Today's Sponsor:
Chris Bridge
In honor of Jeff Schapiro, newly retired columnist extraordinaire and translator of Virginia politics for nearly 40 years.
Seven Virginia governors celebrate Brown v. Board of Education; Wilder skips event
Virginia governors, past and present, gathered Saturday to mark the 71st anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that was supposed to end school segregation, saying there’s still more work to do. The reason the governors, corralled by former Gov. Bob McDonnell, were there, he said, is in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, “to form a more perfect union.” ... Doug Wilder, the nation’s first elected Black governor, skipped the event. He said in an interview that he is dismayed that Virginia’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is fading under Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
VCU hires outside firm to oversee federal anti-DEI compliance
Virginia Commonwealth University has hired an outside firm to review its compliance with a federal mandate to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. That’s in addition to the university’s own review, which has resulted in the shuttering and changing of multiple programs and some job reassignments or layoffs. Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos said the university hired Cozen O’Connor because federal guidance isn’t clear about which programs are allowed — and said the firm will assist in identifying programs “that either illegally discriminate or are perceived to be illegally discriminating.”
Local leaders say they’ll pay $5.6 billion to automate Metro
A fully automated D.C. Metro in the next two decades is closer to becoming a reality, as local leaders found agreement at a region-wide meeting Friday on adding hundreds of millions of dollars in annual support to the system’s coffers starting in 2027. But the idea of a regional sales tax to raise the funds was quickly rejected by local officials who said they would rather figure out where to find the money on their own. ... Other suggested options included higher vehicle registration fees, fuel and sales taxes as well as higher property taxes and real estate fees.
Community Pushback Is Stalling $64 Billion in Data Center Development Nationwide, Report Shows
As Elena Schlossberg of Prince William County, Virginia, sees it, the community effort to fight the richest companies in the world seeking to build data centers began about a decade ago when opposition coalesced in the early days of the industry’s development. Then, a couple of years ago, when people began to learn much more about the warehouse-like server farms proliferating at double the earlier rate, the fight strengthened with a meeting in Warrenton. ... Such community opposition is the focal point of a recent report by Data Center Watch, a research organization tracking data center opposition. A key finding: “$64 billion in U.S. data center projects have been blocked or delayed by a growing wave of local, bipartisan opposition.”
New Virginia clean slate law will create high demand for legal aid, experts say
A new “clean slate” law set to take effect next year will shield some past crimes from public viewing. Advocates say that matters for people whose convictions haunt them for years after they’ve served their time. And legal experts say there’s much to be done to prepare for the influx of people who will want to have their previous convictions sealed. Attorney Scott Surovell, a Democratic state senator representing Fairfax, said people were already lining up to take advantage of the new law.
Virginia Coal Country Courts New Business With Old Mining Money
When Clyde Stacy bought the Bristol Mall in 2018, both the mall and the surrounding coal country of Southwest Virginia were in trouble. The mall, once the marquee shopping destination in the region, had become vacant, weeds punching up through its parking lot. And the city of Bristol, the self-described birthplace of country music, was buckling under the weight of more than $100 million in debt, forcing budget cuts to its schools. Nearby, mining counties across Virginia’s slice of Appalachia were reeling after decades of job loss. Mr. Stacy and his friend Jim McGlothlin, both former coal magnates, seized on what they called a “moonshot” solution: turning the mall into a casino, in a state where gambling was not yet legal.
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Olivia Diaz of the Associated Press, Charlotte Rene Woods of the Virginia Mercury, and Brad Kutner of Radio IQ. They discuss the week's top headlines: DEI and the GOP, the House clerk vetoes the governor's vetoes, and nontraditional candidates. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
From Red Oak to Greenville, Bluefield to Orange, and Goldvein to Silver Beach, VaNews delivers headlines from every corner of Virginia that would be hard to find on your own. This free, nonprofit resource relies entirely on voluntary contributions from readers like you. Please donate now! |
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Former governors pay tribute to Brown v. Board but disagree on how to continue its legacy
It was more than 70 years ago when 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns and other students went on a strike to protest the poor conditions of their school – Robert Russa Moton High School – a segregated, tar paper shack high school located in Farmville. The walkout initiated a civil rights case – Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County – which later became one of the five cases consolidated into Brown v. Board of Education, where Supreme Court justices unanimously decided that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Saturday, seven Virginia governors gathered at Virginia Commonwealth University to commemorate the landmark ruling, discuss racial and educational progress and emphasize the need to do more work to address disparities in the state.
