Artificial Intelligence
- Virginia Western redesigns Information Systems Technology specialization to respond to AI impact and forge new pathway to Radford University bachelor’s degree
Virginia Western has revolutionized a two-year programming degree into the Associate of Applied Science in IST: Data Analytics & Programming Solutions degree.
- Abigail Spanberger Signs Executive Order 22 on Data Center Accountability and AI Task Force
Governor Abigail Spanberger’s Executive Order 22 and 2027 legislative slate target NDAs, local approval for large loads, noise and backup power, and an AI task force—without a statewide moratorium.
- The battle over data centers isn’t just about data centers, but they’re the battleground we have.
Marvell data center in Culpeper County, Virginia.
- Abigail Spanberger Urges Congress to Police Artificial Intelligence Risks to Privacy, Jobs, and Resources
The governor’s September 22 letter to House and Senate leaders seeks federal guardrails as Virginia advances Executive Order 22 and data-center accountability rules.
- Virginia Lawmakers Press for Tighter Oversight of Data Center Growth
A Virginia congressional proposal would give local governments more tools to manage data center growth, including clearer rules for electricity demand, water use and community impacts.
- Louise Lucas Presses Data Center Tax Repeal After Virginia Senate Vote
RICHMOND (VA) (AP). Nearly 20 years ago, Virginia offered tax breaks to tech companies on software and equipment.
- How an AI-Enabled Teacher in Prince William County Provides Immediate Feedback to Students
Students in Diana Betancourt’s third-grade class at Neabsco elementary school read a story about raccoons who are smarter than dogs and cats on Thursday afternoon. The current curriculum focuses on animal behavior.
- Lowdown from Loudoun: Mike Turner shares data center tips with Maryland audience
Michael Turner, a county supervisor in Loudoun County, Virginia, estimates that the public perception of hyperscale data centers has shifted considerably in the last six to nine months — and he isn’t sure why. Turner, a government official in the county with one of the world’s highest concentrations of data centers with over 250, said […]
- Fairfax County School Board Receives Public Input on Equity Staffing and Classroom Technology
The Fairfax County School Board convened for a meeting that included public comments on equity staffing and related educational grants. Robert Shaw participated in the community participation portion to present his views on these topics. His remarks centered on the history and current status of specific programs within the district. Shaw described how five positions […]
- Virginia primary voters pick Mizusawa to face Warner, finalize key US House races
Virginians cast their ballots Tuesday in an unusually-timed primary that settled a statewide Republican contest for the U.S. Senate and determined several of Virginia’s most closely watched congressional matchups for the November election. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa won the GOP’s nomination to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Warner, while incumbents and […]
- Fairfax County School Board Hears Public Input on AI Use in Education
Residents voiced concerns about artificial intelligence in Fairfax County Public Schools during a recent School Board meeting. Speakers focused on data privacy, student screen time, and age-verification requirements for digital tools. The comments took place in a formal session attended by board members and formed part of ongoing community input on educational technology. Data Privacy […]
- Northern Virginia Lawmakers Suhas Subramanyam, James Walkinshaw Receive Tech Contributions Amid Data Center Debates
Northern Virginia has emerged as the world’s largest data center market, with facilities expanding significantly in counties such as Loudoun. Local residents have expressed opposition to additional development of these large-scale operations near residential areas. Three Democratic House members from the region have received campaign contributions from individuals and groups connected to companies
- Virginia Environmental Agency Reviews Data Center Emissions Analysis
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality examined concerns raised about air emissions from a data center facility in Loudoun County. Director Michael Rolband received an analysis from the Piedmont Environmental Council in March and directed staff to review its findings on potential health effects. The report focused on a Vantage Data Centers site in Sterling […]
- Prince William County Schools Announce $2.9 Billion Budget Featuring Major Technology and Robotics Investments
The Prince William County Public Schools system is set to advance its technological capabilities through a newly proposed $2.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This substantial financial plan includes significant allocations for state-of-the-art robotics centers and immersive learning technologies aimed at modernizing the educational experience. The comprehensive funding package also i
- Prince William County Advances Historic FY2027 Budget Focusing on Education and Public Safety
Prince William County officials are advancing a comprehensive fiscal year 2027 budget that prioritizes significant compensation increases for public school employees and first responders. The proposed spending plan features a record-breaking financial transfer to the local school division alongside targeted investments in public safety retention. Local leaders emphasize that these robust financial
- Prince William County Schools Unveil Budget Reallocating Funds to Robotics and Immersive Technologies
The Prince William County Public Schools system has introduced a comprehensive budget that dramatically shifts its educational investments toward advanced technology. This newly proposed financial plan totals an unprecedented $2.9 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials have structured the budget to prioritize cutting-edge educational tools over traditional infrastructure expansion. The pr
- Candidate Dave Beckwith Details Budget Balancing Strategy
Dave Beckwith is running for a seat in Congress and has shared a specific plan to balance the federal budget over the course of 11 years. The proposal focuses on reducing fraud through the application of artificial intelligence systems. This outline has been presented in public statements associated with his campaign. The plan references substantial […]
- Virginia Implements Historic Data Center Tax Amidst Rising Public Costs and Budgetary Battles
Virginia has officially implemented a first-of-its-kind statewide energy consumption tax on data centers as part of the FY2027-FY2028 biennial budget. The new policy levies a $0.011 per kilowatt-hour charge on electricity consumed by facilities housing massive server and network systems. Governor Abigail Spanberger championed the measure, stating it ensures the rapidly expanding industry pays its
- State’s love affair with data centers is cooling
This post was originally published on this site.Data centers. Data centers. They are a necessity. We could benefit from data centers building in areas where there is a greater need, and doing more economic good, rather than rushing to build them at a jackrabbit’s pace. Virginia is home to one of the largest concentrations of […]
- Virginia nonprofit launches mobile tech education bus for underserved students
Two retired military cybersecurity experts in Virginia recently launched a bus service in Hampton Roads to raise awareness and educate students about technology, after receiving an unexpected state budget appropriation of $200,000. The cyber education bus is the latest way the nonprofit organization RFK Outreach will fulfill its goal to help children and teens learn […]
- Democrats challenge Beyer in Va.’s 8th Congressional District, marred by federal layoffs
Everyone in Northern Virginia knows someone who was “DOGEd,” either laid off or otherwise impacted by sweeping cuts initiated through President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 federal workers; over 20,000 of them lost their jobs last year. The pain of those losses runs […]
- Do data centers impact our physical health? Studies are few and far between.
