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By Jim Morrison | Virginia Mercury

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Monday unveiled a new initiative aimed at delivering critical national priority projects faster and cheaper. 

It’s a potential breakthrough for the Corps — which has long been accused of being slow to get projects off the ground and completed, causing skyrocketing costs — and could fast-track some of Virginia’s coastal resilience projects.

“The Army Civil Works’ ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative will enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver critical projects and programs for the nation more efficiently, sooner, and at less cost than the current ways of doing business,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam R. Telle in a press release. 

The plan’s initiatives include overhauling the regulatory process to eliminate delays in permitting projects; empowering commanders to “take informed risks” to advance key water resources programs so they can be completed faster and at less cost; and consolidating decision-making about some projects at the national level, not local districts. 

The plan also aims to contract out feasibility studies rather thad doing them in-house and to cancel contracts that are “not in the interest of the American taxpayer,” the release said, shifting resources to the most critical water projects. 

Army Corps’ projects have long experienced delays, cost overruns and, in many cases, planning and design that never led to construction. Critics of the Corps are skeptical about whether the changes can be made and whether the agency’s core mission to protect the environment will remain a priority.

Still, they agreed reforms are necessary to address the Corps’ logjam of projects that has persisted for decades. 

Overcoming a history of held-up projects, including in the commonwealth

In Congressional testimony last year, Telle said the Corps had $78 billion in projects authorized but not yet appropriated and about $44 billion that has been appropriated but not spent, including $12 billion that has been sitting idle for more than five years.

Threatened cities along the Atlantic Coast in recent years have seen their storm risk plans delayed after issues and challenges arose to their designs, which were completed only to 10%. 

The new initiative seeks to make the analysis of a project proportional to its scope and cost, calls for flexibility in making changes, and appears to back more complete designs before projects are authorized.

One of the held-up projects is the $2.66 billion Norfolk Coastal Storm Risk Management plan, the largest infrastructure in the city’s history with nine miles of floodwall. It’s now projected for completion in 2037, five years after originally scheduled. The cost likely will skyrocket when a new estimate is released. 

The Norfolk plan is just one of several billion-dollar storm risk projects in major cities including Miami, New York, and Charleston that have endured delays or pauses.

During testimony Tuesday before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Telle described visiting a California dam project where a local official said he hoped his grandchildren would benefit. 

“He had a realistic perspective on our program, which is it takes generations, quite often, to deliver,” Telle said. “It was a sad moment for me, because we’ve almost conditioned our stakeholders out in the field to think that our work is going to take generations, and it shouldn’t be that way.”

That, he said, was the impetus behind the initiative. 

“We need to empower commanders to determine what is their priority, and then hold them accountable from year to year about how they’re cutting red tape and delivering on those projects, whether it’s funding, but more importantly, process and effort, rather than expecting them to inch every project down the field one inch at a time,” he said. 

A spokesman for the Norfolk District office of the Corps said it was working to implement the initiatives “and ensure alignment with the President’s priorities.”

Feasibility studies for other storm risk plans in Virginia Beach and Newport News and Hampton are in the works; it’s unclear what effect the new initiative will have on those. 

 In response to questions about those projects, the Norfolk district spokesman said that “USACE will be focused on strategically allocating available resources to prioritize the most pressing infrastructure needs across the country.”

To academic and environmental  observers, the Corps’ initiative, while short on details, represents much needed-progress and reforms. But its language is worrying, some cautioned.

Rob Young, director of a program studying developed shorelines at Western Carolina University, was struck by the vagueness.

“There’s glittering language there about all the wonderful ways they’re going to streamline the way the Corps delivers projects. But, I mean, it’s pretty pie in the sky,” he said.

He also pointed out how often the new initiative states the goal is to meet the president’s priorities. Congress, he noted, authorizes civil works projects. 

“The legislative branch is supposed to be driving this bus,” he added. “I got the sense from reading that document that somehow they were going to constrain the Corps to focus on executive branch priorities, and I find that to be a little bit concerning.”

In October during the government shutdown, Russell Vought, the Trump administration’s budget chief, paused $11 billion in U.S. Army Corps water infrastructure, flood control, and environmental restoration projects for “lower priority projects” in cities including New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore — all Democratic strongholds.

Democratic senators protested after being told the Office of Management and Budget “indicates that projects will be paused in an effort to “reorient” how the federal government prioritizes Corps projects.”

Melissa Samet, the National Wildlife Federation’s senior water resources counsel who follows Corps policies, is worried that foundational environmental policy like the Clean Water Act may be pushed aside. 

“A lot of the provisions seem focused on beating stuff up without any backstop for making sure that what’s actually happening is the best project on the ground, using the best solutions. I think that is a huge problem,” she said. “And then, there’s what are the priorities?… Are you actually designing projects to protect the environment, as the Corps is supposed to do?”

William “Skip” Stiles, a longtime Congressional staffer who recently stepped back from heading Norfolk-based nonprofit Wetlands Watch, has similar concerns. 

“This attempt at reform is a blinking yellow light, because you wonder, what’s the real agenda here?” he asked. “Is it to speed the Corps up or is it to decimate the environmental review pieces of Corps projects?”

He noted that past reforms — like a post-Hurricane Sandy move to require feasibility studies of plans like  Norfolk’s to be completed in three years for $3 million — was a transparent process that included Congressional hearings and ran through the regulatory process. 

Conversely, the new initiative was announced without transparency about how it was developed. “What’s the real agenda here?” Stiles added.

That reform, requiring only three years for feasibility plans, proved impossible to meet in cities like Miami, New York, and Virginia Beach. In 2024, it expanded to four years and $5 million, but even that goal won’t be met in some cities. 

But “faster is not always better,” noted Samet. “There’s been clearly this focus on speed. But these are big complex projects, and big complex projects need to be properly planned, and if they’re not meaningfully planned and designed, you have no idea what the ultimate cost will be or what the implications of what you’re doing will be. Will it actually make people safe? They don’t know.”

Samet, Young, and Stiles said there are opportunities within the revamped guidelines. 

“Can they be more effective and efficient? Absolutely,” Samet said. “Is it a good thing to contract out on some of these more complex projects? Maybe so, and that could be a very good thing,” depending on who is doing the outside work, she said. 

They expressed concern that in the drive to move faster, environmental guardrails will be ignored. 

Dredging projects in Virginia, which include the James River, the Atlantic Ocean Channel off Virginia Beach, and the Nansemond River, were highlighted as an example of how the new policies will increase capacity. 

“To do so, USACE will work with Endangered Species Act resource agencies to significantly expand the seasonal windows for dredging within ports,” the release said.

Young said whether the initiatives will yield results depends on the details and public input. 

“We spend a huge amount of time on paperwork justifying projects that we know people want to get done,” Young added. “There absolutely is room for reforming this process if it could be done in an organized way with lots of good input from communities and engineers and scientists and geologists and the environmental community.”

Transparency is key, Stiles said, adding that   the new policies reflect Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts. 

“This is probably also a consequence of Trump having decimated the ranks of the Corps of Engineers,” he said. “There just aren’t enough people left to do the work.”

The Norfolk District did not respond directly to a question about staffing, but a spokesman emailed that the Corps’ work has expanded beyond its initial mission. By refocusing on core mission areas, reducing, or eliminating projects, and eliminating red tape, he said, the agency will return to delivering projects faster and cheaper. 

“Now more than ever, the nation needs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deliver – for resilient infrastructure, and for the economic vitality that depends on reliable navigation, flood risk management and efficient permitting,” said Col. Sonny Avichal, Norfolk District commander, in a press release.

By Jacob Fischler | Virginia Mercury

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will transfer a large office building to the General Services Administration in a step toward shrinking the department’s footprint in and around Washington, D.C., Secretary Brooke Rollins said Wednesday.

More than 70% of offices at the USDA’s South Building, in Washington, sit empty on any given day, while deferred maintenance costs have piled up past $1 billion, Rollins said at a press conference in front of the building.

“Behind me, along this entire city block in bricks and mortar, is what government that has grown too big, too bloated and too disconnected from its citizens looks like,” Rollins said. “That all changes starting today, because today we are officially starting the process of turning the South Building back over to the General Services Administration.”

The department will also vacate leased space at an office in Alexandria, Virginia, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden said.

The moves are part of a plan the department outlined in July 2025 to shift its workers out of the capital region, reducing the workforce in D.C., Maryland and Virginia from 4,600 to around 2,000 while expanding regional hubs throughout the country.

Rollins said Wednesday the move was the “next step to right-size our federal real estate footprint to root out waste, fraud and abuse.”

Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican who has long advocated for shrinking the federal government, applauded the move and urged department officials to consider her state as a target for relocation.

“Let’s just keep on draining the swamp, and, Secretary Rollins, moving our federal workers closer to the people that they represent,” Ernst said. “And I would say that the great state of Iowa is a good place to start.”

Workforce to relocate

Workers in the department’s Food and Nutrition Service who currently report to the Virginia office will relocate to Washington, D.C., Vaden said. 

The broader reorganization would ramp up over the summer, allowing employees with school-aged children to finish the academic year in the capital area and complete their relocation in time for the next school year, he said.

That will require a series of steps required by laws, regulations and union contracts, Vaden said. 

The July plan said the effort to spread the USDA workforce out from D.C. would take years. It included expanded regional offices in Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City.

The department would also maintain administrative support locations in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Minneapolis and agency service centers in St. Louis; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Missoula, Montana, according to a July 24 memo.

South Building future unclear

GSA Administrator Edward Forst said the move represented “a very preliminary stage” and declined to provide a timeline for the transfer to be complete.

“I don’t want to commit to a time frame other than I have two years and 10 months left in this job,” he said. “And we’re going to get a lot done in that time frame.”

Vaden said the USDA reorganization would be complete by the end of 2026.

Forst said USDA’s transfer of the South Building triggered a long and comprehensive process to find a new use. The agency would consult with stakeholders, including the private sector, and that the district’s prosperity was among its priorities. 

“We’re committed to economic prosperity for D.C.,” he said. “That’s one of our initiatives. We also talk to the private sector and others about the best case use and how we also deliver the best results for the American taxpayer. So it is a long, it’s a comprehensive process. We want to be good listeners, and then we’ll execute on this.”

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A Virginia homicide suspect remains held without bond in Fairfax County as federal immigration officials and state leaders debate how immigration detainers should be handled in a county that has faced prior scrutiny over similar cases.

Abdul Jalloh, 32, was charged Wednesday of last week with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a Hybla Valley bus stop, according to Fairfax County Police. Detectives identified Jalloh through surveillance footage and interviews.

