Author: By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
Virginia diesel climbs to record $6.35 a gallon
(The Center Square) – Virginia’s record-setting diesel prices increased to $6.35 a gallon Friday. The overnight rise was 4 cents. A week ago, it was $5.99; one month ago was $5.50; and a year ago it was $3.60. The increases are 6% in a week, 15.5% in a month, and 76.4% in a year. Friday’s…
Virginia confronts $1.7 billion shortfall in highway maintenance funding
Virginia faces a funding gap of at least $1.7 billion for highway maintenance work, with roads falling into disrepair creating an economic and safety liability that could affect future construction projects across the commonwealth, state transportation department staff reported this week. Over the past 20 years, Virginia’s bridge inventory has
Trump admin aims to shift homelessness grants toward addiction treatment, enforcement
In its latest effort to overhaul federal homelessness funding, the Trump administration is proposing to provide more money to localities that prioritize treatment-first policies such as sober living, more cooperation with law enforcement and more temporary and transitional housing. It’s a reversal from a decade-long federal approach known as Housing
Early voting begins in Virginia, as Trump mail-ballot restrictions remain blocked
Early voting begins Friday across Virginia, kicking off more than six weeks of voting for the Nov. 3 midterms just days after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked new mail-ballot restrictions sought by President Donald Trump’s administration. Voters will choose a U.S. senator and representatives in all 11 of Virginia’s congressional
Virginia ranks 35th in Medicaid scorecard
(The Center Square) – Virginia ranks 35th in a new 50-state Medicaid scorecard ahead of federal work requirements and more frequent eligibility reviews beginning next year. The Heartland Institute gave Virginia 39 out of 100 points in its Medicaid Report Card, which evaluates states across 16 measures involving enrollment, spending, program integrity and the healthcare…
Virginia hay shortage reaches 500,000 tons
(The Center Square) – Virginia farmers are facing an estimated 500,000-ton hay shortage after prolonged drought cut statewide yields, leaving livestock producers searching for additional feed ahead of winter. First-year Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger declared an emergency Wednesday that will temporarily ease transportation restrictions on hay shipments beginning Oct. 1. The shortage is equal to…
Fed raises interest rates for first time in 3 years, battling persistent inflation
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as inflation continues to dog the economy, largely driven by soaring gas and fuel oil prices while the war in Iran drags on. The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee voted 12-0 to increase its
Chesapeake Bay ospreys see worst breeding season on record
Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay recorded their worst breeding season on record, according to the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary. The number of birds laying eggs has dropped 20% to 30%, a steeper decline than during the height of the DDT crisis in the 1970s and ‘80s,
Spanberger presents slate of data center regulation proposals, puts first directives in motion
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday unveiled a package of legislative proposals to rein in the data center industry in Virginia, with goals to tighten environmental regulations, increase cost allocation for the industry, and make the proposal process more transparent by barring non-disclosure agreements between localities and data center developers. The
New dashboard shows term limits on affordable status of properties around Virginia
A newly launched digital dashboard spotlights affordable housing properties whose affordability terms are set to expire, so that local governments can preserve them if they wish. Housing Forward Virginia, in partnership with Virginia Housing Alliance and Locus Impact, collaborated to craft the tool. The groups approached the state’s housing authority
