suffolk farmer whose family and neighborhood became a case study for future solar development in the city. “With all the frustration that we’ve experienced and my neighbors have experienced, it’s good to see that anyone going forward may not have to go through this frustration,” Shane Alexander said during the Wednesday, June 18 city council meeting. The Alexanders have been at the forefront of advocacy about the sonic impact of large solar farms on surrounding communities since the 99-acre Stratford Solar farm went up across the street from their White Marsh Road property in 2022.