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Buc-ee’s still plans to open in New Kent in 2027 despite delays from I-64 improvements
The Texas-based roadside travel chain Buc-ee’s is still on course to open one of its first stores in Virginia in New Kent in 2027 despite a complicated series of road improvements. New Kent County Planning Director Amy Inman said the mega convenience store will have to coordinate with the Interstate 64 widening project as well as the reconstruction of the Route 106 bridge, but that “they are still planning to open in 2027.”
Opponents respond as Mountain Valley Pipeline segment ruptures during test
A picture of a ruptured section of the Mountain Valley Pipeline circulating on social media this week ignited a fury of opposition from those who have protested the project for years. The damaged pipeline, which the photo showed being hauled down a roadway, was the end result of hydrotesting on a section of the mainline pipe on May 1 near Route 221 on Brent Mountain. The incident came as the pipeline’s developers asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for an in-service date of June 1, a decision protesters continue to oppose.
Federal, State Agencies Quiet About Mountain Valley Pipeline Failure
The state and federal regulatory agencies that oversee the Mountain Valley Pipeline have said little about a rupture last week during a pressure test. Groups that oppose the Mountain Valley Pipeline say last week’s failure in Roanoke County, Virginia, shows the risks the project poses to communities and property. Because it is undergoing testing now, Wednesday’s rupture only released water. But the pipeline’s builder, Equitrans Midstream, has asked federal regulators for permission to begin operations at the end of this month.
Forty applicants vying for Shenandoah medical marijuana license
Forty complete applications were received for conditional permits to operate as the state’s sole licensed pharmaceutical processor of medical cannabis for a region including the Shenandoah Valley, as well as the cities of Charlottesville and Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford, according to the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority. Each company paid an $18,000 fee for the opportunity to be granted the lucrative medical marijuana license for the CCA’s health service area 1 (HSA 1), which has been tied up in litigation for years.
Youngkin holds event in Richmond on National Fentanyl Awareness Day
Preliminary data from the Virginia Department of Health shows more than 1,900 Virginians died from fentanyl overdoses in 2023. That’s why Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin held an event at City Stadium in Richmond on May 7, which is National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
Dominion: Nuclear plant upgrades on budget and schedule
Dominion Energy‘s push to extend the life of its two half-century old nuclear power stations is on target with its $1.2 billion phase 1 budget and schedule, although one critical step, replacing the giant heat exchangers around each reactor, has been more complicated than first thought. The aim is to extend the life of its Surry and North Anna power stations, in Surry County and Louisa counties respectively, for another three decades.
New study documents location of discriminatory deed covenants in Arlington and N. Va.
New research shows that thousands of Arlington deeds from the early-to-mid 20th century included language that barred people of certain races, nationalities, or religions from buying property. Researchers contend that these practices, known as restrictive covenants, play a major role in the segregation of neighborhoods throughout the county and across Northern Virginia, the effects of which are still evident today.
Labor protections worth delay of Arlington Career Center construction, unions and lawmakers say
Arlington unions and state representatives are doubling down on calls for more labor protections in the construction of the new Arlington Career Center. A $132 million construction contract is up for consideration at an Arlington School Board meeting on Thursday. At least a year of delays would likely result if the School Board seeks a prevailing wage agreement for the project, guaranteeing that workers get paid wages comparable to market rates, Arlington Public Schools staff said at a meeting last month.
Lingering impacts of pandemic lead to higher tax rates in Northern Va.
Fairfax County lawmakers Tuesday approved a budget that raises the residential tax rate by 3 cents, a reflection of the lingering economic impacts of the pandemic and uncertainty over the Virginia state budget. Fairfax’s increase in the residential tax rate, to $1.125 per $100 of assessed value, means the annual tax bill for county homeowners will increase by an average of $450. … With remote work keeping office vacancies high, Northern Virginia localities have had to find ways to make up for the loss in commercial tax revenue while trying to maintain the quality of schools and other services.
In 8-1 vote, Danville City Council revises agreement with Caesars Virginia
In an 8-1 vote, Danville City Council on Tuesday evening approved changes to the agreement with Caesars Virginia that solidifies an investment nearly double what was originally planned in 2020, but dials back jobs and moves a planned stand-alone entertainment center into a multipurpose space. ... Danville City Manager Ken Larking said the changes to the agreement — in the works between casino leaders, city officials, attorneys and consultants — were mostly routine.