Search
Robinson: Selling federal lands would betray future generations
In early May, Congress slipped a provision deep into its budget resolution that should alarm every American. Buried in the text was language authorizing the sale of nearly half a million acres of our federally managed public lands — mostly in Utah and Nevada. It would set a precedent that threatens every corner of this country. This isn’t simply a Western issue. What happens in the deserts outside Salt Lake City today could be replicated tomorrow in the forests of Virginia or the marshes of Delaware.
Morris: To meet energy demand, don't miss the trees for the forest
Recent coverage in the Richmond Times-Dispatch has highlighted Virginia’s “all-in” strategy to meet growing electricity demand, citing a diverse mix of solar, wind, gas, nuclear, coal and oil. Yet one proven, renewable resource is notably missing from that list: biomass from Virginia’s forests. Biomass — primarily in the form of wood chips and sawdust — is a natural byproduct of Virginia’s robust forest products industry. These materials are already used efficiently to power industrial boilers and pulp mills across the state. With minimal modifications, those same materials can fuel steam turbines to generate electricity ...
Southern Poverty Law Center report: Militia movement is ‘reformatting’
The Southern Poverty Law Center issues an annual report tracking far-right movements across the country. Its most recent findings, which were released at the end of May, include information on the militia movement and its connections to the Commonwealth. Since 2020, at least 20 localities in Virginia have had active militia groups, according to media reports, though SPLC researcher Rachel Goldwasser says that number’s a bit higher.
Pokharel and Tanyu: In race to develop AI, colleges overlook cybersecurity
Tomorrow’s data breaches are being written in today's classrooms. If we continue treating security as an afterthought, we risk graduating students who are ready to build the future — but unprepared to secure it. In an era where cyber threats evolve faster than textbooks, a staggering 43% of cyberattacks now target small- to medium-sized enterprises, many of which employ graduates unequipped with real-world cybersecurity skills. Arguably, our academic approach to cybersecurity is long overdue for a transformation.
Charlottesville City Council primary is city’s first to use ranked choice voting
In Tuesday’s City Council primary, Charlottesville is about to become the second locality in Virginia — after Arlington County — to use ranked choice voting, after a century of using a winner-take-all block system. In block voting, voters choose as many candidates as there are open seats for a certain office. With ranked choice voting, voters don’t just select their favorite candidates; instead, they rank as many of the candidates as they would like, in order of their preference.
‘Option C’ for new Rappahannock River crossing gets regional endorsement
The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s policy committee voted 9-1 on Monday night in favor of “Option C” for a new road and bridge over the Rappahannock River. The road would run from Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County, cross the river west of the quarry and connect with Gordon Shelton Boulevard in Fredericksburg from the west. FAMPO, a regional transportation planning body, has been studying the proposed construction of a river crossing west of Interstate 95 for more than a year.
A look back at the first 6 months of Caesars Virginia in Danville: More revenue, more visitors, more jobs
It’s been half a year since Caesars Virginia opened its doors in Danville, becoming one of the first casino resorts in the state. The grand opening on Dec. 17 took the city from having a temporary casino to having a full-scale resort — and everything that comes along with it. Running the resort is a whole different ballgame than operating the semi-permanent tent that housed the temporary casino, said Caesars Virginia General Manager Chris Albrecht. “It’s a much larger operation,” Albrecht said. “[The temporary facility] was a very focused gaming experience. Now you’re dealing with the complexity of hotel guests, higher-end restaurants and concerts.”
In Virginia’s primary election, voters to decide statewide Democratic nominees
Polling places opened at 6 a.m. across Virginia on Tuesday for this year’s primary races to pick Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general, with a handful of localities also selecting a House of Delegates nominee from one or both major parties and some choosing candidates for local offices. Democrats have a nominee for governor — former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger — and Republicans are set with their full ticket: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for governor, talk-radio host John Reid for lieutenant governor and Attorney General Jason S. Miyares seeking reelection.
Virginia Democrats flood airwaves with anti-Trump ads ahead of Tuesday primary
With just hours to go before Virginia’s statewide primary, Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general have been saturating the airwaves with aggressive ads targeting President Donald Trump. The crowded Democratic primary for lieutenant governor features six candidates, while two are vying for the party’s nomination for attorney general. The tone of the final stretch has been unmistakably focused on Trump.
Trump not on ballot but president influences Tuesday’s high-stakes primary
Virginia, one of only two states to hold gubernatorial elections this year, conducts high-profile primaries on Tuesday that may grab national attention. Voters in Virginia, a competitive state in American political elections, will cast Democrat and Republican primary ballots for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and for state lawmakers in the House of Delegates. And while President Donald Trump isn't on the ballot, his sweeping and controversial agenda has been a key part of the conversation on the Virginia campaign trail.