Today's Sponsor:
The Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges (CARC)
CARC’s board would like to welcome long-time Virginia education champion Peter Blake, who started May 1 as our Interim President. Learn more about CARC: https://commonwealthalliance.org
Protesters call for VCU president’s resignation, condemn police response to demonstrations
Pro-Palestine protest organizers gathered on the lawn outside the James Branch Cabell Library at Virginia Commonwealth University on Thursday afternoon and called for university President Michael Rao’s resignation or removal on the heels of Monday’s violent showdown between police and demonstrators. The clashes, which came after protesters set up an encampment on the lawn outside the library, resulted in 13 arrests and numerous reported injuries to both police and protesters.
As early voting begins in Virginia, the key races to watch
On May 3, Virginia voters can begin in-person early voting for the June primary elections, where two open congressional seats in the northern part of the state have fueled competitive nomination contests while Rep. Bob Good (R) is facing a heated challenge in his Charlottesville-area district. Both Democratic Reps. Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger have said they do not plan to seek reelection, making their Northern Virginia seats more vulnerable in November contests that are likely to attract large influxes of cash from both major political parties. Statewide, Democrats hope to pick up a few seats after redistricting made some Republican seats more vulnerable.
Metro, Council of Governments create regional task force to begin discussions on funding solutions
Setting up Metro with dedicated funding has been discussed for decades in the region but still hasn’t come to fruition. Now, WMATA and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments hope a regional task force can finally bring about an agreeable plan of action. … According to COG, in addition to solutions for funding Metro, a new group will look at how all regional transportation agencies work together and are governed. DMV Moves is a 20-member task force that will be made up of local and state leaders from D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Friday Read Centuries ago, Black freedmen found refuge harvesting oysters. A descendant carries on their legacy.
On a warm spring morning, Mary Hill is on a boat working her oyster grounds just north of the Crittenden Bridge in Chuckatuck Creek. “I’ve got about 500 acres out here,” she says, pointing to markers dotting the creek, which feeds into the Nansemond River. Thousands of oysters in buckets already line the boat’s perimeter while Hill and two colleagues lower a dredge into the water. The metal cage scrapes the bottom of the oyster beds. The crew raise it up, dump the bounty and start sifting through oyster shells, tossing small ones back into the water to replenish the reefs. To Hill, these mornings out on the water are more than just a job. It’s her family legacy.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Virginia Guard, Finland in formal partnership
The connection was forged nearly 25 years ago when soldiers from the Virginia National Guard‘s 29th Infantry Division served alongside soldiers from Finland on a peacekeeping rotation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Now, Virginia’s Guard is the official state partner of Finland’s Defense Forces. Gov. Glenn Youngkin made it formal during a visit to Helsinki on his four-nation trade mission, signing a partnership agreement with Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen.
Youngkin announces formal relationship between Virginia National Guard, Finland
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who is currently traveling through Europe on an international trade mission, has announced a formal relationship between the Virginia National Guard (VNG) and Finland. According to Youngkin’s office, the Virginia National Guard was selected as the U.S. partner to Finland as part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. Youngkin took part in an official state partnership signing ceremony at the Finnish Ministry of Defense in Helsinki to commemorate the relationship.
Virginia attorney general joins efforts to fight back against Title IX changes
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined a multi-state effort to stop new Title IX rules from going into effect. The list of new rules designed to protect victims of campus sexual assaults and the rights of LGBTQ+ students has come under attack by Republican attorneys general in several states. Miyares called the changes a “dangerous overhaul” of Title IX, and said the new rules would negatively impact students, families and schools in the commonwealth. The ruling also comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration overhauled the commonwealth’s transgender student policies.
STATE ELECTIONS
Hashmi enters lieutenant governor contest as ‘progressive champion’
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, formally entered the Democratic nomination contest for lieutenant governor on Thursday, calling herself a “progressive champion.” The 2025 Democratic contest already features four candidates — Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney; Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach; Dr. Babur Lateef, an eye surgeon and chairman of the Prince William County School Board; and Hashmi.
FEDERAL ELECTIONS
Three Democrats seeking 5th District nomination agree to agree in campaign forum
Three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination in the June 18 primary elections in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District to take on Rep. Bob Good, R-Campbell County, the incumbent, who faces his own primary challenge by state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland. The three Democratic candidates, Paul Riley, Gary Terry, and Gloria Witt, met at a candidate forum in Danville on Thursday evening to discuss their backgrounds and legislative priorities and generally agreed on the issues. They also talked about how they’d run in November against a GOP candidate in a heavily Republican district.
STATE GOVERNMENT
Lower fuel prices mean a break for Dominion customers
Dominion Energy‘s monthly bills are headed lower — about 3% for a benchmark residential customer bill — as prices of the fuel it burns to spin its electricity generators declines. The electric monopoly is asking the State Corporation Commission to approve a drop in its pass-along for fuel costs, with that savings partly offset by an increase to cover higher costs for its transmission lines.
