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VPAP Visual Women on the Rise in House Primaries
The number of women running for, and winning, party nominations for the Virginia House of Delegates has steadily increased since 2009. A record high share of House candidates were women in last month's primary elections, and the share of women who won a nomination was second only to 2017.
Emerson to lay off 87 workers in Charlottesville
Emerson Electric — the St. Louis-based Fortune 500 multinational corporation that provides engineering services and manufactures items such as industrial automation equipment and climate control systems — plans to lay off 87 workers working at its Charlottesville manufacturing facility, starting Dec. 31. Emerson Automation Solutions, in compliance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, notified the state last week of plans to lay off employees due to the decision to permanently reduce operations at the Emerson subsidiary’s Charlottesville site.
New state renters protection law aims to reduce evictions for public housing tenants
Tenants living in public housing across Virginia are now protected by a new law aimed at reducing evictions and eliminating certain fees. As of July 1, public housing authorities issuing notices of nonpayment to renters must now print those notices on pink or orange paper to clearly inform tenants of their rights. This is part of a broader push to strengthen renter protections and help prevent homelessness.
Virginia increases funding for agricultural conservation projects aimed at Chesapeake Bay cleanup
Despite funding cuts across the board for programs and agencies on the federal level, Virginia farmers are seeing a win for conservation projects. The state is showing a dedication to sustainable farming measures by allocating $223 million for agricultural practices that stop pollutants and sediment disturbances that lead to runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. It is a $16 million increase over the last fiscal year, leading to the fourth year of increasing funding from the state.
Paul Riley first Democrat to announce candidacy for 5th Congressional District
A retired U.S. Army officer and Crozet resident announced Wednesday that he is taking another shot at Virginia’s 5th Congressional District candidacy. Crozet residents and potential voters gathered at Claudius Crozet Park to meet Democrat Paul Riley and learn about why he chose to run for the 5th District seat, which includes the city of Lynchburg and the counties of Campbell, Appomattox, Amherst and Nelson, and part of Bedford County. Riley currently works as a national security contractor, “advising on critical issues impacting U.S. defense and global stability,” according to a news release.
Arlington Republicans introduce candidates for statehouse and County Board
Arlington Republicans introduced two candidates for the House of Delegates and one County Board challenger at a Monday meeting. The party acknowledges that, as always, November will be an uphill battle in Arlington. However, the goal is to put forward “candidates who are well-versed in what’s happening locally” as part of a five-year strategy, party chair Matthew Hurtt said.
Medicaid on the brink as Congress races toward budget deadline
With roughly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding at stake, Congress is racing to finalize a sweeping budget package, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” ahead of President Donald Trump’s July 4 deadline — but key decisions about cuts to the health care program remain up in the air. A preliminary review by the Congressional Budget Office has heightened concern, and a bipartisan chorus of lawmakers and hospital associations across several states is warning against adopting the Senate version of the bill, which they say could devastate Medicaid-dependent health systems. . . . A central dispute between the two chambers involves how the Senate version would restructure Medicaid funding, particularly in ways that could undercut Virginia’s hospitals and the state’s expanded Medicaid program.
Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Includes Provision to Move the Space Shuttle Discovery to Texas
Texas lawmakers have added legislation to the One Big, Beautiful Bill that, if passed, would move the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center to Houston. But in documents sent to Congress (and shared with Northern Virginia Magazine), the Smithsonian says that “The case against relocating the orbiter Discovery is both philosophical and practical.” . . . The provision in the Great Big Beautiful Bill would authorize $85 million to transport the shuttle from Chantilly to the Houston Space Center. But estimates from the Smithsonian say that would cover only a fraction of the cost necessary for the move.
Chesapeake town hall highlights fears over 'Big, Beautiful Bill' including Medicaid cuts
Local Democratic lawmakers led a packed town hall meeting Tuesday night in Chesapeake to voice concerns about Trump's proposed mega bill. The town hall follows developments in Washington, where the spending and tax cuts bill, known as the "Big, Beautiful Bill," passed the Senate earlier in the day. Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting against it, with the vice president making the tie-breaking vote.
Virginia’s statewide GOP candidates finally appear together — briefly
After more than two months of snubs and internal squabbling, the GOP candidates for Virginia’s statewide offices finally appeared in the same place at the same time Tuesday night — though they shared the stage at a packed firehouse in Vienna for just a moment after speaking separately to a raucous crowd. Gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears never mentioned lieutenant governor nominee John Reid, the first openly gay nominee for statewide office in Virginia, who some evangelicals in the GOP base have opposed. Earle-Sears praised state Attorney General Jason S. Miyares — who is seeking reelection — and urged the crowd to support Republicans running for Congress and the House of Delegates.