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Loudoun board proposes phasing in developer fees

By HANNA PAMPALONI, Loudoun Now

As Loudoun supervisors work through updating the county’s Capital Intensity Factors—the formula that determines how much developers should pay to offset the cost of new government facilities their project would generate—there is a new proposal to phase in planning increases over the next three years instead of all at once. The idea is a collaboration between Supervisors Matthew F. Letourneau (R-Dulles) and Michael R. Turner (D-Ashburn) and is opposed by county staff.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Defense attorney says judge erred in ordering new trial for fired Loudoun Co. schools superintendent

By NEAL AUGENSTEIN AND JACK MOORE, WTOP

The lawyer for fired Loudoun County, Virginia, school system Superintendent Scott Ziegler says a judge erred in ordering a new trial after setting aside his misdemeanor conviction related to the firing of a special-education teacher. Ziegler was convicted in September on one count of violating the state’s conflict of interest law for not renewing the contract of the special education teacher who had reported that a student inappropriately touched her.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Youngkin: $26.5M for Bristol landfill is ‘appropriate’ amount

By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said this week the $26.5 million, contained in the proposed state budget for landfill remediation work, is “appropriate” and what the city should expect to receive. That is an $8.5 million reduction from the governor’s original budget but $8.5 million more than the Senate-approved version of the state spending plan. Youngkin was in the region on Wednesday and his comments were in response to a question from the Bristol Herald Courier.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Youngkin signs into law permanent cocktails-to-go

By COLLEEN CURRAN AND ANDREW CAIN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Richmond restaurants on Thursday expressed mixed reviews to the news that Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation to make cocktails to-go permanent in Virginia. Virginia is the 26th state to make cocktails to-go permanent. Among the bills Youngkin signed Wednesday was House Bill 688, sponsored by Del. Jay Leftwich, R-Chesapeake, which allows Virginia restaurants to serve cocktails-to-go permanently.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Youngkin signs 36 more bills but vetoes 22 criminal justice measures

By MARKUS SCHMIDT, Cardinal News

Less than a week after his most recent flurry of gubernatorial vetoes, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday vetoed an additional 22 bills that he said would weaken criminal penalties and erode public safety. He also signed 36 more measures and amended two. “I really felt that those bills were undermining our public safety, and I can’t let that happen,” Youngkin told reporters during a visit in Roanoke on Thursday, referring to the legislation he vetoed.

VaNews March 22, 2024


With new chair’s support, Prince William supervisors OK 85-foot-tall data centers in mid-county

By PETER CARY, Piedmont Journalism Foundation

During their first data center decision under new Board of Supervisors Chair Deshundra Jefferson — who had been critical of their proliferation— the supervisors voted Tuesday to allow 85-foot-tall data centers on Parsons Farm, a former landscaping supply outlet on Dumfries Road. The family-owned business is now closed. In 2019, their 90-acre property, which is between Dumfries Road and the Prince William County landfill, was rezoned to allow for a mix of commercial properties, including data centers up to 45 feet tall.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Grandon suspends 6th District congressional campaign

By CORMAC DODD, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Winchester resident Rodney “Rod” Grandon has suspended his campaign seeking the Democratic nomination in the 6th Congressional District race to challenge U.S. Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA). This leaves Rockingham County resident Ken Mitchell as the lone candidate seeking the Democratic nomination in the Nov. 5 election.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Youngkin approves to-go cocktails, rejects police interrogation model policies

By KATIE KING, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin took action on dozens of bills Wednesday, signing legislation that will allow to-go cocktails to continue and vetoing another measure intended to improve the integrity of police interrogations. Many states, including Virginia, started allowing delivery or take-out alcoholic beverages due to the pandemic. The governor signed a bill from Del. Jay Leftwich, R-Chesapeake, that removes a sunset clause that would have ended the practice in July.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Youngkin vetoes 22 bills, including easier path for certain immigrants to work as police

By DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed nearly two dozen pieces of crime and law enforcement legislation, including measures that would have expanded credits for inmates to get out of prison early and allowed some immigrants who are not U.S. citizens to become police officers. Youngkin announced his final action on a total of 60 bills late Wednesday, including 36 he signed into law, two he amended and 22 he vetoed.

VaNews March 22, 2024


Williamsburg-James City County School Board member’s comments about non-English speaking students draw ire

By SAM SCHAFFER, Virginia Gazette (Metered Paywall - 4 Articles per Month)

A member of the Williamsburg-James City County School Board on Tuesday claimed that teachers are not teaching students because they are focused on new students who don’t speak English. Michael Hosang’s comments elicited a response from at least one of the other members of the board, who called the comments racist, and resulted in the superintendent sending a message to staff the following day.

VaNews March 22, 2024