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Floyd woman announces run for Congress

By JEFF STURGEON, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

A retired judge, lawyer and nurse from Floyd plans to challenge U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, for the 9th District seat in Congress. Democrat Karen Baker will make her official announcement at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in downtown Floyd, her campaign said. The location is the public gathering place on the sidewalk in front of Warren G. Lineberry Community Park. The Federal Elections Commission website lists the 72-year-old Baker as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives on the November ballot. She is the only Democrat who registered for the race.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Republican looking to replace Spanberger launches first TV push in race for Virginia’s 7th District

By JACK BIRLE, Washington Examiner

Republican Derrick Anderson launched his first television advertisement in his bid to flip Virginia‘s 7th Congressional District, emphasizing a contrast to policies of House Democrats and President Joe Biden. Anderson, a Green Beret veteran, is the first of the six Republicans in the primary for the district to launch a TV ad buy. He is vying to flip the seat currently held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who is not seeking reelection to her seat and instead running for governor in 2025.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Virginia Supreme Court grants inmate’s release in earned sentence credits case

By CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Jose Garcia Vasquez has served his time — and then some. Soon, he can reenter society. On Thursday, Virginia’s Supreme Court ruled in his favor that he had been wrongfully denied his earned sentence credits. Virginia’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter says this resulted in Vasquez spending 18 months longer incarcerated than he otherwise would have been.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Virginia senators urge Congress to nix expansion plans after near-miss at Reagan National Airport

By BOB BARNARD, WTTG-TV

Virginia’s two U.S. Senators are demanding their fellow lawmakers slam the brakes on legislation that would increase flights in and out of Reagan National Airport after a near-disaster collision between two passenger-filled commercial airliners Thursday. It happened on one of the busiest runways in the nation, and two of this country’s best-known airlines, Southwest and Jet Blue, were involved.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Legislature approves one gun safety amendment, sends six bills back to Youngkin

By ELIZABETH BEYER, News Leader (Metered Paywall - 3 to 4 articles a month)

One of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s amendments was approved by the General Assembly, six were sent back to the governor’s desk for his signature or veto, and attempts to override the governor's veto on 22 gun safety related bills failed during Wednesday's reconvene session. The General Assembly accepted the governor’s amendment to SB 363, a bill that would prohibit the purchase, selling, or possession of a firearm with a removed, altered or defaced serial number. That bill will now be enacted into law.

VaNews April 19, 2024


Richmond City Council to consider $3M coliseum demolition

By EM HOLTER, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The Richmond Coliseum, the defunct regional arena, could soon be torn down pending a vote by the Richmond City Council. The request comes from the city administration that petitioned an additional $3.5 million be tacked on to Mayor Levar Stoney’s proposed $3 billion FY2025 budget to cover the $3 million cost of demolition as well as $500,000 to meet security needs.

VaNews April 19, 2024


Aerospace/defense contractor to add 80 jobs with $41.2M Orange County expansion

By BETH JOJACK, Virginia Business

Florida-based aerospace and defense contractor L3Harris Technologies announced on Thursday a $41.2 million expansion and modernization of its Aerojet Rocketdyne facility in Orange County, with plans to add 80 employees. Over the next three years, L3Harris also plans to construct new facilities and buy new equipment for the facility, according to a statement from the company and another by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

VaNews April 19, 2024


Kaine, Warner introduce federal gun bill on Virginia Tech shooting anniversary

By ANDIE VIGLIOTTI, WDVM-TV

U.S. Senators for Virginia, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, introduced federal gun legislation Tuesday on the 17th anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting. The bill’s provisions are modeled from Virginia’s statewide gun legislation passed in 2020 that a release from Kaine’s office called “commonsense gun violence prevention measures.”

VaNews April 19, 2024


Company backed by $100 million in federal funding looks to open battery plant in Lynchburg

By MATT BUSSE AND MARKUS SCHMIDT, Cardinal News

A California-based manufacturer is looking at opening a lithium-ion battery plant in Lynchburg, backed by a $100 million federal award. State Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, confirmed that a state commission approved an additional economic incentive package for the company, Applied Materials, on Thursday. Peake, who is not a member of the commission, said it’s anticipated the company will add about 100 jobs to the city. “I’m happy any time we get a major employment investment in Lynchburg,” Peake said.

VaNews April 19, 2024


VCU, UVa, Va. Tech coaches applaud state’s new NIL law

By DAVID TEEL, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

As state politicians and university administrators led the drive for pioneering compensation opportunities for college athletes in Virginia, coaches anxiously awaited the final legislation. Ryan Odom, Tony Elliott and Brent Pry were not disappointed. They joined dozens of others Thursday morning at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed House Bill 1505, giving in-state schools virtual autonomy in providing name, image and likeness compensation to athletes.

VaNews April 19, 2024