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Virginia lawmakers ask federal government to block Mountain Valley Pipeline operation, citing safety concerns
Eighteen lawmakers from the Virginia General Assembly submitted a letter Tuesday to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, asking the agency to deny the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s request to start running gas by June 1. In their letter, lawmakers cited the failure of a section of pipe in Roanoke County last week, as it was undergoing hydrostatic testing. “If gas was going through the pipeline it would have been devastating,” said Sam Rasoul, one of the delegates who signed the letter. “This failure confirms our concerns and it’s premature for it to go in service now.”
Feds Approve First Phase of National-Interest Designation for Western Loudoun Power Line
As area residents gear up efforts to oppose the construction of new power lines that could impact the county’s historic, agricultural, and scenic areas, the federal government just made that work more difficult. On Wednesday, the U.S. Secretary of Energy included parts of the county in the first step of identifying new National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors. A NIETC designation provides an expedited permitting and construction process for transmission lines. This is done when there is an urgent need to meet power demand in a region.
Governor Youngkin to still speak at VCU graduation despite planned protest
Despite reports of a planned protest at Virginia Commonwealth University’s graduation ceremony this weekend, Governor Glenn Youngkin says he will still be the commencement speaker even though some staff and students are urging him to cancel. This followed days of pro-Palestinian protests and encampments on college campuses like VCU, UVA, Virginia Tech and Mary Washington University. Many of those demonstrations led to chaos and clashes with police, ending with more than 100 students arrested.
Schapiro: UVa professor takes the long view on the law
Soon to be 91, Dick Howard has spent more than two-thirds of his life pondering constitutional principles. It’s a line of work that’s allowed him to travel the nation and the world. He’s dispensed advice to foreign countries such as Hungary, which — having escaped the orbit of the former Soviet Union — embraced democracy but is now re-embracing authoritarianism. These days, some of the thorniest questions about fundamental rights are unfolding a short distance from Howard’s home in a sylvan section of Charlottesville.
As General Assembly special session approaches, are skill games dead or alive?
At a meeting of Virginia’s advisory council on gambling addiction late last month, Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, made a bold prediction. The battle over whether the state should legalize the slots-like gambling machines known as skill games reached a standstill in April due to policy disagreements between the General Assembly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin. There have been signals the skill game legalization effort could potentially be revived by being folded into the unfinished state budget lawmakers are supposed to finish next week. But Krizek said he doesn’t see that happening and thinks the skill game legalization effort is probably dead for the year.
Judge to decide whether to delay construction of Dominion’s offshore wind project
A federal judge will soon decide whether Dominion Energy obtained necessary federal approvals for its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, a 176-turbine wind farm environmental groups are backing as a critical source of renewable energy needed to combat climate change. Judge Loren L. AliKhan is expected to make a decision on a request for a preliminary injunction as part of a lawsuit against Dominion and U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration officials, who are overseeing construction of the offshore wind project. The $9.8 billion CVOW project is expected to be completed in 2026 with the ability to generate enough power for up to 660,000 homes.
McGuire says he won’t participate in sole debate set for 5th District GOP primary
A spokesman for state Sen. John McGuire said Wednesday that the Republican from Goochland will not participate in what would have been the first and possibly only candidate debate in one of the most contentious GOP primary battles nationwide this year. McGuire’s response comes after the Amherst County Republican Committee announced that the senator would face his opponent, Rep. Bob Good, R-Campbell County, on a debate stage at Sweet Briar College at 7 p.m. May 20 for the first time after half a year of dealing each other blows on social media, during campaign speeches and in interviews.
Youngkin, Virginia lawmakers hope to have budget deal for special session
Virginia lawmakers in state budget talks met with Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday to discuss each other’s priorities as they try to reach a deal by the time the General Assembly is set to vote on it next week. Divisions between state Democrats who control both chambers of the legislature and the Republican governor, particularly over proposed tax policy changes, drove both sides to agree to extend negotiations and rework a new spending plan for the next two fiscal years.
Bucheli: How Virginia college students can navigate unique FAFSA challenges
Normally by this time of year, students planning to attend Virginia Commonwealth University – and every other American college – in the fall are committing to schools and sending in deposits. But as many families with a college-bound high school senior know, this isn’t a normal year. Delays in processing the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, form have students across the country stressed out, and understandably so. Typically, May 1 is the national college deposit deadline — but this year, many students haven’t yet received need-based financial aid offers from schools because of the federal delays in processing applications.
Richmond City Council approves baseball stadium financial plan
Richmond City Council voted 6-0 Wednesday afternoon to approve a new financial structure to build a minor-league baseball stadium at the Diamond District. The approval is a significant step forward in what city officials are calling the largest development deal in Richmond’s history. And it is a change in strategy just weeks before site work is set to begin. Under the plan, Richmond will issue $170 million worth of general obligation bonds, and revenue from the stadium and the surrounding development will pay off the debt.