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Stoney drops out of governor’s race to run for lieutenant governor

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is getting out of the race for governor and jumping into the Democratic nominating contest for lieutenant governor. Stoney, 42, in the final year of his second term as mayor, will formally bow out of the race on Tuesday morning at the same time as his announcement that he will run for lieutenant governor. That is the path then-state Sen. Doug Wilder took almost 40 years ago before becoming the nation’s first elected Black governor four years later.

VaNews April 23, 2024


Mountain Valley Pipeline largely completed, company says

By LAURENCE HAMMACK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The Mountain Valley Pipeline is largely completed, the company said Monday in requesting federal approval for it to be placed in service. Although some work remains, the company asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue an order by May 23 that would allow it to begin operations. “Mountain Valley has completed all waterbody and wetland crossings project-wide,” Matthew Eggerding, deputy general counsel for the joint venture building the natural gas pipeline, wrote in a letter filed late Monday to the FERC docket.

VaNews April 23, 2024


Richmond Mayor Stoney tells Democrats he’ll drop bid for Va. governor

By LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney is telling fellow Democrats that he intends to drop out of next year’s race for Virginia governor and is weighing a run for lieutenant governor instead, according to four people familiar with his plans. Stoney, who has faced a tough contest against Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) for their party’s gubernatorial nomination, has been calling donors, supporters and others in recent days to say that he will bow out of that race, according to the four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share private conversations.

VaNews April 23, 2024


Tuition and Fees to Increase at University of Mary Washington Next Year

By ADELE UPHAUS, FXBG Advance

After several years of remaining flat, in-state tuition at the University of Mary Washington will increase by 2% next year. “A small increase, still below the rate of inflation, is needed to support state-mandated compensation actions for faculty and staff and the continued success of academic programs and the campus experience,” the university wrote in a press release Monday afternoon.

VaNews April 23, 2024


Petrilli: Va. has a chance to up its education game. It shouldn’t swing and miss

By MICHAEL J. PETRILLI, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

If Virginia’s school system were a person, we’d say it was born on third base and thought it hit a triple. Indeed, the commonwealth’s education officials have spent so many years patting themselves on the back that their arms must hurt. It’s true that some national magazines have ranked Virginia’s schools highly in the past. But that’s not surprising, given that it’s also one of the wealthiest states in the nation.

Petrilli is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution.

VaNews April 23, 2024


President Biden visits Prince William park to talk solar, youth involvement on Earth Day

By CHARLIE PAULLIN, Virginia Mercury

President Joe Biden stopped by Prince William Forest Park in Triangle on Monday, as the country celebrated Earth Day, to tout two initiatives to combat climate change: expanding solar access and creating jobs to fuel America’s environmental efforts. Called the Solar for All program, Biden told the crowd that families could save about $400 a year on their electric bills by tapping into the federal initiative that will provide grant funding to expand the development of solar projects nationwide.

VaNews April 23, 2024


Richmond man charged with assaulting officer in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

By LUCA POWELL, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

A Richmond man associated with the white supremacist group Patriot Front is accused of striking a police officer during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Nathaniel Noyce of Richmond is charged with assaulting law enforcement officers, civil disorder, and violence and disorderly conduct at the Capitol.

VaNews April 23, 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


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