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After Feds Warn UVa. It Is Moving Too Slowly, Board Quickly Rescinds Diversity Goal
Four years ago, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors endorsed a call to double the number of underrepresented faculty by 2030 and to develop a plan for building a student population that better reflected the state’s racial and socioeconomic diversity. The university’s president, James E. Ryan, said the move signaled that “becoming a more diverse, equitable place is both the right and the smart thing to do.” On Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to rescind any such numerical goals as part of a sweeping effort to wipe out evidence of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The Trump administration had warned university officials, only the day before, that it had received complaints that the university wasn’t acting fast enough to carry through on its promise to “dismantle DEI apparatuses.”
In the World’s Data Center Hotbed, How Close Is Too Close, and Who Should Pay?
Tyler Ray and his husband were drawn to their community, Bren Pointe, by the amenities that make Fairfax County such a desirable place to live in the Washington, D.C., suburbs of Northern Virginia. It’s close to shopping, dining and entertainment in Old Town and not far from Reagan National Airport. Soon, though, the neighborhood could be home to a warehouse-like data center at 500 Centre Plaza, a five-acre substation 60 feet from Bren Pointe’s boundary on the other side of Turkeycock Run. The State Corporation Commission, which regulates Virginia’s utilities, is reviewing the transmission project in Ray’s Alexandria neighborhood. The state’s legislative research arm, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, says the line is “too close” to residents.
More than 400 attend defense manufacturing summit in Danville
There is a shortage of workers and manufacturers in the naval shipbuilding industry, so providing support for it is paramount, according to organizers of a three-day summit held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville this week. “This summit brings together industry, government, academia to acknowledge the challenge that we have ahead of us in terms of supporting shipbuilding in this country,” Telly Tucker, president of the Institute, said during an interview at the summit Tuesday morning.
West Virginia moves to complete Corridor H to state border; Virginia plans for impacts
A half-century-old highway battle is resurfacing at the West Virginia–Virginia border, as the Mountain State moves to extend Corridor H to the state line, creating pressure for Virginia to respond. Local officials, conservationists and residents are warning that a major influx of truck traffic, environmental damage and potential economic disruption could follow — even if Virginia refuses to extend the highway.
Reid rallies supporters amid controversy, calls for GOP unity
In a scene reminiscent of Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 gubernatorial campaign, Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid addressed hundreds of supporters in Western Henrico on Wednesday night, delivering a defiant, high-energy speech as he faces a swirl of controversy. Reid, the first openly gay statewide candidate in Virginia history, stood before a cheering crowd at Atlas 42 just days after being accused of operating a Tumblr account that shared nude images of men — an allegation that has roiled Republican politics across the commonwealth.
Virginia Beach, a planned offshore wind energy hub, hosts international conference
Offshore wind professionals from across the world have gathered in Virginia Beach to discuss the current status of the renewable power industry. As part of the 2025 International Partnering Forum, or IPF, the conference brings together developers, elected leaders, public utility officials and others in the offshore wind supply chain for a week of panel discussions. On Tuesday, Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer welcomed guests to the city, which hosts the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project about 27 miles away from the beach.
‘Lagging’ forecast for Virginia’s economy as feds point to shrinking GDP
More economic data from the federal government and local economists indicates Virginia may be part of a slowing economy. The US Commerce Department said on Wednesday in an advance estimate that the gross domestic product decreased by 0.3%, mostly driven by an increase in imports and a decrease in government spending. The numbers are for the national economy at large and not Virginia specifically, which has recently seen mixed economic indicators. But the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center said earlier this week in a forecast that it saw the commonwealth’s economy “lagging” in 2025.
Henrico EDA sues GreenCity developers amid debt dispute
Recent legal filings from the would-be arena operator for the stalled GreenCity development in Henrico have thrown a wrench into the agreed-to transfer of the project site, prompting a lawsuit from the county’s Economic Development Authority against the project’s former developers. The EDA on Tuesday filed a lawsuit asking a Henrico Circuit judge to force the developers, Green City Partners, to convey back to the authority the former Best Products property at Interstate 95 and Parham Road, as the parties had reportedly agreed to do through a repurchase option in their development agreement.
Richmond mayor slashes city credit card use after scandals
Mayor Avula announced Wednesday that he's cracking down on how government employees use city-issued credit cards following some questionable purchases. Avula has previously acknowledged wanting to rebuild the fractured public trust in City Hall, which has stemmed partly from how taxpayer dollars are spent. In a release, Avula said the number of city-issued credit cards (known as p-cards) will drop from 320 to about 60 by next Friday. The only allowable purchases, per Avula, are those needed for public health and safety reasons.
Chesley: Meals on Wheels in Virginia doesn’t deserve federal funding uncertainty
Some sad – and also hopeful – truths emerge every time Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver nutritious food to disabled residents and senior citizens around Virginia, as my wife and I have done in Chesapeake over the past two years. The national program is now under a pointless attack in Washington, putting thousands in the commonwealth at risk of missing the meals and social connections they rely on. Plenty of Meals on Wheels recipients have so many mobility and other health-related problems that just reaching the front door is a hurdle. A sizable number would strain or exhaust their budgets without the sustenance from these low-cost or free meals.