Educators push back after Youngkin vetoed bill that let African American history courses count toward graduation
A bill that could have made African American history count as a required social studies credit in Virginia high schools was vetoed last month by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The decision drew sharp criticism from educators, lawmakers and scholars who say the move perpetuates the marginalization of Black history in public education. House Bill 18-24, introduced by Democratic Delegate David Reid, aimed to let students substitute either African American History or Advanced Placement African American Studies, for World History I or World Geography.
STATE ELECTIONS
Earle-Sears calls for more school ‘options’ at Fishburne Military School graduation
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' admiration for her father is evident. Speaking with the News Virginian after delivering the commencement speech to the Fishburne Military School class of 2025 on Saturday, the Republican candidate for governor reflected on her father's journey from Jamaica to America and his journey, once stateside, to see his children educated. ... Earle-Sears said she wants to offer Virginia parents as many options as possible when it comes to their own children's education. That includes more charter schools.
Prosecutor Taylor, former Del. Jones vie for Democratic attorney general nomination
In a contest that pits prosecutorial vs. legislative experience, former Del. Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor are vying for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Both Democrats say they bring compelling résumés and hometown credibility, yet they draw clear contrasts between courtroom gravitas and the hustle of a political trailblazer. The winner in the June 17 primary will face Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican who is seeking reelection in November.
Democrats fight for nominations in five Richmond-area House primaries
A June 17 primary will decide which Democrats run in five Richmond-area contests for the House of Delegates. Around the state there are five more Democratic House contests and eight Republican House primaries. The nomination contests set up the fall elections in which all 100 House seats are up for election. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 edge in the chamber. In the Richmond area, nine of the 11 hopefuls running in the five primary contests are seeking the chance to take on Republican incumbents.
Two Virginia House of Delegates races have double primaries this year. One is in Hampton Roads.
One of Virginia’s most competitive races in this year’s House of Delegates elections is in Hampton Roads. House District 89, which encompasses parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk, is up for grabs as one-term incumbent Baxter Ennis, a Republican, isn’t seeking reelection. Chesapeake represents nearly 70% of the overall district. It’s one of two districts in the state that will have a Republican and Democratic primary June 17. [The other is House District 49 in the Danville area.]
Del. Phillips cites family, faith, and economic vision in reelection bid
Eric Phillips, 49, is seeking re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates representing District 48 as the Republican nominee. He will face Melody Cartwright, the Democratic nominee and an opponent he previously defeated in the 2023 special election. If re-elected, Phillips said he plans to continue prioritizing the interests of the Martinsville-Henry County area. Phillips said he will maintain his focus on pro-life policies, economic development, and protecting Second Amendment rights.
Early figures show local primaries are driving turnout
Early voting started earlier this month, and so far, the numbers are showing a strong turnout in places that have primary elections for sheriff and commonwealth's attorney. That's according to numbers from the Virginia Department of Elections posted to the Virginia Public Access Project. Republican operative Jeff Ryer points to the hotly contested Republican primary for sheriff in Chesapeake.
STATE GOVERNMENT
State regulators approve Columbia Gas increase
State regulators have approved an increase for Columbia Gas of Virginia’s non-gas rates and charges that would add about $6 to the average residential customer’s monthly bill. The average customer using 5.1 dekatherms of gas monthly will see their bill increase from $76.26 to $82.47, up 8%, according to terms filed with regulators in December and approved on Thursday.
Columbia Gas will roll back part of October rate hike
Columbia Gas‘ residential customers in Virginia will get a break on their bills as the State Corporation Commission rolls back part of the 11.68% increase the utility began charging in October. A settlement between the company, SCC staff and major customers will still leave residential rates 8.14% above where they were before the interim increase went into effect in October. The full commission formally approved the agreement [last] week.
‘Resilience Amid Resistance’: New marker reveals Virginia’s fraught journey to school integration
A state historical marker titled “Resilience Amid Resistance” now stands on the Western District U.S. Courthouse grounds in Harrisonburg, where a Virginia judge twice upheld the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to desegregate schools in America, allowing local Black students to attend white schools and access an equal education. Betty Kilby was the lead plaintiff in one of the Virginia cases stemming from localities’ failure to comply with the high court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling, part of the state’s Massive Resistance policy to buck desegregation, history referenced in the marker unveiled on Saturday.