He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed it lodged an immigration detainer against Jalloh the same day as the arrest. The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office told The Center Square it has received what it described as “an informal request” from ICE in the case.

An immigration detainer asks a local jail to notify federal authorities before releasing an individual and to hold the person briefly so ICE can assume custody.

In a Saturday release, the Department of Homeland Security said Jalloh is illegally in the country and has more than 30 prior arrests. The agency also said ICE previously lodged a detainer in 2020 and that he was granted a final order of removal.

“We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE,” Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in the release.

In response, a spokeswoman for Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a first-term Democrat who took office Jan. 17, said violent criminals in the United States illegally “should be deported by immigration enforcement,” but added that Homeland Security should obtain a signed judicial warrant.

“As a former federal law enforcement officer who conducted joint search and arrest warrants alongside state and local officers, Governor Spanberger firmly believes that violent criminals who are in the United States illegally should be deported by immigration enforcement,” the statement said. “DHS should request a signed judicial warrant to ensure this violent criminal is deported.”

In an emailed response to The Center Square, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office said ICE has been notified of Jalloh’s location at the Adult Detention Center and would be able to act on its detainer if and when he is ordered released. In Virginia, sheriffs are independently elected and are not under the governor’s authority.

Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office was the subject of a preliminary investigative report issued in 2025 after then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked then-Attorney General Jason Miyares to review what the administration described as a “pattern of failure” to prioritize protecting victims and law-abiding citizens.

The report examined charging and plea practices, including in cases involving noncitizen defendants.

Descano’s office disputed aspects of the report at the time. In this case, Chief of Staff Laura Birnbaum told The Center Square prosecutors secured Jalloh’s 2023 malicious wounding conviction and have sought to hold him accountable in subsequent proceedings.

Birnbaum said that in other prior malicious wounding cases, prosecutors were unable to move forward because victim participation is required and did not occur in some instances. She said some of those cases were nolle pross’d, a legal term in Latin meaning the charges were dropped but could be refiled if circumstances change.

She added that immigration detainers and physical custody decisions are “the purview of the Sheriff’s Office.”

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office states in a July 25, 2024, policy statement that it will not detain an individual based solely on an ICE detainer and requires a judicial warrant authorizing custody.

The statement cites a Jan. 5, 2015, advisory opinion from the Virginia attorney general concluding that an ICE detainer is a request and does not create a legal obligation to hold an inmate beyond a scheduled release date.

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By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Senators in Virginia, majority Democrats, are seeking annual pay of $50,000 for themselves and members of the House of Delegates in the budget negotiations as first-term Gov. Abigail Spanberger awaits a bill to sign.

For nearly 38 years, since 1988, the rate has been $18,000 for the upper chamber and $17,640 for the lower. That’s a 177.8% increase for senators, 183.4% for delegates.

Across many outlets, the new rate is framed as 300% of the original.

Bottom line in the budget is $2.9 million in general funds the second year to support the increase. And, the raises are dead if the House of Delegates does not amend its budget with the inclusion.

Virginia lawmakers are scheduled for 60 days in Richmond in the years when a biennial budget is due, 45 days in the other year. The per diem is $237 a day for each, along with mileage reimbursement, office, meeting and other expenses.

Spanberger and other Democrats waged campaigns last fall to secure their seats around the idea of affordability. Since taking office, however, household purchases, paychecks, transportation costs and everyday services have been subject of impact from by a broad slate of tax increase proposals.

Virginia’s Senate Minority Caucus, speaking on the raises, said in part, “The affordability hoax just gets worse and worse.”

For context, state lawmaker pay varies as significantly as the length of sessions. New York ($142,000 plus), California ($114,000 plus) and Pennsylvania ($90,000 plus) are full-time, positions – meaning, they’re in session about all 12 months. Part-time states like South Carolina ($10,400 plus), Nebraska ($12,000 plus) and North Carolina ($13,951 plus) have much shorter annual schedules.

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By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Two Senate-approved artificial intelligence bills were delayed Monday by a committee in the Virginia House of Delegates after members raised concerns that advancing new state regulations could affect federal broadband funding.

The House Communications, Technology and Innovation Committee voted to carry Senate Bill 796 and Senate Bill 269 over to the 2027 session.

Before discussion, the committee adopted a substitute to SB796. The changes were made at the request of the attorney general’s office to align the bill’s investigative authority with existing processes under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act. The substitute also replaced the word “solely” with “primarily” to address concerns from businesses that feared their AI-assisted services could be inadvertently swept into the measure.

SB796, sponsored by Sen. Tara Durant, R-Stafford, would create the Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act. The measure applies to chatbot operators with at least 500,000 monthly active users worldwide and excludes internal workplace tools, clinician-supervised systems and customer service platforms.

The bill would require companies to implement safeguards when users show signs of emotional dependence or suicidal ideation, provide crisis resources and, when practicable, attempt to notify emergency services within 24 hours if a user appears to face imminent harm. Operators would also be required to report deaths, suicide attempts or psychiatric emergencies to the attorney general within 15 days.

Violations could carry civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation, and harmed users or parents could bring civil actions. Chatbots would also be required to disclose that they are not human and provide periodic notices during extended engagement.

Durant said the bill was prompted by incidents involving teenagers and AI companion platforms.

“And I don’t think that our children, these teenagers particularly that are vulnerable, can wait,” she said.

During committee discussion, members referenced a December executive order directing federal agencies to review and potentially challenge state AI laws deemed inconsistent with federal policy. The order also allows broadband funding eligibility under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program to be conditioned on states not enforcing certain AI regulations.

Del. Michelle Maldonado, D-Manassas, called it “the chilling effect of the AI executive order on state actions.” She said the bills fall within carve-outs listed in the order, including child safety protections, but warned that other states have faced federal scrutiny even when acting within those exceptions.

Maldonado said lawmakers are being placed in an untenable position, weighing broadband connectivity against efforts to safeguard data privacy.

The committee voted to carry SB796 to 2027 and refer it to the Joint Commission on Technology and Science for further study.

Senate Bill 269, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, would allow licensed mental health providers to use AI to assist in therapy with patient consent while prohibiting AI from independently diagnosing or treating patients.

That bill was carried over without extended discussion after the chairman noted it was cognate to a House bill introduced by Maldonado.

According to fiscal impact statements, SB796 could require hiring one assistant attorney general at an estimated annual cost of $135,766 beginning in fiscal year 2027. SB269 was projected to have minimal absorbable impact.

The carryover delays further consideration of both bills until the 2027 session.

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By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Virginia lawmakers on Sunday unveiled competing budget proposals, with the Senate calling for an end to the state’s sales tax exemption for data center equipment.

The plans, released during the General Assembly’s traditional “Budget Sunday,” highlight differences between the House and Senate on taxes, education, reserves and how the Commonwealth treats its rapidly growing data center industry.

One of the most significant differences involves sales tax exemption for data center equipment.

Because Virginia hosts one of the world’s largest data center markets, changes to the exemption carry significant revenue implications.

Under the Senate proposal, that exemption would expire Jan. 1, 2027. Once the tax break ends, data centers would begin paying sales tax on computer hardware and software purchases.

That shift is projected to generate $317.1 million in new general fund revenue in fiscal year 2027 and $778.2 million in fiscal year 2028.

The jump between years is largely a timing issue. Because the exemption would end midway through fiscal year 2027, the state would only collect sales tax for part of that year. Fiscal year 2028 would mark the first full year of collections.

The House budget takes a different path, relying on revenue growth, balances and other adjustments without tying major spending changes directly to the exemption’s expiration.

Education spending represents another major focus in both proposals.

The House plan includes $1.7 billion in new elementary and secondary education spending. That package features $400.4 million in one-time flexible payments for school divisions, $382.9 million for two 2% compensation increases, and $137.6 million to expand child care subsidy slots.

The Senate proposal emphasizes salary-driven funding adjustments, allocating $190.8 million in fiscal year 2027 and $385.3 million in fiscal year 2028 to support 3% salary increases for funded instructional and support positions.

Senators also link an additional $161.4 million in school funding to projected revenue from the data center exemption ending, reducing the local share of certain K-12 costs.

Higher education funding priorities also differ between the chambers.

The Senate amendments set aside $100 million over the biennium to help institutions limit tuition increases, along with $50 million for undergraduate need-based financial aid. The House budget directs $276.2 million toward affordability, workforce initiatives and institution-specific programs.

Budget negotiators will now work to reconcile differences between the two plans. A final budget must pass both chambers before heading to the governor for consideration.

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By Kacy Lee | Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — Lawmakers want to strengthen internet safety education in public schools with the addition of artificial intelligence risk management. 

Del. Alex Askew, D-Virginia Beach, introduced House Bill 171, which would update the current internet use policy to include instruction on online scams, misinformation and content generated by artificial intelligence.

Current policy restricts the distribution or viewing of illegal content online and broadly requires the inclusion of “a component on Internet safety for students that is integrated in a division’s instructional program.”

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 30 in 2024, which included guidelines for AI integration in education, to equip students with the skills needed to harness AI responsibly and effectively. 

Askew stated that while the current Virginia law covers basic requirements for instruction on internet safety in Virginia schools, students frequently encounter AI scams and cyberbullying incidents. 

“With these emerging threats, we need to continue to teach our kids to be safe online from harm and the more specific these algorithms get, the more potential harm they can face,” Askew said. 

Representatives from the Virginia PTA and the Virginia Education Association testified in support of the bill at the K-12 subcommittee meeting. They emphasized the importance of staying informed about online threats targeted at students.

VEA lobbyist Meg Gruber, the organization’s former president, spoke to the importance of the bill ensuring students are able to recognize AI-generated content, and discouraging extended use of AI in academic settings. 

“It’s getting to the point that unless you take the time to really do some deep dives, you can’t, no matter whether you trust the person who shared it or not, you can’t necessarily trust that it’s accurate, that it isn’t AI generated,” Gruber said. 

Gruber also said students often do not know how to tell if a video or clip is AI-generated, and need the education to help them differentiate between content.

Bill advocates are concerned with how the applications can affect adolescent mental development as they become more prevalent.

Meghan Puglia, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Virginia, said that an important part of a child’s learning process involves allowing them to “figure things out on their own.”

“We have to have a moderate amount of hardship and challenge to overcome in order to actually learn,” Puglia said. “So when AI takes that away, there’s a big concern for, you know, how does that impact cognitive development, learning, creativity, certainly.”

