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By BILL ATKINSON,
Progress Index
(Metered paywall - 10 articles a month)
City Council unanimously chose a familiar face as its preferred casino vendor Wednesday night, but the choice took a back seat to what happened once the special meeting was adjourned. Instead of sticking around to talk about the economic potential of that decision or the next steps in the process of pushing the idea to Petersburg’s voters, councilors quickly dashed to their cars in the Petersburg Public Library parking lot. Some of them declined to comment while others walked stone-faced without saying a word as they approached reporters waiting outside for reaction.
VaNews April 25, 2024
Virginian-Pilot
Editorial
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When the commonwealth enters into an agreement on a large-scale, multi-year economic development project, it’s essential any agreement be structured in a way that protects taxpayers. The nature of such initiatives means that plenty can change over time and Virginia shouldn’t be obligated to pay if things don’t pan out.
The Amazon headquarters in Northern Virginia is one such example. The online retailer has slowed hiring there amid an economic landscape roiled by the pandemic, and it’s a credit to lawmakers that the deal they struck didn’t commit the commonwealth to pay for empty offices if the company misses its job-creation targets.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By TREVOR METCALFE,
Virginian-Pilot
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Thousands of containers, dozens of construction vehicles and tons of coal are moving through Hampton Roads terminals as the port helps Baltimore with diverted shipments due to a recent bridge collapse. “To me, it’s an example of how our industry needs to be nimble and responsive to the situation at hand,” said David White, executive director of the Virginia Maritime Association. ... The Port of Virginia’s state-run terminals could process anywhere from 18,000 to 20,000 rerouted containers this month, Virginia Port Authority spokesperson Joe Harris said.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By MATTHEW BARAKAT,
Associated Press
A jury on Wednesday rejected a woman’s lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars from Virginia’s largest school system over allegations that she was raped multiple times as a middle schooler.
The woman, who was identified in court papers only by her initials, sued Fairfax County Public Schools under Title IX, a law that guarantees girls and women equal educational access. The lawsuit alleged school officials at Rachel Carson Middle School in Reston ignored her complaints that she endured sexual harassment and sexual assaults inside and outside of the school back in 2011 and 2012, when she was a seventh-grader.
VaNews April 25, 2024
Associated Press
Glenn Youngkin will visit Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland next week for his third international trade mission as Virginia governor.
Youngkin, a Republican, will meet with Finland’s president, government officials, strategic business associations, company executives and global industry leaders “to further strengthen Virginia’s economic and cultural connections,” his press office said Wednesday as it announced his itinerary.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By CHER MUZYK,
Prince William Times
The race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District is shaping up to be very competitive — and very expensive.
In the Democratic primary race, retired Army Col. Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, 48, of Woodbridge, has a solid financial edge, raising more money than all the Republican and Democratic candidates in both primary races combined — by far.
Since launching his campaign late last year, Vindman has raised nearly $3.8 million. That’s more than four times the amount raised by his Democratic rivals, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By CHARLIE PAULLIN,
Virginia Mercury
Another attempt to impose tighter regulations on the menhaden fishery in Virginia was defeated Tuesday and interested parties again called for the state to study the menhaden population.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted 5-3 to deny a petition from the Chesapeake Legal Alliance that sought to limit the catch of Omega Protein, the lone menhaden reduction fishery in the Chesapeake Bay.
Recreational fishing groups and other supporters of a cap have argued that overfishing menhaden, a tiny, yet nutrient rich fish, is causing the decline of the Bay’s striped bass population.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By GRAHAM MOOMAW,
Virginia Mercury
After a closed meeting that lasted more than an hour and a half, the Petersburg City Council abruptly voted Wednesday to pick Baltimore-based Cordish Companies as the developer that will have a chance to build a casino in the economically struggling city.
There was nothing on the council’s meeting agenda indicating such a monumental decision could be happening on Wednesday afternoon, and council members quickly left the mostly empty auditorium without explaining the move to the handful of reporters in attendance. Several members said “no comment” when approached.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By BEN PETERS,
Inside NOVA
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to raise taxes on data centers in hopes of making good on the promise that data center revenue will help to offset the county’s residential tax burden. … The data center rate hike will bring Prince William County more in line with its neighbors in how it taxes the tech hubs.
VaNews April 25, 2024
By STACY PARKER,
Virginian-Pilot
(Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
A U.S. Department of Justice evaluation of a dozen Virginia Beach facilities found that the city is not in compliance with the American Disabilities Act and will need to make changes to those buildings and others. It could cost millions of dollars and take several years for the city to reach compliance with its facilities, sidewalks, web-based services and emergency operation plans as part of a settlement agreement with the DOJ.
VaNews April 25, 2024
