Category: The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Virginia earned a B in a new financial report, though its main government operations recorded a $472 million annual deficit. Truth in Accounting ranked Virginia 12th nationally in its Financial State of the States report. The nonprofit found Virginia had $22.4 billion more in available assets than needed to cover its…

(The Center Square) – Richmond could replace its Flock license plate cameras with another vendor and plans to continue using gunshot detection technology. The mayor’s office outlined those plans in a Wednesday response to The Center Square, following Tuesday’s briefing on the city’s decision not to renew its Flock license plate reader contract. The contract…

(The Center Square) – A new poll shows a close race in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, with cost of living topping voters’ concerns. Democratic former Rep. Elaine Luria received 46% support to Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans’ 43% in the Christopher Newport University Wason Center survey released Wednesday. The difference falls within the poll’s +/- 4%…

(The Center Square) – Gaps in statewide guidance and training for state employees using artificial intelligence increase the risk of exposing sensitive information, a Virginia legislative review found. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission presented its findings Tuesday. The report recommended clearer rules, annual employee training and oversight based on the risks of each…

(The Center Square) – Southwest and southern Virginia receive more general fund spending per dollar paid in state taxes than northern Virginia and the Richmond region, a legislative report found. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission presented the findings Tuesday in a new analysis included in its annual state spending report. The analysis examined…

(The Center Square) – With Election Day three weeks away, Virginia’s attorney general’s office has created a section to investigate voter intimidation, improper registration removals and other barriers to voting. Attorney General Jay Jones announced the Voter Protection Section on Tuesday. It will enforce existing election laws and review proposed election changes that could affect…

(The Center Square) – A Virginia hearing examiner has restricted access to a disputed NextEra Energy memorandum as regulators review the company’s proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy. State Corporation Commission Chief Hearing Examiner D. Mathias Roussy Jr. ruled Thursday that parties covered by confidentiality agreements may review the document in person at the companies’ attorneys’…

(The Center Square) – Richmond will not renew its contract for Flock Safety license plate cameras. Mayor Danny Avula announced the decision Saturday, following Henrico County’s move to end its agreement over privacy concerns. Richmond’s contract expires June 30. Avula said Henrico’s departure makes Flock less useful for Richmond police because part of the technology’s…

(The Center Square) – A Virginia legislative commission backed proposed protections for artificial intelligence chatbot users Thursday. The Joint Commission on Technology and Science accepted recommendations organized around six policy principles to guide legislation in the next General Assembly session. The proposals include parental controls, reminders to take breaks and protocols for responding to people…

(The Center Square) – Stafford County supervisors on Thursday approved a two-building data center campus and electrical substation on separate 4-3 votes, allowing reduced setbacks from residential property lines. The decision allows Falmouth Tech LLC to move forward with the Accokeek Center project on about 121 acres between Interstate 95 and Richmond Highway in the…