Funding from the Virginia Lottery a drop in the bucket for school divisions
As funding troubles put some schools in our region on the chopping block, some may wonder why lottery funds aren’t coming to the rescue. After all, since the year 2000, all lottery profits have gone to education by law. The big jackpots bring in big money for the Virginia lottery, with dreamers hoping to cash in on prizes like April’s $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot.
CONGRESS
Kiggans backs bill to extend affordable internet; Dems say she’s tardy
As a federal program that offsets internet costs to families in need has expired, Congress is seeking both short- and long-term solutions. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, signed onto a bill to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program on Wednesday, months after its introduction and as the program expired. The timing prompted a rebuke from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
ECONOMY/BUSINESS
Conservative groups challenge wind farm project; Dominion says it’s still on track
Three groups that are challenging Biden administration energy policy as climate change alarmism want to block work on Dominion Energy’s offshore wind project. The groups — Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, The Heartland Institute and National Legal and Policy Center — say the Biden administration’s push to develop wind farms threatens the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
Dominion responds to lawsuit over environmental concerns of offshore wind project
In the past few months, multiple whales, including a right whale who had recently given birth, died along the Virginia coast, causing some groups to question the advancement of wind energy off the coast. Three public interest groups, as well as two individuals, filed a lawsuit against Dominion Energy and the Biden administration, [hoping] to delay the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial (CVOW) project.
Luna claws back cash, benefits from former CEO Graeff
Luna Innovations declared this week that its former president and CEO, Scott Graeff, engaged in prohibited conduct in connection with a series of incorrect financial statements — triggering a claw back of severance and stock benefits payable to Graeff for his assisting the company after his March 24 retirement, according to the company. A personnel shakeup continued as Luna leadership also fired Chief Technology Officer Brian Soller for cause Friday … The disclosures appeared in a late Wednesday afternoon filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and triggered a temporary plunge in company stock to near $2 a share.
Luna Innovations considers options including sale or merger as it reports latest executive turnover
Luna Innovations Inc., a publicly traded Roanoke-based technology company, will consider a sale or merger among its options going forward, in the wake of financial reporting irregularities that led to the resignations of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, and the firing of its chief technology officer. The company announced on Wednesday that it has found that former CEO Scott Graeff, who resigned in late March, had engaged in conduct that constituted “cause” under his contract, so Luna will cancel his severance payments and take back stock from him.
Workforce and child development hub on track to open in Abingdon this summer
Travis Staton donned a hard hat Thursday and proudly showed off some of the features — from exploration labs to a cafe — of the first-of-its-kind Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub taking shape in Abingdon. Construction of the $25.5 million project started last July, and it is on schedule and about 85% complete, according to Staton, who is president and CEO of EO, formerly the program arm of United Way of Southwest Virginia.
TRANSPORTATION
These are the people who will decide Metro’s future
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) have created a task force charged with developing a unified vision for the region’s transportation system and coming up with a sustainable funding model for Metro that is palatable to political leaders in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The task force, dubbed DMV Moves, was unveiled in D.C. Wednesday at the first-ever joint board meeting of two organizations. The 20-person task force will be made up primarily of political leaders across D.C., Virginia and Maryland appointed by the Council of Governments as well as four representatives appointed by Metro.
Crisis averted, fares hiked: What Metro’s new budget means for riders
After months of financial challenges and threats to shutter rail stations and bus lines, Metro has a new budget that avoids catastrophic service cuts. But it still comes at a cost to riders. The transit agency’s board passed a $4.8 billion budget last week for the coming fiscal year that will maintain rail and bus service levels but raise fares by 12.5 percent.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Virginia Tech protesters call for charges, disciplinary action to be dropped
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested decried Virginia Tech’s move to clear their encampment and urged the school to drop all legal charges and threats of disciplinary action against those who participated during a news conference Thursday. It was held on the Graduate Life Center lawn – where the encampment was located. Desiree Poets, an assistant professor of political science at Virginia Tech who was arrested on Sunday, said: “We, the faculty of Virginia Tech, demand from Virginia Tech, that they drop all charges against the peaceful protesters arrested on April 28 and 29. We additionally demand that they reinstate and that they protect students’ and faculty’s right to assembly, free speech, and protest moving forward.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Virginia Tech challenge university’s account of events
Students and faculty held a press conference at Virginia Tech on Thursday evening to challenge the university’s account of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was dismantled late Sunday night, resulting in 82 trespassing arrests. After the encampment was broken down by Virginia Tech police late Sunday night with assistance from Virginia State Police and local police departments, the university has continued to suppress student-led protests by “heavily policing, intimidating, and threatening retaliation against its own students and faculty who want to continue exercising their constitutional rights,” said Desiree Poets, an assistant professor in the political science department at Virginia Tech.
Police raze pro-Palestine encampment at VCU; students outraged
Pro-Palestine VCU students protested what they called the ongoing genocide in Gaza on Monday, April 29, by building an encampment on campus. The protest began with song and dance and ended with pepper spray, smoke bombs and 13 arrests by police. The incident comes amid a wave of pro-Palestinian protests and consequential arrests on college campuses across the country. In Virginia, at least 94 protesters in total have been arrested at Virginia Tech and the University of Mary Washington over the last week. Students started peaceful protests at the University of Virginia and Christopher Newport University on Tuesday, April 30, and at James Madison University on Wednesday, May 1, according to reports by multiple Virginia newspapers.