Puglia expressed support for educating students as early as possible about AI-generated content, noting that age-appropriate conversations regarding technology use are always helpful.

The measure passed in the House with bipartisan support and has since been referred to the Senate Education and Health Committee for further deliberation. 

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

By Stef Anderson | Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — House lawmakers advanced a bill to create a clear, statewide dress code for visitors to state correctional facilities, to help reduce confusion and denied visits.

Del. Holly Seibold, D-Fairfax County, introduced House Bill 296 because she said she noticed a decline in visits due to visitors being denied access over clothing. The intent of the bill is to create transparency and consistent guidelines for visitors so they have more time with their loved ones, the delegate said.

“Many people drive far to go see their loved ones in prison,” Seibold said. “They have children with them, so we want to do whatever we can to make sure that they have access to their loved one.”

Current Virginia Department of Corrections guidelines prohibit certain items, including wearable technology such as watches or Google smart glasses. Clothing must cover the neck to the kneecaps, according to the VDOC website. 

The bill requires the VDOC to establish an “objective dress code” and post the policy in the lobby of every state correctional facility and on its website.

VDOC’s new policy can set limitations on attire, undergarments, shoes, nail polish, makeup, jewelry or hair. Specifically, VDOC can limit colors or materials of attire, nail polish or makeup. It can state specific, measurable lengths on clothing and require certain body parts be covered, as well as prohibit specific types of jewelry, makeup or shoes. Religious dress that meets the code’s requirements cannot be prohibited.

The bill creates a process for visitation denial at the facility, which must be reviewed by an on site administrative duty officer and approved by a regional administrator or superior. VDOC will be required to submit an annual report to the General Assembly and the governor with information regarding the number of visitors denied entry and reason for denial. 

Nicole Deyo is CEO and executive director of Bending the Bars Foundation, an advocacy group involved in policy development and legislative recommendations for the incarcerated.

Deyo became involved in prison advocacy after her child’s father died from a fentanyl overdose six years ago at Lawrenceville Correctional Center. The facility was privately operated at the time, she said. 

Her family’s massive loss made her wonder what was happening within the prison.

“Specifically for him, because when he was out here on the street, he never had a substance abuse issue,” Deyo said. “So for his last chapter to end due to a fentanyl overdose, it really made me think: ‘How is this happening?’”

Visitors need a blueprint that creates consistency in the dress code, Deyo said. Shift and staff members may enforce dress in different ways, since there is not a specified code. Visitors have to be prepared that their outfit might be rejected by staff, according to Deyo.

“Seasoned individuals who have been dealing with visitation for a while, we usually come with two or three changes of clothes, which still, in itself, is very inconvenient because it takes away the potential time that you could be in there visiting with your loved one,” Deyo said. 

When contacted for comment about the impact of the bill, spokesperson Carla Miles said VDOC does not comment on pending legislation.

The bill passed the House with near unanimous support and was referred to the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services committee. 

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

By Elle Cota | Capital News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — A House bill is headed to the Senate that would create and require a $19 permit from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for hunters who use dogs. 

Del. Marty Martinez, D-Loudoun, introduced House Bill 1396, which would require individuals or organizations to obtain a permit to hunt game animals, fur-bearing animals or nuisance species, with dogs.

Hunting with dogs has deep roots in Virginia, but the practice has fueled decades of disputes over property rights between hunters and landowners. The state law permits hunters to enter private property, without weapons, for the limited purpose of retrieving hunting dogs. 

Beginning July 1, 2027, it would be unlawful to release a dog to hunt, pursue or chase any game animal, on any tract of land without the permit. 

The bill directs the DWR to establish procedures for issuing and renewing permits, set identification standards for hunting dogs, and outline enforcement, suspension and revocation guidelines. It also implements measures intended to prevent hunting dogs from entering private property without written or verbal permission.

HB 1396 has some exceptions. It does not apply to mounted fox hunting, which is done on horseback with dogs hunting waterfowl, migratory or upland game birds. People are allowed to use tracking dogs to recover wounded deer, bear or turkey. No permit is needed for dogs kept within a hunter’s immediate sight and control, or for hunting on public lands where it is allowed. 

“This bill, by no means, bans hunting,” said Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Chesapeake, co-patron of the bill. “It’s just putting guard rails on it.”

DWR will have a registry of hunters who use dogs while preserving their right to retrieve dogs or game, noting that firearms must be unloaded when doing so on another person’s property, according to Clark.

Lawmakers sought input from both hunters and landowners to address concerns while developing the bill, which Clark said resulted in “peace in the valley.” He said the bill regulates dog hunting practices, not firearms.

“We’re not in the business of trying to hurt the Second Amendment, but just making sure we do have responsible gun ownership and also protecting our land owners while also honoring the culture of dog hunting,” Clark said.

Supporters of HB 1396 urge lawmakers to support the bill, claiming the state needs stronger oversight. One supporter, Chris Patton, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, said a permit system is increasingly relevant.

“Last year there were 1,276 complaints in Virginia related to deer dog hunting,” Patton said in his testimony in the House Agriculture subcommittee. “That’s up 19% from the year before and every single year in the last 10 years, there’s been an increase in complaints.”

The department acknowledged the growing problem in 2016 and indicated Virginia would likely need a permit system similar to those used in other southeastern states within a decade, according to Patton. 

Opponents argue the bill ignores past recommendations and adds an unnecessary burden on hunters while failing to address rural concerns. 

“Yes, this issue’s been around a long time,” testified Kirby Birch of the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance. “It’s been studied, cussed and discussed. The reality of it is, if people don’t want to hear the solutions, if people don’t want to live with them, they’re going to continue to fight with us.”

A stakeholder advisory committee met for more than a week with representatives from local government and other organizations and developed recommendations to address conflicts. The group did not recommend a permit requirement, Birch said. Instead, members called for additional training and staffing for conservation police officers and increased funding for the DWR. 

DWR has a collection of studies on “hunting with hounds in Virginia” going back to 2008 on potential solutions to help resolve the ongoing conflicts. Lawmakers also have previously attempted to address the matter. In 2024, amendments to Senate Bill 30 directed the DWR to develop a free permit for hunting with dogs through the budget rather than amending the state code. The same year, Senate Bill 712 sought to penalize the release of hunting dogs on public roads but failed in the Senate. 

Under the current proposal, violations would carry a civil penalty up to $50 for a first offense, and between $100 and $250 for subsequent offenses within three years. Revenue from the fines would be deposited into the state’s Game Protection Fund. Repeat violations could result in permit suspension or revocation. 

The bill passed the House on a 55-39 vote, with a few Democrats voting against the measure and some not voting. 

Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Richard T. Robertson School of Communication. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.

By Markus Schmidt | Virginia Mercury

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, just weeks after being sworn in as the commonwealth’s 75th governor, delivered a sharp Democratic rebuttal Tuesday night to President Donald Trump’s 107-minute State of the Union address, accusing him of driving up the costs of housing, health care, energy and groceries, unleashing chaos in American communities and deepening instability abroad — all while enriching himself and his allies.

Speaking from Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, Spanberger in her 12-minute speech posed three questions to viewers across the nation.  

“Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the president working to keep Americans safe — both at home and abroad? Is the President working for you? We all know the answer is no,” she said.

Congressional Democrats announced Thursday that Spanberger, 46, would deliver the party’s response, elevating the first woman to serve as Virginia’s governor to a national stage heading into the midterm elections. 

She is the first Democratic Virginia governor to give the rebuttal since then-Gov. Tim Kaine in 2006. The following year, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb delivered the Democratic response to President George W. Bush’s address. In 2010, Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell gave the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union.

Trump touts strength; Spanberger cites rising costs 

The White House criticized Spanberger’s rebuttal in a prepared statement released Tuesday afternoon.

“Spanberger, like the rest of the radical left lunatics in her party, is fully against President Trump’s agenda of lowering costs, bringing back manufacturing, and securing our borders — instead favoring a return to the Biden-era carnage she was ‘proud’ to support,” the statement said. 

Trump, addressing a joint session of Congress for the second time since assuming office last year, declared the nation “strong,” highlighting job gains, rising incomes and a booming stock market even as many voters continue to express economic anxiety. 

He defended his administration’s record on border security and immigration, called for tighter voting rules and restrictions on mail-in ballots, and underscored efforts to curb federal spending. 

The president also introduced what he described as a “rate-payer protection plan” aimed at addressing rising electricity costs tied to data centers.

But Spanberger said the president’s economic message does not reflect what she heard from Virginians during her campaign.

“As I campaigned for governor last year, I traveled to every corner of Virginia, and I heard the same pressing concern everywhere: costs are too high,” she said. “In housing, healthcare, energy, and childcare. And I know these same conversations are being had all across this country.”

She argued that Trump’s trade policies have increased household expenses.

“Because since this president took office last year, his reckless trade policies have forced American families to pay more than $1,700 each in tariff costs,” she said. “Small businesses have suffered. Farmers have suffered, some losing entire markets. Everyday Americans are paying the price.”

Although the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs days ago, she added, “the damage to us, the American people, has already been done.”

And Republicans in Congress, she said, remain unwilling to assert their constitutional authority to stop the president. “They’re making your life harder. They’re making your life more expensive. They’re even making it more difficult to see a doctor.”

Spanberger pointed to what she called the consequences of the reconciliation bill that Congress passed last year.

“Rural health clinics in Virginia are already closing their doors thanks to the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ championed by the president and Republicans in Congress,” she said.

“And tonight, the president celebrated this law — the one threatening rural hospitals, stripping healthcare from millions of Americans, and driving up costs in energy and housing. All while cutting food programs for hungry kids.”

She then shifted to what she described as corruption at the highest levels of government.

“He’s enriching himself, his family, his friends. The scale of the corruption is unprecedented,” Spanberger said, citing “the cover-up of the Epstein files,” “the crypto scams,” “cozying up to foreign princes for airplanes and billionaires for ballrooms,” and “putting his name and face on buildings all over our nation’s capital.”

“This is not what our founders envisioned,” she said.

Governor argues Trump policies undermine safety

Drawing on her background as a former federal law enforcement and CIA case officer, Spanberger argued that the Trump administration’s actions have made Americans less safe.

“I began my career by following in my father’s footsteps as a federal agent working money laundering and narcotics cases. I worked side by side with local and state police to keep our communities safe and to uphold and enforce the law,” she said.

“And yet, our president has sent poorly trained federal agents into our cities, where they have arrested and detained American citizens and people who aspire to be Americans — and they have done it without a warrant,” she said.

