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Yancey: 25 places in Southwest Virginia that statewide candidates should see for policy lessons
In Tuesday’s column, I listed how few of the statewide candidates have been to Virginia’s westernmost county — Lee County, a tiny piece of which is closer to nine other state capitals than it is to its own in Richmond. ... There’s a political reason for a candidate to visit Lee County, even a Democrat who won’t find many votes there: The candidate can then claim he or she is prepared to represent all of Virginia. However, there are many places in Southwest Virginia that a candidate should visit to learn things that will come up in policy decisions later on. Since this is 2025, here are 25 of them.
$2.5M in unclaimed money heading to Virginians this week thanks to new law
The state is mailing roughly $2.5 million in unclaimed money to Virginians this week. Some of that money could be yours. The Virginia Department of Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division is doling out checks for everything from funds in lost or misplaced bank accounts and unpaid wages to uncashed checks, utility deposits, refunds or insurance policy proceeds. The department has always collected and held this money for residents, but previously, one had to file a claim with the state to get it back. Under a new law, Virginia is automatically returning the money to its "rightful owners."
Henrico, Hanover come to the table to discuss water
The governments of Hanover and Henrico held a joint meeting Wednesday in the wake of two Richmond water outages this year that left county leaders “frustrated.” The topic of conversation: how do the two counties work with Richmond and Chesterfield to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Henrico and Hanover have been talking about the need for regional oversight since January.
FBI leaders seek to move some training from Quantico, Virginia, to Alabama; Youngkin questions proposal
FBI leadership is pushing to move one of the bureau’s elite training academies from Quantico, Virginia, to Huntsville, Alabama, according to multiple people familiar with the plan who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a proposal that has not yet been made public. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s effort to relocate the National Academy — a 10-week training program for local and international law enforcement and federal agents who are not with the FBI — is part of the Trump administration’s broader goal of shrinking the bureau’s footprint in the Washington, D.C., area and relocating personnel to Huntsville.
No, Not That Lee. Pentagon Finds Black Hero to Rechristen Base Long Named for Robert E.
In its latest move to undo diversity efforts, the Army announced this week that it had found ways to restore the names of seven installations that long venerated Confederate heroes. But in the case of Fort Lee in Prince George County, Va., the Pentagon did it with a curious twist. Rather than restore the name of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the Confederate commander who defended slavery, the Army found Pvt. Fitz Lee, who was Black and fought in the Spanish-American War. Private Lee, who had kidney disease, died in 1899 within months of being awarded a Medal of Honor.
Henrico board OKs new rules to limit rapid data center growth
Henrico officially scrapped its plans for a technology overlay district around the White Oak Technology Park for new, stricter regulations. The decision was made at a Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday night. Any developer seeking to build a data center in Henrico will now have to get a stamp of approval from the board. The idea is that board members can reject any project that doesn’t have adequate protections for residents, such as the distance between a data center and residential homes, excess light pollution or noise in the evenings.
Female athletes, including one from UVa, appeal NCAA settlement, saying it violates federal antidiscrimination law
Eight female athletes filed an appeal Wednesday of a landmark NCAA antitrust settlement, arguing that women would not receive their fair share of $2.7 billion in back pay for athletes who were barred from making money off their name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week, clearing the way for direct payments from universities to athletes and the end of the NCAA’s amateurism model. The athletes who appealed the settlement competed in soccer, volleyball and track. They [include] Kate Johnson of Virginia. They have standing to appeal because they previously filed objections to the proposed settlement.
Winsome Earle-Sears, John Reid face GOP identity test in historic Virginia election
Virginia Republicans have made history with a groundbreaking statewide ticket, but now they face the challenge of selling it to their own base. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine Corps veteran and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Virginia, is the Republican nominee for governor. Running alongside her for lieutenant governor is John Reid, a conservative radio host and the first openly gay man nominated for statewide office by the GOP. Together, they represent one of the most diverse Republican tickets the Commonwealth has ever seen.
Youngkin says gubernatorial appointments rejected by the General Assembly can still serve
A fight is now brewing between Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly. That’s because Youngkin is arguing that eight of his picks to serve on the board of visitors at various universities can continue to serve, despite their nominations being rejected by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on June 9. In a statement, Youngkin’s offices said, “Make no mistake, these highly qualified appointees will continue to serve in their posts as the Constitution of Virginia affords.”
Norfolk School Board terminates Superintendent Byrdsong’s contract effective immediately
The Norfolk School Board has voted to terminate the contract of Superintendent Sharon I. Byrdsong, effective immediately. The contract was terminated without cause, according to the motion. The School Board made the decision after emerging from a closed session. Byrdsong was appointed superintendent of Norfolk schools in February 2020. She has worked with the Norfolk Public Schools for over 20 years. ... A large crowd of citizens was on hand for the vote, with many chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, it’s the School Board that must go” as they exited following the vote.