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Roanoke Spent $5 Million More in 2024 Than Council Authorized, Violating State Law, Audit Says
Roanoke spent $5 million more than the City Council authorized last budget year, a violation of state law and significant lapse in oversight, according to an auditor’s report. The finding, made in the city’s annual comprehensive financial report released last week, underscored accounting issues that have plagued the government and which emerged during a belt-tightening budget year.
New trails will connect Hampton Roads cities, offer regional boost
As warming days remind us that summer is nearly here, the call of the outdoors can be heard even by those whose daily lives play out in cities and densely settled neighborhoods. Fortunately, thanks to foresight, planning and hard work, the developing South Hampton Roads Trail is beginning to offer residents of the region’s five cities — Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk — easier ways to get out in nature, whether they are enjoying an alternative way to reach a destination or simply exercising in the fresh air and sunshine.
Youngkin to set special election for Connolly’s seat amid primary season juggle
As Fairfax County laid to rest longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly Tuesday, attention shifted to the fast-moving process of replacing him in Congress — a decision that rests with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and could reshape the calendar for both parties in the politically vital 11th District. ... A spokesperson for Youngkin on Tuesday declined to say whether the governor has made a decision on when to schedule a special election. Under Virginia law, the governor is required to issue a writ of election to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, there is no mandated timeline for doing so.
Cowan: Officials should protect Chesapeake from data center noise
As a mental health professional, I never expected to speak out against a data center. But after learning more about the recently proposed facility in Chesapeake, I was, quite frankly, disturbed — disturbed that city leaders would consider placing such a massive industrial structure next to long-established neighborhoods. These are homes where families have built lives, where children play and where peace and quiet have long been part of daily life. At this month’s Planning Commission meeting, the developer addressed the projected decibel level of the facility and outlined general mitigation efforts. What he failed to address, however, is one of the most concerning and least understood aspects of data centers: low-frequency noise.
Va. Democrats on track to break primary early voting record
Ever since Virginia expanded early voting in 2021, more people have been using absentee mail-in and early in-person voting options. But if current numbers hold, Virginia Democrats could blow previous primary early voting records out of the water. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, by the end of the June primary in 2021, with five gubernatorial candidates on the ballot, Virginia Democrats had cast about 125,000 primary votes. In June 2023, with all House of Delegates and state Senate seats on the line, it hit 129,000. But as of last week, according to the Virginia Board of Elections, that number is over 80,000 votes so far this year. And there’s still three more weeks of early voting left to go.
Student shadow shines with Senate bill
18-year-old Alyssa Manthey had a unique, hands-on experience with state government that allowed her to get up close and personal with the law-making process. Because of her online schooling, Mathey’s schedule was flexible enough that she was able to work with Senator Emily Jordan (R) multiple times during the life of Senate Bill 1289, which bans the use of color additives in public school food.
Loudoun Co. sheriff renews call for elementary school resource officers
Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman wants to begin expanding the school resource officer program to the Virginia county’s 65 elementary schools, as part of the agency’s first public strategic plan. “We certainly have made a request to expand our SRO program to elementary schools — we’ve done that for several years now — but unfortunately, we haven’t met with success,” Chapman told WTOP. As recently as last year, Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence, while supporting the current SRO program, has stated he didn’t think expanding the armed officers in elementary schools would be beneficial.
Trump pardons former Virginia sheriff convicted of taking $75K in bribes
President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he will pardon a former Virginia sheriff convicted of taking more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, of Culpeper, Virginia, was supposed to report to jail Tuesday but "instead will have a wonderful and productive life." Jenkins, the former sheriff of Culpeper County, was convicted last year of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. He was sentenced in March to 10 years in prison.
Youngkin honors fallen heroes, calls for renewed commitment to patriotism during Memorial Day address
Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the sacrifices of service members who defended freedom during the 2025 Commonwealth's Memorial Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. In his 17-minute address, Youngkin spoke directly to families who have lost loved ones in service to the country.
U.S. Department of Education says special education funds untouched in reduction process
Before a federal judge temporarily halted the dissolution of the agency Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education ensured “uninterrupted services” to children and youth with disabilities, in response to probing questions by U.S. senators from Virginia and other states about the future of special education. ... A key point of concern for the lawmakers was the one-month freeze on investigations into discrimination complaints that left a backlog of 12,000 complaints, “half of which involve students with disabilities,” Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia and 20 of their colleagues wrote.