Author: By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
Virginia Attorney General creates unit to challenge federal actions
(The Center Square) – Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is creating a four-attorney unit dedicated to challenging actions by the Trump administration that his office says exceed federal authority or threaten the commonwealth’s interests. The Federal Accountability Unit will work across the Office of the Solicitor General and Civil Litigation Division and will be led…
Virginia SOL scores post slight gains
(The Center Square) – Virginia students posted slight gains in reading and math on Standards of Learning tests this year, while history improved more and some middle school math grades slipped. Statewide reading and math pass rates each increased 0.4 percentage points during the 2025-26 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education. The…
Apple Wallet adds driver’s licenses and IDs for Virginia residents
Virginians can now carry their state-issued driver’s license or identification card on their iPhone or Apple Watch, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday in Richmond. The update comes as Virginians increasingly turn to smart devices for everyday activities, including shopping and entertainment events. In 2017, state lawmakers tasked
New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power
PJM, the regional grid operator for most of the East Coast, is asking federal regulators to approve a rule requiring new large-load customers, namely data centers, to bring their own power supply to the grid. With Virginia among the 13 states served by PJM, the proposal filed with the Federal
In Virginia’s Navy country, the Iran war tests a GOP incumbent and more headlines
• “In a small Virginia town, distrust of Big Tech hampers Trump’s AI push.” — South China Morning Post • “In Virginia’s Navy country, the Iran war tests a GOP incumbent.” — The New York Times • “Virginia Beach Schools enters partnership with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to educators.” —
New challenges to Trump mail-in voting order arrive after US Supreme Court ruling
Democrat-led states and voting rights groups re-filed lawsuits Wednesday to block the Trump administration from executing a new regulation to restrict mail-in voting, while a federal judge lifted a nationwide pause on the policy in line with this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that handed the administration a procedural win.
Virginia localities rethink Flock camera use
(The Center Square) – Virginia localities are reconsidering automated license plate readers as communities weigh their crime-fighting benefits against concerns over privacy, data sharing and compliance with a new state law. Lynchburg last week temporarily shut off all 15 of its fixed Flock Safety cameras while the Police Department and city staff arrange an independent…
Cline, Macy dispute 6th Congressional District debate plans
(The Center Square) – Republican U.S. Rep. Ben Cline and Democratic challenger Beth Macy are publicly disputing plans for debates in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, leaving the candidates without an agreed-upon schedule ahead of the November election. Cline announced Monday that he accepted invitations to three events with Macy: Sept. 3 at West Oaks Farmers…
Virginia to receive $353 million in landmark Meta child-safety settlement
Virginia is set to receive at least $353 million from Meta Platforms Inc. under a major multistate settlement that would also require the parent company of Facebook and Instagram to adopt new safeguards aimed at protecting children from addictive features and harmful content. The agreement, announced Wednesday, could reach more
Former DOJ lawyer calls suit over mail-in ballots unnecessary
(The Center Square) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta co-led a lawsuit Wednesday to block a new federal rule governing mail-in ballots. But a former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer who’s now working at a think tank says the suit is unnecessary. Prompted by President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14399, the U.S. Postal Service rule…