Pharrell’s canceled movie about Virginia Beach childhood never sought $12M in state incentives
Shortly after Pharrell Williams began production on a musical biopic about his upbringing in the Atlantis apartment complex in Virginia Beach, Virginia offered the project more than $12 million in state incentives aimed at enticing producers to shoot it in the state. However, Williams’ production team never submitted documentation for the incentives, according to state officials. The project, originally called “Atlantis,” filmed scenes in Richmond and at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. But the project was canceled during post-production, Variety reported in February.
CONGRESS
McClellan: GOP tax cuts would be on ‘backs of millions of Americans’
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) warned during an appearance on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” that the tax cuts that have been floated in GOP budget proposals would hurt “millions of Americans” who rely on Medicaid and food stamps. “This budget is going to make the tax cuts permanent on the backs of millions of Americans losing their health care and millions of Americans losing access to SNAP benefits,” McClellan told host Chris Stirewalt on Sunday.
With Gaza facing starvation, Virginia Sens. Warner and Kaine press for U.S. action
With Gaza on the brink of famine, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, D-Va., are backing a renewed Senate push calling on President Donald Trump’s administration to take urgent diplomatic action to deliver food and emergency aid to civilians trapped in the war-torn enclave. The two lawmakers joined 27 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution urging the administration to mobilize all available diplomatic tools to break the Israeli blockade that has prevented lifesaving assistance from reaching Palestinian civilians.
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
Data Centers’ Hunger for Energy Could Raise All Electric Bills
Individuals and small business have been paying more for power in recent years, and their electricity rates may climb higher still. That’s because the cost of the power plants, transmission lines and other equipment that utilities need to serve data centers, factories and other large users of electricity is likely to be spread to everybody who uses electricity, according to a new report. The report by Wood MacKenzie, an energy research firm, examined 20 large power users. In almost all of those cases, the firm found, the money that large energy users paid to electric utilities would not be enough to cover the cost of the equipment needed to serve them. The rest of the costs would be borne by other utility customers or the utility itself.
Dominion’s power line plan for data centers sparks opposition
Chris Colvin spent two years fighting a data center proposed near her family’s historic farm in Fauquier County. Now, she’s having nightmares about another threat to their land: Dominion Energy’s new, high-power transmission line needed to feed data centers outside the county. Since learning Dominion is considering a route alongside the rear of their 268-year-old farm — about “20 yards from where I put my head on my pillow,” she says — she’s woken her husband with shouts of “No! Stop! Help!” “My husband and I founded Protect Catlett two years ago and now it’s become extremely personal,” Colvin said of the group that stopped a planned data center in Catlett last year.
Northern Virginia residents protest Dominion Energy’s transmission line
Residents of western Prince William gathered Thursday alongside lawmakers outside Patriot High School to protest Dominion Energy’s pending Morrisville–Wishing Star 500 kV and 230 kV transmission line as the utility provider simultaneously held a community meeting inside the Nokesville school. The Coalition to Protect Prince William County hosted the event, where around 35 residents were joined by state and local elected officials. Dominion’s proposed 36.5-mile transmission line would begin in southern Fauquier County and run through Prince William and Loudoun counties.
Logistics company laying off more than 50 people at Richmond warehouse
A logistics company is cutting dozens of jobs at one of its two local warehouses. Saddle Creek Logistics Services is planning to lay off 54 employees at its facility at 4701 Commerce Road, according to state records. The Florida-based firm, which offers fulfillment, warehousing and transportation services, operates two local sites – one is the 460,000-square-foot warehouse on Commerce Road in South Richmond and the other is a 43,000-square-foot facility at 540 HP Way in Chester.
Logistics firm to lay off 54 in Richmond as shipping slows
A Florida-based trucking and logistics company plans to lay off 54 employees at its facility in South Richmond, as freight shipping worldwide slows down because of uncertainty over tariffs and the economy. Saddle Creek Logistics Services notified Virginia workforce officials this week that it will lay off employees at its facility on Commerce Road in July, with no plans to bring them back.
Fort Eustis is set to lose a major command as part of an Army shakeup
The headquarters for the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is expected to leave Fort Eustis as part of a large reorganization. The command has been headquartered at Fort Eustis since 2011. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George recently told the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee that the headquarters at Fort Eustis will be combined with Army Futures Command in Austin, Tx. to form the new Army Transformation and Training Command.
Fort Eustis’ Army training headquarters to relocate to Texas
The Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters is set to move to Austin, Texas, after more than a decade at Fort Eustis. The plan is part of a larger reorganization effort by the Defense Department which will see several bases around the country consolidate and combine with the Army Transformation Command — which was created during the first Trump administration and operates in Austin — to create a new Army Transformation and Training Command. . . . Roughly 10,000-13,000 soldiers and civilians live on the Army base. It remains unclear how many soldiers will leave under the transformation plan.
