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Virginia Beach marsh terrace project in Back Bay will be the first on East Coast
The marshes of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge provide crucial habitat for local wildlife and help slow down waves that contribute to chronic flooding issues. But over the years, rising waters have started to swamp the marsh. Water pushing in from North Carolina overtakes the wetlands, and sea level rise makes it worse. “It’s just eroding away the existing marshes,” said Kristina Searles, a stormwater engineer with the city of Virginia Beach. … Over the past century, more than 2,000 acres of marsh has been lost to open water at Back Bay, according to Virginia Beach, as well as about 70% of underwater plants. Searles is now managing a massive new city effort to restore about 47 acres of habitat above and below water.
Port of Virginia on track to have deepest channels on East Coast
Even while unexpectedly supporting the Port of Baltimore over the past three months, the Port of Virginia is on its way to having the deepest channels on the East Coast by next year, a distinction that will help it further support the exchange of domestic and international goods. According to Port of Virginia CEO and Executive Director Stephen Edwards, such investments have helped the company maintain a competitive edge in the market, which has handled the most cargo over the past four years compared to ports in South Carolina, Georgia and New York.
Alexandria anti-‘Zoning for Housing’ case gets another day in court
Alexandria succeeded in its bid [Wednesday] to dismiss a case filed by residents furious with a citywide zoning overhaul that allows developers to build homes with up to four units on any property, but residents will get a chance to try again in a month. … The zoning reform package was unanimously approved last year by City Council after an extensive public engagement process. It includes citywide changes to single-family zoning, expansion of transit-oriented development, reducing parking requirements for single-family homes and analyzing office-to-residential conversions. The effort is meant to increase affordable housing options, as well as eliminate segregationist zoning practices of the past.
Shenandoah County Fair pig scramble called ‘unfair and unjust’
The Shenandoah County Fair pig scramble was scrutinized during Woodstock’s Town Council’s meeting Tuesday night after a Lorton resident made the 90-minute drive to speak against the popular event. The pig scramble is held annually, with over 300 local children participating in last summer’s rendition. Children from 3 to 8 years old, their hands covered in lard, are tasked to catch one of a group of running pigs. If a child manages to capture one of the 3-month-old pigs up for grabs, it is theirs to take home.
Louisa Co. supervisors reverse decision to cut Piedmont Virginia Community College funding over Jewish film
What exactly Piedmont Virginia Community College President Jean Runyon said to convince the Louisa County Board of Supervisors that a documentary called “Israelism” by two Jewish filmmakers wasn’t antisemitic remains unclear. Though it must have done the trick, as the board unanimously voted Monday night to overturn the resolution it had passed just one week prior that cut off the county’s funding to the school, a sum of $6,000 this year.
Texas man gets a year for role in 2017 torch-wielding mob at UVa
A frequently convicted White supremacist who once dared adversaries to shoot him and launch a race war has pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from his participation in the torch-wielding mob that marched across University of Virginia Grounds in 2017. William Henry Fears IV of Pasadena, Texas, made his plea Tuesday in Albemarle County Circuit Court, where he received a one-year term, the longest of any of the men who have been charged for their involvement in the 2017 episode.
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.”
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.
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.
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.