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Virginia moves into hydrogen economy as Danish firm invests in Chesterfield plant
A Danish chemicals firm’s more than $400 million investment in a new Chesterfield County plant will bring Virginia into the business of making hydrogen as a clean energy source. The Topsøe Holding A/S plant will make a new kind of hydrogen fuel cell, one that the company says can generate clean energy for fossil-fuel users like steel mills and shipping companies that cannot simply electrify operations and that generate nearly a third of the world’s greenhouse gases.
Wilderness Battlefield back on list of Most Endangered Historic Places due to development
An influential preservation coalition assembled near a crossroads of history Wednesday morning to announce the Civil War Wilderness Battlefield is back on the list of America’s “11 Most Endangered Historic Places.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation approved the designation due to the massive Wilderness Crossing development envisioned, over 40 years, on more than 2,500 acres … in eastern Orange County. … Allowing developers to build Wilderness Crossing with its thousands of new houses, commercial buildings and data centers threatens the area’s history, environment, natural resources and quality of life, according to the coalition.
Mayor defends accusations in Petersburg casino-choice resolution: ‘We told the truth’
Mayor Sam Parham vowed Wednesday that the city was moving forward with getting its casino referendum on the November ballot despite political “sideshows” from one of Petersburg's state legislators and a casino union who he says have tried to derail that progress. Parham’s comments came during an impromptu news conference after City Council amended and re-enacted, Wednesday night, a resolution picking The Cordish Companies and Bruce Smith Enterprise to build a multi-use casino-centric resort on 92 acres off Wagner Road. That resolution was originally adopted last week, but Wednesday's meeting was called to correct a clerical error.
Protest continues at Virginia Tech after encampment clearing
Three days after an encampment at Virginia Tech’s Graduate Life Center was broken up by police resulting in more than 80 arrests, pro-Palestinian protesters continue to gather near the area. Everyone arrested has since been released, with court summons for the coming weeks. Some of the people who were arrested have stopped to sit with the current protesters. The newer gathering is much smaller. On Wednesday morning, there were six people sitting outside the Squires Student Center, though Zachary Weiss, a computer science student at Virginia Tech, said the numbers fluctuate throughout the day. “It all depends on when people have classes,” Weiss said. “People come and go.”
Metro budget includes ‘modest’ service cuts, fare increases
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority last week passed its $4.8 billion Metro budget for the upcoming fiscal year with “modest changes” in service and fare increases, avoiding the drastic cuts previously proposed as the transit agency faced a $750 million shortfall. Beginning July 1, a 12.5% fare increase across all modes of transit will take effect to “keep fares in line with inflation,” a Metro press release said. ... This means bus and base rail fares will increase from $2 to $2.25, and maximum rail fares — those that apply to most trips from Loudoun County — will increase from $6 to $6.75.
Bill banning certain driveway, pavement sealants to take effect this July
After attempting to ban the products in previous sessions, the Democratic legislature passed a bill Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed that bans the sale of pavement sealant containing a set of chemicals environmental groups say seep into the environment, causing health issues for wildlife and humans. The ban begins July 1. House Bill 985 prohibits the sale of the sealant used for driveways and parking lots that use certain concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, or PAHs, chemicals commonly found in coal tar.
Petersburg mayor says city ‘told the truth’ about casino pressure from legislature
Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham said Wednesday that he stands by the allegation that his city faced political pressure from the General Assembly to choose a particular casino developer or risk losing the opportunity to have a casino altogether. Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, whom the Petersburg City Council has alleged had a hand in that pressure, has disputed the city’s characterization of events as “revisionist history.” Speaking with reporters late Wednesday afternoon following a closed council meeting on the casino project, Parham didn’t back down.
Yancey: Here are the numbers that show why Russell County is looking at closing schools
Every day, there are about 55 earthquakes around the world. Most are small, sometimes imperceptible except to seismic instruments, but the ground beneath our feet is always moving as the tectonic plates inside the earth shift back and forth. Our demographics change in much the same way — usually slowly, in ways we barely notice, until the pressure builds up enough that there’s a big ground-shaker and earth-splitter. Across Virginia, particularly the western part, we’re seeing the tremors caused by those changing demographics. Franklin County is closing two schools because there aren’t enough students. Bedford County and Lynchburg have looked at closing schools for the same reason, but so far elected officials there have managed to avoid that unpopular, although sometimes necessary, outcome.
VCU students upset about school’s handling of pro-Palestine protest
Students at Virginia Commonwealth University that VPM News spoke with Tuesday were upset with the way university officials handled Monday’s student-led protest calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war — and for the university to comply with a list of demands. “Today’s the last day of classes,” said 23-year-old VCU student William Spencer outside the James Cabell Library on Tuesday. “I don’t understand why you don’t let this sit out a week. And then people go home at the end of next week. And so honestly, I think it would have been much better from the university to just tolerate it.” Spencer, who attended Monday’s protest, questioned the university’s decision to get police involved and so quickly. He said he witnessed students get hurt.
New rules for ‘forever chemicals’ mean challenges, high costs for Fauquier County
Fauquier County has until 2029 to remove “forever chemicals” from public drinking water to comply with new EPA standards, but it’s going to be a heavy lift. This month, the Environmental Protection Agency released a first-of-its-kind standard for regulating PFAS compounds; it places strict limits on the concentration of chemicals allowed in public drinking water. PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” are man-made chemical compounds that are incredibly difficult to destroy and do not break down naturally.