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Virginia Mercury
Costs for electricity during extreme weather rising; Dominion says nothing to worry about — yet
The regional electric grid that supplies power to Virginia during times of extreme weather announced a 1,400% increase in some electric costs after its most recent capacity auction. But Dominion officials were quick to assure customers that they would not see an increase in their bills before the end of next year. PJM Interconnection, which […]
Hopewell High football player dies at practice and more Virginia headlines
• “Hopewell High football player dies in practice; community extends support.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch • “Challenger in Lynchburg GOP primary drops lawsuit contesting results.” — Cardinal News • “Colonial Williamsburg shines a light on Black history.” — Atlanta Journal Constitution • “Fairfax schools to lock cellphones away in pouches on some campuses.” — Washington Post […]
On anniversary of Voting Rights Act, McClellan, advocates caution against rollbacks
Two years ago, the late Lois Dedeaux McClellan voted for her daughter Jennifer to become the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, but there had been a period in her 91 years of life when the law prevented her from voting at all. Though the suffrage movement granted white women the right to […]
U.S. unemployment rises as the Fed holds tight on key interest rates
The unemployment rate climbed to 4.3% in July, up 0.2% from June, the Friday employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows, alarming some economists who believe the Federal Reserve has waited too long to cut interest rates. The economy added 114,000 jobs and the number of people who were on temporary layoff rose by 249,000. […]
Virginia man charged with threatening Kamala Harris
A Virginia man is being prosecuted in federal court after he allegedly made a series of online posts threatening to kill or harm Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia announced Monday. Frank Carillo, a 66-year-old from Winchester, was arrested last week at his home after authorities said […]
Riggleman backs Harris for president and more Virginia headlines
• “Ex-GOP congressman Riggleman endorses Harris, rips Trump’s ‘thirst for power.'”— Washington Post • “Virginia won’t be participating in IRS Direct File program, Youngkin says.”— WRIC • “Hearings for decertifying law enforcement will no longer be public in Va.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch • “Battery plant backed by $100 million federal grant no longer planned for Lynchburg.”— […]
It’s a boon to military families, but how much does tuition benefit program cost Va. colleges?
While it has served thousands of military families, the cost of operating the Virginia Military Survivors and Education Program has grown, from about $19 million annually in 2019 to over $65 million in 2023, according to recent data provided by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Data is still being collected for VMSDEP […]
Mississippi ruling reflects Virginia’s history of felon voter disenfranchisement
Republican officials in Virginia and nationwide – recognizing the ongoing shift in racial demographics across America – surely would overhaul their messaging, I reasoned, to become more welcoming toward African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and others. The GOP would favor increasing voter registration totals, I thought. It would work diligently to persuade more folks to […]
Federal government pays $2 billion for farmer discrimination; Va. farmers net $28 million
Tens of thousands of farmers or would-be farmers who say they suffered discrimination when they applied for assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will get one-time payments that total about $2 billion from the federal government. The agency said 408 farmers in Virginia will receive a total of $28,451,840. “While this financial assistance is […]
FOIA Friday: Norfolk withholding juvenile victims’ records ‘runs afoul’ of FOIA law
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’s school bus driver vacancy rate improves
Virginia’s school bus driver vacancy rate has decreased by five percent over the past three school years, according to the Virginia Department of Education. After the legislature amended its reporting requirements, the agency started collecting bus driver vacancy data two years ago. Factors like pay and recruitment challenges, and drivers leaving for the private sector, […]
McGuire defeats Good in 5th Congressional District primary recount and more Virginia headlines
• “Trump-backed Virginia state Sen. John McGuire defeats US Rep. Bob Good in GOP primary recount.”—Associated Press •“State resumes control of last privately run prison.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch •“Landlord accused of racial threats, stealing identities pleads guilty to 4 counts in wide-ranging case.”— Virginian-Pilot •“Judge pushes conservative radio personality Joe Thomas off morning airwaves.”— Daily Progress […]
Virginia ER data points to shift in tobacco use
Emergency room visits in Virginia by people who reported vaping more than doubled between 2020 and 2023, according to a data analysis released this week by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. In 2020, there were 23,630 emergency room visits by patients who vaped, according to the organization. By 2023, that number had risen to […]
Federal government awards $150 million to reduce emissions in Virginia
Virginia is the recipient of two federal grants to capture climate changing emissions, one focused on methane and another on promoting natural solutions to capture carbon. The funds, about $150 million, are from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act. “Investments such as this are paramount […]
New roller coaster coming to Kings Dominion and more Virginia headlines
• “N.Va. housing costs drive exodus to Richmond area, out of state.”— Richmond Times-Dispatch • “Fairfax to nullify votes, redo public hearings after error over notices.”— Washington Post • “Boar’s Head expands recall to include 7 million more pounds of deli meats ties to listeria outbreak.”— Associated Press • “World’s ‘tallest and longest’ launched winged coaster […]
What should Virginia’s FOIA council prioritize? Depends who you ask.
At a meeting of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act Advisory Council last month, the panel’s chairman held a brainstorming session on pressing FOIA issues. Two dramatically different viewpoints emerged in the responses, highlighting the challenges of changing Virginia’s spotty transparency laws to better balance the public’s right to know with governments’ ability to function. […]
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