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Town of Blacksburg launches new public information system

Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The town of Blacksburg is streamlining the process of making and responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. It launched a new records management software called JustFOIA, according to a town news release. JustFOIA is designed for state and local government entities to modernize public records management and accessibility, according to the release.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Virginia senators want flight expansion at DCA halted

By DAN RONAN, WTOP

Thursday’s near collision at Reagan National Airport is raising concerns about plans to increase the number of flights at the airport. Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said Thursday morning’s close call at Reagan National is another reason not to expand the number of flights at the airport as some other senators are attempting to do. “It’s just plain crazy that some are pushing to add more flights to DCA’s overburdened runway,” Warner said to the Senate Friday.

VaNews April 22, 2024


DOJ: Richmond man, a Patriot Front member, arrested in connection to Jan. 6 insurrection

By RYAN NADEAU, WRIC-TV

A Richmond man and member of the white nationalist group Patriot Front was arrested Friday and hit with several charges relating to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6 insurrection, including impeding and physically assaulting officers. According to the Department of Justice, 26-year-old Nathaniel Noyce was arrested on Friday, April 19, in connection to his alleged participation and disorderly, disruptive conduct during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Richmond housing authority pauses evictions for at least 30 days

By PATRICK LARSEN, VPM

The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority announced a new approach to lease enforcement amid public outcry over eviction cases it recently filed against residents. CEO Steven Nesmith said the “Compassion Action Initiative” will focus on re-establishing relationships with residents, adhering to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations, strengthening data collection and sharing with stakeholders, and addressing a $3 million backlog of unpaid rent. At least 14 pending cases were dismissed from Richmond General District Court on Wednesday in a pause that Nesmith said would extend for a minimum of 30 days.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Federal program that helps low-income residents pay for internet is ending, affecting more than 346,000 Virginians

By TAD DICKENS, Cardinal News

A federal program that gives discounts on internet service to low-income households is ending this month, with no immediate plan to replace it. The Affordable Connectivity Program for two years provided discounts of $30 a month, or $75 a month for people on tribal land. The $14.2 billion Congress made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has run out, and the Federal Communications Commission accepted its final application on Feb. 8. The program also included one-time $100 discounts on laptop, desktop or tablet purchases. Despite multiple requests to extend the program — including from lawmakers and the FCC chairwoman — neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives is on schedule to address it.

VaNews April 22, 2024


James Madison University board announces interim president, tuition increase

By AVERY GOODSTINE, The Breeze

The Board of Visitors (BoV) announced former Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance Charlie King as JMU’s interim president — the first in over 30 years — during its Friday morning meeting. Both the proposed tuition increase and budget for the 2024-25 academic year were approved unanimously. The tuition proposal includes a 3% in-state and 1.5% out-of-state tuition increase.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Concerned community members rally to ‘save the Moss Free Clinic’

By JOEY LOMONACO, Fredericksburg Free Press

Lloyd Moss Jr. recalls his father’s trademark retort for whenever someone would make reference to his namesake health center. “His comment was always, ‘It’s not my clinic.’” Moss Jr. said of the late Dr. Lloyd F. Moss, who helped found the Moss Free Clinic back in 1993. “It’s the Fredericksburg community’s, and it’s the volunteers’ clinic.” On Sunday afternoon, nearly 100 people gathered in a Taco Bell parking lot less than a mile from the clinic’s doors with a shared aim: taking ownership of its now-precarious future.

VaNews April 22, 2024


I-95 express lanes use (and tolls) up

By SCOTT SHENK, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

More traffic has been using the electronically tolled lanes on Interstate 95 since a 10-mile extension opened in Stafford County last year. According to the toll lane operator Transurban’s March quarter financial update, released Thursday , the Australian-based company’s North American toll lanes “continued its recent strong performance with traffic increasing 4.9%,” equating to 147,000 trips, compared to the first quarter of 2023.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Warrenton officials OK Amazon data center plan, removing last major hurdle for construction

By PETER CARY, Piedmont Journalism Foundation

Town officials Thursday cleared the way for the construction of an Amazon data center in Warrenton, reaching a milestone in the long and tumultuous saga that splintered the town’s council and its residents. Warrenton’s planning and zoning staff signed off on the latest site plans for the data center, removing the last major administrative hurdle for the 220,000-square-foot project on Blackwell Road. Now that the site plan has been approved, Amazon will move on to obtaining routine permits for site work and building construction.

VaNews April 22, 2024


Warrenton town staff approves site plan for 220,000-square-foot Amazon data center project

By GRACE SCHUMACHER, Fauquier Now

Warrenton town staff has approved the site development plan for Amazon’s proposed 220,000-square-foot data center campus on the 42-acre plot of land at the intersection of Blackwell Road and Lee Highway off the Route 17 Spur in town. The approval, which came after staff’s fourth review and was detailed in a letter released Thursday, comes with 27 conditions and requirements. The conditions of approval, written with the intent of governing the project’s development, cover various aspects including adherence to approved plans, compliance with the 25 special use permit conditions and environmental considerations.

VaNews April 22, 2024