News
Biden admin withdraws trans student athlete proposal as Virginia continues Title IX challenge
The U.S. Department of Education on Dec. 20 signaled it would withdraw a proposed rule that would have set a regulatory standard for how schools limit or ban transgender students from competing in sports aligned with their gender identity. As President Joe Biden’s administration backtracks its efforts to maintain some protections for transgender students due […]
Va. Beach condo sale botched by discrimination drives nationwide campaign and more state headlines
• “Virginia gets ‘D’ grade in protecting families from debt collectors, nonprofit says.”—WRIC • “ODU’s State of the Commonwealth Report reveals good news about Virginia’s economy.”—WAVY • “Winter weather advisory in effect; icy Christmas Eve possible across Northern Virginia.”—InsideNoVa • “Racial housing discrimination over Virginia Beach condo sale focus of new $1.3 million nationwide education […]
‘Substantial evidence’ Gaetz paid for sex with minor, U.S. House Committee says
President-elect Donald Trump’s first choice for attorney general in his second presidency, former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, paid for sex, including with a minor, used illegal drugs and sought to obstruct investigators, according to a U.S. House Committee on Ethics report released Monday. The 42-page report, the culmination of a years-long committee investigation, found that Gaetz, […]
Natural gas projects accelerate as Virginia’s energy needs soar
Virginia’s booming data center industry is driving unprecedented energy demands, straining the state’s natural gas infrastructure and prompting calls for new pipelines. A Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) report warns that expanding pipeline capacity may be necessary to meet the surge, bringing with it additional logistical and environmental challenges. Some efforts to expand […]
Intruding owl perches atop Virginia family’s Christmas tree and more state headlines
• “Virginia lawmakers react after congress passes legislation to keep government funded.”—WSET • “Arlington resident announces bid for Virginia lieutenant governor.”—ARLnow • “Richmond woman falls victim to bitcoin scam, loses more than $30,000.”—WTVR • “Three Black men were lynched. A rural Virginia county has cleared their names.”—Washington Post • “Owl I want for Christmas: Intruding […]
U.S. House at the last minute passes bill to avert government shutdown; Senate next
WASHINGTON — Congress finally approved a stopgap spending bill early Saturday that will keep the government open for a few more months, after a raucous 48 hours that served as a preview of what President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in office might look like. The short-term spending package, the third version of a bill to be […]
Richmond janitors file federal complaints alleging discrimination and retaliation
Two Richmond janitors have filed federal complaints against Nu-Tech Janitorial Services, accusing the company of disability discrimination and retaliation linked to their union activity. Clarissa McGhee, a janitor at the Marshall Plaza municipal building, says she intermittently uses a cane due to arthritis but has never let it interfere with her work — until she […]
Virginia lawmakers renew push for legal cannabis marketplace
Virginia lawmakers are preparing to reintroduce bipartisan legislation aimed at creating a regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis marketplace in the state. The renewed push comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a similar proposal earlier this year. Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, are once again spearheading the effort, planning to bring […]
FOIA Friday: Tony Bennett FOIA delay sparks transparency concerns at UVa
One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in […]
Virginia State Police issue statement about drones and more headlines
• “Virginia State Police issue statement about drones.” — WDBJ • “Potential threat against Virginia State University prompts increased police presence.” — WRIC • “Virginia’s largest high school cancels 2 days of classes after fights.” — abc News • “Stafford supervisors meeting yields apologies, questions.” — FXBG Advance • “County leaders add data center policy […]
Youngkin reintroduces proposal to end state-funded abortions for fetal anomalies
For the third consecutive year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed budget includes language seeking to eliminate state-funded abortions for severe fetal anomalies. Virginia law currently allows state insurance to cover abortions if a physician certifies that a fetus would be born with a “gross and totally incapacitating physical deformity or with a gross and totally incapacitating […]
States to lose out on billions if GOP spurns disaster aid in spending bill, Dems say
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats released details early Thursday on how much federal disaster aid each state would lose if Republicans drop it from a stopgap spending bill that’s been rejected by their own members as well as President-elect Donald Trump. The state-by-state breakdown of roughly $100 billion came just hours after Trump and many of […]