UVa student protest diminishes in size as it enters third day
A student-led protest at the University of Virginia remained peaceful but had noticeably diminished in size as it entered its third day Thursday. UVa’s demonstration stands in stark contrast to how larger anti-Israel protests have unfolded across the country and the commonwealth. As of Thursday evening, there were roughly 40 protesters on UVa Grounds, mostly concentrated near the chapel adjacent to the university’s landmark Rotunda.
LOCAL
Rural Loudoun Residents Hear Opposition Strategies to NextEra Power Line
Nearly 200 residents filled the banquet hall at the Lovettsville Fire and Rescue Station Wednesday night for a meeting hosted by the Lovettsville chapter of the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance about the proposed transmission line by NextEra Energy expected to cut through the western part of the county to Leesburg. The meeting was led by Alliance member Mary Terpak and included presentations by Piedmont Environmental Council Senior Land Use Planner Tia Earman, Waterford Foundation President Sue Manch and Scenic Loudoun Legal Defense representative Tom Donahue.
Hanover officials discuss major solar farm development
Hanover County is in the early stages of reviewing what would be the largest solar development to come to Hanover’s Beaverdam District since the county adopted a broadened solar policy. The project was submitted by North Carolina-based Strata Clean Energy LLC, who has constructed 12 solar projects in Virginia. To date, Hanover has only approved four solar projects in the county. Strata aims to rezone around 1,477 acres of privately-owned land adjacent to the North Anna River in order to build a solar farm capable of producing 72-megawatts worth of electricity; enough to power around 18,000 homes.
Investigation into missing PTA funds leads to Staunton School Board chair resigning position
Natasha McCurdy has resigned as chair of the Staunton School Board, effective April 30. The board held a called meeting Wednesday and unanimously accepted McCurdy's resignation. The vote was 4-0. McCurdy wasn't in attendance. ... As reported by The News Leader on April 19, McCurdy and her twin sister, Felecia Neil, are both under investigation after money reportedly went missing from the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at Staunton's A.R. Ware Elementary School.
Bedford County School Board cuts damages sought in lawsuit against parent to $1
The Bedford County School Board has reduced the price tag on its lawsuit against a parent from $600,000 to just $1. The school board sued David Rife for damages of $600,000 in late March, alleging he used crude language and threatened police and legal action during repeated calls to the school district about his son. Rife’s son, who attends Staunton River High School, is on an individualized education program for a learning disability, but Rife has claimed repeatedly over the course of several years that his son wasn’t receiving the services outlined in his plan.
After suing parent for $600K, Bedford School Board reduces case to $1
The Bedford County School Board is deescalating its efforts to sue a parent with a history of hostile interactions with school staffers about accommodations for his special needs son. But an attorney for the father involved blasted the statement the board issued this week and suggested the case may not be over yet. The board announced Wednesday that its earlier request for at least $600,000 in damages has been reduced to just $1 after the parent, David Rife, agreed to new ground rules on how he and school personnel would communicate.
Today's Sponsor:
The Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges (CARC)
CARC’s board would like to welcome long-time Virginia education champion Peter Blake, who started May 1 as our Interim President. Learn more about CARC: https://commonwealthalliance.org
COLUMNISTS
Yancey: Cumberland County teacher is a model for how he’s led students to research state’s history
In March 2023, a historical marker was unveiled at Roanoke College. The subject matter was unusual enough: It recognized Kim Kyusik, a leader in the Korean independence movement, who had been a student at the Salem school in the early 1900s. At a time when segregation was the order of the day in Virginia, Roanoke College had made a concerted effort to recruit students from Korea. Between 1894 and 1930, some 30 Korean students matriculated at Roanoke College. Research by Roanoke College professors Whitney Leeson and Stella Xu suggests that Roanoke College at the time had more Korean students than any other college in the United States.
OP-ED
Lerch: Va. counties step up to meet solar energy demand
There’s been considerable discussion recently regarding county review and approval of utility-scale solar projects. We would like to provide some context to this important conversation on behalf of Virginia counties. Members of the Virginia Association of Counties are accommodating this emerging and intensive land use in a responsible and inclusive manner. Over the past decade, Virginia local governments have approved 260 projects totaling 11,640 megawatts in capacity generation. That’s 69 counties, eight cities and six towns that have said yes to utility-scale solar ...
Adkins: 250 years later, Native Americans have a chance to reclaim the narrative
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is a momentous occasion for the United States. It’s a time to celebrate the ideals enshrined in that document — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, for the Chickahominy people and other Native American tribes, this anniversary carries a more complex weight. The declaration, for all its eloquence, wasn’t written with us in mind. It spoke of freedom from tyranny, a right blatantly denied to my ancestors through broken treaties and forced removal from our lands.