Spanberger added that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “have ripped nursing mothers away from their babies, they have sent children — a little boy in a blue bunny hat — to far-off detention centers, and they have killed American citizens on our streets. And they have done it all with their faces masked from accountability.”

On foreign policy, the governor said Trump is weakening America’s standing in the world.

“As the president spoke of his perceived successes tonight, he continues to cede economic power and technological strength to China, bow down to a Russian dictator, and make plans for war with Iran,” she said.

“Here’s the truth: over the last year, through DOGE, mass firings, and the appointment of deeply unserious people to our nation’s most serious positions, our president has endangered the long and storied history of the United States of America being a force for good.”

In choosing Colonial Williamsburg as her backdrop, Spanberger invoked the site’s role in the nation’s founding. 

It was there in 1776 that delegates voted to instruct Virginia’s representatives to propose independence and later adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which helped shape the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Bill of Rights.

On Tuesday, Spanberger tied that legacy to civic engagement today.

“But here is the special thing about America: On our 250th anniversary, we know better than any nation what is possible when ordinary citizens — like those who once dreamed right here in this room — reject the unacceptable and demand more of their government,” she said.

“And Americans across the country are taking action. They are going to the ballot box to reject this chaos. With their votes, they are writing a new story. A more hopeful story.”

Spanberger closed by quoting George Washington’s warning about “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men” and urging Americans to unite “in ‘a common cause’ to move this nation forward.”

“Because ‘We the People’ have the power to make change, the power to stand up for what is right, and the power to demand more of our nation,” she said. 

Original post.

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center Square

(The Center Square) — The economy, immigration and patriotism took center stage Tuesday night as President Donald Trump delivered his second State of the Union Address of his second term.

Flanked by members of his cabinet, Supreme Court justices, military leaders and members of Congress, the president spoke for over an hour and a half.

Upon entering the chamber, the president was greeted with Republicans chanting, “USA, USA…”

“Our nation is back, bigger, better and richer and stronger than ever before,” Trump began his address, calling this time the “golden age of America.”

The president quickly compared the successes of his presidency to the Biden administration.

“Today, our border is secure, our spirit is restored. Inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast. The roaring economy is roaring like never before, and our enemies are scared. Our military and police are stacked, and America is respected again,” Trump said.

Trump touted his immigration policies, arguing the border is the “most secure border in American history.” In one year, illegal border crossings dropped by 96% at the southwest border, from the record highs during the Biden administration, The Center Square reported earlier Tuesday. 

The president also cited the decline in the murder rate, lower gas prices, lower inflation, and lower mortgage rates.

In addition, he credited his administration with creating thousands of new jobs, underscoring that most have been in the private sector.

“The state of our union is strong,” the president said.

Many in the chamber erupted in loud applause and chants of “USA, USA…” as the president introduced the U.S. Olympics men’s  hockey team that just won the gold medal.

The president credited his fellow Republicans in Congress for passing his “Big, Beautiful Bill,” while chastising Democrats for voting against the legislation that he credits for lowering taxes.

Among the economic incentives the president touted was the Trump Accounts set up for children.

In an uncomfortable moment, the president criticized some members of the U.S. Supreme Court that ruled Friday against his tariffs, vowing to continue to pursue them. 

Trump took aim at Democrats in the room for allowing open borders, higher inflation and skyrocketing health care costs.

The president countered by citing his plan to lower health care costs by promoting price transparency and reducing prescription drug costs.

Trump called on Congress to codify his favorite nation program into law to lower the cost of medication.

The president also announced that AI tech companies will be obligated to build their own power plants.

He also highlighted his recent executive order banning large Wall Street investment firms from buying single-family homes, while calling on Congress to codify his executive action.

In addition, he announced a plan to give the private sector access to similar retirement plans “offered to every federal worker,” adding that it will be matched by $1,000 in federal taxpayer dollars.

The president also urged Congress to pass legislation to stop insider trading, specifically calling out former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been accused of using her position to increase her family’s wealth through stock trading.

Trump pointed to allegations of fraud, spotlighting Minnesota, California, Massachusetts and Maine, announcing that Vice President JD Vance will lead the “war on fraud.”

The president called out Democrats for their open border policies, while highlighting angel families and victims of illegal immigration, “to remind everyone in this chamber exactly why we are deporting illegal alien criminals.”

Trump called out Democrats for cutting off funding for the Department of Homeland Security through the ongoing partial government shutdown. Democrats have blocked funding for the agency as they demand restrictions on enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The president demanded Democrats end “deadly sanctuary cities” while enacting “serious penalties for public officials who block the removal of criminal aliens.”

Trump then called on Congress to pass his SAVE America Act, which would secure voting by requiring voter ID. He noted New York City demanded identification for snow removers present ID to apply for jobs after the recent winter storm under self-declared socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

“Congress should unite and enact this common-sense country-saving legislation right now and it should be before anything else happens,” the president demanded.

Trump also highlighted Sage Blair, a Virginia student, who school officials “sought to socially transition her” without her parents’ consent or knowledge.

When Trump said that shoud never happen, Republicans stood up and cheered whilre Democrats remained seated and silent.

“Nobody stands up. These people are crazy,” Trump said, staring down the Democrat side of the aisle.

The president also criticized no cash bail policies, calling on Congress to pass “tough legislation to ensure that violent and dangerous repeat offenders are put behind bars.”

He touted his efforts to reduce crime in major cities, such as the District of Columbia, Memphis, and New Orleans.

The president also honored the two West Virginia Guardsmen shot blocks from the White House on the eve of Thanksgiving, including Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was killed. Trump introduced Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was also shot and seriously injured during the attack. Wolf was awarded the Purple Heart during the address.

In addition, Trump touched on his international accomplishments over the past year, ending several wars and conflicts, calling Secretary of State Marco Rubio one of the best secretaries in history.

Many Democrats managed to stand and applaud the president for working to bring home Israeli hostages.

Trump highlighted Operation Midnight Hammer, striking Iran’s nuclear program. He underscored the atrocities carried out by Iran as he is weighing another operation against the Islamic Republic. He warned that Iran has developed missiles “that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”

The president said he would prefer diplomacy, but “will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon.”

“I will never let the world’s number one sponsor of terror have a nuclear weapon,” the president vowed.

Trump shifted to his policies to prioritize dominance in the Western Hemisphere by targeting narco-terrorists and foreign interference, spotlighting the capture of former Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump used the address to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover for his heroic actions in Venezuela, and to 100-year-old Ret. Navy Captain Royce Williams, who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam – drawing massive applause from both Democrats and Republicans in the chamber.

The president concluded his address by highlighting the nation’s 250th birthday and its achievements since its birth.

“And these first 250 years were just the beginning, from the rugged border towns of Texas to the heartland villages of Michigan, from the sun-kissed shores of Florida to the endless fields of the Dakotas, and from the historic streets of Philadelphia to right here in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., the golden age of America is upon us. The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended. It still continues because the flame of liberty and inpendence still burns in the heart of every American patriot, and our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder and more glorious than ever before,” the president concluded.

Original post.

A domestic assault call on South Shenandoah Avenue in Front Royal escalated into an hours-long standoff Monday afternoon after a suspect armed himself with a knife, threatened officers and began setting objects on fire inside the residence.

Front Royal Police responded to the 100 block of South Shenandoah Avenue around 3:46 p.m. on February 23 and found an adult male victim inside with facial injuries. The victim was taken to Warren Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Drew Richard Winder of St. Louis, Missouri, fled to an upstairs bedroom where he armed himself with a knife and other objects, threatened to harm officers and barricaded himself inside. Police evacuated other occupants of the home as well as residents from neighboring properties.

Negotiators from the Front Royal Police Department and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office attempted to communicate with Winder, but he refused to cooperate. As specialized units continued trying to talk him out, Winder lit objects on fire and threw them down the stairwell toward officers. Personnel on scene quickly removed and extinguished the burning items.

After obtaining a search warrant and multiple arrest warrants, and following repeated unsuccessful attempts to get Winder to surrender voluntarily, officers deployed gas canisters into the residence. Winder exited seconds later and was taken into custody without injury.

He was transported to Warren Memorial Hospital for precautionary evaluation before being taken to RSW Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond. Charges include malicious wounding, four counts of threatening bodily harm to law enforcement, assault and battery on a law enforcement officer, and burning or destroying a dwelling.

The Front Royal Police Department credited the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Warren County Fire and Rescue for their assistance during the incident.

Information from a release.

A road rage confrontation at a busy Frederick County intersection turned violent last week when a 19-year-old West Virginia man fired multiple shots at another driver before fleeing north on Interstate 81, according to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident unfolded around 2:13 p.m. on February 20 near the intersection of Martinsburg Pike and Welltown Road, in front of a Wawa convenience store. Deputies say Elijah Stout-Griffin of Harpers Ferry exited his vehicle at a red light, approached the other driver’s car and brandished a firearm. When the victim attempted to drive away, he struck Stout-Griffin with his vehicle, knocking him to the ground. Stout-Griffin then fired several shots at the moving vehicle before getting up, returning to his brown Jeep SUV and fleeing northbound on I-81.

Frederick County deputies collected shell casings, obtained video from witnesses and nearby businesses and began searching the interstate and Route 11. They also alerted West Virginia authorities to be on the lookout for the armed suspect.

Shortly before 4 p.m., Berkeley County, W.Va. authorities located the suspect vehicle at an address in Bunker Hill. Working together, Frederick County and Berkeley County personnel took Stout-Griffin into custody at that location. The vehicle and the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting were also recovered.

Stout-Griffin faces felony charges of attempted aggravated malicious wounding and malicious shooting at an occupied vehicle, along with a misdemeanor brandishing charge. He is being held by Berkeley County authorities pending extradition to Virginia.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

If you’ve never heard of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, you’re not alone — but Virginia hospitals are seeing it more and more.

A new analysis by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association found that emergency room visits linked to a condition that causes uncontrollable nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in long-term marijuana users increased nearly 29 percent in Virginia between 2020 and 2024. In total, nearly 25,000 Virginians visited an emergency room for the condition — known as CHS — over that five-year period, climbing from about 4,000 visits in 2020 to more than 5,100 in 2024.

CHS is not widely understood by the general public, and many sufferers don’t immediately connect their symptoms to marijuana use. The condition tends to affect people who have used cannabis heavily for an extended period of time and causes recurring bouts of severe vomiting that can be serious enough to require emergency care.