HIGHER EDUCATION
UVa professor defends academic freedom amid Trump attacks at Final Exercises
As nearly 8,000 soon-to-be graduates sat on the University of Virginia Lawn Saturday thinking of their futures, they were asked to consider the past. UVa English professor Michael Suarez delivered an impassioned keynote address Saturday hearkening to the university’s founding 206 years ago and its place in the future of an American republic on the precipice of its 250th birthday next year. . . . “Our ability to pursue the truth and communicate it freely is a national asset,” said Suarez. “The American university must compromise neither its moral provision nor its vision.” Suarez’s words come at a time when many in American academia feel as though they have been asked to compromise their values.
VIRGINIA OTHER
Va. sees nation’s second-largest drop in overdose deaths
Virginia had the second-largest drop in overdose deaths in the country last year, according to preliminary CDC data released last week. For over a decade, fatal drug overdoses have been the leading cause of unnatural deaths statewide. And Richmond has consistently had one of the highest overdose death rates in the state. But for the past few years, Virginia's fatal drug overdose rates have fallen faster than the U.S. average. Over 1,500 Virginians died from drug overdoses in 2024, per CDC estimates. That's a nearly 39% drop from 2023. The only state with a greater decline in overdose deaths was West Virginia (-44%).
LOCAL
Richmond’s new top watchdog has ‘deep concerns’ about predecessor’s firing, email shows
Richmond’s interim inspector general says he has “deep concerns” about the firing of the city’s former top watchdog, Jim Osuna, according to correspondence obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In a Tuesday email sent to 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell, interim Inspector General Foster Curtiss wrote that he and Osuna “shared a vision about what this office should be.” “I believe we may be headed in a different direction after his departure,” Curtiss wrote in the message to Trammell. “My overarching concern is for the employees of the OIG who are demoralized.”
Richmond real estate tax bills were sent to residents with mortgages; city is working on next steps
The city of Richmond sent real estate tax bills to "several thousand" homeowners with mortgages, even though those bills are traditionally paid by the lending company, officials announced Saturday. The Richmonder contacted the city on Friday night regarding the issue, and on Saturday morning, Mayor Danny Avula posted a message to social media. "I am now aware that this is a system error in terms of getting the right data into the right place," he said.
Read the texts: Richmond mayor found out about city’s fluoride discharge from Henrico county manager
Staff at Richmond’s water treatment plant never informed their boss, Department of Public Utilities Director Scott Morris, that excess fluoride had been discharged into the region’s drinking water on April 23, text and email correspondence between officials shows. Instead, Morris found out about the incident four days later from the Virginia Department of Health. And Morris didn’t notify Mayor Danny Avula, the correspondence shows. Avula found out when Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas sent him a frustrated text message regarding the situation — to which Avula replied that he had not even heard about it.
Hopewell city attorney on assault claim: Not his job to ‘get crossways’ with councilors
Hopewell’s city attorney says it is not his place “to get crossways” with anyone on City Council because they are all his clients, but he added that he plans to answer a charge of assault being brought against him by a councilor following a brief confrontation at a contentious meeting [last] week. In a telephone interview May 16 with The Progress-Index, Anthony Bessette said it was “on video and in clear view of the public” what transpired at the May 13 meeting between him and Ward 7 Councilor Dominic Holloway.
Hampton to consider banning camping on public property
Hampton is considering a ban on camping and storage on public property, a move that would allow the city to remove and clear homeless encampments. But city officials say the proposal is not specifically directed toward people experiencing homelessness. Senior Deputy City Attorney Brandi Law presented a proposed ordinance change during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, which would bar anyone from camping, sleeping or storing items on public property.
‘We are not broke’: Mount Jackson officials push back on financial concerns amid deficits
Facing questions from concerned residents, Mount Jackson officials defended the town’s financial position Monday night, insisting that despite back-to-back budget deficits and a shrinking reserve fund the town remains in good fiscal health. Mount Jackson’s general fund reserve balance is projected to drop from $2 million to $1.3 million by the end of fiscal year 2025 after covering an unexpected $700,000 shortfall. Another $737,000 gap looms for fiscal year 2026.
