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Youngkin announces formal relationship between Virginia National Guard, Finland
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who is currently traveling through Europe on an international trade mission, has announced a formal relationship between the Virginia National Guard (VNG) and Finland. According to Youngkin’s office, the Virginia National Guard was selected as the U.S. partner to Finland as part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Youngkin took part in an official state partnership signing ceremony at the Finnish Ministry of Defense in Helsinki to commemorate the relationship.
Protesters call for VCU president’s resignation, condemn police response to demonstrations
Pro-Palestine protest organizers gathered on the lawn outside the James Branch Cabell Library at Virginia Commonwealth University on Thursday afternoon and called for university President Michael Rao’s resignation or removal on the heels of Monday’s violent showdown between police and demonstrators. The clashes, which came after protesters set up an encampment on the lawn outside the library, resulted in 13 arrests and numerous reported injuries to both police and protesters.
Conservative groups challenge wind farm project; Dominion says it’s still on track
Three groups that are challenging Biden administration energy policy as climate change alarmism want to block work on Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project. The groups — Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, The Heartland Institute and National Legal and Policy Center — say the Biden administration’s push to develop wind farms threatens the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Dominion responds to lawsuit over environmental concerns of offshore wind project
In the past few months, multiple whales, including a right whale who had recently given birth, died along the Virginia coast, causing some groups to question the advancement of wind energy off the coast. Three public interest groups, as well as two individuals, filed a lawsuit against Dominion Energy and the Biden administration, [hoping] to delay the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial (CVOW) project.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Virginia Tech challenge university’s account of events
Students and faculty held a press conference at Virginia Tech on Thursday evening to challenge the university’s account of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was dismantled late Sunday night, resulting in 82 trespassing arrests. After the encampment was broken down by Virginia Tech police late Sunday night with assistance from Virginia State Police and local police departments, the university has continued to suppress student-led protests by “heavily policing, intimidating, and threatening retaliation against its own students and faculty who want to continue exercising their constitutional rights,” said Desiree Poets, an assistant professor in the political science department at Virginia Tech.
Crisis averted, fares hiked: What Metro’s new budget means for riders
After months of financial challenges and threats to shutter rail stations and bus lines, Metro has a new budget that avoids catastrophic service cuts. But it still comes at a cost to riders. The transit agency’s board passed a $4.8 billion budget last week for the coming fiscal year that will maintain rail and bus service levels but raise fares by 12.5 percent.
Lower fuel prices mean a break for Dominion customers
Dominion Energy‘s monthly bills are headed lower — about 3% for a benchmark residential customer bill — as prices of the fuel it burns to spin its electricity generators declines. The electric monopoly is asking the State Corporation Commission to approve a drop in its pass-along for fuel costs, with that savings partly offset by an increase to cover higher costs for its transmission lines.
Hashmi enters lieutenant governor contest as ‘progressive champion’
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, formally entered the Democratic nomination contest for lieutenant governor on Thursday, calling herself a “progressive champion.” The 2025 Democratic contest already features four candidates — Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney; Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach; Dr. Babur Lateef, an eye surgeon and chairman of the Prince William County School Board; and Hashmi.
After suing parent for $600K, Bedford School Board reduces case to $1
The Bedford County School Board is deescalating its efforts to sue a parent with a history of hostile interactions with school staffers about accommodations for his special needs son. But an attorney for the father involved blasted the statement the board issued this week and suggested the case may not be over yet. The board announced Wednesday that its earlier request for at least $600,000 in damages has been reduced to just $1 after the parent, David Rife, agreed to new ground rules on how he and school personnel would communicate.
Metro, Council of Governments create regional task force to begin discussions on funding solutions
Setting up Metro with dedicated funding has been discussed for decades in the region but still hasn’t come to fruition. Now, WMATA and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments hope a regional task force can finally bring about an agreeable plan of action. … According to COG, in addition to solutions for funding Metro, a new group will look at how all regional transportation agencies work together and are governed. DMV Moves is a 20-member task force that will be made up of local and state leaders from D.C., Maryland and Virginia.