The Virginia numbers are part of a broader national trend. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found CHS cases rising in U.S. emergency rooms from 2016 through 2022, with the heaviest concentration among adults aged 18 to 35. Research out of Northern California documented a 134 percent increase in CHS-related ER visits over an 11-year period. A Colorado study found a 46 percent increase in related hospitalizations in just four years.

Zooming out further, Virginia emergency rooms saw nearly 173,000 visits related to cannabis abuse, dependence or poisoning between 2020 and 2024 — more than 31,000 per year, with a peak of nearly 38,000 in 2022.

The VHHA analysis was based on all-payer emergency department and hospital discharge data for the five-year period.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

The Lord Fairfax Health District has announced an updated schedule and expanded staffing for its Women, Infants, and Children program, known as WIC, with the goal of serving more families and reducing wait times across the region.

WIC is a federally funded program that provides nutrition education, healthy food benefits, breastfeeding support and referrals to health and social services. It serves pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants and children up to age five who meet income guidelines.

“The WIC Program is excited to add more available clinic days,” said Alyssa Brown, the Lord Fairfax Health District WIC Coordinator. “This marks a step forward to serve more families in need.”

For Warren County residents, WIC services are available at the local health department on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The updated schedule across the district is as follows: Frederick and Winchester locations are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Page County is open Mondays and Tuesdays; and Shenandoah County is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, all from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Families interested in applying or learning more about eligibility can call their local health department during staffing hours. Community organizations and health care providers are encouraged to refer eligible families to the program.

More information is available at the Lord Fairfax Health District’s website at vdh.virginia.gov/lord-fairfax.

Information from a release.

Valley Health will host its 32nd annual Community Wellness Festival on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Apple Blossom Mall in Winchester. The event is free and open to the public.

Now in its fourth decade, the festival has offered health education and screenings to the region since 1995. This year’s event features more than 80 exhibitors covering a wide range of health topics, along with children’s activities and fitness demonstrations.

Free and low-cost screenings available on site will include blood pressure checks, blood glucose testing, cardiovascular disease screening, body mass index screening, hearing screening, stroke risk factor screening, vein screening and low-cost blood testing.

Many Valley Health programs and services will have a presence at the festival, including Heart and Vascular Services, Oncology, the Metabolic and Bariatric Program, Palliative Care, Valley Health Fertility, Gastroenterology, Urology and the Center for Advanced Wound Care and Hyperbarics, among others.

For a full list of participating exhibitors and more information, visit valleyhealthlink.com/wellnessfestival.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

Woodstock Fire Department Chief Zachary Hottel has been named Virginia’s Volunteer Chief Officer of the Year, one of the state’s highest honors in the fire service.

Governor Abigail Spanberger announced Hottel and other recipients of the 2025 Governor’s Fire Service Awards at the annual Virginia Fire and Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach earlier this week.

“These award recipients embody excellence, dedication, and leadership in the fire service,” Spanberger said. “I am honored to recognize their commitment to protecting the lives and safety of our fellow Virginians.”

Hottel, who was elected to his fully volunteer position in January 2025, has nearly two decades in the fire service. Under his leadership, the Woodstock Fire Department completed its first comprehensive strategic plan and has grown significantly at a time when many volunteer agencies across Virginia are struggling to recruit and retain members. His recruitment and retention efforts increased active volunteers by roughly 15 percent, bringing 19 new members into the department over the past three years.

WFD President Phyllis Fleming credited Hottel’s persistence in securing grant funding and advocating with local government for resources including protective equipment, apparatus and training.

“While many volunteer agencies across Virginia are challenged with recruitment and retention, Chief Hottel has helped WFD emerge as an example for strategic growth,” Fleming said.

Virginia Department of Fire Programs Executive Director Brad Creasy praised all award recipients for their service. “Their tireless commitment to protecting our communities and bravery in the face of danger is inspiring,” Creasy said.

Information from press releases. Edited by Dan McDermott.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says crews are actively working to find and repair potholes across the state following a winter season of freezing temperatures, heavy snow and rain — conditions that accelerate pavement deterioration.

Potholes form when moisture seeps into pavement, freezes and expands, then thaws. The repeated cycle weakens the road surface, and traffic gradually loosens and breaks apart the pavement. VDOT says residents should expect more potholes than usual given the weather Virginia has experienced this winter.

“We know you see them and don’t like them, and we don’t like them either,” said Kevin Gregg, VDOT’s Chief of Maintenance and Operations. “Motorists can help ensure that potholes are identified and repaired as quickly as possible by reporting them through our Customer Service Center.”

When a pothole is reported, VDOT communicates it to local crews, who then inspect the damage and schedule repairs based on location, traffic volume and severity. During winter months, crews use cold-patch materials as a temporary fix. Permanent repairs require warmer temperatures.

VDOT is also asking drivers to slow down and move over when passing repair crews working on the roadway.

Residents can report potholes and other road problems through VDOT’s online form at my.vdot.virginia.gov or by calling 800-367-7623 (800-FOR-ROAD), available 24 hours a day.

VDOT handles repairs on state-maintained roads, including interstate highways and most primary and secondary roads. Potholes on city streets are the responsibility of local governments. Residents of Arlington and Henrico counties should also contact their local government for pothole repairs, as those jurisdictions maintain their own roads.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is rolling out its Mobile ID program across Northern Virginia, allowing residents to store a state-issued driver’s license or ID on their smartphones at no cost.

The expansion follows a successful launch in the Richmond area. The digital credential can be used at DMV customer service centers, TSA checkpoints at more than 350 U.S. airports — including Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles — 16 pilot Virginia ABC stores in Northern Virginia, and a growing number of restaurants, wineries and breweries across the state.

Virginia Secretary of Transportation Nick M. Donohue said the rollout reflects the state’s push toward modernizing how residents interact with government services. “The future of identification is now in the hands of Virginians,” Donohue said. “The more we use Virginia Mobile ID, the more businesses and organizations will see the value and convenience and will start accepting it themselves.”

To get started, residents download the Virginia Mobile ID app from the App Store or Google Play, scan their physical license or ID, complete a face verification and can begin using the mobile credential immediately. DMV officials are advising residents to continue carrying their physical ID card as a backup, particularly when driving.

The app gives users control over what personal information they share during verification. Someone purchasing alcohol, for example, can confirm they are over 21 without disclosing their name and address or handing over their phone.

Virginia DMV Commissioner Dr. Gerald Lackey said the program is designed with both convenience and security in mind. “Virginia Mobile ID is made for Virginians, and we encourage everyone to give it a try. It’s free, secure and right in the palm of your hand.”

Businesses can accept the mobile ID through a free Virginia Mobile ID Verifier app. A QR code scan transmits customer data securely between devices, and DMV says no data is stored or tracked on its end. More than 100 businesses and organizations statewide currently accept the credential.

Virginia DMV said it is working to expand acceptance locations and make the ID available through digital wallets. The Virginia ABC authority plans to bring the program to additional stores once the current pilot is complete.

More information is available at the Virginia DMV’s website.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

By Madyson Fitzgerald | Virginia Mercury

After years of states pushing legislation to accelerate the development of data centers and the electric grid to support them, some legislators want to limit or repeal state and local incentives that paved their way.

President Donald Trump also has changed his tone. Last year he issued an executive order and other federal initiatives meant to support accelerated data center development. Then last month, he cited rising electricity bills in saying technology companies that build data centers must “pay their own way,” in a post on Truth Social.

As the momentum shifts, lawmakers in several states have introduced or passed legislation that aims to rein in data center development by repealing tax exemptions, adding conditions to certain incentives or placing moratoriums on data center projects. Virginia lawmakers, for example, are considering ending a data center tax break that costs the state about $1.6 billion a year.

“Who is actually benefiting from these massive data centers that, in many cases, are the size of one or two shopping malls combined?” asked Michigan Democratic state Rep. Erin Byrnes, who introduced a proposal to repeal the state’s data center tax exemptions. “They have a large footprint in terms of land and energy usage. And by and large, it’s not going to be the average resident who lives near a data center who’s going to benefit.”

Over the past few years, more data centers have been built in an effort to meet the demand for digital processing power, which has rapidly increased as more artificial intelligence systems come online. Data centers house thousands of servers that are responsible for storing and transmitting data required for internet services to work.

But as local communities voice growing outrage over rising electricity prices and environmental concerns brought by data centers, such as water and energy use, lawmakers in several states are hoping to slow data center development. By limiting incentives or placing moratoriums on new projects, state legislators are hoping to give themselves more time to determine whether the massive facilities are worth losing millions or more in tax revenue each year.

Some experts also say that developers and tech companies have exaggerated some of the benefits they bring to local communities. While the promise of new jobs sounds attractive, local leaders may face other concerns, such as the effects of diverting construction resources away from other purposes and higher energy costs caused by AI, said Michael Hicks, an economics professor at Ball State University in Indiana.

“A lot of households — and the people that are elected by households — and local governments are becoming more unnerved by the public pushback to data centers,” Hicks said.

Tech developers and data center operators are concerned, however, that the changes could hurt the rapidly growing industry. And most states and localities already require developers using incentives to follow certain requirements, said Dan Diorio, the vice president of state policy for the Data Center Coalition, a lobbying group for the data center industry.

State lawmakers have to consider how changes to incentive programs could upend years of construction, which has long-term business impacts, Diorio said.

“I think data centers are very much the backbone of the 21st-century economy,” he said. “We’re generating economic activity in states, contributing to state-level GDP, contributing significantly to labor income and state and local tax revenue, and creating significant amounts of jobs. I mean, we’re just jumping into something preemptively here.”

Incentives granted

At least 37 states offer incentives that are available to data centers, including sales tax exemptions and property tax abatements, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Sales tax exemptions, the most common incentive, allow data center developers to buy computers and other equipment at a much lower cost.

“I think these are one of many factors that the data centers are looking at, along with the cost of electricity, the cost of construction, land and things like that,” said Nicholas Miller, a policy associate at NCSL. “These incentives are one way that states are trying to pitch themselves as competitive to this industry.”

In 2020, Maryland implemented a program that exempts data centers from sales and use taxes if they provide at least five jobs within three years of applying to the program and invest at least $2 million in data center personal property. The first four years of the program cost the state $22 million — but $11 million of that came in 2024 alone, as the costs grew, Democratic state Del. Julie Palakovich Carr said.

Concerned about this and the impact of data centers on residents’ electricity bills, Palakovich Carr introduced legislation this year that would repeal the state’s sales and use tax exemptions for personal property used at data centers. The measure, which is under consideration in the House, would also restrict localities in the state from eliminating or reducing assessments for personal property used in data centers, which drew opposition from the Maryland Association of Counties.