Charlottesville names new city attorney — a year after the last one was put on leave
Charlottesville is set to once again have a city attorney after a little more than a year of the office sitting empty — a vacancy that has been shrouded in mystery. Jacob Stroman, the former city attorney was placed on leave in April of last year after an undisclosed complaint was lodged against him. Although an investigation into the matter cleared him of wrongdoing, Stroman nevertheless decided to retire in September.
Harrisonburg declares state of emergency amid water issues
Harrisonburg has declared a state of emergency after heavy rains stirred up sediment in the city’s water supply, leading to decreased output from the city’s water treatment plant and lower water supply. In a unanimous vote during a specially called meeting on Friday, the council voted to declare a state of emergency. City manager Ande Banks said that although Rockingham County was helping to supply the city with its own water supply, the county would no longer be able to assist.
Today's Sponsor:
Chris Bridge
In honor of Jeff Schapiro, newly retired columnist extraordinaire and translator of Virginia politics for nearly 40 years.
EDITORIALS
New mayor, same old City Hall? A little patience, RVA
Don’t give up on RVA — not yet. Granted, this new administration isn’t making things any easier. Mayor Danny Avula’s first budget was a bungled mess, and despite the managerial acumen, his political instincts are clearly lacking (seriously, who sends their highest-paid employees to argue for pay raises?). . . . Toss in the sudden dismissal of the very person hired to root out that fraud, waste and abuse — James Osuna, the now-former inspector general whom City Council dismissed Monday with no explanation — and it’s tempting to unfurl those little white flags. But not yet. Give this City Hall, and Avula, a little more time.
Virginia investment accelerator provides clarity in an uncertain climate
Even as the Trump administration’s schizophrenic tariff policies roil markets and put pressure on American businesses and consumers, concern about their potential effects on the Port of Virginia appear muted. Port officials recently downplayed fears that higher levies on imports, especially from China, will affect the volume of goods processed there. That’s good news for Virginia and Hampton Roads, though still hardly an ideal scenario. The tariffs continue to put commonwealth businesses, both small and large, in peril, and will needlessly inflict pain on consumers — meaning Virginia families — for as long as they are in effect.
COLUMNISTS
Yancey: How Spain’s electrical blackout could factor into Virginia elections this fall
At 12:33 p.m. on April 28, something happened in Spain that you’ll likely hear about in Virginia this fall. The electric grid across Spain — and then Portugal and a small part of France — suddenly shut down. The details of what happened are not in dispute: Some strange oscillations in the power grid began at 12:03 p.m., went away, then came back, then went away again. At 12:32:57, to be precise, the power supply suddenly started dropping. Just 27 seconds later, at 12:33:24, the grid collapsed and two counties (and part of a third) were blacked out. It took until 4 p.m. before power was restored.
Williams: The J6 shame to fame tour – next stop, Monument Avenue?
Given historical precedent, it’s not beyond the realm that a monument to the Jan. 6 insurrectionists would be built near the White House in the former Black Lives Matter Plaza. The individuals who sought to overturn a presidential election are on a journey from ignominy to unearned redemption since President Donald Trump returned to power and gifted them with a mass pardon. The headline of a recent story in The Washington Post says it all: “They stormed the Capitol. Now they’re selling merch.”
OP-ED
McClellan: Let me tell you what the Republican budget means for Virginia
Tuesday afternoon, I walked into a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting to address federal funding for health care, energy, the environment and communications agencies and programs. More than 26 hours later, committee Republicans voted for a bill the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed will kick millions of Americans off their health insurance. This bill puts Medicaid at risk for hundreds of thousands of Virginians and raises health care costs for the rest of us. Meanwhile, House Republicans on the Agriculture Committee voted to strip food assistance away from millions of children and families to pay for House Ways and Means Republicans’ tax cuts for the wealthy just a few doors down.
Petrine and Pace: What’s driving Virginia’s economy? It’s the talent.
Graduation season is upon us as carloads of family and friends made their way on Interstate 81 to Blacksburg and Radford to cheer on a new generation. They’re celebrating a milestone as thousands of Virginia students prepare to step into the workforce full of potential to shape their communities. Because they are products of Virginia’s higher education system, their chances of success are greater than their counterparts in other states.
Kelly: Safe kids equal strong families
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. Virginia is fortunate to have a vast community of advocates, child welfare workers, foster youth and families who keep foster care front of mind every day. Each year, 2,200 children enter foster care in Virginia, and around 5,400 kids are in foster care on any given day. Children who are removed from their homes, primarily due to abuse or neglect, often tell trusted adults about the confusion that occurs, waking up disoriented the next morning to deal with the mistakes and choices that others made.