Category: The Center Square
Virginia lawmakers question utility merger review clock
(The Center Square) – Virginia regulators could reject the pending merger application of NextEra and Dominion, requiring the companies to refile and restart the state’s six-month review clock, a state senator suggested Tuesday. Sen. Creigh Deeds raised the possibility during an Energy Commission of Virginia meeting examining whether the commonwealth’s utility merger law gives regulators…
DOJ reviews College of William & Mary for Title VI violations
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a compliance review of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., over its scholarship and student benefits racial criteria and whether it violates Title VI under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,…
Virginia orders statewide emergency readiness overhaul
(The Center Square) – Virginia agencies responsible for public safety, emergency management and critical infrastructure will coordinate under a new statewide preparedness framework announced Tuesday. First-year Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 19 establishing the Commonwealth Unified Readiness Framework, which is intended to bring emergency planning, communications, training and response efforts under a more…
Spanberger formally enters Dominion-NextEra merger case
(The Center Square) – Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has formally entered the state case reviewing the proposed $67 billion merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. Spanberger and Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond filed a notice of participation Monday with the State Corporation Commission, following through on the governor’s earlier announcement that she would seek…
Youngkin-backed group launches ad campaign for federal school choice program
(The Center Square) – A new organization founded by a former Republican governor and potential 2028 presidential candidate has launched an ad campaign that is urging Pennsylvania to opt into a federal school choice program. Empowering America’s Parents, created by former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, is a national policy advocacy organization promoting the Education Freedom…
DOT says it’s entitled to CDL information as 22 states sue
(The Center Square) – Twenty-two states have gone to court to block the Trump administration from accessing a database containing the personal information of roughly 17 million commercial drivers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the federal government is entitled to that data and needs it to keep the highways safe. This is the latest in…
Downey joins race for Virginia Senate seat
(The Center Square) – Two Democrats are now seeking the nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Danny Diggs in Virginia’s 24th Senate District next year. Del. Mark Downey announced his campaign Thursday, joining Jason Parker in the race. Diggs is seeking reelection to a second term. The district includes York County, Williamsburg and Poquoson, along with…
Firefighters’ union censures Virginia governor
(The Center Square) – A national firefighters union has censured Virginia’s governor over her veto of legislation that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for public employees. Delegates to the International Association of Fire Fighters voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the censure during the union’s convention in Arlington, Texas. The resolution was submitted by the…
Three amendments head to Virginia voters this fall
(The Center Square) – Virginia voters will decide three proposed changes to the state Constitution this fall. The questions deal with reproductive freedom, marriage and voting rights for people convicted of felonies. All three will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. The General Assembly approved each amendment in two consecutive sessions, as required before a…
Dominion fuel case puts focus on customer bills
(The Center Square) – A typical Dominion Energy residential customer is already paying about $8 more per month for fuel, and another roughly $13 could be added depending on how Virginia regulators decide the utility should recover deferred fuel costs. The State Corporation Commission spent two days considering Dominion’s fuel costs and how the company…
