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Two UVa. fraternities suspended, one terminated after hazing allegations

By FORD MCCRACKEN, Cavalier Daily

The Theta Chi and Sigma Alpha Mu fraternities had their Fraternal Organization Agreements suspended by the University, while the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity had its FOA terminated after allegations of hazing, according to Ben Ueltschey, Inter-Fraternity Council president and third-year College student. While the Theta Chi and Sigma Alpha Mu fraternities face temporary suspensions, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity will have its FOA terminated for a minimum of four years. It is unclear when the violations in all three chapters took place or when the University moved to suspend and terminate their FOAs.

VaNews April 23, 2024


Commuter train system eyes expansion, part of Virginia’s evolving rail trends

By NATHANIEL CLINE, Virginia Mercury

While 2050 is more than a quarter century away, The Virginia Railway Express wants to start transforming its commuter rail operations much sooner by offering Saturday services as it considers its System Plan 2050, part of holistic, multi-agency efforts to transform rail services in the commonwealth. Last year, the VRE Operations Board — which is represented by the nine jurisdictions that fund the commuter rail service — backed the agency’s budget that included a 5% fare hike, or 50 cents more, due to the increase in services since 2020. The budget also included a plan to, for the first time, operate Saturday train service on tracks shared with Amtrak, CSX and Norfolk Southern.

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


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


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


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


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


Biden Earth Day Event Will Try to Reach Young Voters, a Crucial Bloc

By ZOLAN KANNO-YOUNGS AND BRAD PLUMER, New York Times (Metered Paywall - 1 to 2 articles a month)

President Biden will travel to a national park in Virginia on Monday, Earth Day, to spotlight his clean energy investments, with an eye on bolstering support among young voters disillusioned with their choices for the 2024 election. Against the backdrop of the park, Prince William Forest, Mr. Biden will announce $7 billion in grants to fund solar power for hundreds of thousands of homes in primarily disadvantaged communities, according to the White House. He will be joined by future members of the American Climate Corps, a new work force for young people hoping to combat climate change.

VaNews April 22, 2024