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Saturday, May 3, 2025

Governor Glenn Youngkin Breaks Ground on New River Valley Rail Project

Governor Glenn Youngkin today broke ground on the highly-anticipated New River Valley Rail Project in Christiansburg, Virginia. As part of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative, the New River Valley Project encompasses railroad infrastructure upgrades that will allow VPRA to extend its Amtrak Virginia service from Roanoke to Christiansburg and return passenger rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979. 

In deepening Va. GOP crisis, Reid accuses Youngkin PAC of extortion. Is a legal battle ahead?

The internal drama roiling Virginia Republicans deepened over the weekend as John Reid, the party’s embattled nominee for lieutenant governor, accused Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political action committee of extortion — escalating an already explosive rift just months before November’s elections.

As power demand surges, Va. lawmakers seem ready to add more energy storage to the grid at HUGE costs to citizens

Virginia lawmakers want to more than triple the amount of energy storage capacity Virginia’s two public utility companies — Dominion and Appalachian Power (ApCo) — must procure under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA).

Marijuana Bills Advance Due to Democrat Majority

With no debate, the committee backed SB 970, a proposal by Sen. , D- Beach, to create a regulated retail market in Virginia. The bill tasks the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority with overseeing the market, including licensing for cultivation, , distribution, and retail operations.

 Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Under the proposal, the authority would begin issuing licenses on Sept. 1, 2025, but retail sales would not be permitted until May 1, 2026. The timeline aims to give regulators and businesses ample time to establish a stable and transparent framework while ensuring compliance with state laws. 

If enacted, the would make Virginia one of the few Southern states with a legal marijuana retail market, potentially generating significant tax revenue and establishing a regulated environment for consumers.

“Senate Bill 970 is the exact same bill we passed last year,” Rouse told the panel, emphasizing the continuity of the effort. 

Despite its passage through the committee, the bill faces challenges. Youngkin vetoed last year’s measure, and his opposition has cast doubt on whether he would support the legislation this time around, even if it secures approval from both chambers.

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