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GOP nominee for lieutenant governor recalls meeting Ronald Reagan in Lynchburg
John Reid, the long-time conservative talk radio show host in Richmond who is now the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, had a feature on his show called “Reid on the Road” where he would take his listeners on journeys across the state. On one of his trips, Reid did a live show from the Craddock Terry Hotel in downtown Lynchburg where he reminisced about his visits to Liberty University. One of his best memories was from 45 years ago when he was only 9 years old and got to meet former California Gov. Ronald Reagan who was running for president, Reid recalled in an interview with The News & Advance.
How Virginia’s wealth works against poor rural homeowners getting FEMA aid for storm recovery
The calendar that hung on the wall in Sherry Smith’s water-damaged trailer read February. It unceremoniously marked the time when life inside the mobile home stopped for her and her husband, Mike Smith. It had been more than three months since winter storms brought widespread flooding across Southwest Virginia and about three feet of water into the Smiths’ home. . . . When the disaster declaration was approved for Virginia, it was for public assistance to help rebuild infrastructure in damaged localities. Individual assistance, meant to help people rebuild or repair homes or relocate to new ones, was not approved. That fact has left many in the town of Richlands feeling overlooked and wondering why. The answer lies in a formula used by the federal agency to determine whether a state would qualify for assistance, and what kind of assistance, after a disaster. That formula directly disadvantages the more rural, more impoverished — and more disaster-prone — parts of Virginia.
Former Roanoke state Sen. Granger Macfarlane dies
Former Roanoke state Sen. Granger Macfarlane has died. He was 95. A Democrat, Macfarlane served two terms in the 1980s and early 1990s. In Richmond, Macfarlane earned a reputation as an independent-minded legislator — some called him a “maverick” — who insisted on reading every bill, sometimes to the consternation of other senators when he found provisions they were hoping wouldn’t attract attention.
Yancey: 8 things to know about Google’s data center deal in Botetourt County
The biggest news last week was that Google has bought 312 acres in Botetourt County for a potential data center complex. While “potential” is an important qualifier, this does not appear to be a speculative project. The timeline for “Project Raspberry,” as it’s called in some government circles, is for the project to break ground in early January, shortly before Gov. Glenn Youngkin leaves office. It didn’t take long after the Google project was announced that it drew raspberries of a different sort online.
Walkinshaw wins Democratic nomination for Virginia’s Eleventh Congressional District
Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw beat out nine other candidates in a contentious firehouse primary on Saturday to become the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in Northern Virginia. His opponent in the general election will be the Republican nominee, Stewart Whitson. “I’m honored and humbled to have earned the Democratic nomination for the district I’ve spent my career serving,” Walkinshaw said in a statement Saturday night.
Lawmakers, UVa faculty blame Trump admin's 'gross overreach' for Ryan resignation
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has resigned after the Trump administration Department of Justice led an unprecedented pressure campaign against UVa’s chief executive. The DOJ faulted Ryan for not dismantling the diversity, equity and inclusion programs he established during America’s yearslong racial reckoning. Further, DOJ officials claimed Ryan misrepresented UVa’s efforts to eliminate DEI on Grounds — rebranding those initiatives instead of removing them. ... U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, estimated Friday that UVa has already lost $400 million in federal funding since President Donald Trump took office.
James Walkinshaw wins Democratic nod in Congressional special election
Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw is now one election away from succeeding his political mentor in Congress. Walkinshaw bested nine other candidates in a firehouse primary to secure the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, local party officials announced Saturday shortly before midnight. He advances to face Republican nominee Stewart Whitson in September’s general election.
Republicans nominate former FBI agent in race to succeed Gerry Connolly
A former FBI staffer who said at a forum last Sunday (June 22) that he supports President Donald Trump “a hundred percent” will be the GOP’s nominee for a Fairfax-area Congressional seat this fall. Stewart Whitson will advance to face the Democratic nominee in a Sept. 9 special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, local Republican officials announced this Saturday.
Big crowds turn out to vote in Fairfax County
Voters across Fairfax County showed up in large numbers Saturday to cast ballots in party primaries that will decide who advances to a special election this September for Virginia's 11th Congressional District seat. The seat was left open by longtime Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly, who passed away May 21 after a battle with esophageal cancer. . . . Voters on both sides expressed enthusiasm and a sense of civic duty. "It's exciting," said Dan Clark, a Republican from Laurel Hill. "I've never missed a vote since I turned 18, and I'm not about to miss one now."
Outside of DOJ official’s CNN appearance, Republicans largely mum on Ryan resignation
Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for Civil Rights and herself a UVA law graduate, defended the Department of Justice’s aggressive posturing that led to the resignation of University of Virginia president Jim Ryan on Friday. Appearing on CNN for an interview with Jake Tapper on Friday evening, Dhillon said the university was not responsive to DOJ requests for confirmation that it was in compliance with federal law and indicated she believed Ryan was largely responsible for that.