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Amazon buys former Parsons Farm for $218 million for first mid-county data center complex in Prince William
It’s official: Data centers are moving into Prince William County’s mid-county. Amazon has purchased the former Parsons Farm landscaping outlet and the surrounding acreage for $218 million. The sale, first reported earlier this week by the Washington Business Journal, confirms the fears nearby residents expressed at public hearings before the Prince William County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors earlier this year: that concrete buildings up to 85 feet tall would soon be on the horizon for sleepy Independent Hill.
Fauquier County planning commission greenlights 93-acre solar farm near Bealeton
A 93-acre solar farm proposed for southern Fauquier County has cleared a hurdle that tripped up similar projects before it. The Bealeton Solar Center — a utility-scale solar farm halfway between Bealeton and Remington — got a boost last week when the county planning commission decided unanimously that it aligns with the county’s comprehensive plan.
UVa student panel: The significance of college counselors and how Virginia falls short
In 1954, ruling on the case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court asserted that “education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments.” While this case dealt with racial segregation in schools, it upheld the notion that all children should have the opportunity to pursue an education “on all equal terms.” Over the past 70 years, the nature of education has changed, with college degrees now required to pursue many careers. Across the nation, and in many of Virginia’s public schools, there is a lack of adequate college counseling and preparatory resources.
Virginia went all in on solar. Then its powerful utility changed the rules.
Four years ago, Fairfax County announced a landmark clean energy plan to install solar panels on more than 100 buildings including schools, community centers and government facilities. But progress on that goal — which the county estimated would save $60 million in utility costs over 25 years — has stalled after the state’s biggest utility imposed expensive grid connection requirements that solar proponents say make those midsize projects not viable. Fairfax had completed six projects before Dominion Energy changed the requirements for midsize solar in December 2022. Since then, the county has downsized two projects to fall below the requirements’ parameters, while five others — including a police station, stormwater complex and library — are on hold.
What’s to become of the keepsakes left at Arlington Cemetery?
During one of their winter visits to Arlington National Cemetery, Mark and Nancy Umbrell placed a colorful patchwork quilt beside their son Colby’s grave. It had arrived in the mail years earlier from a sender they did not know after the 26-year-old’s 2007 death in Iraq. They had observed other visitors leaving mementos, a gesture that felt to them like a fitting way to both honor the fallen Army officer and thank the quilt maker whose kindness meant so much in their moment of grief, Nancy Umbrell said.
After ‘whites only’ job posting, Va. technology company hit with fine from the Justice Department
A tech company based in Loudoun County, Virginia, has been fined by the Department of Justice after it advertised that it was seeking “white” candidates for an open job posting. The job posting by Ashburn-based Arthur Grand Technologies Inc. was published in March 2023 and said that the company was only looking for “U.S. Born Citizens [white] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates],” according to a Justice Department news release.
GOP candidates campaign in Lynchburg ahead of U.S. Senate primary
With the upcoming primary in June, Republican U.S. Senate candidates are hitting the campaign trail. Two of the five running, Chuck Smith and Eddie Garcia, came to a veteran event in Lynchburg. Incumbent Senator Tim Kaine is the only Democratic candidate in the race.
VCU won’t directly pay its athletes, though new state law allows it
Virginia Commonwealth University will not directly pay its student-athletes, the school’s athletics director said recently, even though a new state law allows the university to do so. “We will not bring the collective in house, nor will we pay the kids directly as of right now,” said Ed McLaughlin, the university’s athletic director. McLaughlin expressed hesitancy to dive headfirst into an aggressive new state law that allows colleges to directly pay their players. ... VCU developed this plan over the past few months. Then on Thursday, the college sports landscape shifted when the NCAA announced it had settled three antitrust lawsuits and will pay current and past athletes $2.8 billion for name, image and likeness, or NIL, revenue they have been denied.
Yancey: Trixie Averill, one of most influential political leaders in western Virginia, dies
Trixie Averill, who went from a self-described “little ol’ housewife” from Vinton to one of the most important political leaders in the western part of the state, died Saturday after an extended illness. She was in her mid-70s. Averill never held elected office. Her highest office within the Republican Party was a brief stint at 6th Congressional District chair, but Averill’s influence could not be measured by a resume. Rather, Averill was part of a class of often little-known political activists who hold great power within their respective parties because of their ability to muster support for their favored candidates.
English: Benefits of offshore wind for Virginia taking shape
The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, approved in January by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, will consist of 176 wind turbines nearly 30 miles off the coast and power up to 660,000 Virginia homes with clean, reliable energy. The project will bring with it economic growth and jobs to Virginia Beach and throughout the commonwealth, now and for years to come. And while the project has entered its less-than-exciting construction phase and conversation surrounding the project continues, we must continue to keep the long-term benefits and opportunities presented by offshore wind top of mind.