Data centers fuel the ever-growing demand for social media, artificial intelligence and streaming services, allowing people to access a plethora of entertainment options and streamline everyday tasks. And their numbers are growing — another 80 proposed projects cataloged by the Data Center Proposal Tracker would more than double the current 71 active sites in the […]
- Fairfax School Board Considers Handwriting Priority in AI Classroom Integration
The Fairfax County School Board held a meeting focused on the use of artificial intelligence in educational settings. Attendees considered whether emphasizing handwriting could support the development of critical thinking skills among students before introducing advanced technology. The session provided an overview of current challenges in balancing traditional methods with emerging digital resour
- How Virginia became the world’s data center capital and how it’s going
Demand for internet access and electronic storage has grown alongside digital technology itself. At the center of that growth are the energy infrastructure and data centers that governments and companies began developing in Northern Virginia in the late 20th century. Today, the region houses the world’s largest concentration of data centers, making Virginia the nation’s […]
- Virginia’s romance with data centers has cooled, but nobody benefits if there’s a full breakup
Data centers. Can’t live with them. Can’t live without them. But we could do with data centers slowing their jackrabbit pace of reproduction in congested suburbs and, instead, building where they could fill a need and do more economic good. Our romance with data centers has cooled in Virginia, home to the world’s greatest concentration […]
- Fairfax School Board Discusses AI Integration in Education
Kathy Smith, serving on the 12-member Fairfax County School Board in Virginia, presented observations regarding artificial intelligence in educational environments. She drew comparisons to the integration of social media and advocated for instruction on safety and literacy. The board includes Chair Sandy Anderson, Karl Frisch representing the Providence District, Melanie Meren of the Hunter Mill [
- Residents wrangle over transmission line proposal for rural Virginia
GOOCHLAND, Va.—Deborah Blackburn leaned on her cane in a line to enter the Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, angst-ridden over a giant transmission line proposal for reasons that are common refrains here: It’s all to benefit data centers in Northern Virginia, and it will disrupt the rural character here outside Richmond. “We don’t want […]
- Is Dominion’s plan to merge with NextEra good or bad for Virginians?
Man, even the Pope doesn’t like data centers. In his new encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV laid out the dangers of the mad rush to replace humans with AI. Amid the concerns for the dignity and future of humanity, he took a moment to mention the environmental damage involved: Current AI systems require […]
- Local governments race to attract data centers, often in spite of concerns from their constituents
Marvell data center is one of eight newly approved data center campuses in Culpeper County. (Photo by Evan Visconti/Virginia Mercury). Data centers — proposed beside town centers, on generational farmlands, in view of cemeteries and next to Civil War battlegrounds across Virginia — are testing local governments’ ability to regulate industrial land use. Concurrently, the […]
- US employers created 178,000 new jobs in March, a huge increase from the February low.
This post was originally published on this site.WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – American employers created 178,000 jobs in March, a surprising number after a dismal month of February. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.3%. The Labor Department announced Friday that the hiring of new employees was a positive sign after February’s loss of 133,000 positions. The […]
- Mark Warner files for reelection, launching bid for fourth U.S. Senate term caught lying 29 years ago
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner speaks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol building in October. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) U.S. Sen. Mark Warner formally launched his campaign for a fourth term this week, filing the paperwork and voter petitions required to appear on Virginia’s 2026 U.S. Senate ballot after a five-day swing across the state […]
- Virginia’s energy needs can’t wait. Now is the time for nuclear power and clean gas.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act was passed into law by the Governor of Virginia. Its supporters celebrated this bold step towards a future free from carbon. The ink had barely dried before the realities and assumptions of the 21st Century began to overwhelm its assumptions. Virginia’s demand for energy has increased dramatically in just a […]
- AttainX to Expand Cybersecurity Operations in Fairfax County
Woman-owned technology contractor to invest $175,000, creating 32 new jobs RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that AttainX, Inc., an SBA certified 8(a), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) and CMMI Level 3 certified federal contractor, will invest $175,000 to expand its operations in Fairfax County.
- Artificial Intelligence Company to Expand Headquarters in Virginia
Enabled Intelligence, Inc. to invest $1.4 million, create 117 new jobs in Fairfax County RICHMOND, VA — Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Enabled Intelligence, Inc., a provider of secure and accurate data labeling services to enable artificial intelligence applications, will invest $1.4 million to expand its headquarters in Fairfax County. The company will add over […]
- Amazon announces deal with Dominion Energy to develop a small nuclear reactor
Amazon announced Wednesday that it entered into an agreement with Dominion Energy to pay for the development of a small modular reactor as the utility explores building one at its North Anna Power Station, an existing traditional nuclear power plant in Louisa County.