The amount of money states are forfeiting to provide tax breaks for data centers is increasingly concerning, Palakovich Carr said.

“Unfortunately, that’s the turn we’re seeing across many other states,” she said. “The price starts out maybe in line with what we think it’s going to be. But over time it just costs more and more.”

Similar bills that would repeal or halt state incentives for data centers have been filed in Arizona and Georgia.

“When we look at potential subsidies for businesses, I’m really looking at it from a frame of incentivizing new behavior rather than just giving away money for things that the companies were going to already do anyways,” Palakovich Carr said. “I think it’s really important that once these things get put in place, we look at the data and see what’s happening on the ground.”

In 2024, Michigan enacted sales and use tax exemptions on certain data centers through at least 2050.

Now, with developers looking at more than a dozen sites for potential data centers, public sentiment has soured, said Byrnes, who had voted against the measure. Communities across the state began organizing in an effort to stop data centers from coming to their neighborhoods because of environmental concerns and energy costs, she said.

The outcry prompted Byrnes to co-sponsor a bipartisan package of three bills that would repeal the 2024 law.

“We’re taking a stand with this legislation to say that we don’t believe data centers should be offered these exemptions,” she said. “I believe it aligns with public sentiment.”

Lawmakers in a handful of states — including New York, Oklahoma and Vermont — have filed bills that would place a temporary moratorium on all data center projects and require studies of their impacts.

Georgia Democratic state Rep. Ruwa Romman introduced a measure this session that would put a moratorium on new data center projects until March 2027. The proposal would give the legislature time to study the impact of data centers on the state’s natural resources, environment and other areas.

“We have such a beautiful state and it would be a damn shame to completely and utterly wreck it and its landscape for short-term gain,” Romman said. “These data centers aren’t bringing jobs. They’re saying they’re bringing the revenue, but there’s a ton of fine print on the revenue that’s coming in. So, I’ve been urging my colleagues from every side of the political spectrum to just take a beat.”

In 2021, the Oklahoma legislature approved a measure from current Republican House Speaker Kyle Hilbert that excludes new data centers from qualifying for an exemption program that allows certain manufacturers not to pay property taxes for their first five years in business. Any data centers that qualified for the program in the five years prior to the law, however, can continue to apply for exemptions.

This year, as more project proposals were made, Hilbert introduced legislation to ensure no data centers could “slip through the cracks.”

“These aren’t the days of being able to build a data center, cut deals with NDAs, then start turning dirt before the constituents even know what’s happened,” Hilbert said. “Those days are over, and data centers need to be proactive in their messaging and talking to people about their concerns.”

Costs vs. benefits

Last year, Virginia, home to the most data centers in the country, gave up $1.6 billion in sales and use tax revenues from data centers, state data shows. That’s a 118% increase from the previous year, according to a report from Good Jobs First, a watchdog group that focuses on economic development incentives. Another report from the group said Georgia is expected to lose at least $2.5 billion to data center sales tax exemptions this year, 664% higher than the state’s previous estimate.

Virginia state lawmakers are considering legislation that would require data centers to achieve high energy efficiency standards and decrease their use of diesel backup generators in order to be eligible for the state’s sales and use tax exemption. The measure, which passed the House, is now moving through the Senate.

Before the end of his term, former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, suggested a provision in his proposed state budget that would extend the data center tax incentive from 2035 to 2050. The Senate’s budget bill, however, would end the incentive altogether on Jan. 1, 2027. It’s not clear if state leaders, including current Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, support the measure.

While states can put a specific number on the tax losses, it’s much more difficult to determine how much data centers contribute to local communities and the state, Miller said.

Virginia brings in a significant amount of revenue from the property taxes for each facility. Local construction firms, restaurants and other small businesses also benefit from ongoing projects, he said.

“This is the big question,” Miller said. “With all economic development projects, it’s generally a lot easier to measure the cost of the incentive directly versus the benefits.”

The changing incentive landscape may cause instability within the data center industry, said Diorio, of the Data Center Coalition. Data center projects are large-scale capital investments that play out for several years, but changing policies could upend that progress.

“When states look at these policies or consider abrupt ends to programs, that creates significant market uncertainty,” Diorio said. “It will have a significant long-term impact on the viability of that market for data center development. Industries are very responsive to market signals, and any kind of uncertainty will bring up a red flag because you’re looking to invest for the long haul.”

Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at [email protected].

This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Virginia Mercury, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

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By Markus Schmidt | Virginia Mercury

The Virginia General Assembly’s money committees on Sunday rolled out sweeping amendments to former Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed two-year, $212 billion state budget, with both the House and Senate advancing plans that emphasize affordability, backfill federal funding gaps and avoid new taxes as they reshape the Republican’s final spending blueprint.

The Senate Finance Committee’s Senate Bill 30 would end a data center sales tax exemption and set the stage for the state to potentially reap millions in revenue from the industry. 

The spending plan would also deliver $100 in tax rebates to individual filers and $200 to joint filers, raise the standard deduction, protect Medicaid, fund 3% annual teacher raises, invest $50 million in affordable housing and provide $205.7 million for Metro over the biennium. 

The House Democratic plan, branded the “Affordable Virginia Budget,” similarly prioritizes housing, health care and education, but diverges in some spending details — including larger direct investments in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and a broader package of worker protections and labor initiatives.

Both chambers are expected to pass their respective proposals next week — the House on Thursday — before negotiators reconcile differences in a conference committee in the coming weeks.

Notably, neither plan includes new taxes, which prompted Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George, to vote for the Senate budget in committee, while three of his Republican colleagues abstained.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the fact that there are no tax increases in this budget, that you’ve kept a very conservative forecast of revenues going forward, that we have not built the base budget, but we’re using one-time monies,” Stuart told Senate Finance Committee Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth. 

“But more than that, I’ve been here for a long time, and you are the first Finance chair that I remember that actually took and listened to our considerations and our suggestions, and I very much appreciate that. And I just wanted to say that, Madam Chair.”

Lucas, visibly surprised, replied: “Thank you very much, I really appreciate that compliment, I didn’t see that one coming. Where are the tissues?”

Reworking Youngkin’s final budget

Youngkin on Dec. 17 unveiled his final proposed budget, pitching a plan he said built on record revenue growth and sustained his administration’s tax-relief priorities as Democrats prepared to take control of both the General Assembly and the governor’s office.

The proposal anticipated continued economic strength, with what Youngkin described as a “prudent” revenue forecast rooted in job and business growth. It preserved reserve balances while advancing nearly $730 million in new, ongoing tax cuts and maintaining income tax conformity with recent federal policy changes.

On the spending side, Youngkin targeted public safety, health care and education, including bonuses and salary increases for teachers and state employees, while projecting a balanced budget over the six-year forecast window. He acknowledged at the time that his successor and the Democratic-led legislature would ultimately reshape the plan.

Senate Democrats argued Sunday that his outgoing proposal left “significant structural deficiencies,” particularly by not planning for new federal cost shifts under HR1, including potential state matching requirements for food assistance.

Lucas said the Senate amendments were built around affordability and long-term fiscal balance.

“It’s the entire mantra of this session,” she said. “The committee has delivered a budget focused on affordability, while still maintaining structural balance.”

Data centers and tax cuts

A central change in the Senate plan would allow the data center sales and use tax exemption to end on Jan. 1, 2027. Originally projected to cost $1.54 million annually, the exemption now forgoes roughly $1.6 billion per year in revenue, according to Senate Democrats.

“In the most recent fiscal year alone, they benefited from more than $33.2 billion dollars in tax-free computer equipment purchases,” Lucas said. “We’re asking data centers to pay their fair share in sales tax to help deliver our core services — education, transportation, and social services.”

By ending the exemption, the Senate would direct nearly $300 million to transportation across all modes and make one-time investments in water infrastructure, Lucas said, while avoiding additional tolls or fees.

The Senate plan also includes a one-time tax rebate to be issued around Oct. 15 and increases the standard deduction by $450 for individuals and $900 for married filers.

“By exempting more income from taxation, Virginians get immediate relief in their paychecks. That’s affordability,” Lucas said.

Health care and federal uncertainty

Health and Human Resources Subcommittee Chair Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, said the Senate confronted rising Medicaid costs projected at $3.2 billion in general fund spending through fiscal 2028.

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program cover 1.8 million Virginians, he said. The subcommittee adopted $591.2 million in savings strategies and set aside a $90 million reserve while restoring the prenatal care program.

With enhanced federal Affordable Care Act tax credits having expired Dec. 31, Deeds warned that up to 100,000 Virginians could lose coverage. The Senate includes $200 million in the first year to subsidize premiums.

The House proposal similarly emphasizes backfilling federal reductions. 

Health and Human Resources Subcommittee Chair Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, said the House recommends $79.1 million to reduce premium spikes, $45 million to restore federal reductions for core public health services and more than $211 million to cover new state cost shares for SNAP benefits.

“We feel it is a prudent and responsible decision to act now,” Willett said, to ensure uninterrupted access to food benefits.

The House plan also includes $11.1 million for a sickle cell disease package and funding to improve maternal and infant health programs.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Luke Torian, D-Prince William, said his chamber’s budget “backfills those holes, not out of politics, but out of prudence.”

“This is a balanced budget,” Torian said. “It is built on conservative revenue assumptions, maintains healthy reserves, and prepares us for continued uncertainty ahead.”

Education and housing

On education, the Senate proposes 3% raises each year for teachers and state employees, along with $50 million for a childcare pilot to match employer contributions.

Education Subcommittee Chair Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said the Senate plan adds more than $627 million in general fund support over the biennium, including increased funding for at-risk students, special education and school construction through a 1% local option sales tax for renovation projects, pending local referendums.

In higher education, the Senate recommends $159.4 million in additional funding, including $65 million for need-based financial aid and $32.5 million for workforce credential grants.

The House budget also invests heavily in K-12 and early childhood education. 

Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chair Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, said it includes $400 million in one-time flexible funding for school divisions and $160 million in additional special education support, along with $160 million for early childhood education to clear childcare waitlists for families earning below 85% of the state median income.

On housing, the Senate wants to invest $50 million in its housing trust fund and $13 million for eviction prevention, while the House directs $187.5 million to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, establishes a $25 million revolving loan fund for mixed-income housing and provides $17 million for eviction prevention.

Balancing new revenues

Anne Oman, staff director for the House Appropriations Committee, said the caboose budget signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday increased current-year general fund resources by $3.1 billion, leaving $2.3 billion to carry into the new biennium. 

