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By DWAYNE YANCEY,
Cardinal News
Today we begin with a civics lesson.
This is required if you’re going to understand the action that will blow up in the General Assembly on Wednesday — and perhaps beyond.
The essential point here is that Richmond does not work the way Washington does. Most of the time, that’s a good thing. This may be a good thing, too, depending on your point of view.
Let’s go back to what we learned in school about how a bill becomes law. In Washington, Congress can pass a bill, and then the president has either two choices: to sign it into law, or to veto it, and then Congress has a chance to override that veto with a two-thirds votes in both chambers. Richmond works somewhat differently, because a Virginia governor has a third option — he (or maybe someday she) can send the measure back to the legislature with amendments. That’s what’s happened in the case of the budget, the skill game bill and lots of others.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By DAN BRENDEL,
Washington Business Journal
(Subscription required for some articles)
The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission has sounded an alarm to state legislators about a budget amendment from Gov. Glenn Youngkin that would slash extra funding for Metro — funds the transit authority has said it badly needs to help cover a budget shortfall and avoid service cuts, staving off potentially dire economic consequences for Greater Washington.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By CHARLIE PAULLIN,
Virginia Mercury
Charybdis, the name of one of the Greek sea monsters who made it difficult for Odysseus to complete his epic journey in The Odyssey, is also the name of Dominion Energy’s new 471-foot ship, a vessel that will be used during construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, the largest such project in the country.
On Monday, Dominion announced the 23,000-ton ship was lifted from land, rolled to the edge of a dock and placed in the water to undergo the rest of the work needed to finish it by late 2024.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By EMILY HARRISON,
WVEC-TV
After the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, Port of Virginia officials warned there could be a substantial increase of containers coming to Hampton Roads.
Now weeks after the disaster, those in Hampton Roads are starting to feel the impacts.
“It’s all that anyone will talk about,” said Brooke Deems, president of the Tidewater Motor Truck Association. “But it’s unavoidable, the Port is doing everything it can.”
VaNews April 16, 2024
By EVAN GOODENOW,
Loudoun Times
(Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)
A Loudoun County Sheriff's Office deputy who has twice run for School Board is the subject of an internal LCSO investigation over derogatory remarks he made about public speakers at the April 9 board meeting. Deputy Michael A. Rivera removed the comments from his X feed several hours after posting them on April 10, according to LCSO lead spokesman Thomas R. Julia. In the post, Rivera referred to one speaker as "a barren hag that probably lives in her parent's basement."
VaNews April 16, 2024
By KARRI PEIFER,
Axios
The city of Richmond sent late notices to 58% of delinquent meals tax accounts during a recent seven-month period, according to a new report from the city auditor.
The other 42% considered delinquent between July 12, 2022 and Feb. 13, 2024 did not receive any notice telling them they owed a balance.
July 2022 is when the city said it began sending late notices to delinquent account holders. By February, the city was a month into the recent meals tax debacle.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By DAVID TEEL,
Richmond Times-Dispatch
(Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)
The inevitability and wisdom of college athletic departments and their foundations coordinating name, image and likeness compensation for their enrolled athletes has long been clear. Overriding NCAA policy, state law soon will grant Virginia schools that option.
Wednesday’s reconvened session of the General Assembly will determine whether the bill, passed by the House and Senate and supported by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, becomes law July 1 or Nov. 15. The latter date comes into play if Wednesday’s session requests a review of the bill by the General Assembly’s Athletics Review Commission.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By SAMANTHA WILLIS,
published in
Daily Progress
(Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently took action on a flurry of Virginia legislators’ measures related to reproductive health, mostly blocking bills designed to preserve the public’s access to abortions and birth control as these same issues roil national debates and as other states pass laws that restrict women’s bodily autonomy and roll back decades of abortion protections.
First, a surprising signoff: Youngkin, a Republican, signed a bill from Democratic Del. Vivian Watts of Fairfax that prevents electronic menstrual data — often collected in period-tracking digital apps — from being subject to search warrants, subpoenas or court orders.
Willis, a writer and journalist whose experience in digital, print and broadcast media spans 12 years, is editor-in-chief of the Virginia Mercury.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By ROBERT ZULLO,
Virginia Mercury
The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, which serves 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six neighboring states, has put forward plans for eight new natural gas plants since 2020.
In South Carolina, Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper are pushing the state legislature to pave the way for a 2,000-megawatt natural gas power plant. Farther north, Dominion also plans new gas generation in Virginia. In its most recent plan filed with state regulators, Georgia Power is looking to add new gas turbines. Likewise, Duke Energy in North Carolina is proposing new gas plants and delaying coal power retirements.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By DANIEL EGITTO,
ArlNow
In the wake of a recent veto of a Virginia recreational marijuana bill, proponents are still holding out hope for future change — but not for at least a couple years.
At an Arlington Committee of 100 meeting last week, State Sens. Adam Ebbin and Aaron Rouse said the chances of the Virginia General Assembly overriding Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision earlier this month are slim to none.
Legislation to legalize retail sale of cannabis passed the state House and Senate on thin margins before getting the ax from the governor, who cited public health concerns.
VaNews April 16, 2024
