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Yancey: A reality check on a small nuclear reactor in Southwest Virginia (or anywhere else)

By DWAYNE YANCEY, Cardinal News

Gov. Glenn Youngkin dropped one bombshell, figuratively speaking, when he announced in October 2022 that he’d like to see a small nuclear reactor — and that he’d like to see it built in Southwest Virginia. He dropped another one last week when, at the tail end of an appearance in Abingdon, he told reporters that he no longer believed Southwest Virginia was the best location. He said other sites are “better suited for the first one.” It’s time for everyone to take a deep breath.

VaNews March 26, 2024


Fariss had meth in his pocket at his arrest, records show

By MARKUS SCHMIDT, Cardinal News

Former Republican lawmaker Matt Fariss had the drug methamphetamine on him when he was arrested in Campbell County late Saturday on charges of possession of a firearm, possession of narcotics and violation of a protective order, his arrest record shows. Fariss was the only occupant in his vehicle when he was stopped by an officer of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office. The officer noted that the former state delegate had a rifle in his car and a “crystal substance that field tested positive for meth in his pocket,” the report said. It does not say how much of the substance was found.

VaNews March 26, 2024


Youngkin to speak at VCU commencement in May

By ERIC KOLENICH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin will speak at Virginia Commonwealth University’s commencement ceremony on May 11. A number of sitting governors have spoken at VCU graduations, including Terry McAuliffe in 2015, Bob McDonnell in 2011, Tim Kaine in 2008, Mark Warner in 2004, Jim Gilmore in 1999 and George Allen in 1997.

VaNews March 26, 2024


Clarke County’s top prosecutor to become a general district court judge

By MICKEY POWELL, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Clarke County's top prosecutor is taking a step up the judicial career ladder. The General Assembly recently appointed Clarke County Commonwealth's Attorney Anne M. Williams to be a general district court judge for the 26th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Williams will begin serving a six-year term on the bench Aug. 1. A temporary commonwealth's attorney will be appointed in August. That person will serve until a special election is held.

VaNews March 26, 2024


York County School Board to get policy services from right-wing group

By BRIAN REESE, WAVY-TV

The York County School Board voted Monday night to purchase policy writing services from two organizations going forward, the nonpartisan Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) and the right-wing School Board Member Alliance (SBMA). After it appeared likely that the board would only go with SBMA’s policy services, Vice Chair Kimberly Goodwin motioned to approve policy services from both as a compromise. She said the cost for both was “peanuts” compared to the district’s overall budget.

VaNews March 26, 2024


Sandbridge residents oppose wind energy cable landing as Avangrid makes another pitch

By STACY PARKER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Avangrid Renewables recently renewed its pitch to the City Council for easements needed to connect its offshore wind project to the grid. But Sandbridge residents who oppose the cable landfall in their neighborhood still have unanswered questions about the proposal. In November, City Manager Patrick Duhaney and Mayor Bobby Dyer told Avangrid officials there wasn’t support for the Sandbridge landing, given the amount of community pushback. But the company is forging on and trying to reopen dialogue with the city.

VaNews March 26, 2024


Hutson: In tumultuous times, women are leading the way

By MARY POPE HUTSON, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

In the wake of the highly publicized resignations of two Ivy League university leaders, the national press posed this resounding question: “Who would want to be a college president in this day and age?” It’s not just the fraught politics, which felled the likes of Harvard's Claudine Gay and University of Pennsylvania's Liz Magill. It’s the increasingly difficult economics of higher education, especially at a time when the pool of college-age students is shrinking and respect for the value of a college education is diminishing.

Hutson is the 14th president of Sweet Briar College in Amherst.

VaNews March 26, 2024


Amid division and tensions, Lynchburg GOP reelects leadership

By RACHEL MAHONEY, Cardinal News

Lynchburg Republican leadership that’s been party to prolonged conservative infighting will remain in power after a busy and at times tense election on Saturday. Veronica Bratton clinched reelection as the Lynchburg Republican City Committee chair by a 203-112 vote held at New Covenant Schools. Attendees and officials at the mass meeting generally fell into two camps: the more populist right-wing camp Bratton hails from and the established business-as-usual camp that protested a lack of unity and favoritism coming out of the committee.

VaNews March 25, 2024


Loudoun School Board Plans Further Debate on Public Participation Policy

By ALEXIS GUSTIN, Loudoun Now

After voting March 12 to turn cameras off during public comment at School Board meetings, a committee decided Thursday to discuss broader changes to the division’s policy governing public participation in meetings. In a 6-3 vote last week, the board voted to shut off cameras during the public comment portion of its meetings ... The policy set for review lays out the procedures for public comment, including decorum, who may address the board, registration requirements for speakers, distribution of materials to the board, length of time for each speaker, and translation services.

VaNews March 25, 2024


After Denial Votes, Loudoun Board Gives Second Chance to Data Center Campus

By HANNA PAMPALONI, Loudoun Now

A week after handing down rare votes of denial for a density increase on what would be the county’s largest data center campus, and an Ashburn home development, the Board of Supervisors voted to reconsider both items during Tuesday night’s meeting. The motion to reconsider the data center project was made by Supervisor Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn), who had originally voted against approving the application earlier this month.

VaNews March 25, 2024