The proposed budget assumes modest 3% to 3.5% annual revenue growth, though year-to-date collections are running at 6.9%.

Adjustments eliminate Youngkin’s proposed tax cuts, capture nearly $80 million from a business-ready site acquisition fund and recognize potential revenue from skill games legislation, projected at about $176 million annually if enacted.

After accounting for $1.8 billion in additional spending, the House plan leaves an unappropriated balance of $15.2 million at the end of the biennium, Oman said.

Despite bipartisan moments, some Republicans voiced caution.

“I want to say thank you to you,” Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, told Lucas. “This has been a challenging process, and I appreciate the fact that you and I can have candid conversations as we’ve worked through this.”

He added: “Today, I am going to vote to abstain, because of some of the significant physical impacts that I’m concerned about in Virginia as we continue to discuss. This budget has a significant amount of additional revenues up and above the proposed budget, and I think we need to have a serious conversation about where those revenues come from, how they impact Virginians, and continue to discuss them as we go forward.”

By Shannon Heckt | Virginia Mercury

After a decrepit pipe burst in Maryland last month and sent hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage spewing into the Potomac River, a Virginia lawmaker is now urging the state’s health department to take concrete steps to address the environmental disaster’s potential health risks to residents.

“This one will trickle down over time, and I’m very worried about the contamination as it goes,” Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George, said in an interview Friday.

The DC Water system owns the pipe that broke in Montgomery County, Maryland on Jan. 19 and leaked over 243 million gallons of sewage into the waterway. The agency estimates it will take about six weeks for a temporary fix on the pipe – and nine months for a permanent solution. 

Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Health has issued a recreational advisory for 72.5 miles of the Virginia coast along the river, urging people to avoid touching the water and to be cautious when preparing seafood harvested from the river. 

VDH has not issued any warnings for drinking water and Maryland has issued a shellfish closure only for the Port Tobacco River region down to the Harry W. Nice Bridge.

After one of his constituents asked VDH about potential contamination, Stuart said he was concerned to learn that the agency was not testing the water given the magnitude of the spill.  

“VDH will not conduct water sampling. The agency does not operate a freshwater bacterial monitoring program for recreational waters, and the Potomac River falls under Maryland’s jurisdiction for water quality oversight,” VDH’s Feb. 14 letter read.

Stuart then sent his own letter to State Health Commissioner Dr. B. Cameron Webb. 

“Virginians who fish, crab, boat, and recreate on the Potomac deserve proactive protection and transparency, not a declaration that no testing will occur because another state holds primary authority,” Stuart wrote to Webb on Wednesday. “Furthermore, there are miles of creeks and tributaries branching off the Potomac River that are unquestionably Virginia waters, directly impacting the health of our marine resources and shoreline communities that I represent.”

By Friday, Stuart said, the state’s top environmental agency had taken preliminary steps to test state waters.

“I have since learned that (Department of Environmental Quality) is engaged, and they are doing sampling in various places. They were sampling on the edge,” Stuart said Friday. “I asked them if they would please go out into the channel and do various water columns to determine if it’s on the top.”

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality said in a statement that on Tuesday, the agency collected 25 surface water samples across the recreational advisory area from above the sewer line break to Potomac Creek in Stafford County. The results of those samples are pending.

The agency also said VDH staff “conducted a routine seawater sampling run for shellfish growing areas from Colonial Beach to the 301 (Harry Nice) Bridge, collecting 36 water samples in total. Based on their laboratory analyses, there were no elevated fecal coliform bacteria concentrations, with the vast majority of the samples at or below the detection limit for the test.”

VDH replied to Stuart on Wednesday in a letter obtained by The Mercury.

“We will continue sharing information, including sample results, between VDH, DEQ, Alex Renew, DC Water, MDE and VDEM. VDH staff are also maintaining communication with seafood industry stakeholders and watermen to provide timely, accurate information,” Lance Gregory, Director of VDH’s Office of Environmental Health Services, wrote.

Gregory also said that the agency, in partnership with the Marine Advisory Board, “developed a mapping resource that illustrates the spill’s geographic scope relative to other productive waterways in the Commonwealth. This tool supports affected watermen in communicating clearly about the limited proximity of the incident to other harvesting areas and helps preserve confidence in Virginia seafood.”

The state’s chief executive also weighed in on the disaster on Friday and said the state’s drinking water is safe.

“I’m encouraged that EPA and FEMA have begun coordinating with DC Water to respond to the sewage spill in the Potomac,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger said in a statement. “Amid the response, our state agencies are conducting water quality testing and monitoring the status of repairs. Our focus is on Virginians’ health and safety. Virginians should know that the spill is not impacting our drinking water.”

Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, along with Maryland officials, have written to DC water about their concerns over the health and environmental impacts of the spill. Still, Stuart is pushing for the state to do more. 

“Maryland owns the Potomac, but a lot of people in Virginia make their (livelihood) on it, and we eat a lot of the seafood that comes out of it. It’s a very productive river, despite how badly we treated it over the years,” Stuart said.

Conservation group Potomac Riverkeepers Network agrees with the senator that this extreme of a situation calls for different approaches on how to handle it.

“The historic sewage spill and the ongoing risk of intermittent overflows demands a departure from the status quo,” said David Flores, the Vice President of the Potomac Riverkeepers Network. “Virginians deserve more, not less, water quality monitoring and long-term assessments to protect their safety and the Commonwealth’s natural resources. This responsibility should not be deferred to another state.”

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By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A bill that would allow a casino in Fairfax County is now before the House of Delegates, reviving a debate that has repeatedly surfaced in Northern Virginia.

Senate Bill 756 would add Fairfax County to Virginia’s list of eligible casino host localities. Like the state’s other casino laws, the measure would require voter approval through a local referendum before an operator could receive a license.

The House committee substitute sets new rules for how a Fairfax referendum would work. Even if countywide voters approve a casino, the referendum would fail unless voters in the magisterial district where the casino would be built also approve it.

The substitute also limits any casino site in Fairfax to a coordinated mixed-use development that is at least 1.5 million square feet, according to the draft language. The bill does not restrict the project to Tysons.

The legislation arrives as Virginia’s casino market has moved beyond proposals and into active operations. Casino gaming is operating in Bristol, Portsmouth and Danville, and temporary facilities are operating in other localities as projects move toward permanent resort construction.

The committee substitute would set a different tax structure for Fairfax than the rates used for other cities. For Fairfax, the substitute would impose a 40% tax on adjusted gross receipts from casino gaming.

The substitute also sets a higher state licensing fee for Fairfax. It would require a $150 million, nonrefundable fee when an operator’s license is issued and again if a license is transferred, with half of that fee directed to Fairfax County and half directed to the state Gaming Regulatory Fund.

The Fairfax debate also intersects with a broader policy push to change how gambling is regulated in Virginia.

House Bill 271, which passed the House, would create a Virginia Gaming Commission and consolidated regulatory responsibilities spread across multiple entities. A fiscal impact statement from the Department of Planning and Budget has warned the transition would require administrative restructuring, staffing changes and startup costs, with some fiscal effects uncertain early in implementation.

Fairfax County leaders have also taken a formal position on casino legislation.

In December, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to add language to its legislative program opposing any casino bill for the county unless the board requests it, a statewide gaming commission is in place and the revenue split “substantially benefits Fairfax County as opposed to the commonwealth.”

Senate Bill 756 passed the Senate and now awaits House consideration.

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By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – As lawmakers continue debating redistricting and firearm legislation, new polling provides a snapshot of where Virginians stand on both issues.

The results suggest voters largely favor the commonwealth’s existing redistricting framework and support several gun policy changes, though views differ on enforcement and effectiveness.

Those views come from a Roanoke College Poll conducted by the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research.

“Virginians clearly support a variety of gun control measures, but many question their efficacy,” said Dr. Harry Wilson, interim director of the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research. “While majorities back policies such as firearm registration and owner licensing, fewer respondents believe stricter laws alone will make them safer. Many also point to factors beyond gun laws when asked about the causes of mass shootings.”

Wilson said responses on redistricting suggest voters are generally comfortable with Virginia’s current system. He noted that differences between survey wording and the language used in the proposed referendum could affect how voters ultimately view the issue.

Researchers surveyed 800 Virginia residents Feb. 9-16. The poll carries a margin of error of +/- 4.43%.

Sixty-two percent of respondents said they support Virginia’s current redistricting system.

Asked how they would vote on a proposed constitutional amendment tied to redistricting, 52% said they would keep the existing system, while 44% said they would adopt the change.

The findings arrive as redistricting remains an active issue in Richmond.

Democrats have pursued appeals connected to a proposed voter referendum that could reshape how congressional district maps are drawn, while lawmakers also advanced a revised congressional map.

Firearm policy was another major focus of the survey as the General Assembly continues considering related legislation.

Majorities of Virginians expressed support for several gun-related restrictions. Seventy-one percent said gun owners should be required to obtain a license, while 67% supported requiring firearms to be registered with the state.

Support also extended to several proposed firearm bans. Fifty-nine percent said they favor banning firearms commonly described as assault rifles. Fifty-seven percent supported banning semi-automatic rifles, while 53% backed restrictions on magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Half of respondents said they would support banning semi-automatic handguns. Nineteen percent said they support banning all firearms.

Views were more mixed on whether stricter laws would improve safety. Forty-nine percent said tougher gun laws would make them feel safer. Thirty-five percent said such laws would make no difference, while 16% said they would feel less safe.

More respondents said better enforcement of existing laws, 56%, would be more effective at reducing gun violence than passing stricter laws, 42%.

Several firearm-related measures have cleared both chambers of the General Assembly and now await action from the governor.

Beyond policy issues, the poll measured broader voter sentiment about the direction of Virginia and the nation.

Sixty-five percent of respondents said the country is on the wrong track, while 51% said Virginia is headed in the wrong direction.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger received a 53% job approval rating, while 39% disapproved.

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“We are elated to celebrate the occasion of the third Black History Celebration in Middletown, Va., on February 28, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Grace Methodist Church on Main Street,” said Pastor and Counselor Dr. Diane Newman-Shannon.

“Ms. Ellen Gant of Middletown, my assistant, has worked wholeheartedly beside me on this project each year,” she added.

Grace Methodist Church has generously provided its building, members, and refreshments for the past two years, and organizers would like to publicly thank them for their continued support. Additional sponsors have joined this year’s celebration and will be recognized during the event.

Organizers extend sincere appreciation to everyone who has contributed.

The celebration honors those who have paved the way for people of color, acknowledging what they endured and reflecting on where we are — and where we should be — today.

