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By MICHAEL MARTZ,
Richmond Times-Dispatch
(Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., has plenty of money and time as the field of Republican challengers narrows two months before the GOP Senate primary on June 18.
Kaine, seeking his third Senate term, has raised more than $13 million for his re-election campaign, including $2.5 million in the quarter that ended on March 31, and had nearly $8.8 million in the bank, according to reports filed this week at the Federal Election Commission.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By JESSICA BLAKE,
Inside Higher Ed
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill last week that would have allowed the governing board of each public college or university to hire its own legal counsel, underscoring his stance on who should be in charge of the state’s higher education institutions.
The legislation, introduced by a Democrat in January, appeared designed to counter an opinion submitted by state attorney general Jason Miyares last year that said that higher education boards have “a primary duty” to prioritize serving the state over their individual institutions.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By BRAD KUTNER,
WVTF-FM
Virginia’s legislature returns to Richmond Wednesday to review Governor Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes and amendments. While tension remains high, at least one bill with strong bipartisan support could see Youngkin rebuked.
The last Virginia governor to have a veto overridden was Bob McDonnell in 2011. McDonnell said a bill increasing payouts for medical malpractice cases would hurt businesses. Legislators disagreed and after a 2/3rds vote in both chambers, the law is still increasing maximum payouts in the Commonwealth to this day.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By MATTHEW DALY AND LEAH WILLINGHAM,
Associated Press
Coal miners will be better protected from poisonous silica dust that has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of mine workers from a respiratory ailment commonly known as black lung disease, the Labor Department said Tuesday as it issued a new federal rule on miners’ safety.
The final rule, announced by Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, cuts by half the permissible exposure limit for crystalline silica for an eight-hour shift.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By ANNE ADAMS,
The Recorder
(Subscription Required)
Passions were high. Voices were loud. The county attorney walked out after being insulted. Meeting protocol and rules for addressing the board were abandoned. After three and a half hours of debate, dialogue, demands and pleas, the Highland County Board of Supervisors passed its new EMS plan — one announced only this morning — with some minor changes.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By JOHN R. CRANE,
Danville Register & Bee
Danville Casino’s revenues went up in March by more than $2 million as the gaming facility brought in an increasing amount of money for the second month in a row.
Last month’s gambling activity generated about $21.08 million, a more than 10% increase over February’s $18.7 million, according to the latest figures from the Virginia Lottery.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By JOEY LOMONACO,
Fredericksburg Free Press
The General Assembly is likely headed for a special session before adopting its budget ahead of a statutory July 1 deadline, an outcome that could leave school districts — including Fredericksburg’s — in limbo as they look to finalize their own funding.
“Because of the conversation happening around Richmond… there is not agreement on the budget and the governor’s amendments on the budget,” Del. Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg) told the Free Press in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon.
Cole’s comments come on the eve of a pivotal veto session where legislators will also address more than 200 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed amendments to the budget.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By NATHANIEL CLINE,
Virginia Mercury
In a state budget amendments, Gov. Glenn Youngkin pledged to support Metro with an additional $133.7 million amid a projected shortfall for the transit agency. The pledge came with a caveat: It would strip funding from a transit investment fund used by Northern Virginia jurisdictions.
Leaders from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the regional body of jurisdictions responsible for funding Metro, urged lawmakers to reject the amendment.
VaNews April 17, 2024
By KATE ANDREWS,
Virginia Business
More details have rolled in about the five Petersburg casino contenders, all of whom presented their plans during a town hall Sunday at the Petersburg Public Library. Hosted by state Sen. Lashresce Aird, D-Petersburg, the town hall saw officials representing Bally’s, Cordish Cos., Penn Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming and The Warrenton Group reveal more details about their casino proposals, even though the city doesn’t yet have the state legislature’s go-ahead to include a casino referendum on this fall’s ballot.
VaNews April 16, 2024
By ROBERT ZULLO,
Virginia Mercury
The nation’s largest public power company, the Tennessee Valley Authority, which serves 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six neighboring states, has put forward plans for eight new natural gas plants since 2020.
In South Carolina, Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper are pushing the state legislature to pave the way for a 2,000-megawatt natural gas power plant. Farther north, Dominion also plans new gas generation in Virginia. In its most recent plan filed with state regulators, Georgia Power is looking to add new gas turbines. Likewise, Duke Energy in North Carolina is proposing new gas plants and delaying coal power retirements.
VaNews April 16, 2024
