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Schapiro: A Wilder ride for Rao and Youngkin
Doug Wilder always says the loud part louder. In a little-noticed speech this past weekend, the former governor and ex-Richmond mayor artfully laid into the president of Virginia Commonwealth University, Michael Rao, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who appoints the overseers of VCU and more than a dozen other taxpayer-financed colleges and universities. Wilder has attacked both men before. His speech wasn’t necessarily more of the same, though, because Wilder had a different audience. He spoke to newly minted, politically focused university graduates who, he implied, should not follow Rao’s and Youngkin’s examples.
Free Clinic looks to raise $1 million in one day
The Moss Free Clinic is asking the community to support its efforts by donating $1 million on Tuesday, May 28, during its inaugural Day of Giving. Donations will enable the clinic to continue to provide medical and dental care, screenings and treatments and free medications to uninsured and underinsured individuals. The clinic was established more than 30 years ago, but has faced the possible threat of closure as the long-term relationship between Moss and Mary Washington Healthcare has changed.
Large industrial proposal could feature data centers on Ashland-Hanover line
A Reston-based developer is seeking zoning approval for a project that could take the form of either an industrial park or data center campus on Ashland’s eastern boundary with Hanover County. The WestDulles Properties project, dubbed Iron Horse Business Park, would take shape on a 230-acre site split about 60-40 between Ashland and Hanover.
Virginia State University left out in the cold after candidates determine debate schedule
Virginia State University said Wednesday it was "disappointed" over reports that VSU appears to have been dropped from the upcoming presidential debate schedule, yet hopeful that an arrangement can be worked out. "A presidential debate at VSU is a huge win, not only for our students and campus community but for the greater community in general," university spokesperson Gwen Williams Dandridge said in a statement.
How Massive Resistance delayed school desegregation in Virginia
Friday may mark 70 years since the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board decision, but Virginia schools wouldn’t see desegregation in any meaningful sense for nearly two decades. The architect of Massive Resistance — the concerted political effort to thwart racial integration of schools by any means necessary — was Sen. Harry Byrd Sr., the powerful Virginia politician whose influence stretched into state and local governments. A former state senator and Virginia governor, Byrd and his family essentially controlled state and local politics for more than half of the 20th century through what was dubbed the “Byrd Machine.”
Va. mail delivery no longer the worst, but still pretty bad
Virginia’s postal service is no longer the worst in the country, according to the agency’s main watchdog. From October to December in 2023, Virginia’s on-time delivery of first-class mail was at its lowest level in years, with a 66% on-time delivery rate. January to March of this year saw the state jump to 77%, shedding last place to Georgia. Despite the improvement, the state is still in the bottom ten of nationwide U.S. Postal Service regions for on-time delivery. Only Georgia and Wisconsin are worse.
The Post’s choices in Northern Virginia’s U.S. House primaries
Two Democratic congresswomen in Virginia who defeated Republican incumbents in 2018 have opted not to seek reelection this year: Rep. Jennifer Wexton of the 10th Congressional District suffers from a rare neurological disorder; Rep. Abigail Spanberger of the 7th District is running for governor in 2025. Nineteen Democrats are vying to succeed them in the state’s June 18 primaries. Ten Republican contenders are also running for their party’s nominations that day.
School segregation in Virginia is increasing 70 years after Brown v. Board ruling
Racial segregation in Virginia’s public schools has increased over the last three decades, according to an Axios review of federal data. Segregated schools disproportionately hurt Black and Latino students because schools where they’re the majority often have fewer resources, more teacher shortages, higher student-to-school counselor ratios and greater suspension rates — all of which impacts quality of education. Seventy years after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which declared racially divided schools as unconstitutional, Virginia’s population is the most diverse it’s ever been.
Loudoun considers delayed-start days to give teachers training time
Loudoun County schools is considering delaying the start of classes by two hours on some days in the next academic year to help free up time to offer training for new teaching standards required by the state. The 16 delayed start days would be spread out throughout the year. Dismissal would occur at the same time, district leaders said, meaning students could lose about 32 hours of classroom instruction over the year.
Virginia State University presidential debate imperiled as Biden rejects commission’s plans
President Joe Biden on Wednesday rejected the fall schedule proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates, imperiling Virginia State University’s chance to host a presidential debate in October. … The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates in November announced that it had chosen VSU for the site of the second presidential debate, on Oct. 1. The school in Ettrick … said it would be the first historically Black college or university to host a general election presidential debate.