“Hatred should never be because of the color of one’s skin,” Newman-Shannon said.

The event is intended to educate, uplift, and foster inclusion and mutual respect. It offers a positive approach to diversity — one that dispels misconceptions, reduces prejudice, and promotes understanding.

The goal is simple: to ensure all individuals feel seen, valued, and respected for their unique and diverse backgrounds.

“Everyone is going through something,” she said. “Can’t we all just get along and help one another?”

Together we stand; divided we fall. Organizers encourage the community to show love to one another and come together in unity. As Newman-Shannon noted, “My Bible tells me that God rains on the just as well as the unjust. We all belong to Him. He is not a respecter of persons.”

Featured at the event will be speakers from various churches, step dancers from Skyline Middle School, health and craft vendors, music from gospel groups, and worship dancers.

The community is invited to attend and celebrate together.

“We will see you there,” Newman-Shannon said.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

By Dan McDermott | WarrenCountyVa.com

The Winchester, Va. Planning Commission voted 4-2 Feb. 17 to remove the Pledge of Allegiance from its business meetings.

Commissioner Leesa Mayfield brought up the issue during discussion of the commission’s by-laws.

Commissioner Sandra Bloom concurred, saying, “I would prefer that we didn’t do any pageantry or rituals before and we just dive into business.”

Mayfield added, “It seems unnecessary… I second what Commissioner Bloom said. Just jumping into business.”

The vote was 4-2 to make the change.

Vice Chair Mark Dyck: No
Leesa Mayfield: Yes
Brandon Pifer: No
Madelyn Jimenez-Torres: Yes
Sandra Bloom: Yes
Chairman Beau Correll: No

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A wastewater overflow tied to the collapse of a major sewer pipeline continues to prompt responses from officials in Virginia, Maryland and Washington as repair work advances along the Potomac River.

The incident involves the Potomac Interceptor, a large sewer line that carries wastewater for treatment in the Washington region. District of Columbia Water said a section of the interceptor failed earlier this year, contributing to wastewater discharges into the Potomac River and nearby drainage channels.

Utility monitoring data later indicated that a substantial volume of wastewater was released during the early stages of the failure. D.C. Water said much of the discharge occurred before bypass pumping systems were fully operational.

Crews have since expanded emergency bypass operations and installed additional pumping capacity designed to stabilize flows and prevent further overflows. Repair efforts have focused on gaining safe access to the damaged section of pipe.

In responses to questions from The Center Square, D.C. Water said emergency repairs are expected to take between four and six weeks. Officials said that work will be followed by long-term rehabilitation of the interceptor, a process projected to take approximately nine to 10 months.

Utility officials said the full scope and cost of repairs cannot yet be determined because crews have not been able to fully access the damaged portion of the interceptor. Engineers also said the cause of the failure cannot be determined until the damaged section is accessible.

D.C. Water said it will cover repair expenses, which will be shared among wholesale customers including WSSC Water, Loudoun County and Fairfax County based on allocated pipe capacity.

The Potomac River runs through Maryland, Virginia and Washington, making the overflow a regional concern. The river serves as a drinking water source and supports recreational and commercial activity across multiple jurisdictions.

In Virginia, the Department of Health issued a recreational water advisory covering portions of the Potomac shoreline. State health officials cited reported wastewater releases and ongoing repair work in advising residents to avoid direct contact with river water within the affected area.

Virginia health officials said they had not observed evidence of impacts to drinking water systems.

Federal and state officials have also commented on the incident.

Second-term Republican President Donald Trump said federal agencies were being directed to provide management and coordination support related to the overflow, describing the situation as a serious environmental concern.

Maryland first-term Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, in public statements, said the spill was “basically contained” and used the incident to call for federal approval of FEMA funding for Western Maryland communities still recovering from prior flooding.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency stands ready to assist, stating that D.C. Water and Maryland officials have been managing containment, monitoring, and regulatory oversight tied to the spill.

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By Markus Schmidt | Virginia Mercury

After years of clearing the General Assembly only to meet a veto, legislation to create a legal, adult-use cannabis market in Virginia passed both chambers Tuesday — this time with a governor ready to sign it and retail sales poised to begin as early as November.

The votes mark the clearest signal yet that Virginia is poised to move from legal possession without legal sales to a fully regulated marketplace, a transition that has eluded the commonwealth since 2021, when lawmakers first legalized simple possession.

Tuesday morning, the House passed House Bill 642, sponsored by Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, by a 65-32 vote. Hours later, the Senate approved Senate Bill 542, introduced by Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, by a narrow 21-19 margin after an initial failed vote.

Similar proposals have cleared the General Assembly in recent years — often with bipartisan backing — but were repeatedly vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin. This year, the political calculus has shifted. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has vowed to sign legislation establishing a regulated retail market.

Under Krizek’s bill, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority would administer the retail system, with no retail sales allowed prior to Nov. 1, 2026.

“It’s about fixing a status quo that is not working,” he said, noting that while adult possession of cannabis is legal, retail sales remain unregulated.

Right now, he said, the absence of a legal marketplace means “no testing, no standards and no oversight whatsoever.”

The bill, he added, would replace what he described as a $5 billion illegal market with a regulated system designed to protect public health. He pointed to requirements for testing, labeling and packaging, as well as enforcement mechanisms and penalties intended to keep products away from minors.

Krizek said the legislation takes a phased approach to give the Cannabis Control Authority time to implement the framework responsibly. It also preserves local control, granting localities full zoning authority over where and how retail stores operate.

He added that the proposal creates opportunities for small businesses and communities disproportionately harmed by past enforcement and called it “a measured, responsible step forward.”

Legal to possess, illegal to sell

Virginia first decriminalized marijuana in 2020 before lawmakers legalized simple possession. 

But they failed to finalize a retail framework before Republicans regained the governor’s mansion, leaving cannabis in legal limbo — legal to possess, illegal to sell.

Over the past year, a joint legislative commission has worked to craft a new roadmap, hearing testimony from regulators, industry experts and advocates about safety, access and equity concerns. 

Over the past year, the joint legislative commission held a series of hearings and work sessions to refine the framework, beginning with presentations in August on potential rollout models, followed by October discussions weighing safety, access and equity concerns. 

By November, members were reviewing a draft retail blueprint, and in December they unveiled revisions aimed at setting the stage for a 2026 launch.

The Senate version, sponsored by Aird, largely mirrors the House proposal but sets a later retail start date of Jan. 1, 2027.

The measure initially failed Tuesday afternoon after Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, recused himself because he is about to assume a role at the Cannabis Control Authority. Moments later, Ebbin asked for reconsideration, stating he has “no financial interest” in an adult-use cannabis marketplace. On the second vote, the bill passed 21-19.

The substitute measure adopted this week, Aird said, incorporates many elements lawmakers have seen before but also introduces new approaches — starting with governance.

“This new legislation takes on the approach where the Cannabis Control Authority will manage the license and regulatory portions while the marketplace is immediately being stood up,” Aird said.

Taxes, caps and rollout timeline

The measure establishes a state tax rate of 12.875% on retail cannabis sales, along with an additional 3% local option tax. Permit applications would begin in July 2026, and seed-to-sale tracking would start Sept. 1, 2026, ahead of a Jan. 1, 2027 retail launch.

“The transaction limit for retail purchases will remain at 2.5 ounces, which has always been throughout this process,” Aird said.

The legislation outlines standards for a lottery process for impact licensees and creates a tiered cultivation licensing structure based on canopy size, ranging from tiers one through five, with the largest capped at 35,000 square feet.

A maximum of 350 retail licenses would be issued statewide. Cultivation facilities would be capped at 450 through 2028. At-home cultivation would continue to be permitted, allowing up to four plants per household, provided each plant is tagged with the grower’s name and identification.

Local governments would no longer be able to ban cannabis retail through referenda.

The bill also sets THC limits for non-pharmaceutical products at 10 milligrams per serving and 100 milligrams per package. Aird said it includes robust criminal provisions aimed at cracking down on illicit sales and the illegal marketplace.

“There are a lot of details in this legislation,” she said.

If signed by Spanberger, the measures would mark the final step in a yearslong effort to bring structure and oversight to a market that has operated without a legal retail framework.

Aird emphasized Tuesday that many lawmakers contributed to shaping the legislation — a proposal she said reflects extensive collaboration across chambers.

“There are many in this chamber that have helped shape this legislation,” she said.

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By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Virginia’s move toward a $15 per hour minimum wage is drawing warnings from small business advocates who say the policy could increase operating costs and place pressure on employers.

The legislation, which cleared both chambers of the General Assembly, is now before Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The governor has already indicated she intends to sign the measure.

“Our members aren’t surprised that the minimum wage increase passed, but they’re frustrated and worried about what will happen next,” said Julia Hammond, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business in Virginia.

Hammond said many small businesses already pay above the minimum wage but warned that state-mandated increases could still trigger broader cost adjustments.

“Raising the state minimum wage would put pressure on employers to pay more to stay competitive and force small businesses to raise prices to cover the costs of the mandate or else try to get by with fewer workers,” Hammond said.

She continued, “Our members already are contending with rising prices. Raising the minimum wage is going to make a bad situation even worse.”

Outside policy groups have also questioned the broader economic effects of minimum wage increases.

A recent report from the Employment Policies Institute points to research suggesting wage hikes are often associated with higher consumer prices. The group cited studies indicating a $1 minimum wage increase has been linked to price increases of up to 5.5%, particularly in industries with higher labor costs.

Under the legislation, Virginia’s adjusted minimum wage of $12.77 per hour would rise to $13.75 per hour beginning Jan. 1. A second increase to $15 per hour would take effect Jan. 1, 2028.

Beginning in 2029, future changes would be tied to inflation using the Consumer Price Index.

Spanberger endorsed the bill following its passage.

“I look forward to signing this legislation into law to give Virginia workers a pay raise,” the governor said in a statement.

State budget analysts say the wage increases will carry direct costs for the commonwealth. According to the Department of Planning and Budget’s revised fiscal impact statement, the bill is expected to increase state spending by $546,761 from the general fund and $489,371 from nongeneral funds in fiscal year 2027.

Once the $15 wage takes effect, projected costs rise substantially. The same analysis estimates general fund spending would increase by roughly $14 million in fiscal year 2028, along with an additional $14.6 million in nongeneral fund expenditures.

Separately, NFIB announced a statewide advertising campaign urging lawmakers to consider the cumulative effects of rising business costs, including labor mandates and regulatory policies.

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