Commentary
Santa, maybe? Why we have different names for who ‘hurries down the chimney’ on Christmas
Everyone has heard of Santa Claus, that chubby, white-bearded, red-suited guy who delivers Christmas presents via a reindeer-powered sleigh. But have you never wondered how he became a man of so many names? From St. Nick to Santa to Kris Kringle, it’s a marvel that Rudolph isn’t completely confused about whom exactly he is working […]
We suspected data centers were creating an energy crisis for Virginia. Now it’s official.
It is a truth universally acknowledged: a politician in possession of elected office must be in want of large economic development projects. Such is the power of this compulsion that it is proof against all reason. Certainly, it has been proof against everything critics of the data center buildout have said so far: that Virginia […]
Trump’s plans pose dilemma for Virginia governor
Gov. Glenn Youngkin emerged from this fall’s campaign as one of Donald Trump’s most enthusiastic supporters. But the incoming president’s plans have the potential to create major challenges for Virginia’s present governor. Youngkin is pitching a tax cut, and cites a hefty state budgetary surplus as justification. But surpluses can evaporate in a Mar-a-Largo minute, and […]
Supporting a grieving loved one on holidays: Practical tips from a clinical psychologist
The holiday season, often considered a time of joy and togetherness, can also be one of the most challenging periods for those who are grieving a loss. Nearly 95% of people who have experienced loss report dealing with at least one symptom of physical or mental distress. Approximately 10% of them develop prolonged grief disorder, a persistent […]
A commonwealth — a country — losing its ability to talk, to understand, to reason
Oh, East is East, and West is West and ne’er the twain shall meet, Till Earth and sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat. —Rudyard Kipling, “The Ballad of East and West” When this century began a generation ago, did you […]
Vaccines protect your children and others, too
Parents in Virginia who don’t vaccinate their young children, a percentage that’s grown over the past decade, are making a risky bet with their kids’ health – and maybe even their lives. It’s a dangerous trend, perhaps attributable to the bleats of vaccine deniers who elevate misinformation, emotion and quackery over science. Some adults may […]
To protect Virginia clinics and patients, improve federal safety net program accountability
Families across the commonwealth need solutions that will meaningfully lower their health care costs. As a pediatric rheumatologist, I’ve witnessed families making hard choices when their prescriptions become too expensive. That’s why I find it incredibly upsetting when some Virginia hospitals and healthcare systems exploit and profit from federal programs intended to provide underserved patients […]
Data centers approved, solar farms rejected: What is going on in rural Virginia?
If Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Democratic leaders in the General Assembly are aligned on one thing, it’s their enthusiasm for bringing more data centers to the commonwealth. Where they part ways is in how to provide enough electricity to power them. Youngkin and most Republican legislators advocate for an “all of the above” approach […]
Data centers and Virginia’s special kind of denialism
The reelection of Donald Trump shows the continued prevalence of climate denialism, which involves a rejection of the scientific consensus that human activity is changing the climate. As in his first term, Trump will no doubt try to hold our country back in the race to slow climate change by phasing out fossil fuels. Unlike […]
An upward spiral – how small acts of kindness and connection really can change the world
Political chasms, wars, oppression … it’s easy to feel hopeless and helpless watching these dark forces play out. Could any of us ever really make a meaningful difference in the face of so much devastation? Given the scale of the world’s problems, it might feel like the small acts of human connection and solidarity that […]
For Trump, winning back the White House was ‘all about that base.’ It won’t win Virginia for him.
There was an interesting revelation in a recent panel discussion at the University of Richmond about the 2024 election where all of us outsiders learned – to varying levels of astonishment – that Donald Trump’s campaign had no interest in persuading undecideds. Mike Young, captain of Trump’s campaign in Virginia and North Carolina, came right […]
Under pressure from the SCC, Dominion reveals the true cost of data centers
Ever since data centers started spreading across the Virginia landscape like an invasive pest, one important question has remained unanswered: How much does the industry’s insatiable demand for energy impact other utility customers? Under pressure from the SCC, this month Dominion Energy Virginia finally provided the answer we feared: Ordinary Virginia customers are subsidizing Big […]